Santa
Catalina Island is located right next to Providencia Island, about 90 km from
San Andres - main Island of archipelago. Santa Catalina used to be a pirate
base and for long time it has little population. Now days there are few houses and the shop
but majority of the island is absolutely untouched.
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| Panorama view of Santa Catalina from Providencia port |
Access there is very easy
via the floating bridge from Providencia. If you go to the left, you will walk
on nice, recently built pavement along the shallow deep reef where you can see
a lot of fish and sea weeds. On the end there are steps towards statue of
Virgin Mery. From this place there is a great view of Providencia Island.
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| The view of Providencia Island from Santa Catalina |
Just carry
on with steps going down you get to Fort Beach.
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| Fort Beach, Santa Catalina |
It’s lovely tropical beach with
calm water lagoon and old rusty canon on shore. I tried to snorkel there and I
was surprised of amount of fish habituating its warm water. You can see in 1m
depth barracudas, box fish, parrot fish, large school of tiny and small fish.
There is little cave or better said a gap in the rock and many small fish were
hiding there. There are not many corals thou, but abundance of fish makes it
very nice tropical snorkeling.
Next beach
is very small and very tropical looking. Many palm trees, shells on the sand,
warm water and little cave in the beginning. Snorkeling around is pretty the
same as in Fort Beach.
Next you
through tropical forest and some part could be bit difficult to walk but there
are some ropes you can hold to. You will hear and see all the time running
lizards abound you. Some can up to 45cm! They were biggest I ever seen! On the
end of this pathway you’ll get to the Morgan’s head.
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| Morgan's Head Panorama |
It is a big rock
resembling a man’s head. Here you can find almost ultimate tropical paradise. I
say almost because there is not a beach. It’s very nice lagoon, great for
snorkeling or just swimming around. Next to rock there is some space for lying
down to have a sunbath but it not very comfortable. Well you judge from the
picture. For me this view is
magnificent. And for lovers of marine
life it is even better under the surface. You can discover there a very nice
reef from 1,5m to about 4m of depth. During the snorkeling trip you’ll be
accompanied by many species of fish. Around surface you will meet large needle
fish & barracudas, bit lower all possible tropical fish as parrot fish, box
fish, trumpet fish, predator fish like Groupper, Snapper and Lion fish. Corals
are very well preserved. It’s beauty is only next to south pacific coral reef
as I seen on Aitutaki, Cook Islands. It’s much better than Koh Phi Phi &
Bat Island (Thailand) reef. Not to mention snorkeling highlight of San Andres -
Piscinitas. Please read my article about this experience here.
It was
really pleasant and rewarding day I spent on Santa Catalina Island. If you’re
already on San Andres I definitely recommend to make extra step and come to
Providence and Santa Catalina as well. You will love it, that’s for sure!
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