Discover Scuba Diving and Horseback Riding at Colombia’s Eco-Friendly Beach Club

Blue Apple Beach is one of Colombia’s best island getaways, showcasing strong sustainability initiatives.

When choosing a beach vacation, recycling may not be front of mind for every guest; however, it’s a crucial topic for Portia Hart—the British-Trinidadian owner of Blue Apple Beach. “It’s not a very catchy topic,” she admits with a laugh. “But it excites me.” This summer, Hart’s foundation received a $50,000 grant in recognition of the hotel’s glass-recycling operation. “It’s huge for us,” she shares.

This project is just one of the innovations at the 11-room hotel on Isla Tierra Bomba, approximately 20 minutes off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. With engaging poolside DJ sets, a scuba center, and an outdoor cinema, Blue Apple is undoubtedly a fun destination. Moreover, the hotel boasts significant sustainability credentials (it’s a certified B Corp): 50 percent of the hotel’s energy is generated from solar sources, and kitchen waste is either composted or used as feed for the property’s livestock.

What brought you to Colombia?

I’d been living in the south of France and came here to learn Spanish in 2014. I never left.

What makes sustainability a challenge at Blue Apple?

Our location presents challenges. There’s no bridge or tunnel from our island to the mainland, plus no public transportation, running water, or paved roads. Thus, we rely on boats that operate on gasoline and diesel. Therefore, I’m always asking: How can we minimize fuel usage and utilize carbon offsets?

How can small hotels like yours create more positive impacts in their communities?

Don’t feel like you can’t do it. I stopped overthinking and decided to act with one small change, and then another and another. Here, we turn glass waste from around the country into sand for construction use or repurpose it into artwork.

What’s one thing that should be a part of every hotel experience?

I always think of xenia, the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, which means welcoming a stranger into your home and making them feel safe and comfortable. For me, if you don’t have a human connection with those hosting you, it isn’t hospitality; it’s merely a transaction. I want to connect with the person serving my drink, making my bed, or greeting me at the front desk.

A version of this story first appeared in the October 2023 issue of iBestTravel under the headline “Change Agent.”