Getting around San Andres
Plenty of local buses and taxis make it easy to move around the island of San Andres. Local buses circle a large proportion of San Andres island and are the cheapest option to travel around. Simple cross-town taxi ride will cost you about 4,000 COP and trip to the outskirts will set you back around 10,000 COP. Numerous colectivos (shared taxis) and pickup trucks run along the island roads touting for trade. Colectivos are cheap way to travel around and cost 2,500 COP for a ride of any distance.
Cars, mopeds, bicycles and motorised buggies can also be hired. Gas stations can be found on the edge of town and around circular tourist trail. Tour boats to outlying islands leave from Punta Sardinas – so called “nose of the sea-horse”.
Getting around Providencia
Colectivos and pickup trucks run around island’s 20km circuit of roads in both directions and they cost 2,500 COP for a ride of any distance. Those waiting at the airport will ask as much as 18,000 COP so walk a bit from the airport and wave down a colectivo or pickup truck for the usual 2,500 COP fare. There may be only one or two per hour, but locals will often stop and offer you a ride.
Taxis are hard to come by and quite expensive. Ride from the airport to Santa Isabel will cost you 15,000 COP and to Aguadulce will set you back 18,000 COP.
Getting around the island
The easiest way to explore Providencia is with your own transportation. Ask for car rental at the airport or head to Aguadulce on the west coast of the island, the centre of the island’s tourist industry (15-minutes by taxi).
Golf buggies and scooters can also be hired (50,000 – 120,000 COP per day). Prices vary through the season, and there are few places in Aguadulce and Santa Isabel that hire golf buggies and scooters.
Cycle hire is good option to explore off beaten tracks.