Johnny Cay, Colombia tide times

Water taxis depart from the main pier near the town centre and from the beaches at Spratt Bight. The crossing takes 10 minutes. Boats run from around 8 am to 4 pm, with the highest frequency between 9 am and noon. Return trips run from the cay throughout the day on demand. The fare is a fixed return ticket — buy from the boatmen at the pier before boarding. No advance booking is required. The cay has limited capacity and the park authority periodically restricts visitor numbers on busy days; early arrival avoids both the crowds and any capacity controls. The water between San Andrés and Johnny Cay is shallow and calm under most conditions.

Basic mask, fins, and snorkel are sufficient for the reef fringe around Johnny Cay — the coral is at 1–5 m depth, easily reached without a wetsuit in the 27–29°C water. Rental equipment is available from vendors on the cay's beach. Bring your own if you want quality optics — the rental masks are functional but variable. A flotation vest or snorkel jacket is available for non-confident swimmers and allows reef viewing from the surface without active swimming. Avoid sunscreen chemicals that harm coral — use mineral-based (zinc oxide) SPF or reef-safe formulations, and wetsuits or rash guards offer sun protection without lotion.

Spring tidal range is 25–40 cm — the reef fringe stays submerged throughout the tidal cycle with no dramatic drainage. The tidal flow through the reef gaps creates current that increases during peak tidal phases (around high and low water transitions). The north and east sides of the reef fringe see stronger tidal flow than the sheltered west beach. Snorkellers exploring the current-exposed east side should be aware of the drift and stay within easy swimming distance of an exit point. The best visibility conditions are the incoming tide phase and the hour after high water, when recent current has cleared any sediment stirred by boat traffic. Open-Meteo Marine provides timing data with ±45-minute accuracy.

The nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) that rest under coral heads on the eastern fringe of Johnny Cay are not a threat under normal circumstances. Nurse sharks are bottom-dwelling, slow-moving, and primarily nocturnal feeders on shellfish and small fish. They are habituated to snorkeller presence. The risk arises from harassment: grabbing a nurse shark or approaching within 1–2 metres triggers a defensive bite. Maintain at least 2 m distance, don't attempt to touch or ride the sharks, and don't corner them under a coral head. The sharks at Johnny Cay are well-documented by dive operators and are not aggressive toward observant snorkellers.

The cay has basic beach facilities: food and drink vendors sell fried fish, coconut rice, and cold drinks on the beach. There are no permanent restaurants. Toilets are basic. Hammock rental and palm-shade lounger areas operate from vendors on the beach. There are no freshwater showers. The cay has no overnight accommodation — it is strictly a day-visit destination. The water taxi return to San Andrés town is demand-based through the afternoon; the last boats typically leave the cay around 4–4:30 pm. Don't miss the last boat — there are no options for staying on the cay after boats stop running.