Providencia is an island in the Colombian region of San Andrés y Providencia.
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| Providencia | ||
| Country | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Search for a province ends with the state | ||
| Residents | 5.000 | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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background
The island of Providencia has a north-south extension of 7.2 km and a width of 4 km, the area is 17 km², in the center it reaches a height of 363 m. The main town is Santa Isabel Village or "Town" (the city) , other villages are Lazy Hill on the west coast and Bottom House on the southeast.
Providencia Island has about 5,000 inhabitants and is visited by 15,000 tourists annually. These come mainly because of the 32 km long Barrier Reef to dive there.
On the northeast side of the island is the 995 hectare Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Park.
The much smaller island of Santa Catalina is just off the northwest coast. A wooden bridge connects Santa Catalina with Providencia, it is called the “Lovers Bridge”.
The small islet of Low Cay is 10 km north.
beaches
- Manzanillo Beach, Southeast coast. 300 m long, long walk or by golf cart. There is only one building on the beach: Roland's Roots Bar with live music in the late afternoon.
- South West Bay (Bahia Sur Oeste), in the southwest. The longest beach on the island. On the south side there are several restaurants and accommodations: Miss Mary, Hotel Sirius. Horse races take place there every Saturday on the beach.
- FreshWater Bay (Bahia Agua Dulce). Also known as the tourist area. There are 6 hotels and several restaurants.
- Maracaibo Bay, on the east coast at McBean Lagoon and McBean National Park and with the islet Cayo Cangrejo (Crab Caye) off the coast.
- Santa Catalina Bay. Santa Catalina Bay is used by many fishing boats.
getting there
By plane
- 1 El Embrujo Airport (IATA: PVA), Providencia.
Runway 17/36, 3832 x 49 feet (1168 x 16 m), paved runway. There are several daily flights to and from the island of San Andrés by the airline Satena and charter flights by Decameron / Searca. Round-trip flights cost around US $ 120.
By boat
There are no boat connections from the islands to the mainland.
A 30-seater catamaran operates between Providencia and San Andrés. Travel time is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Departures Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from San Andrés, return trips from Providencia the same day in the afternoon.
mobility
- Golf Carts (Golf Buggy). Price: US $ 40 for 24 hours, moped US $ 20 for 24 hours.
activities
- Kayaks for trips to Crab Cay and McBean Lagoon
- Fishermen offer their boats for island tours
- Riding horses
- Snorkeling and diving
Diving schools
- Scuba Town, Old Town. Tel.: 57 8 514-8481.
shop
- Art & Craft, Freshwater Bay.
- Artemanias, Freshwater Bay.
- Ecotienda Old Providence Art & Craft, Santa Isabel Town.
- Refugio de La Luna, bluff.
kitchen
- Arts and Crafts Café, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8297.
- Pizza’s Place, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8224.
- Restaurante Rosa del Viento, Hotel El Pirata Morgan, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8067.
- Cabanas Aguadulce, Freshwater Bay.
- Cafe Studio, Southwest Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-9076.
- Miss Mary, Southwest Bay.
- Restaurante Eneidy, Santa Isabel. Tel.: 57 8 514-8758.
- Roland Roots Bar, Bahía Manzanillo. Tel.: 57 8 514-8417.
- Il Postino, Main road from Freschwater Bay to Santa Isabel. Open: only in the evening and in high season.
- Cafe Studio, Road from Freshwater Bay to South West Bay.
- Bamboo restaurant, Santa Catalina island. The best restaurant on the island.
nightlife
- Roland Roots Bar, Bahía Manzanillo. Tel.: 57 8 514-8417.
accommodation
There are around 20 hotels and simple guest houses on the island. Some of the accommodations can be booked through the Decameron chain; there are also German-speaking landlords. Rooms are available from 30 euros per night.
- Cabanas Aguadulce, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8160, Fax: 57 8 514-8405. 23 rooms, El Mesón del Pirata restaurant, La Caverna del Marinero bar, small pool.
- Cabanas El Recreo, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8010, Fax: 57 8 514-8051. 15 simple huts on the beach.
- Cabanas Miss Elma, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8229, Fax: 57 8 514-8229. 4 suites for 2-4 people, small, near the beach.
- Cabanas Miss Mary, South West Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8206. 7 rooms for 1-3 people, restaurant, on the beach.
- Cabanas Relax, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8087, Fax: 57 8 514-8087. 8 rooms, small, with pool, no sea view, 5 minutes from the sea.
- Cabañas South West Bay, South West Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8221, Fax: 57 8 514-8939. 17 rooms, restaurant.
- El Pirata Morgan, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8528, Fax: 57 8 514-8067. 22 rooms, sea view with pool, restaurant, terrace bar and supermarket.
- Hotel Sirius, South West Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8213, Fax: 57 8 514-8808. 8 rooms and 4 suites. German phone: 57 8 513-0727, sea view, diving.
- Sol Caribe, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8230, Fax: 57 8 514-8036. 35 rooms, restaurant, bar, pool, on the beach, bookable in Germany via LFT-World (LF-Touristik).
health
- Dr. William Burbano, Freshwater Bay. Open: Office hours for tourists on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Pharmacies
- Drogueria Santa Catalina, Santa Isabel, across from Telecom. Tel.: 57 8 514-8145.
- Harmony Fitness & Health Center, El Cabarete, across from the library. Tel.: 57 8 514-9019.
Practical advice
Tourist Information
- Tourist info, City center, at the pier.
miscellaneous
- ATMs. There are two banks with ATMs on the island.
trips
Travel agency
- Morgan's Tours, Avenida Colombia 1B-106. Tel.: 57 8 512-5544.
- Paradise Tours, Freshwater Bay. Tel.: 57 8 514-8283.
