YAY Sustainable Restaurant Lodge
YAY is a riverside eco-lodge near Tayrona whose bamboo and adobe cabins sit among permaculture gardens that supply its farm-to-table restaurant.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.7/5 · 287 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
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Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
2.4/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 37.5%
Green flags
- Food, farming and sourcing, level 3/4.
Permaculture gardens, an edible forest and medicinal gardens grow vegetables, fruit, grains and herbs for the restaurant, topped up by local eco-producers (official site).
Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source · Corroborating source
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as being surrounded by nature | 7.5 / 30 points | The explore page says the gardens hold century old trees and a seed nursery, but names no protected area, species or monitoring. “YAY’s gardens are full of tropical plants, fruits and vegetables, as well as giant, century-old trees that protect the water and refresh the air.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 2/4 · One specific system, such as solar hot water, a stated photovoltaic share, or buildings designed to need no air conditioning | 7.5 / 15 points | Every cabin type on the rooms page lists a solar heated shower (official site, 2026). Nothing is published about how the rest of the power is produced. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Water | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only; towel or linen reuse alone stays here | 2.5 / 10 points | The rooms page says open air facilities are fed by mountain spring water, with no reuse or treatment system described. “Every accommodation features immersive open-air facilities fed directly by fresh, mineral-rich mountain spring water.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 3/4 · Own farm or organic land supplies a large share, with named local suppliers and seasonal menus; consolidated local supply rather than daily imports | 11.25 / 15 points | Permaculture gardens, an edible forest and medicinal gardens grow vegetables, fruit, grains and herbs for the restaurant, topped up by local eco-producers (official site). Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source · Corroborating source |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 2/4 · One specific practice, such as a historic building reused, local natural materials, or passive cooling design | 7.5 / 15 points | Cabins are bio-constructed from Colombian guadua bamboo, adobe clay walls and locally sourced palm thatch. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 1/4 · General commitments without specifics or results | 1.25 / 5 points | The sustainability page states general principles without specifics, results or a certificate. “Every detail you find here has been part of years of researching, planning and work in order to demonstrate that being self-sustainable” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Accommodation Eco Score weights: Nature, biodiversity and regeneration 30%, Energy and climate 15%, Water 10%, Waste and plastic 10%, Food, farming and sourcing 15%, Buildings, heritage reuse and land use 15%, Measurement, transparency and certification 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years. Guest travel is not scored; everyone gets there how they can.
Purity, what touches your body
1.8/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 20%
Green flags
- Pool and bathing water, level 3/4.
The natural pool page says the pool works without chemicals, using plants and flowing river water to purify it, with no test results published.
“Our natural pool finds a balance with nature without chemicals, through the purification of plants and the flow of water”
Source · 2026-11-03
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as pure water | 6.25 / 25 points | The rooms page says the accommodation is fed by fresh mountain spring water, but does not say how drinking water is sourced or treated. “Every accommodation features immersive open-air facilities fed directly by fresh, mineral-rich mountain spring water.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 2/4 · Named organic or own garden produce in some meals, and plant based meals available | 10 / 20 points | The restaurant page says the kitchen uses organic produce grown in its own gardens plus local producers, and offers vegetarian and vegan dishes. “making the most of the organic produce we grow in our gardens, alongside ingredients sourced from local producers.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Linen, towels and mattresses | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 3/4 · A natural pool with biological filtration, or bathing in the sea, river or spring instead of a treated pool | 3.75 / 5 points | The natural pool page says the pool works without chemicals, using plants and flowing river water to purify it, with no test results published. “Our natural pool finds a balance with nature without chemicals, through the purification of plants and the flow of water” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Purity Score weights: Water you drink and bathe in 25%, Food on your plate 20%, Grounds and pest control 15%, Cleaning, laundry and fragrance 15%, Linen, towels and mattresses 10%, Air and quiet 10%, Pool and bathing water 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
People, ownership, work and community
1.6/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 15%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 1/4 · Ownership stated without detail | 7.5 / 30 points | The about page says the founders opened YAY in Amsterdam in 2015 before moving the project to Colombia, with no ownership detail. “In 2015 we opened YAY in Amsterdam.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Community benefit | 20% | 1/4 · Claim only | 5 / 20 points | The restaurant page says the lodge motivates neighbours to grow food organically and buys fruit, honey, coffee and cacao from them, without a named programme. “Supporting the local economy is essential at YAY and it is a value that we preserve by motivating our neighbours to grow food” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Access to beach and land | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The rooms page says the cabins are inspired by the traditional homes of the Kogui people, without named makers or a community project. “Wake up in a cabin inspired by the traditional circular homes of the Kogui people” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. People Score weights: Ownership and control 30%, Local work and fair pay 25%, Community benefit 20%, Access to beach and land 15%, Culture and heritage 10%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
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Collected research sources
These source pages were captured on 2026-10-02. Capturing a page does not establish a rating or verify its claims. Only the reviewed pillar evidence above earns assessment points. Missing findings remain unavailable.
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