Providencia and San Andres Advice and Info Sought

[vcgris]

We are leaving Cartagena soon and routing via the San Blas Islands. Next planned stop will be Providencia and San Andres. We are looking for any information, advice, suggestions or any other comments. One specific thing we are trying to clarify is the cost associated with checking in. One cruising guide says it is easy and inexpensive, always a good thing. Other sources say up to $1,200 USD. Anybody visited recently or can shed light. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[robert sailor]

We checked in San Blas Islands January 2016. Immigration fees $105 per person, cruising permit $193 plus a one month Guna fee for $60 for the boat. Rumors this might have changed.
Check in San Andreas Used an agent $75 checkout in Providencia was $60..This was negotiated down from a higher rate posted. Fellow that looks after this on the island is Mr. Bush.
General comments..San Andreas is a tourist island and is a popular place for Colombians..prices are very reasonable. People are friendly, there's a million scooters and motorbikes. We rented a bike and toured the island..again touristy but fun, not a bad change after the San Blas and Panama. The entrance is very well marked with a good lighting system.
Providencia is a beautiful island, good diving. We did some on our own and we hired a dive service as well. They picked us and our friends on our boats and delivered us back, good rates, we used our own gear and their tanks. Did an offshore shark dive and one closer in, both were good dives with great visability. San Andreas is all hustle and bustle but Providencia is laid back to the extreme, tons of people in San Andreas..a few thousand in Providencia..We preferred Providencia by a large margin. Stock up in San Andreas as the selection is not great in Providencia. The anchorage in San Andreas is good, with good holding and relatively easy access to the shore. Providencia the anchorage is huge and very well protected. Watch out for a rock that's only a few feet below the water right in the anchorage. The entry is not bad, there are a couple of ways in but certainly a bit more of a challenge than San Andreas, do it in daylight only..San Andreas can be entered at night quite safely. We rented scooters in Providencia, think it was 10 bucks for the day, nice ride around the island. Great hiking there, we hiked up to the top of their small mountain range. We normally hike on our own but other cruisers had some great experiences with local guides that were cheap and very well informed. We hired a big black fellow, think his name was Tiny and it was money well spent. Got a real education on the history as well as flora and fauna, great hike. The dink dock in Providencia puts you right uptown, 5 minutes from where ever you need. I'm flipping all over but hopefully you are getting something out of this info. PM me if you need or want more info.

[donradcliffe]

I think I paid about US$120 to the agent to check in and out of Providencia in 2012. The admiral spent the first day in the emergency room on IV medications due to a systemic reaction to the sand fly bites she got in Guanaja, and that was another $100. We took the regular bus around the island for $2. Nice visit.

[model 10]

I also remember about $120 and both islands charged us.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Ecos

I also remember about $120 and both islands charged us.

Mr. Bush has variable rates, ours started at $100 dollars but we formed a group and negotiated it down to 60 bucks. Everybody that checked out payed different rates, it's the Island Way

[belizesailor]

Agree, prefer Providencia over San Andreas...though both are beautiful...and recall fees about the same as above.

Note that even though both are Colombian, you must clear at each separately...and pay again.

You can no longer clear Panama in the San Blas. The nearest Port Captain is at Linton Bay Marina. Nearest Immigration is in Portobelo. So, you can clear your boat in Linton and then taxi or bus to nearby Portobelo to clear Immigration ($3.50).

[NirvanaBob]

We were at both San Andres and Providencia last Spring and thoroughly enjoyed both. The entry cost was $37.00USD/person. You must import your vessel within 15 days of arrival-this may have been tightened to within 5 days, which is what is required in mainland Colombian ports. Importation is free. You will need an Agent to do the checkin/checkout. We used Serrano and he was excellent, timely, on top of it, and charged $60.00. You can extend the time the boat can stay in either or both islands up to the expiration date of your vessel’s documentation-if it will expire shortly upon your arrival, you should renew it early if possible. If you check in at San Andres you can check out at Providencia and vice versa. The channels into both islands pass through coral reefs but are deep and very well marked, both day and night. If you come from the south, ala Bocas del Toro and don’t visit the Acapulco Cays (about 15nm south of San Andres, the Maritimo Control folks would appreciate a radio checkin. When you are entering the channel into San Andres that is who you will call on Ch 16; they will ask who your Agent is-both Serrano and Julian Watson (another Agent) monitor the freq and if you mention Serrano, he will meet you at Nene’s Marina. You can anchor out in front of Nene’s Marina-it is a bit crowded, but wind and seas protected with good holding. Providencia’s entry is equally well marked with good holding in the anchorage-watch out for occasional coral bommies. There is only one Agent in Providencia; same drill as in San Andres. Spanish is the language in San Andres (lots of english speakers); English is the language in Providencia. Easy provisioning in both. If you can round one up, Colombia has published a free, extensive, highly illustrated with precise information and current charts of all harbors, cruising guide. Great snorkeling and scuba diving in both islands. Warm, clear (100 ft viz), and sea life laden waters. We’re going to return this Spring. Cheers, Bob

[belizesailor]

Link to Colombian cruising guide. About 300MB's big.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vfb7vtxv1n...Guide.pdf?dl=0