San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia
San Andrés (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌsan anˈdɾes]) is the capital city of the department of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, in Colombia. As of 2005 its population was 55,426.[1]
San Andrés | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
      From to top: Aerial view, Typical house, Casa Isleña Museum, Pedestrian Street, San Andres beach and San Luis Church. | |
 Maps of the islands of San Andrés and Providencia | |
  San Andrés Location of San Andrés in Colombia | |
| Coordinates: 12°35′5″N 81°42′2″W | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Region | Insular |
| Department | San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina |
| Area | |
| • Total | 26 km2 (10 sq mi) |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 55,426[1] |
| • Languages spoken | San Andrés Creole English Spanish |
| • Ethnic groups | 20% Raizals and 80% mainland Colombians |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Time (COT)) |
Overview
It is situated at the north end of San Andrés Island, on the Caribbean Sea. The population is considered to be about 20% Raizals and 80% mainland Colombians. The economy is mainly sustained by tourism and commercial fishing. Once a duty-free port, it still has a relatively vigorous shopping district selling various consumer goods at bargain prices, including Colombian gold and emerald jewellery, leather goods and other distinctively Colombian wares.
San Andrés has become such a byword for bargain shopping in Colombia that many towns and cities have a bargain shopping area known as a San Andresito ("little San Andres").
Twin towns
References
- "Census 2005 - San Andrés" (PDF) (in Spanish). (DANE)
