San Andrés

Actually, we wanted to go to the jungle in Bolivia and discover the Andes, including the Salar de Uyuni. But since we've had enough adventure for now and we're already missing the beach and the sea so much, we spontaneously decided to fly to the Caribbean island of San Andrés. Full of anticipation, we arrived at the check-in counter with our one-way flight. Problem: we couldn't prove that we have a flight back from the island and the lady at the counter sent us away. In a hurry, I started searching for internet at the airport. In no time, we had to decide where we wanted to fly and book a suitable flight. The result was a direct flight to Chile, from where we would continue to Rio. We didn't have time to check for other options or fly directly to Rio, unfortunately. Back at the counter with our proof that we will be leaving the island, it was already too late for checked baggage. At the security check, there was a commotion because we had items in our large luggage that couldn't be carried in the cabin. All the discussions about putting the large backpack in the hold were in vain. Since our names were already being called for the last call on the loudspeaker, we reluctantly returned our valuable Swiss pocket knives - R.I.P. corkscrew. Feeling stressed about the loss and the chaos, we finally boarded the plane - and two hours later we were at the beach promenade of San Andrés with stunning views of the incredibly turquoise blue water!

We enjoyed our days at the popular City Beach, the hustle and bustle in the evening with many bars, restaurants, and shops, people dancing on the streets. We felt comfortable despite all the warnings about the tourist crowds. It's true, San Andrés is touristy and noisy, and yes, there are Colombian tourists who have had one too many Coco-Locos in the evening. But honestly, that's exactly what we like. And so we spent the whole day on the beach, swimming in the wonderfully clear bathtub-like water with sand between our toes, and mixed with loud reggaeton music among the Colombian tourists in the evening.

For the last 2 nights, we stayed in a beautiful hotel at the other end of the island. We had the hotel location to ourselves, sitting on the cliffs in front of the hotel, enjoying beautiful sunsets while huge waves crashed against the cliffs. It would have been the perfect spot for a cheesy marriage proposal - if it weren't for the fact that we're not ready for that yet. But every place would have been perfect, even the pool bar in the evening. And we think we can toast to our happiness with bottles of beer, if there is no champagne - it still makes a sound after all. 🥂

These 5 days on this amazing island were the epitome of a dream vacation. And not just because we promised to each other to come back as Mr and Mrs Gervasi , but it's also because of the potential it has to become one of our favorite spots on this trip.