By: Carley Rojas Avila

Set on a sun-drenched stretch of Colombian coastline, the colonial city of Cartagena has drawn visitors for centuries with its undeniable appeal. But seaside allure aside, travelers have long had to trek far outside the city to find a beach experience worthy of the city’s enviable Caribbean setting. Now, thanks to the attractive beaches and upscale resorts on Isla Tierra Bomba, that’s no longer necessary.

When British-Trinidadian hotelier Portia Hart founded Blue Apple Beach on an untouched stretch of Isla Tierra Bomba in 2016, the island still felt like a secret. Designed to capture the seaside cool of European beach clubs for the Cartagena jetset, the beachfront property has now grown into a luxe, award-winning boutique hotel worth a dedicated stay.

Guests can purchase a day pass and be whisked away by boat from the city center to the property’s private shores, making Blue Apple Beach one of the most frictionless beach day excursions from Cartagena. With its thoughtfully designed collection of spacious suites and standalone cabañas—many with private plunge pools and outdoor bathrooms—guests often end up staying longer than planned. The appeal is undeniable: one of the few properties in the country listed in the Michelin Guide, Blue Apple Beach was recently selected as one of the top five hotels in South America in Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

All-day poolside dining features an elevated menu of Caribbean- and Colombian-inspired dishes, many highlighting ingredients sourced from the property’s own gardens. Here, Executive Chef Pedro Mosqueda also regularly hosts intimate secret garden supper club events featuring top chefs from across the region and around the world. They’re a small part of embodying this B-corp-certified property’s eco-forward practices, cemented by the work of its own Green Apple Foundation.

Blue Apple Beach is far from Isla Tierra Bomba’s only draw, with the island’s lesser-visited shores becoming increasingly sought-after in the wake of the hotel’s island-redefining success. The Pink Mango recently debuted on another corner of the island, its long stretch of palm-shaded sand complemented by colorful, Caribbean-inspired décor. The oceanfront swimming pool and an impressive menu that goes far beyond beach bites make it a popular addition to the coast.

Beyond the beach, Isla Tierra Bomba’s mostly untouched expanses are best explored by horseback or speed bike, though water taxis and private charters are the most reliable ways to ferry visitors between their destinations. Travelers can also round out the experience by booking a boat charter with Boating Cartagena, which arranges private excursions to snorkeling sites or to islands further afield. That is, if you can ever pull yourself away from the beach.