6 minute read
Eco-Friendly Vacations
How to Be an Eco-Conscious Traveler
Staying Close to Home
Finding local adventures, such as walking in unexplored corners of your neighborhood or visiting museums in your city, is among the greenest forms of travel. If you want to venture just a little farther, consider driving a few hours to a beach or forest. Even a small adventure can feel a world away.
Visit Places That Need Your Support
Another way to spend your hard-earned dollars is to travel to destinations rebuilding after disaster. Puerto Rico, for example, has developed a robust tourism sector since weathering a devastating hurricane in 2017. The island, which also faces sea level rise, was picked as The Times’ No. 1 destination in 2019, in part because it represents many fragile places around the world. Travelers can help further by volunteering in environmental and social projects helping to rebuild devastated communitie
If You Want to Visit More Popular Tourist Destinations
If you do choose to visit crowded and popular cities, consider doing so outside peak summer months, say experts. Stay longer, choose accredited accommodations (using a site such as bookdifferent. com, which ensures claims to sustainability are checked by third parties), and find local activities that give back to residents, instead of the most popular activities, which can also often be tourist traps.
Blue Lagoon, Iceland Eco-Friendly Vacations
Get away from it all and help the environment at the same time? Yes, it is possible. Check out these ecofriendly vacations you can enjoy with a clear conscience.
Rancho La Puerta, Mexico
Rancho La Puerta is an amazing destination spa which has been a green getaway since its beginnings in 1940. The resort has an on-site garden with 22 full time gardeners which produces vegetables for the resort kitchen. The gardens are fertilized using composted organic matter and employ natural pest management. You will see many migrating birds on the property which has become a sanctuary for them on their migratory path. There are 200 different plant species at Rancho La Puerta which remain as undisturbed as possible. The resort is a leader in their community, offering innovative eco-friendly ideas to those around them. For example, at the end of the Christmas season, Rancho La Puerta’ wood chipper is used to turn Christmas trees into mulch for the grounds. At Rancho La Puerta, you will find green buildings and furniture, innovative water conservation practices, energy conservation and recycling.
www.rancholapuerta.com Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Blue Lagoon is an awesome spa destination which is 100% powered by clean geothermal energy. The resort built a special power plant which meant drilling deep wells up to 2,000 meters into the ground to tap into the 240 degree geothermal fluid. This is used to create electricity and heat water for central heating at Blue Lagoon. This innovative power plant is the only one of its kind in the whole world. The design of the resort reflects harmony with nature. The entrance to Blue Lagoon leads across a footpath cut through lava rock and past a beautiful lava wall built from 70,000 lava pieces.
Nimmo Bay Resort is a sustainable hideaway in the British Columbia wilderness. The resort uses a waste management system which cleans black and gray water so that only clean water is returned to the surrounding nature. Nimmo Bay works with local suppliers to be able to serve their guests sustainable foods and other products. Fishing at Nimmo Bay is catch & release in order to protect the local fish population. The resort is helping protect wild juvenile Pacific Salmon from sea lice.
http://nimmobay.com
Stanford Inn, Mendocino Coast, California
Stanford Inn, Mendocino Coast, California
If you are a vegan, it doesn’t get any better than the Stanford Inn, the only vegan resort in the U.S. Located on the scenic Mendocino Coast in California, the resort has a fantastic organic restaurant, romantic rooms with wood-burning fireplaces and a wellness center. Guest rooms and suites have views of the Pacific Ocean, Big River and the inn’s own organic gardens.
www.stanfordinn.com
The Kasbah du Toubkal, Morocco
Toubkal National Park, located just 60 km from Marrakech, is a beautiful spot for nature enthusiasts. The photos of this place are stunning. The Kasbah du Toubkal is an eco lodge set at the foot of Jbel Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. Visit this unique mountain getaway as a side adventure on your trip to Morocco, or call the hotel and have them arrange a complete hiking trip for you.
https://kasbahtoubkal.com Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, Costa Rica
A dream getaway for nature lovers. You will be surrounded by the pristine rainforest, filled with tropical birds and wildlife. The resort was awarded the three-leaf Sustainable Tourism Certificate for its sustainable tourism practices. You can enjoy your stay, making a small footprint and helping preserve this unique destination. The spa offers unique treatments such as invigorating hydrotherapy therapies and volcanic mud therapies. You can bathe in natural mineral hot springs known for their rejuvenating properties.
www.tabacon.com
Singita Lebombo Lodge, South Africa
Singita Lebombo Lodge in South Africa is surrounded by some of the most amazing wildlife on the planet. The lodge is located in Kruger National Park. It has a guest swimming pool with comfortable lounge chairs great for relaxing between Land Rover and walking safari tours. Guests can request massage and other spa services at the lodge. The hotel has 15 spacious guest suites decorated with native materials and colors. The lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, included in the daily rate. Teas, coffees and drinks are available to hotel guests.
http://singita.com The Woodstock Inn, Vermont
Plan a green getaway at The Woodstock Inn & Resort in Vermont. This 142-room resort offers a choice of outdoor activities, including golf and fly fishing in the summer, and skiing in the winter. The health club has an indoor swimming pool and whirlpool, letting vacationers exercise and relax. Green practices includes recycling of plastics, newspaper, white paper, glass and retired technology parts. Fryer grease from the kitchen is used to make bio-diesel. The resort uses green cleaning products, 80% organic fertilizers on the golf greens, and organic soaps in the guestrooms.
www.woodstockinn.com
How to Be an Eco-Conscious Traveler
If You’re Visiting a Coast
Choose one with a Marine Protected Area. It’s another way to ensure the involvement of local communities in protecting landscapes and aquatic life. Once the local population is engaged, it can help them to rebuild after crisis and welcome visitors to their natural environment in a way that is sustainable.
Once You’ve Chosen Your Destination:
• Use an eco-friendly booking site for accommodation. Sites like bookdifferent.com calculate your carbon footprint per night based on your selection and include eco-friendly ratings. Choose accommodation that injects money back into the local economy. • Consider using a sustainable travel agent. Companies like lokal can take out some of the legwork by organizing trips and activities for you that take environmental and social impact into consideration. • Look for a system of verification. This will help you determine if a business is simply greenwashing, or has met standards set by sustainability councils. • Seek out local experiences. Homestays, local guides and programs that give back to communities are also good ways to ensure your money is injected back into the local economy.
Source: nytimes.com
