Cartagena and San Andres are two of the most visited destinations in the colombian Caribbean, and combine them into a single trip is simpler than it seems. Both offer beaches, but with distinct personalities: Cartagena brings history, colonial architecture and life in the city, while San Andrés offers a sea of seven colors, and a pace of island much more relaxed. This guide explains how to combine the two destinations on the same itinerary.
Flights between Cartagena and San Andres
There are direct flights between Cartagena and San Andres are operated by several airlines in colombia, with the duration of the flight is relatively short compared to other routes within the country. The frequency of flights varies according to the season, so it is advisable to check the availability in advance, especially if your trip falls on dates in high demand as December, easter, or school holidays. Being a domestic flight within Colombia, the check-in process and approach tends to be faster than on an international flight, which makes it easy to chain both destinations without losing too much time in the process of airport.
How much time you devote to each destination
The most common way to combine the two destinations is to spend between 3 and 4 days in Cartagena and other 3 or 4 days in San Andrés, depending on the total time available for the trip. Cartagena requires some more time if you want to go calmly into the historic centre, the walls and make a tour to the Rosario islands, while San Andrés is enjoyed mainly with beach activities, snorkeling, and tours of the island, which usually require fewer days to feel that aprovechaste the destination. A journey of between 7 and 8 days in total should be sufficient for understanding the essential of both places without feeling that the journey was incomplete in any of the two.
Approximate costs of combining both destinations
The budget of a trip that combines Cartagena and San Andres is mainly dependent on three factors: the cost of a domestic flight between the two cities, the type of accommodation that you choose in each destination and the activities you are planning, such as boat excursions or diving. Book internal flights with several weeks in advance is usually to help get a better rate, because prices tend to rise considerably closer to the date of travel, especially in high season.
In general terms, San Andrés tends to have a cost of living slightly higher than that of Cartagena in aspects such as food and local transportation, since a large part of the products will arrive to the island by air or sea. This does not mean that the destination is unreachable, but it is important to take this into account when distributing the total budget of the journey between the two destinations.
Where to start your journey
Most of travelers that combine both destinations prefer to start by Cartagena, either because they arrive first for international flights to the airport Rafael Nunez or because they prefer to leave the beach and rest in the island to the end of the trip. Start in Cartagena also allows you to adjust to the local time and the rest of the trip before taking the second flight to San Andrés, instead of chaining two long flights without a margin of rest between them.
If this is your first time in the city, it is worth reviewing before this guide on what to do in Cartagena on a first visit to take advantage of the days that you spend on it before you continue towards the island.
Where to stay in Cartagena before or after the island
If your plan is to start or end your trip in Cartagena, choose a accommodation located facilitates the logistics, especially if you have to get to the airport early for your next flight, or if you get tired after several days on the island and just want to rest. Hotel Regatta Cartagena, located in Bocagrande, offers rooms with views of the city and lateral walking distance of the airport and the historic center, making it a comfortable base for any of the two sections of your travel package.
Tips to help you plan your trip combo
- Booking domestic flight between Cartagena and San Andres several weeks in advance, especially in high season.
- Decide ahead of time if you’d prefer to start by Cartagena or San Andrés, according to your international flight arrival.
- Spend at least 3 days at each destination so you don’t feel that the trip was too hasty.
- If your budget is tight, compare the prices of accommodation in both destinations before you define how many nights spend on each one.
- Leave a margin of reasonable time between the arrival flight to Cartagena and the flight to San Andres, to avoid problems if there is any delay.
How long is the flight between Cartagena and San Andres?
The exact duration varies according to the airline, and route, but in general is one of the paths aerial shorter within the routes of the colombian Caribbean, which makes it easy to combine both destinations without losing too much time in commuting.
Is it better to visit Cartagena before or after San andreas?
There is not a single answer. Many travelers prefer to start in Cartagena if you arrive by international flight, while others prefer to leave it for the end as the closing of the city after several days of beach on the island. Both options work well depending on your route of flight.
What is the check-in time, if I get a flight between destinations?
Check-in at Hotel Regatta Cartagena-in is from 3:00 p. m., with service early check-in subject to availability and additional charge, something useful to take into account if your flight between Cartagena and San Andres lands outside of these hours.
Start planning your trip combo
If you have decided to merge Cartagena and San Andres in a single trip, the next step is to secure your accommodation in the city, especially if you need to coordinate well the hours between the two flights. Contact us to know availability in Hotel Regatta Cartagena and plan your stay in Bocagrande before or after your visit to the island.
