San Andrés Sunrise Tour: Aquarium Island at dawn

The sharks at Aquarium Island are harmless, and you can swim alongside them in the early light.

A guided sunrise boat tour from San Andrés to Aquarium Island, departing before dawn to reach the island while it is still quiet. You swim with tropical fish and harmless sharks, then snorkel a second reef area, all within 2.5 hours. The guide speaks Spanish and shuttle service is included for travelers in central San Andrés.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunrise and snorkeling at Aquarium Island

• Sail to Aquarium Island
• Watch sunrise and take photos
• Swim with fish and harmless sharks
• Explore snorkeling area
• Return to starting point

The experience

The boat leaves San Andrés in the dark, timed to reach Aquarium Island as the sun breaks the horizon. Depending on group size, you travel on a boat, sailboat or pontoon. The island's crystal clear water lets you see straight to the seabed, and at dawn, before other visitors arrive, the place has a stillness that changes the whole experience. You can photograph the sunrise colors reflected in the water or simply sit with the sound of the waves.

Once the light builds, you swim in the shallows with the tropical fish and the harmless sharks that live there. The guide stays with the group throughout. After swimming, you move to a snorkeling area to explore the reef's diversity, then return to the starting point. The entire outing runs 2.5 hours from departure to return. Shuttle service picks you up from central San Andrés and brings you back. If you stay elsewhere, public transportation to the dock is available nearby.

Not every sunrise displays red, purple or orange tones (some mornings are blue or gray), but the real draw is the quiet of the sea and the island at that hour, when the natural rhythm of the place is still unbroken. The operator emphasizes that participants should feel at ease in the water during the early hours, when it is still dark or the sun has just risen, and takes precautions to keep the experience safe and calm.

What’s included

• Guided boat tour to Aquarium Island with a Spanish-speaking guide.
• shuttle service from central San Andrés.
• swimming with tropical fish and harmless sharks.
• snorkeling at a reef area.
• return transport to the starting point.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

Book up to15h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by San Andrés Vibes

Is this one for you?The tour is shared, led by a guide, and departs before dawn, so it suits travelers who want to see Aquarium Island in its quietest hours and are comfortable being on the water in low light. If you prefer to sleep past sunrise or need a later start to your day, this early departure is not the fit.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the San Andrés sunrise tour depart?

The boat leaves before dawn so you arrive at Aquarium Island as the sun rises. The exact departure time depends on the sunrise hour that day, which shifts with the season.

Can I swim with the sharks at Aquarium Island?

Yes. The sharks at Aquarium Island are harmless, and you swim alongside the tropical fish in the shallow water during the tour. The guide supervises the swimming portion.

Is the snorkeling part of the same tour, or a separate activity?

Snorkeling is included in the same tour. After swimming at Aquarium Island, you move to a snorkeling area to explore the reef before returning to San Andrés.

Does the tour include breakfast or snacks?

The tour does not include breakfast or snacks. You return to San Andrés after 2.5 hours, so plan to eat before or after the outing.

Is shuttle service included from my hotel?

Shuttle service is included only for travelers staying in central San Andrés. If you are elsewhere on the island, public transportation to the dock is available nearby.