SAN ANDRES AND PROVIDENCIA STATE
San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina Archipelago
The archipelago is located in the southwest Caribbean in front of Central America coasts, is the most extensive state of the country with 300 thousand square kilometers equivalent to the 5% of the Colombian Territory and occupies the 10% of the total Caribbean area. In the year 2000 was declared biospheric reserve “Seaflower” by the UNESCO.
Surrounding de islands of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina we can find the three most important ecosystems of the tropic: coral reef, sea grass and sea swamps. The archipelago has the 78% of the coral reef of the country. Over 85 species of corals and 100 species of sea sponge.
Has also the longest reef barrier of Colombia, the Providencia is one of the most extensive of the west hemisphere.
You can find over 270 species of fish and 4 types of turtles. More than 180 species of birds, some of them migratory and some endemic.
The landscape is wonderful with a great diversity, many and beautiful beaches with white sand and corals, the most of them virgins. It has also the famous sea of seven colors.
Today San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina is a mix of cultures, religions, colors, customs, it was a shelter for buccaneers and a holland, french, english and spanish port, full of ambitions, legends and black slaves.
San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina is a mix of cultures that can be seen in his traditions and customs, the music is a good example. Music that has african, Afro-Antilles and Anglo-Antilles rhythms for example calypso, socca, reggae, polka, waltz, mentos, schottist and mazurca, where you can here typical instruments like quijada de caballo (jawbone) and el tinajo (tub bass) played with other instruments like the guitar, maracas, mandolin and others.
## Activities
Nautical sports: kite surf, windsurf, kayaking y careteo (snorkeling)
Shopping
Diving
Walks in the island
Visit the natural regional parks