Wandering Providencia on Foot: To the West

An inviting start to a walk

A tribute to Providencia's seafaring people (the man is blowing a conch horn

Walking west out of Santa Isabel is a treat. First you stroll the colorful boardwalk that lines the waterfront and terminates in an interesting sculpture of mariner and little girl, a tribute to the seafaring populace. Beyond that are a couple of attractive churches, then the residential area of Old Town. Then…uphill. It’s a long, slow hill to traverse, punctuated by beautiful views out over the bay. There’s even a raised platform alongside the road from which you can view the anchorage and Santa Catalina. Playful artwork – a giant octopus bus stop and a painted plaque reminding everyone to “Let the sun set on a clean beach” (in both English and Spanish) – announces the first of several beaches along this shore. Almond/Allan Bay (we saw it referred to by both names) is a short walk down the hill. There’s no lack of artwork here, either. Underfoot are graphics of various sea creatures, a painted horse sign, and a seat designed as an enormous turtle. There was also a cute little beach bar, but no one was working it at the time. The beach itself was pretty non-existent; eroded by the winter surf and piled high with seagrass that floated in on the waves. We also spied a couple of great lizards on our walk back up to the road. We headed a bit farther south, but with no idea how far anything was, and more than an hour’s walk back already in the heat, we called it a day.

View to the anchorage from a roadside elevated viewing stand - how convenient!

Imaginative bus stop at Almond Bay

Lovely blue lizard

A sidewalk of sea creatures

Down to the winter beach piled with seagrass

We'd have bought cold drinks if there was someone here! He arrived as we were leaving

Wandering Providencia on Foot: To the East

Chris hoofing it along the main road east out of Santa Isabel

Providencia is not a large island. It’s likely that one could walk the main road that encircles the island just inland of the shore in a single day, but it’s too hot for that. We did, however, strike out from Santa Isabel for long walks. Heading east through town, you pass residences (along the main road, and along the small roads branching off of the main road), the police station, hospital, and the local library, up and down several hills, before breaking into the ‘burbs (ha ha, just fewer houses). We enjoyed several walks along the Maricaibo loop, one of the few paved roads on the island besides the main road. You pass several lovely rental houses as well as a couple of small boutique resorts; Deep Blue has a nice waterfront small restaurant where we stopped one morning for coffee and juice. What we really loved was a piece of land for sale, across the road from the water. It was sloped, with a flat area near the treeline for a house, and large open areas for fruit trees and terraced gardens. That’s what we decided belonged there, anyway. The road continues on to a small residential area, then meets back up with the main road. The only real hill on this route is that on the south side of town, so it’s a pretty easy walk.

Appropriately themed bus stop in front of the library, complete with sculptured books and reader

Chris imitates art outside a posada

Rental house along Maracaibo loop

Beautiful mural along the main road

Lot for sale with great potential (and beautiful flowers)