HISTORY
The history of the Insular Region, especially the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, begins with the presence of the Indigenous and Arawak peoples who inhabited the islands before the arrival of Europeans. In the 17th century, these islands became a strategic point in the Caribbean, leading the English, Spanish, and Dutch to fight for their control.
During colonization, African slaves arrived who, along with Europeans and Indigenous people, gave rise to the Raizal community, which still preserves its culture, language, and traditions. After Colombia's independence in 1822, the islands were formally incorporated into Colombian territory.
Since then, the region has maintained its cultural identity and faces challenges to protect its unique traditions and ecosystems, while promoting its social and political development.