Providencia Island, Colombia

Providencia is a Caribbean island, and a part of the San Andres and Providencia Archipelago located about 775 km (480 miles) northwest of Colombia and 220 km (140 miles) from the coast of Nicaragua, and eight outlying banks and reefs. It is attached by footbridge to a smaller island, Santa Catalina. The chief settlement is Santa Isabel Village aka 'Town' in the north. Other villages are Lazy Hill on the west coast, and Bottom House in the southeast.

Providencia is a very scenic island, with good beaches, typical Caribbean climate, laid back atmosphere and friendly people. While the island depends quite heavily on tourism, it is largely unspoiled. Special times to visit include late June for the island's carnival, or early May when the mountains change colour as the local black crabs descend en masse to lay their eggs.

Things to See & Do

* Bahia Aguadulce is the main tourist area
* Isabel Village
* Bahia Suroeste & Bahia Manzanillo
* Morgan's Head
* Santa Catalina - a smaller island connected to Providencia

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Peso (COP)
Language – Spanish
Land Area – 17 km²
Population – 60,000 approx
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style
Time – GMT minus five hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 57

Transport Links - Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport serves the cities of San Andrés and San Luis, but also commercially serves the nearby island of Providencia Island. Satena and Searca are the only current air operators, both run 5/6 daily flights to Providencia from San Andrés. The flight lasts approximately 15 minutes.

While there are sporadic cargo boats that carry passengers to and from San Andrés, most people fly to the island.