Decameron Aquarium
Reopening Date & Status
Decameron Aquarium is temporarily closed — structural repairs (no reopening date announced).
Decameron Aquarium is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in San Andres, Colombia with 297 rooms. Amenities include Beach, Buffet Dining, Diving, Fishing and Snorkeling. Travelers rate it 4.2/5 across 7,885 Google reviews.
What travelers said before it closed
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Exceptional architecture with circular towers at Punta Hansa offering panoramic Caribbean Sea views that genuinely compete with any resort in the region
- +A long wooden dock leads directly to a natural sea pool and aquatic platform ideal for snorkeling - the underwater visibility in San Andres is world-class
- +San Andres Island itself is one of Colombia's most beautiful destinations, with turquoise water in multiple distinct shades that earn it the 'Seven Colors Sea' designation
- +Six restaurants offering everything from breakfast buffets to fresh Caribbean seafood, with a culinary range unusual for a mid-market all-inclusive
- +Non-motorized water sports (windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, surfing) are included in the all-inclusive rate, giving active guests outstanding daily options
- +Spratt Bight Beach - one of San Andres's most beautiful stretches - is just steps from the resort, offering access to public beach culture and the boardwalk
- +Staff described as genuinely smiling, attentive, and service-oriented, with the kind of warmth that makes a mid-range property punch above its category
- +San Andres is significantly less expensive to visit than equivalent Caribbean destinations in Mexico or the Dominican Republic, making the all-inclusive value compelling
Cons
- −Room decor is tired and worn - the accommodation quality is the property's weakest point relative to the spectacular setting
- −Wi-Fi and in-room safes cost extra, which is a frustrating nickel-and-dime at an all-inclusive property where guests expect basic amenities to be covered
- −No minibars in rooms, meaning guests who want a drink in their room need to go to a bar - inconvenient for a property this spread out
- −Potable water is not available from the tap, and some guests report no bottled water provided in rooms as a matter of course
- −A la carte restaurant reservations fill up quickly and the waitlist system frustrates guests who miss the booking window
- −Mediocre all-inclusive food quality at the main buffet compared to what's available at local restaurants just off property in San Andres town
- −Some guests report bathroom maintenance issues including roof leaks and sewer odors in certain room areas - quality control appears inconsistent
- −San Andres is a remote island destination with limited flight connections, making it harder and sometimes more expensive to reach than Mexico or Dominican Republic resorts
First, the essential update: Decameron Aquarium has been closed since September 24, 2025 and remains closed with no announced reopening date. An engineering study found structural anomalies - material degradation and corrosion in the building columns - serious enough that Decameron preventively evacuated around 200 occupied rooms and pulled the hotel from sale. Guests with confirmed reservations were offered relocation to other Decameron properties on San Andres or full refunds, and as of mid-2026 the chain's official site no longer lists Aquarium among its island hotels. Until repairs are complete and a reopening is announced, everything below describes the resort as it operated before the closure.
What made Aquarium worth watching for is one of the Caribbean's most genuinely spectacular settings. San Andres sits in Colombian waters where the sea displays itself in that impossible palette of turquoise shades - locally called the 'Sea of Seven Colors' - and the resort's circular tower architecture at Punta Hansa captured panoramic views from multiple angles, with a long dock extending into a natural sea pool for snorkeling in world-class visibility. The resort itself was a solid mid-market all-inclusive: genuinely warm, smiling staff, six restaurants with fresh Caribbean seafood as a strength, and included non-motorized water sports. The weak points were physical even before the closure - dated rooms, maintenance issues including leaks and odors in some units, and extra charges for Wi-Fi and safes - which puts the structural findings in a certain context.
If you had your heart set on Aquarium's setting, the destination is still fully available: Decameron's other San Andres properties - Isleno (on the iconic Spratt Bight beach), Los Delfines, Marazul, Maryland, and San Luis - remain open, and the island experience that made Aquarium appealing (Johnny Cay excursions, the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve snorkeling, cheap local seafood and rum, golf-cart loops of the island) doesn't depend on this one hotel. Keep an eye on Decameron's official site for reopening news before making any plans around this specific property.
Common Questions
Is the snorkeling really that good from the resort's dock?
What is the 'Seven Colors Sea' and can you actually see it?
Is San Andres Island easy to get to for international travelers?
How does Decameron Aquarium compare to other Decameron properties?
What should I do off-resort in San Andres?
Is Decameron Aquarium open right now?
What's nearby
Rocky Cay6 min drive · 4.0 mi
10 min walk · 0.5 mi
10 min walk · 0.5 mi
First Baptist Church (La Loma)7 min drive · 3.6 mi
Casa Museo Isleña8 min drive · 5.2 mi
Big Pond lagoon9 min drive · 4.6 mi
More things to do (12)
- Muelle Casa de la Cultura · marina10 min walk · 0.5 mi
- Spratt Bight Beach · beach4 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Green Beach · beach6 min drive · 3.7 mi
- Cocoplum Bay · beach6 min drive · 4.0 mi
- Mirador La Loma · viewpoint6 min drive · 3.5 mi
- San Andrés Botanical Garden · nature7 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Sound Bay (San Luis) · beach8 min drive · 5.8 mi
- Morgan's Cave · historic site10 min drive · 6.7 mi
- West View · nature10 min drive · 6.8 mi
- South End beach · beach11 min drive · 8.8 mi
- La Piscinita · nature11 min drive · 7.7 mi
- Hoyo Soplador · nature12 min drive · 9.0 mi
Amenities
Seaweed & sargassum
San Andrés gets sargassum, typically worst March through September, with documented influxes in March, April-May and September.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.2 · 7,885 reviews
“The resort is quite lovely and the staff is very helpful and friendly. We truly enjoyed the sun chairs on the dock and the kind staff, especially since we are still learning Spanish. Our food was delicious, especially at the seafood restaurant on t...”