Experiences
I Went To Corona Beer’s Private Island, And Apparently Paradise Does Exist

‘Gram-worthy photo opps, sustainable activities, and plenty of Corona await.

by Lara Walsh
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Courtesy of Corona Beer

Corona Beer is known for its brews and seltzers, so when the company announced it was opening a private island off of the coast of Colombia, I was intrigued. A 45-minute boat ride from Cartagena, Corona Island is a tropical escape that’s all about sustainability and enjoying your natural surroundings.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

Not only is there only one Wi-Fi zone on the island, but you can also expect to find plenty of ‘Gram-worthy spots throughout that encourage guests to relax and unwind without their phones or laptops nearby.

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Lara Walsh

Don’t expect to be bored, however, because there’s everything from mangrove planting to morning yoga to keep you entertained. Corona Island won’t be open to the public for booking until 2023, so here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect from the space:

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

I stayed in a bungalow right off the water, which made me feel like I was immersed in nature. The buildings are handcrafted by local artisans and are built high off the ground so baby turtles have a better chance of getting by to the water.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

While the bungalow didn’t have Wi-Fi, it offered plenty of luxury amenities, like a light-up outdoor hot tub, an outdoor shower, and artisan decor throughout. There was nothing like waking up and having a cup of coffee while looking out into the ocean.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

In keeping with making visitors feel like they’re one with nature, you can expect to hang out with parrots, a tortoise, a family of monkeys, and more all around the island.

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Lara Walsh

One of my favorite parts of Corona Island was the turtle sanctuary, which houses dozens of baby turtles and makes it more likely that they’ll survive when they return to the ocean.

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Lara Walsh

All the island’s menus are curated by Chef Christopher Carpentier of MasterChef Colombia fame. Not only does he take inspiration from his Chilean roots for his dishes, but he also served plenty of other South American-inspired meals using local ingredients. My favorite dish was the paella, which was delicious and a communal event to make.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

Corona Island is the very first island to earn Oceanic Global’s three-star plastic-free Blue Seal. Not only were there no single-use plastics, but the team also came up with sustainability-focused guest activities like an excursion to plant mangrove trees, which are important for preventing erosion.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

The Sun Club at Corona Island is a communal meeting space for enjoying live music or a DJ during the evenings, meals, and morning yoga. I also thought it was the best place to watch the sunset.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

At night, visitors can also visit the “nest” atop of the island’s restaurant for stargazing and more social activities. It also offers the best view of the island from above.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer

Corona Island will only be open to winners of local contests for the time being, but the team has plans to open it up for limited bookings in 2023 so visitors can experience the destination’s unique combo of sustainable living and ‘Gram-worthy experiences.

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Courtesy of Corona Beer