Blue Apple Beach is more than a boutique hotel. It’s a bold experiment in what hospitality can be when sustainability, community, and great design come together. Nestled on the shores of Tierra Bomba Island, just a short boat ride from Cartagena, Colombia, this 11-room boutique hotel and beach club offers guests a vibrant escape where effortless luxury meets real social impact. From the thatched cabanas built with traditional techniques to the handmade furniture crafted by local artisans, every detail reflects a deep respect for Colombian heritage. Guests come for the laid-back beach vibes, farm-to-table dining, and epic weekend parties, but they leave with something even greater which is an experience rooted in purpose, connection, and sustainability. Blue Apple Beach is ranked among the top hotels in South America by Condé Nast Traveller, but it stands out for more than just its stunning setting. As the first island resort in the world to become B Corp Certified, Blue Apple is proving that hospitality can be a force for good.
The Blue Apple Beach Origin Story
For years, Portia Hart thrived in the world of luxury hospitality, working among yachts, film festivals, and high-profile events in Monaco and the South of France. She built a successful career in an industry that revolved around exclusivity, but something never felt quite right. She saw firsthand how tourism often catered to the privileged few with little regard for the people and places that made these experiences possible. She wanted to create something different, something that didn’t just serve guests but also empowered communities and protected the environment. In 2014, she took a leap and moved to Cartagena, Colombia, looking for a deeper connection to her Caribbean roots and a new challenge. She quickly fell in love with the city’s vibrancy and culture, but outside of its walls, she saw a gap. The beaches were beautiful, but the tourism experience felt disconnected with high-end hotels in the city and little investment in the islands nearby. There was an opportunity to build something that blended great hospitality with real impact. From that vision, Blue Apple Beach was born, a boutique hotel that would later become the first island resort in the world to earn B Corp certification, proving that tourism can be both luxurious and regenerative.
How Blue Apple Beach Is Making A Positive Impact
Blue Apple Beach was built on the belief that hospitality should uplift communities, protect the environment, and welcome everyone. This commitment shapes every aspect of its operations, from hiring local staff to minimizing waste and reinvesting in the surrounding area. More than 90% of employees come from Bocachica and nearby villages, many from underrepresented backgrounds. The hotel provides subsidized English lessons, interest-free loans, and professional development opportunities, ensuring that the benefits of tourism stay within the community. Eighty-five percent of operational costs are spent locally, with 30% of suppliers coming from minority-owned businesses. Through the Bocachica Community Fund, Blue Apple reinvests in education, elderly care, sports, and environmental programs, with local residents deciding how funds are distributed. To keep tourism accessible, the hotel offers discounted rates for Colombian residents, allowing locals to enjoy the experience alongside international guests.
Sustainability is at the core of Blue Apple Beach. Through the Green Apple Foundation, they created Cartagena’s first glass recycling program, turning discarded bottles into building-grade sand and diverting over 90 tons of waste from landfills. Organic waste is composted or repurposed, creating a near zero-waste operation. To address climate change, Blue Apple offsets carbon emissions through global initiatives like SeaTrees, which protects Colombia’s páramo ecosystems, and local projects like Ecovida Mangroves, which restore estuaries while creating jobs. In 2023, they contributed 2.3% of revenue to environmental and social causes, exceeding their own ambitious goals. With support from the UnTours Foundation’s Reset Tourism Fund, Blue Apple is taking its commitment to accessibility even further. Recognizing the challenges of reaching the property, they are investing in a custom-built accessible boat, ensuring that travelers of all abilities can experience this slice of Caribbean paradise without barriers. This investment marks an important step in making regenerative travel truly inclusive, proving that sustainable tourism should be for everyone, not just a few.
How You Can Support Blue Apple Beach
Blue Apple Beach is redefining hospitality with a commitment to people, purpose, and lasting impact. As a B Corp Certified hotel, it restores ecosystems, creates jobs, and makes travel more inclusive. By staying at Blue Apple Beach, you support a model of tourism that is both joyful and regenerative. You can also help by sharing their story, following them on social media, and choosing travel experiences that uplift local communities and protect the environment.
