Aquarium and Haynes Cay, San Andrés: getting there and tips

At the San Andrés Aquarium the water is crystal-clear and shallow, and full of colorful fish. Right next to it is Haynes Cay, where you walk on the sea with the water up to your waist. They’re almost always visited together, and here’s what you need to know to go.

What the Aquarium and Haynes Cay are

They’re two neighboring cays off the coast of San Andrés. At Haynes Cay the water comes up to your waist and you can walk between the islets, take photos with the blue in the background and try a coco loco. The Natural Aquarium (Rose Cay) has crystal-clear, shallow water full of marine life, where you put on your mask and life vest and swim surrounded by schools of fish.

How to get there

You get there by boat. The tour leaves every day from the Toninos Marina dock, which you get to on your own: check-in is at 8:45 AM and the boat sets sail at 9:00. At the dock you get your life vest and pay the port tax in cash.

What the day is like

• Haynes Cay, from 9:00 AM: the first stop, to walk with the water up to your waist between the islets.
• The Aquarium, around 11:00 AM: snorkeling with a mask and life vest among the fish, in crystal-clear, shallow water.
• The mangroves, around 1:00 PM: a boat ride through the mangrove and the area where stingrays are seen in their natural habitat.
• The return, around 2:00 PM: a calm ride back, disembarking around 2:30 PM.

Do I need to know how to swim?

It’s not required. At Haynes Cay the water comes up to your waist and you can walk. At the Aquarium it’s deeper and the life vest, which is included, is mandatory; with basic swimming skills you’ll enjoy it more. Minors always go with an adult, and children ages 0 to 4 pay neither the rate nor the port tax, although they take up a seat on the boat.

What to bring

• Water shoes: they’re mandatory. The cays have coral and sea urchins, and they’re the only way to protect your feet.
• Swimsuit and towel: your swimsuit on, a towel and a light change of clothes.
• Sun protection: reef-safe sunscreen, a cap and sunglasses.
• Cash: for the port tax and for snacks or drinks at the cay. If you bring your own snacks, no glass containers.
• Mask and snorkel: your own, if you have them. If not, you can rent them on the island.

Four ways to go

• The Aquarium and Haynes Cay tour: both cays and the mangroves, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
• Sunrise on a pontoon: from 5:00 to 8:00 AM, with the sunrise in front of the Aquarium, guided snorkeling at Haynes Cay and an island breakfast, before the crowds arrive. If you’re staying in Centro, Sarie Bay or the airport area, you’re picked up at your hotel. It’s the Sunrise on a Pontoon tour.
• The VIP tour: the Aquarium and Haynes Cay linked by a floating bridge, plus Johnny Cay and the mangrove, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It’s the VIP tour, and Johnny Cay has its own Johnny Cay guide.
• The Pontoon Bay Tour: seven hours on a covered pontoon, with stops at the Aquarium and Haynes Cay, Rocky Cay, El Palito and the Old Point mangroves. It’s the most comfortable option for children and older adults. It’s the Pontoon Bay Tour.