Imagine saying "I do" against the backdrop of Cartagena's breathtaking coastline, surrounded by your nearest and dearest. Tucked away in one of trendiest wedding destinations, Cartagena, Blue Apple Beach offers a sanctuary of luxury and exclusivity. In our interview with Portia Hart, the visionary behind Blue Apple Beach, we uncover what sets this boutique destination resort apart from the mainland hotels. Whether you're picturing a romantic celebration by the sea, a fun getaway with friends, or simply looking for a venue that blends city charm with the serenity of the beach, Blue Apple Beach is the perfect place for your dream celebration in Colombia.

Interview with Portia Hart - Founder at Blue Apple Beach, Cartagena, Colombia

What inspired Blue Apple Beach and its journey from concept to reality?

When I first set out to start Blue Apple Beach in 2016, the concept was meant to be just a beach club.  Coming from the South of France, I noticed a lack of beach clubs in the area and saw an opportunity to create something truly special. Tierra Bomba, the island where we are located, wasn’t yet a tourist destination and was widely underdeveloped. Many thought it was a futile idea, and most considered it to be impossible. 

I chose the name Blue Apple Beach because a blue apple is an impossible fruit, and every day, we achieve the impossible on an island with no running water, no paved roads, and no real infrastructure. Since its opening in 2016, Blue Apple has evolved into an 11-room hotel, beach club, and restaurant, as well as an on-site farm, vegetable garden, and glass recycling center as part of our non-profit Green Apple Foundation, which aims to change waste management in Cartagena and provide employment opportunities for locals. 

What's the charm of Tierra Bomba, Cartagena?

Tierra Bomba is the ideal island escape from Cartagena because it only requires a quick 20-minute boat ride, unlike other islands, like the Rosario Islands, which are about an hour away. At Blue Apple Beach, we have our own boats that we use for transfers to and from Cartagena. 

Though Cartagena is beautiful, like any city, it can get busy and loud and does not always provide a serene getaway for guests. Blue Apple Beach is the perfect spot for clients who are looking for a base where they can enjoy the beach and pool and take day trips into the city to see the sights. It’s an ideal way to have the best of both worlds. 

Though the island has become more developed over the past few years, it still has a lot of natural terrain and wildlife, which clients can see while taking one of our horse treks. We can also arrange a motorbike tour of Bocachica, which will teach them about some of the island's history, including forts with ancient battle equipment dating back hundreds of years.

What sets Blue Apple Beach apart from other resorts in the area?

Blue Apple Beach is a very special place, unlike any other hotel or beach club in the area. The property is a B-Corp, which means we’re committed to operating a sustainable business, including being zero-waste, solar-powered, and providing a livable wage for all of our employees. 

We’re also a luxury experience without taking ourselves too seriously. Our rooms and cabañas have air conditioning and some of the most comfortable beds you’ll ever sleep on. Most of our cabañas have their own private plunge pools. We offer top-notch service in a laid-back setting where you can enjoy serenity or a lively party atmosphere on some weekends. Blue Apple has something for everyone. 

When is the best time to visit Blue Apple Beach, and what sets it apart from other Caribbean islands?

The best time to visit in terms of weather would be our high season, typically from December to March, when there is little rain. The rainy season in Cartagena typically lasts from  May to November, so availability tends to be better,  though any time is a good time to visit and enjoy the culture, food, and sights of the city.

How does Blue Apple Beach cater to families traveling with young children?

Children are welcome, and our concierge can work with guests to ensure that their needs are met, whether it means booking a local sitter or coordinating a kid-friendly movie night on our projector.

What's the ideal group size and length of stay for a group of friends or family at Blue Apple Beach?

Groups of all sizes are welcome. Some of our rooms can accommodate up to four guests, with the maximum number of guests staying on the property at one time being 26. We usually recommend a minimum of 2 nights, but 3-4 nights is ideal, as well as staying on the island and taking day trips to Cartagena, which is only 20 minutes away by boat.

If guests are interested in taking over the whole property, we offer a Private Villa Experience. The exclusive (and all-inclusive) experience welcomes a group of up to 22 guests to take over the entire property, which includes 11 well-appointed eco-luxury cabañas and guest rooms, two pools, a restaurant with a full staff of bartenders, housekeepers, servers, and cooks, and our private beach.

At a fraction of the cost of a typical resort buyout, guests can leave every decision and piece of planning up to the Blue Apple Beach team. This experience is for discerning travelers who are bored of the typical Four Seasons or Aman Resort experience and want an authentic one with luxury touches and generous hospitality. 

When booking the Private Villa Experience, guests also have the option of high-touch add-ons like including a curated pool party with DJs, live musicians, dancers, a photographer, and a high-level guest list of tastemakers and like-minded locals, with no risk to guests' privacy.  For a truly personalized service at an additional fee and by invitation only, Portia will personally act as a concierge for the group, allowing them VIP access to the most exclusive nightlife and gastronomic experiences in Cartagena, creating a fully customized itinerary that typically would not be accessible for the average visitor. This is truly a one-of-a-kind package and perfect for a group of friends looking to celebrate. 

The Ultimate Cartagena Private Villa Experience:

• Three nights accommodation in 11 guest rooms, checking in at 5 pm on Friday and checking out at 11 am on Monday*

• All meals, with bespoke menu planning and private chef on property 

• All drinks, including alcohol (does not include liquor by the bottle, champagne, or ultra-premium liquor, e.g., Clase Azul, 1942, JW Blue)

• 60 min beach massage per person

• Ten Discovery Scuba Dives

• Ten horse rides 

• DJ 4 hours a day + live instrumental sunset session one night

• Yoga class on Saturday and Sunday morning

• Boat transfers to and from the island 

• Access to speedboat 24/7 between Cartagena and the island (additional fuel not included) 

• Airport transfers

• Staff gratuity

• Impact Fund donation, making your stay on the island waste-free and carbon-neutral 

The value of this package is $30,000 USD. (At the max head count, it's only $1,155 per guest —a steal!)

*prices are accurate at the time of publishing this blog

What activities can guests enjoy on and off the property around Tierra Bomba?

At the property, we offer horseback riding around the island, with some of the most beautiful views of the sea and landscape. Guests can also ride motorbikes around the island with a local guide or go scuba diving and get PADI certified in partnership with Paraiso Dive Cartagena. 

Guests can also enjoy a Conservation Dive experience, which offers an up-close view of Blue Apple’s coral reef conservation project in partnership with Paraiso and marine biologists to regenerate the coral that’s been damaged by boating and pollution. They've developed a coral nursery on the seafloor, made with hand-weaved baskets from natural materials weaved by local artisans. The coral is then attached to the baskets, and the team incorporates a small electrical current to help the coral regenerate (the equivalent of a 12-volt phone charge). When the coral reaches a certain size, they’re moved to continue growing in their natural habitat. The 2-hour Conservation Dive includes a visit to the site, assistance with coral planting, maintenance, and data collection, and a short presentation on the project.

For something a little less active, the resort also offers massages, cooking classes, movie nights, bonfires, tours of the Green Apple Foundation glass recycling center, and guest chef dinners every other month with A-list chefs from around the world as part of our Secret Garden Supper Club Series—an intimate, multi-course dinner party hosted in our whimsical vegetable garden. 

Why should clients book Blue Apple Bay to host their pre/post-celebration party in Cartagena? What type of events can they organize at the property?

Because it’s the best place to host any event in Cartagena! From pre/post-wedding parties to reunions, family gatherings, festivals, birthdays, and corporate events, we do it all. 

We can accommodate groups of 12 - 300 guests for an event. As we’re set over 2 acres, Blue Apple's amenities comfortably accommodate up to 300 people. We will work with the host to design a package that includes transport, meals, drinks, and if required, a pre-paid bar tab.  

For groups of 70 people or more, we require a full buy-out of the hotel, restaurant, and beach club. This includes exclusive access to the beach club and restaurant, 11 rooms (sleeping up to 26, available from 3 p.m.), and a staff of 50+.

Events can be held in the beach club, which features a large pool, a covered dining area, and a sandy lower deck (with a pizza oven!). We can also arrange events on our small beachfront or in our vegetable garden for intimate seated dinners. Capacity varies depending on the style of the event for each area.

We work with clients to create custom event proposals and have a database of extra hands, musicians, DJs, performers, event planners, and designers who have worked with us in the past. We will allow outside vendors on a case-by-case basis; however, this will depend on the size and type of event.

We've seen and done it all. The only limit is our imagination (and your budget).

What's unique about the restaurant at Blue Apple Beach?

At Blue Apple Beach, Executive Chef Pedro Mosqueda serves up a vibrant menu of Mediterranean favorites and Colombian-Caribbean specialties. Chef Pedro has a Michelin-starred background, having worked with award-winning chefs, including Jean Georges, April Bloomfield, and Harry Sasson. His Mediterranean-influenced menu rivals many fine dining establishments in both flavor and execution. Dish highlights include whole roasted mackerel with roasted garlic, green salsa, and lime zest. Many of the animal proteins on the menu, including pork and chicken, are thoughtfully sourced from Blue Apple’s on-site livestock. All other meat, seafood, and produce are from sustainable, ethical purveyors and, where possible, local. We recently created an ecosystem reviving micro-farm onsite with the help of regenerative farmer Alex Feher. The team ensures that all kitchen scraps are composted or fed to livestock, making Blue Apple 85% waste-free.

Once every couple of months, we invite a world-renowned chef to Blue Apple and co-host an intimate chef's table dinner for only 24 guests in our vegetable garden – it’s one of the most unique dining experiences in Cartagena. Past chefs have included Top Chef’s Kristen Kish, Michelin-starred chef George Mendes, and World’s 50 Best chef Jaime Rodriguez.

Other chefs who will be joining us in 2024 include Nina Compton, Palak Patel, Kanchan Koya, and more. 

What other dining options are available close by that you would recommend?

We can arrange visits to some of our favorite restaurants in the city, including Celele, Carmen, El Beso, Montmartre, La Vitrola, and more. We recommend our guests check in with our concierge team to discuss restaurant options off-island.

Are there any local touches or amenities that set Blue Apple Beach apart?

We have an on-site boutique where we’ve curated unique, sustainability-made clothing and accessories from Colombian designers. 

Guests can also enjoy themselves guilt-free at Blue Apple, knowing that the money they spend here contributes to an impact fund that supports the environment and local communities through recycling and waste management, mangrove restoration, community development, and more.

What is one of your favorite memories that was created for guests at the property?

Definitely, the Private Villa Experience that we curated for a Hollywood star, his brother and friends. They opted to have me as their personal concierge and we all had an absolute blast. The clients ended up going around the island on motorbikes with some of our team members, and visiting their families. We threw a big party for them with all of our friends and our best local clients, which everyone loved. They said the experience felt like the shortcut into VIP Cartagena life (which it was).

Whether you're planning a group trip or  a destination wedding buyout  Blue Apple Beach offers a unique blend of sustainability, luxury, and personalized service that sets them apart. Submit an inquiry form now to take the first step towards creating unforgettable memories on the shores of Tierra Bomba, Cartagena. Let's make your dream celebration a reality!

Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.