"Take me back to my San Andrés" says the famous creole song we all hear when we are on a boat above the beautiful crystal water of San Andrés Island. For those of you that don't know it, you are definitely missing out. To be convinced to go to San Andrés, you need to only do one thing: go to your computer and google "San Andrés Island." With only one picture, you will be buying a plane ticket in no time. There is not much to think about, you fall in love immediately.
San Andrés is a small island in the Caribbean that belongs to Colombia. San Andrés and Providencia are two different islands, but they both form the 32nd department of Colombia. For years it has been a tourist destination because of its beauty and serenity. Everything about San Andrés is magical; everything will make you never want to leave. They call it the ocean of seven colors, and it's true. San Andrés has seven different tones of blues and greens and crystal water that makes you want to swim all day long, and its sand is so white you never want to leave the beach. It is not a large island, it is very small actually. Some people like to refer to it as "La islita," which in English means "tiny island." In fact, it is so small that you can go around the island in a golf cart without stopping at any destination in about an hour. But most people stop at the different points around the island to enjoy everything they possibly can of San Andrés.
I have a special story with this small island that some may think is a bit unusual, but I look at it as a blessing. My mother tells me that since she can remember, my grandfather has told her "One day I am going to live in San Andrés." She always thought he was joking. I mean, as beautiful as San Andrés is, it is very small; after staying there for two weeks, there is not much to do. Well it turns out that my grandfather did eventually move to San Andrés and has lived there for about 20 years. He retired and decided to live in this paradise and loves it more everyday; he even found love once again in this island and lives his life like a fairytale, ending "happily ever after." Since my grandfather lives there, I have been going to San Andrés since I was about two months old and will continue to go until I can no longer travel. I do not think I would live there like my grandfather, but I will definitely go as much as I can because I can't get enough of it. I feel like it is my own little paradise lost in the Caribbean and I am waiting for the rest of the world to discover it.
When I get to San Andrés I feel at home. I have gone countless times that I can adopt it as my second home, and I'm sure this is the case for many Colombians and maybe even people from other countries. But, I know for a fact that most of the people who love San Andrés as much as I do are those who are from my city, Cali. In Colombia we say "Los caleños van a San Andrés"; this means that those who are from Cali go to San Andrés. It has been a tradition for many years and most people even have apartments of their own there because they know for sure once a year they will go to the island.
You will be mesmerized with its beauty, so come visit the beautiful island of San Andrés where you can swim with countless species and even kiss a stingray. You can try the "Coco Loco" and dance to reggae all day long at the aquarium. You can relax and be treated like a prince or princess at the different beaches. You can swim all day long, or ride a jet ski in the crystal clear water. Whatever you do will be guaranteed to be one of the best experiences of your life, because San Andrés is a paradise island where, once you arrive, you'll never want to leave again.
