San Andres Island has long been on the radar for Israeli and observant Jewish travelers looking for a Caribbean getaway that doesn’t require a transatlantic flight. The Colombian island sits in the Western Caribbean, closer to Nicaragua than to Bogotá, and it draws a steady stream of Israeli tourists. Now the island has something it hasn’t had before: a full Chabad House operation with daily services, Shabbat programming, and its own kosher restaurant open throughout the week. This is a genuine infrastructure moment for Jewish travel in the Caribbean that has opened in the last few years.
Why San Andres
San Andres is a small Colombian island in the Western Caribbean, about 230 kilometers east of Nicaragua and nearly 750 kilometers from the Colombian mainland. It covers just 26 square kilometers, meaning you can circle the entire island by golf cart or scooter in under an hour. Despite its size, it punches well above its weight as a travel destination. The surrounding waters are part of an archipelago that connects to the third largest barrier reef in the world, and the sea here is famously called the “Mar de 7 Colores” (Sea of Seven Colors) for the shifting blues, greens, and lilac tones visible from shore. Underwater visibility regularly exceeds 30 meters, making it one of the better diving and snorkeling destinations in the entire Caribbean.
The island’s culture is distinctly Afro-Caribbean, shaped by English colonizers and the indigenous Raizal community rather than the Spanish colonial history of mainland Colombia. English, Spanish, and Creole are all spoken here. The vibe is laid-back Caribbean: reggae, fresh seafood, white sand beaches, and warm water year-round. San Andres is also a duty-free zone, which makes it a popular domestic destination for Colombian shoppers, but international travelers have been slower to discover it compared to other Caribbean spots.
For Israeli travelers in particular, San Andres has been a draw for years, the kind of off-the-beaten-path Caribbean stop that shows up on the post-army travel circuit. The island’s main beach strip, Spratt Bight, runs along the northern shore and is lined with hotels and restaurants. Johnny Cay, a small coral island reachable by a 15-minute boat ride, is one of the most popular day trips. Other highlights include the Aquarium snorkeling area, Rocky Cay, the blowhole at El Hoyo Soplador, and the pirate legend of Morgan’s Cave. Neighboring Providencia Island, a 25-minute flight away, is even more pristine and draws the more adventurous crowd. The best time to visit is December through April (dry season), though the island is warm and workable year-round.
Flights to San Andres (airport code ADZ) connect through Bogotá, Medellín, and other Colombian cities. Note that all tourists entering San Andres must pay a tourism card fee upon arrival, payable in cash at the airport. Hotel options range from beachfront resorts to local guesthouses, with the Decameron Isleño being a popular all-inclusive option frequently recommended by the Chabad House for guests who want a comfortable home base near the water.
A New Chabad House for the Caribbean
Chabad San Andres, led by Rabbi Mordechai Bigio and the Rebbetzin, is a newly established Chabad House serving the island’s Jewish visitors year-round. The house runs daily and Shabbat davening, Shabbat and Yom Tov meals by registration, and full tourist support for observant travelers navigating the island. The Chabad House is located in the Sarie Bay area and serves as the anchor for kosher travel logistics in San Andres: hotel recommendations, attraction guidance, Shabbat food packages, and delivery service to nearby accommodations are all part of what they’ve built out.
For the traveler who’s been eyeing San Andres but wasn’t sure there was enough Jewish infrastructure to make it work, this changes the calculation.
The Restaurant: אלוקותא
Running out of the Chabad House is אלוקותא, a kosher restaurant open Sunday through Thursday with a menu built for the island’s mix of Israeli tourists, diaspora travelers, and the broader Chabad crowd that passes through. The kitchen runs meat and pareve, no dairy.
The word אלוקותא (pronounced Elahuta or Elukuta) is an Aramaic term that roughly translates to “Godliness,” “Divinity,” or “the quality of being God.” It is formed from the Aramaic root for God (אלוקה / אלהא) combined with the Aramaic suffix “-ותא”, which denotes a state or abstract quality (similar to “-ness” or “-ity” in English). [1, 2]
The Menu
The menu pulls from Israeli breakfast and street food traditions and adapts them for a sit-down restaurant setting. The shakshuka leads things off: tomato-braised eggs with two fried eggs layered in, served with two slices of challah. It’s the kind of dish that travels well onto an island menu and makes sense as a late-morning or midday option.
The Israeli breakfast plate is a solid all-day option — three fresh eggs cooked to order, Israeli salad, and a laffa. There’s also a hummus plate done the traditional way: whole chickpeas, raw onion, lemon, olive oil, and fresh pita.
For mains, the chicken schnitzel comes in two versions. The Schnitzel Shnitzl is a panko-breaded breast (200g) served with fries or rice, and there’s a Chabad-style variation that goes into a laffa with hummus, inside a fresh pita. The Crispy Schnitzel is the same 200g portion served with fries or rice and fresh Israeli salad.
The burger is a 100% beef patty with tomato, onion, and pickles, served with fries. Toppings can be added at $6 per item. The fish option is the Bass Aluki — a white sea bass fillet pan-seared with lemon, served with fries or rice and a fresh Israeli salad. The chicken mushroom dish (Sarganit) is a pan-fried chicken thigh served over rice or fries with a fresh salad alongside.
Sides run from $1 to $6: rice, fries, Israeli salad, laffa, and tahini. Drinks include Coca-Cola Zero, beer, and water, all priced between $2.50 and $3.50.
Desserts cover the basics — chocolate cookies, croissants, chocolate croissants, fresh pita, challah, and lekach — ranging from $3 to $8.
Prices are listed in USD. The menu notes a 10% discount for soldiers and that the dollar exchange rate is calculated at 4.5.
>>> Click here for the full menu
Hours and Getting There
אלוקותא is open Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Beyond restaurant hours, the Chabad House offers Shabbat and Yom Tov meals by registration, pre-packaged Shabbat food for pickup, and delivery to nearby hotels. Davening runs daily and on Shabbat. It’s a full-service operation, not just a meal program.
אלוקותא at Chabad San Andres is located at Calle 6 19-165, Sarie Bay, San Andres Island, Colombia.
Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Kosher certification is under the hashgacha of Rabbi Mordechai Bigio, Rav of Chabad San Andres. Closed Friday evening and Shabbat. For reservations, delivery, or Shabbat meal registration, contact Chabad San Andres via WhatsApp at +57 304 328 0699 or visit chabadsanandres.com.
Looking for kosher restaurants near you? Download the KosherNearMe app at YeahThatsKosher.com/app.
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