This paper aims to present a new methodology to calculate carrying capacity in tourist beaches, further than merely environmental issues. Moreover, it seeks to understand beaches as complex systems towards its sustainable development. Five beaches in the North-Caribbean coast of Colombia were chosen and classified in four tourism beach sorts (intensive, conservation, shared and ethnic). The analysis was done with legal framework review, fieldwork and indicators design, within three components: environmental support, urban infrastructure and tourist services. A new model to calculate carrying capacity in tourist beaches was created, and later applied on the study beaches. Current conditions of the five beaches were highlighted, their tourist carrying capacity were calculated and more important actions in each component were recommended. The main conclusion foster to take in consideration natural conditions as a core factor in beach management, but including a holistic approach in making decision process. Also this paper showed the current conditions of Colombian beaches as a warning, giving recommendations in short and medium term.