We were 10 days on Providencia, a remote Island of Colombia. To reach it one has to fly from Miami or the Colombia mainland to the "all in resorts" island San Andres and then hop with a small commuter airplane to Providencia. Claudia would explain to anyone who liked to know that my nose grew like the one of Pinoccio when she entered the plane. She had other expectations of what a small plane is like. She was really upset about the small airplane we used, kept one hand in front of her eyes and the other holding my knee with a force I did not expect from her. She stayed grumpy until we were safe aground again on a tiny puppet airport.
Still in a good mood, but that should change soon
In real life, this felt very different for Claudia from the picture of the airplane I had shown on Wiki.
Don’t expect 5 star hotels, excellent food and luxury on Providencia. Everything is basic, no casinos and no discos. One can rent a quad or motorbike to circumnavigate the island in two hours (at a rather slow pace). What one encounters: unspoiled nature, quietness and a very friendly population. And no vendors who jump on you and try to sell of sunglasses, hats, water and all kind of rubbish.
A clean blue and green sea in front of our Posada Vall
This is not a place for tourists who expect to be entertained. One is confronted with oneself. Wifi is available until rain hits the telephone poles. And it rained every late afternoon a short while. The grid is not very reliable. But cellular works okay so Whatsapp at all times with the outside world and you are fine.
The "Plaza" in front of the townhall. This time with a statue of Francisco Santander instead of the regular Simon Bolivar.
As one can see in the summary picture-set, everything has to be transported by boat from Cartagena through San Blas to Providencia. Vegetables and fruits are flown in from Bogota. The two Islands are tax free. One can experience how high the taxes are in Colombia on imported goods. I bought a big bottle of Grand Marnier for half the price I pay in Cartagena.
I did dive. I almost could not get back in the lancha after the dive due to the rough sea and waves. The reefs are pristine and untouched. No fishing lines and plastic garbage. Lots of Reef and Nurse Sharks which are unafraid and came closer than I ever encountered before. One almost had to touch them to get on ones way. The fishes are too totally not scared. So just for diving alone this Island is worth visiting. Sadly my underwater photography equipment is no longer in working order so no photos this time.
A visit by Lancha of Caya Cangrejo
For me this is the most attractive and unspoiled Island in the western Caribbean. We will visit it again and then I will dive more and with camera.
Get an impression of the Island and decide for yourself if it is worth visiting.