I stayed on the private tropical island owned by Corona beer – and it’s finally open to the public after three years
A TROPICAL island opened by Corona beer is finally open to the public – and I was one of the first to stay.
Off the coast of Cartagena in Colombia, the private island first launched back in 2022.
Hopping on the boat myself, we were joined by other guests as well as a trunk full of Corona cocktails to “ease” the journey.
Zooming up to the island, it really felt like the middle of nowhere with nothing in sight for miles.
Hopping off the boat (with a splash in the water – thank goodness for wearing shorts) I was met by sunloungers lining the thin stretch of beach poking out from the main island.
Being fully sustainable, the idea of the island is to switch off and relax, so don’t expect all the frills of attractions and experiences.
In the centre of the island is the main bar and restaurant, with open-air tables surrounding it.
The food menu changes, often using up leftover produce. For example, for lunch we had a delicious bread and butter pudding using up the leftover croissants from lunch.
But eat fast – the local wildlife of the island is waiting for you to finish, with macaws and monkeys watching from the eaves.
The main Sunclub deck area is where you can find the morning yoga, made easy by the cooling breeze from all angles, as well as where you can party into the evening with a few drinks.
Thankfully the entire island is shaded thanks to all of the trees, each dotted with hammocks and swinging chairs.
But find the hidden spiral staircase and you will find the treetop roof terrace with the best views over the island.
This is also where you can do some stargazing.
But if the relaxation isn’t enough for you, the island offers additional trips you can take.
One of my favourires was mangrove planting.
The trees are extremely important to protecting the coastline from erosion, yet many are being destroyed by the warmer waters.
Taken along by expert guides, we learned about everything that we can do, as well as planted our own.
Just don’t expect to see them any time soon as they can take a hundred years to grow.
Sadly the spa wasn’t open during my stay, although guests can now book a number of treatments inside.
But my favourite place to relax was in my beachfront bungalow, one of 10 lining the edge of the island.
Built out of wood – there is no concrete on the island – my huge king-size bed had uninterrupted views of the ocean from the floor to ceiling windows.
Along with an open-air shower and en-suite, my private decking even had a freshwater hot tub.
Safe to say I had a fair few number of beers in that to watch the sunset.
I spent the days hopping from the restaurant to the seating areas, lined with cushions and bean bags, before hopping into the ocean for a dip.
Its the ultimate relaxation even for those who can’t switch off.
How do I book?
Guests can book day passes which include the round-trip speedboat to and from the island, leaving the mainland at 8:30am and returning at 3pm.
A beach bed and sunlounger are allocated to each guest, as well as kayaking, snorkelling and paddleboarding off teh island.
A three course a la carte lunch as well as some free Corona beers are also included (pay a bit extra if you fancy a cocktail).
Prices start from 672,269 Columbian pesos (£127).
Or if you want their “Wake Up In Paradise” package, this includes an overnight stay in one of the 10 lodges as well as everything in the day pass.
Additional extras including the mangrove reforestation, coral reef recovery and spa.
Prices start from $600 (£462).