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Undiscovered Jewels of the Caribbean,  The Caribbean, virgin land, crystal-clear waters teeming with life. Three inhabited islands and various cays and islets surrounded by reefs populated by Mother Nature. A warm and joyful people who turn dreams into reality. African, European and Asiatic ancestry, the basis of this race of Caribbeans. A people fluent in English and Spanish, to broadcast their culture and customs far and wide. Colors, music and tranquillity. Privacy and peace, which exists only in the solitude of unknowns places far from big city life and stress. The opportunity to gaze upon a bewitching green moon. 44 Kms of land and 349.000 Kms of sea.
LOCATION
San Andres Island Location: 12 29' to 12 36'N; 81 41' to 81 43'W
The archipelago of San Andres and Providence is located 480 miles North-West of the Colombian mainland in the Caribbean Sea, in close ecological and archaeological contact with the northern part of Colombia, Central America and other islands in the Caribbean. It is made up of the islands of San Andres, Providence and St. Catherine; Bolivar and Albuquerque islets; Cotton, Haynes, Johnny, Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla, Quitasueno, Rocky, and Crab cays and Alicia and Bajo Nuevo sand banks.
DISCOVERY
Many historians agree that the archipelago was discovered in 1503 By Cristhoper Columbus on the way back of his last voyage after he left Panama and before the arrival to Jamaica and Colonized in 1629 by English Puritans and Jamaican woodcutters on their arrival on board de Ship "SEAFLOWER", and was then conquered by the Spanish in the second half of the 17th century. For two hundred years the English, Dutch, French and Spanish disputed ownership. During that same period, the famous English pirate Henry Morgan used San Andres as his base of operations and, according to legend, as a hideaway for his much acclaimed treasure.

HISTORY
Though all the islands did not develop in the same way, their history is similar; discovered by the Sapanish but colonized by the English & Spanish, they were military ruled for thirty-six years. For many years, Spain and England fought for control of the islands, and so the Spanish flag was lowered only to raise the British one time and time again. This tug or war ended in 1793 with the signing of the Versailles Treaty, in which England recognized Spain's sovereignty over the archipelago. Trade with England, however, was maintained. After 300 years of tumultuous history, the results were a proud race with mahogany skin, light-colored eyes, an English accented with the rhythm of the Caribbean, devout Protestants and believers in magic. History which embraces settlements of Dutch, French, African, English and Spanish who fought over, won, lost and occupied these lands on different occasions. A melting pot of all these races and cultures, out of which emerged the Caribbean people. Chinese, Arabs and continental Colombians Several theories exist as to who exactly discovered the San Andres Archipelego. Some people actually believe that Columbus discovered the islands when he was blown off-course on his way to America. What we do know, however, is that the island was colonized in the 17th century by English Puritans but was "handed" over to the angry Spanish in the late 18th century. It seems that the San Andres Archipelago was swarming with pirates that loved to lighten the homeward-bound Spanish Galleons of their heavy load. Eventually, the colonial territories declared independence from Spain and San Andres became a part of Colombia.
ECONOMY
The Island's economy was based on cotton-tobacco, sugar cane, avocados and oranges were grown for local consumption. With the abolition of slavery in 1853, coconut palms replaced cotton, and a short while later coconuts were exported to the U.S. The oldest islanders, those who were born in the first years of this century, remember an era when sailing ships bearing the flag of the U.S. came to load their ships with coconuts, tortoise shells, cotton and cedar and to unload liquors, salted meats, flour and trinkets. In 1930 a plague practically destroyed the commercial coconut plantations. But that which definitely changed the Island's economy was the declaration that made the Island a "Duty Free" port. This happened in 1953 and took the population by surprise. Among the later immigrants are the people who arrived from the Cayman Islands and settled in Providence around the turn of the century, and the Colombians from the mainland who came as merchants and government employees
TOPOGRAPHY
San Andres is a small mountain range, covered with coconut palms which rises to an elevation of 55 meters, crosses San Andres running North to South. The western shore is made up of limestone deposits and white clay covered in part by coral sand carried in by the waves. The topsoil is thin and of a dark reddish color with frequent outcroppings of coral rock. The coral formation of San Andres, and particularly the reefs along the eastern shore, gives the sea an unbelievably beautiful array of colors
EDUCATION
San Andres has one of the highest literacy rates in Colombia. Public education is free from first to twelfth grade. There are more than 46 private schools and specialized educational centers on the Island with approximately 13.000 students.
GOVERNMENT.
Colombian Goverment and the first authority in the archipelago is the Governor who is elected by popular vote. Providence has a Mayor, also elected by the inhabitants. Actual 2.006/2.008 Governor is Dr.ALVARO ARCHBOLD N.
ISLAND CUISINE
The Island dishes are made basically from red snapper and other fishes, conch, lobster and crab. Flavor is added by coconut, plantain, breadfruit and spices. The most representative of these dishes is the famous rondon, made with fish, pig-tail, conch, plantain and coconut milk. It is available in restaurants specializing in Island food, or at the tables which Island ladies have at the roadside on Sundays and holidays. Restaurants specializing in international cuisine offer meat, poultry and pastas, as well as seafood.
LANGUAGE AND RELIGION
The official language is Spanish, although all of the islanders speak "Caribbean English" among them. Natives  Speaks English, Spanish, local combination of two and Creole or Caribbean English and the Main landers - Primarily Spanish  The major religions of the islands consist of Catholic, Baptist, Adventist and the Christian Mission.
POPULATION: estimates btw. 70 and 100+ thousand
WHEATER: Rainfall: 1-12 inches (dependent on month) Rainy Season: September - November .
High Temperature: 86 º Low Temperature: 76º.