San Andres or Cartagena Colombia

[seaseeker]

Hi,

I found some pretty good flight deals/hotel deals for both places in Colombia. I have a few questions:
- Does San Andres or Cartagena has the better diving?
- Is there any hotel deals that include scuba diving?
- If I like to eat out in town and walking around touring grocery stores, etc. which city do you recommend?
- There seems to be a lot of Decameron hotels where the formula is all included. Would it be more economical for me to go with all inclusive and still go eat in town at night, or should I look for hotel only? Are most hotels close to town and or is the taxi cheap?

I just started looking, so sorry if I sound a bit confused

Thanks a lot for helping me out.

Ariane

 

[Maxposeidon]

Hello Adriana,

one important question will be when you want to go.
In San Andres may be the better option is the all included because there aren´t really many diferent eating options, The hotel depends on what you want, some Decameron in San Andres are pretty far out of town.
About the diving, more changes to see big stuff in San Andres.

Hope this helps a litle bit

Max

 

[seaseeker]

I would most likely be going in February.
Is there any small grocery stores in San Andres or any small restaurants?
Is there some dive sites in particular that I need to add to my list?

Thanks

 

[tadeotadeo]

Hi Seaseeker
San Andres defiantly has the better diving than Cartagena. For diving in Cartagena you have to head about an hour out of the city, buy boat. Plenty of places to stay and eat in Cartagena but I don’t know of any hotels offering dive packages. I stayed in Baru which was nice but private and secluded, nothing resort like, unless you go to Rosario Isla.
The Old Fort in Cartagena is spectacular, I never seem to be able to get enough of it, there is something new, or old, around every corner. Plenty of restaurants and shops and the architecture is "WOW”. San Andres is a tourist destination with diving and duty free it’s main attraction. There are several hotels and restaurants to choose from throughout the island I would recommend a place to stay in downtown for easy access to everything you need grocery, shopping, casino, diving.
Over all I would choose Cartagena for a non diving destination and San Andres for diving.
A absolute must dive in San Andres is The Blue Wall, they are only able to visit this site if the winds are out north or west which does not happen that often thru out the year. Dec Jan and Feb are your best chances to get favorable winds for this dive.
Hope this helps
Ciao
Tad

 

[seaseeker]

Hi,

Thanks to all for their reply. This would be for a diving vacation so I guess I'll go for San Andres. I have seen some good recommendations for karibik divers or something like that. Any other dive shops you would recommend?

 

[tadeotadeo]

I have dived with just about every DO in San Andres at one time or another and would recommend any of them. Most of the owners go on the dives as DM so you get pretty good consistence with regards to quality service. Werner at Karibik Diver runs a tight operation and is great to hang out with and have a beer. Sharkey’s is nice for the shore dives. Sea Garden has the newest best boat, they are located out of the city but, as with any Dive Op, they will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off after the dives. If you want to hire your own Dive Master, he’s actually an instructor, Jorge Sanchez is about the best on the island, He will get the best rates from the dive ops. You end up paying about the same as you would with one of the Dive ops and you get a personal tour guide above and below the water.
Ciao
Tad

 

[stevep4444]

If you are flying out of Montreal through Nolitours I would recommend the AI pkg at the Marazul. Sea Garden is located on-site so it is very handy to just walk 50 metres down the pier every morning after breakfast to the dock. They will take your gear,wash and dry it , and have it back in the boat for the next morning. Good experience with them! That is ,in my opinion ,the best overall location .It is just outside of town. You can take the 5 min cab ride to town to shop or rent scooters or golf carts and tour the Island. There are advantages to being at different resorts but overall,especially for divers, marazul is the best. Also, ask the dive shop about doing a sting ray snorkel after the last dive. Awesome!

 

[Razial]

I would most likely be going in February.
Is there any small grocery stores in San Andres or any small restaurants?
Is there some dive sites in particular that I need to add to my list?

Thanks

Seaseeker,
I live on San Andres and dive 4 to 5 times a week. Have my own boat and commerical fishing licence. (Sorry I don't take charters) I free dive and spearfish (Foreigners not allowed to spearfish). Have done very little SCUBA. Several SCUBA business here. Which is the best? Is a matter of opinion. I can tell you the waters are clear and warm. You can see for ever. Although at this time they are a little cloudy just finished rainy season and had a few storms. Feb. should be great. There is one Hotel very quite, near the sea, but 15 mins bus ride from town. They offer reduced rates for diving if you stay at the Hotel. It is an all inclusive with 3 meals snacks all the hard and soft drinks you can consume.Price last time I asked was $50.00 US. May be higher as this is the high season. Remember the all inclusive food is buffet. (Cafeteria food in my opinion).
Lots of small cheap restaurants here. If I can help email me.
Jeep2006@live.com
Vince

 

[MrHollywood]

San Andres is wonderful diving. The Blue Wall (or is it hole) is my personal favorite. The diving out of Cartagena isn't so great. Less vis and a lot of coral damage.