At home, you installed energy-saving light bulbs, use recycling bins, and even traded in your SUV for a hybrid car. So why not be equally eco-conscious when you travel?
These days it’s easier than ever to save the planet while circling the globe. And that’s especially true if the destination is in Central and South America, which are brimming with ecolodges and resorts deemed environmentally friendly by Rainforest Alliance’s Eco-Index.
Selecting Your Destination
The first step to planning a green trip is picking a destination that isn’t already overburdened by tourism, such as Cancun or Las Vegas. Instead, says Matthew Davie, president and CEO of the eco-travel portal WholeTravel.com, “When you’re looking for a sustainable vacation destination, you should look for one that is involved with their local environment, economy, and culture in a positive way.” Groups that rate ecotourism consider the following criteria:
- Environmental sustainability. Does the destination recycle its water? Does it use solar or other renewable energy? Does it have a recycling program? Has it preserved any of the local habitat?
- Economic sustainability. How close do most employees live? Does the destination help train locals to work in its travel establishments? Does its purchasing plan include locally grown foods?
- Social and cultural sustainability. Does the destination belong to a local organization that focuses on social issues? Does it help preserve the local culture through economic or in-kind contributions? Do the gift shops sell local handicrafts?
- Customer interaction and education. Are its activities local in origin? Does it educate customers about local culture, history, and ecology? Does it solicit feedback from customers about its sustainability program?
Keeping It Green
Once you’ve arrived at your travel destination, there are many ways to further mitigate your impact on the land and local community, says Abby Ray, a spokesperson for the Rainforest Alliance. Her suggestions:
High Marks
Top once-in-a-lifetime eco destinations, according to Davie, include Machu Picchu in Peru and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. But other spots, too, offer great appeal. Several properties in Mexico and Brazil receive high marks for their dedication to sustainability. A green yet luxurious place to stay on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Boca de Iguanas offers a stylish boutique hotel with high-end luxury houses and condos nestled in a mangrove ecosystem inhabited by hundreds of species. The resort also has an onsite composting program and organic herb gardens featuring 20 varieties of heirloom seedlings.
An elegant 16-suite ecolodge, Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge in Brazil lies opposite one of the world’s largest freshwater archipelagos, in the fountainhead of the Amazon basin. While there, you can swim with Amazonian dolphins, fish for piranhas, and visit regional craft centers. Designed to minimize impact on the region, the property maintains a permanent 30-meter preservation area along the riverbank.
For additional green destination suggestions, visit Eco-Index Sustainable Tourism, WholeTravel.com, and RezHub.com (see the resource box). No matter where you decide to take your next vacation, being green away from home is more important—and easier—than ever. “Travelers want to discover the world's most unique experiences,” says Davie, “and green travel is the best way to make sure those experiences are still there for future generations.”
