With carbon emissions a massive 82% lower than hotels, hostels are already sustainability success stories 🤩 But what are they doing to get there? And, in many cases, how are they going above and beyond to help hostellers travel responsibly?
In our Sustainability Stories series, we’re shining the spotlight on hostels that protect the environment, support local communities and preserve local culture. In previous posts, we’ve covered volunteering, accessibility and next-level recycling at hostels from Spain to Southeast Asia. This time, it’s eco-ethnotourism in Colombia!
Ready to travel more sustainably? Watch the video below, then scroll for more 👀
Casa en el Agua: paradise meets adventure
Welcome to Casa en el Agua (translation: House in the Water)! This one-of-a-kind island eco-hostel is in the San Bernardo Islands in the Colombian Caribbean, and part of a Natural National Park. The park protects the largest, most diverse, and most developed coral reef along the Caribbean coast of Colombia, making it a vital sanctuary for marine life 💙
This floating oasis is truly unique, but its location isn’t the only impressive thing about it – its eco efforts and drive for positive impact in the community are also making serious waves. Casa en el Agua’s the name, regenerative eco-ethnotourism’s the game! FYI, ethnotourism is a type of travel that relies on respectful intercultural exchange, for example, immersion in local communities to better understand their cultural heritage 🫶
Keep reading to find out what they’re up to in this exciting space!
Sustainability strategy 🍃
With a raft of eco-friendly initiatives, Casa en el Agua is minimising its environmental impact while ensuring guests have a comfortable stay:
☀️ The hostel is powered by solar energy. Electricity hours are limited, with power available between 6pm and 8am – but don’t worry, there’s a 24-hour charging station near reception where you can power up your devices
💦 Rainwater is collected and stored in two large tanks on a nearby island. There’s also a state-of-the-art desalination system to provide high quality drinking water during dry spells. To conserve water, showers are limited to three minutes
🗑️ Nothing goes to waste at Casa en el Agua. Organic waste generated in the kitchen and bar is transformed into compost, glass bottles are turned into bricks and decorations, and aluminium cans are being transformed into a football field! Here’s how… They’ve kickstarted a project in collaboration with locals and other hostels to collect as many cans as possible and send them to the mainland for recycling. The funds from the sale of recycled aluminum go towards a community project: building a new soccer field for the local team on neighbouring Santa Cruz del Islote
🚽 There are dry toilets (i.e. no flushing) to avoid ocean contamination. Solid waste is covered with a dry mix – lime and sawdust, if you’re curious – that helps with natural decomposition. This is transported daily to nearby Tintipán Island, where the hostel has a composting system called Reciclandia (translation: Recycle Land) that ultimately transforms it into fertiliser, which is used to plant fruits and veggies for meals at the hostel! The whole process takes 1.5 years
🚸 The hostel organises visits to Reciclandia with local children, where they engage in activities and learn about recycling
🍽️ Locally sourced ingredients and fresh seafood are used to prepare nightly communal dinners
Community empowerment 💪
From collaborating with local schools to using local produce, Casa en el Agua champions the community in many ways:
🧡 To create sustainable employment opportunities for people in the area and offer guests an authentic experience, the Casa en el Agua and Reciclandia teams are made up of locals, predominantly from Santa Cruz del Islote. Employees get access to quality healthcare and are offered training in customer service, conservation, mangrove preservation, sustainable practices and a variety of professional skills, opening doors to new opportunities
📚 When the hostel first opened, many staff members didn’t know how to read or write. As they began hosting guests, literacy levels gradually increased. After many years of interacting with English-speaking guests, one of Casa en el Agua’s bartenders now has a fluent understanding of the language and has started speaking English too!
🏡 The team helps their employees set goals to improve their housing situation, an initiative which has seen great success
📝 The hostel runs a project called Islote School where, with the help of a teacher from Canada, they bring volunteer teachers to Santa Cruz del Islote to provide English lessons for local children. They also donate school supplies
🌿 The Reciclandia project boosts environmental awareness in the community, with training and education programmes available to bolster local knowledge and skills in sustainable tourism and environmental management
🐚 Casa en el Agua promotes local commerce and regional culture by working with local suppliers to source fresh food, materials and handicrafts
The hostel is also committed to fostering a sense of community among guests! With a limited number of travellers staying at any one time, it’s a close-knit community where you can share stories, experiences, and meals.
Regenerative tourism ♻️
Casa en el Agua has two objectives around regenerative tourism:
🪸 Implement projects that restore and protect surrounding marine and terrestrial ecosystems, such as mangrove reforestation and coral reef rehabilitation
🐟 Collaborate with environmental organisations and community groups to promote tangible sustainable practices for local biodiversity
At the time of writing, the hostel was in the early stages of laying the groundwork for these initiatives, working alongside the government. Once they’re up and running, guests will be able to get involved too!
How you can get involved 🫵
You could easily spend your days here lounging in hammocks, sipping on tropical cocktails, and soaking up the sun – but how can you get involved in Casa en el Agua’s brilliant initiatives?
Join ethnotourism activities
Dive into cultural heritage with a visit to Santa Cruz del Islote, the most densely populated island on Earth. Get to know the community and the history of this artificial, manmade island where 100 square metres is home to 1,200 people. Despite the tight quarters, the island is surprisingly peaceful – unless there’s a festival! 🎶
Join eco-activities
Snorkel right off the dock, explore the nearby mangrove and coral reef ecosystem, paddle through the ocean in a kayak, or hire a stand-up paddle board. You can also go on a beach day tour, join a bioluminescence tour, and try watersports you may not have heard of (but should def add to your must-try list) like Subwing and Disc-go 🐠
Recycle
Follow the hostel’s eco-friendly guidelines, like thoroughly sorting waste and opting for reusable bottles.
Buy local
Support local commerce by purchasing products made by local artisans, available at Casa en el Agua.
Ready to book your stay? Vamos! ✈️
Good to know:
🎒 Leave big backpacks and heavy suitcases behind – the boat from Cartagena has a weight limit which means passengers are limited to 8kg of carry-on luggage. The boat company offers luggage storage facilities on the mainland
💵 Bring cash – many of the local fisherman who supply fresh seafood for nightly dinners at the hostel don’t have bank accounts. Make sure to pack some Colombian Pesos
🛜 There’s no Wi-Fi, giving you the opportunity to unplug from the digital world. Disconnect to reconnect!
😎 Bring a water-resistant, high SPF sunscreen and reliable mosquito repellent
More Sustainability Stories:
Sustainability and Community Impact Mad Monkey | Hostelworld
Sustainability Stories: Volunteering at Rio Hostel Buritaca – Hostelworld Travel Blog
Sustainability Stories: Recycling at St Christopher’s Inn, Barcelona – Hostelworld Travel Blog
Sustainability Stories: Championing Accessibility at INOUT Hostel – Hostelworld Travel Blog
