Colombia’s Beaches Recognized with Blue Flag

A total of nine beaches in Colombia have been awarded the Blue Flag, which certifies their quality. This international award recognizes marine-coastal places on the planet that contribute positively to the environment, culture, and the well-being of local stakeholders and their communities.

Water quality, safety, services, management, education, environmental information and “the country’s firm commitment to the sustainable management of its coastal tourist destinations” are the reasons why the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) awarded the distinction to these Colombian beaches.

Two beaches receive their first Blue Flag in Colombia

Two beaches received the award for the first time: Playa El Eden and Playa Palo Blanco, both in Tolu, Sucre. For the second consecutive year, four other beaches received awards: El Morro in Tumaco, Narino; Playa Dorada in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; Playa Blanca in Santa Marta, Magdalena; and Playa Segunda Ensenada in Covenas, Sucre.

Special recognition was also given to three beaches that have maintained the Blue Flag uninterrupted for the past five years: Bello Horizonte in Santa Marta; Playa Azul of La Boquilla in Cartagena, and Playa of Johnny Cay on San Andres Island.

In 2023, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism invested more than 3.2 billion pesos in technical assistance, studies, and general support required by the beaches. In 2024, new initiatives are being developed to guarantee an investment flow to the beaches of 5 billion pesos.

“We recognize the investments, dedication, time and coordination that have been made at the local level, which shows us that together we can improve our beaches,” said the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arturo Bravo.

Recognition associated with the bioeconomy

The awarding of the Blue Flag seal means that all beach stakeholders are working to stimulate and improve local and foreign tourism, increase the quality of recreational opportunities, and facilitate monitoring, regulation, planning and decision-making actions related to the beaches. It also involves consolidating the development of responsible and sustainable tourism in each municipality, based on a scheme associated with the bioeconomy.

The Vice Minister of Tourism, Arturo Bravo, said that “the Government has given integral support to our beaches, with a great impact on tourism, since it makes a competitive difference compared to other destinations and preserves their great environmental and landscape value.”

He indicated that these nine certified beaches are the result of the effort and synergy between the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the Mayors’ Offices of the coastal municipalities, and the Colombian Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Acodal), which brings together those involved in the water and basic sanitation sector and serves as the official operator of the Blue Flags program, representing the FEE in Colombia.

“We want to strengthen the promotion and dissemination of the program to educate more people in environmental management on beaches; we hope that Colombia continues to grow in this important international certification, and thus be one of the best destinations in the world for sun and beach tourism,” said Acodal’s project director, Andres Chaves.

Blue Flag, a symbol of quality and sustainability on beaches

Since its inception in 1987, the Blue Flag program has become a globally recognized mark of quality and commitment to the beach environment. This seal, awarded annually to beaches and marinas that meet rigorous standards of cleanliness, safety, environmental education and sustainable management, has set a milestone in coastal protection.

The program’s origins date back to France, where it was born in response to growing concern about marine pollution. It quickly spread throughout Europe and later internationally under the auspices of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). What began as a modest initiative has evolved into a symbol of prestige for coastal communities.

The process of obtaining the Blue Flag involves an exhaustive analysis of various aspects, from water quality to waste management and accessibility. Award-winning beaches not only provide a clean and safe environment for swimmers, but also promote environmental awareness through educational programs and awareness-raising activities.

For local authorities and tour operators, the Blue Flag seal represents an opportunity to highlight these beaches as responsible and attractive destinations for environmentally conscious visitors. It also encourages the adoption of sustainable practices that benefit both local communities and the coastal ecosystem as a whole.

Today, thousands of beaches in more than 50 countries proudly fly the Blue Flag, reminding us of our ongoing commitment to the preservation of our precious marine and coastal resources.