Have you ever walked on the beach right where the tides come rolling in and just before they do you see your footprints stamped in the sand? You just might have a split second before the waves wash them away to unveil the sand exactly the way it was before. The purest example of renewal…something we should all strive to do in our everyday lives with our surroundings. Well what about when we travel? I mean wouldn’t it be nice to explore the world, leave no stone unturned, but in essence leave it the same before we came so that future generations would be able to experience it just the way we saw it? Eco-friendly travel if you will?
Let’s be real…Eco-friendly and travel are two words that aren’t usually synonymous with one another. Travel usually encompasses things that aren’t so environmentally friendly, such as fuel, waste, carbon footprints, and the like. As a travel agent, I know first-hand our passion for travel and I also know I don’t have a magic wand to erase such an impact, however I believe with a little education we can all lessen the negative consequences greatly. It is no wonder that a growing trend in the travel industry right now is Ecotourism. The main focus is on how to conserve the natural beauty of destinations while still getting to experience them.
This year I was on a mission to see how I could plan a more eco-friendly vacation for me and my family. After deciding on a location, I was determined to find a resort and excursion that would in some way support ecotourism. I was fully aware that this trip might not be the poster child for this movement, however I truly believe that every little bit helps. I also believe that this is a wonderful teachable moment for the younger generation on how to be mindful while traveling anywhere.
So off we went to Cancun. In selecting a resort to enjoy our time in paradise, I researched a lot and I was delighted to find out that one of my favorite resort companies, Palace Resorts, had some pretty amazing initiatives that supported ecotourism. Palace Resorts has a wonderful commitment to be “Caretakers of Paradise.”
Once we arrived, we were not disappointed. The beaches were breathtaking with powder-like white sand, the ocean was as blue as any in the Caribbean and the cleanliness of the surroundings only reinstated their commitment to their environment. Let me describe some of the thoughtful ways they are doing this.
We have all heard the catchy VSCO girl phrase “Save the Turtles”, and this is exactly what Palace Resorts is shouting as well. Sea turtles, that are facing extinction threats, are safe and sound in their nests located in specific protective areas along the beaches thanks to this resort company. I learned that they recycle vegetable oil from their kitchens for biofuel, this powers the tractors that clean the beaches. They collect the waste and garbage on the beaches and use it to fertilize the plants in their nursery and their different reforestation projects. The wells that irrigate the landscaped areas are filled with wastewater that has been treated with UV rays. Heat pumps are used that reduce the use of gas by 60%. One of their resorts has carpeting that has solar cells within it that powers the air conditioning system. No wonder this place was so clean, so beautiful, the beaches were spotless of any type of trash and the staff were super vigilant with waste removal.
Not one of our family vacations would be complete without a day of adventure. I looked into many fun places that boasted zip-lines, water parks, ATV’s, etc, however none could compete with XPLOR. This park is a part of Grupo Experiencias Xcaret. It was fascinating for our group to learn that the park is built amongst caves, cenotes, and landscape that began forming 65 million years ago. That’s right, the asteroid that brought the dinosaurs to extinction was the exact same thing that started the formation of the underground scenery at XPLOR.
When we arrived, I knew that this was a park unlike any other we had visited. The lush vegetation that provided ample shade, the underground cenotes lined with stalactites and stalagmites, and the exotic animals that played in the tree tops were my first clue. It was really refreshing to see a park that had such respect for nature rather than something super man-made and wasteful. With every turn I was reminded that they cared about conservation. From sunscreen and bug spray inspection before entering the park to make sure they are biodegradable and chemical free to strict policies on not touching the stalactites as oil from fingers can harm the structures.
Being proudly certified by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for travel and tourism, Grupo Experiencias Xcaret has made the commitment to sustainability. Get this, they produce more than 130,000 native plants each year in which they in turn use for reforestation for their parks. They also have programs for water management and energy savings that result in 70% of the wastes from the parks to be recovered.
Wildlife conservation is huge to this group as well and they have many initiatives that help everything from turtles, macaws, stingrays, manatees, flamingos, nurse sharks just to name a few. Little did we know that some of these were all around us. As we soared over the palms, glided into the crisp, translucent cenotes, and paddled through the caverns, we were surprised to realize we were being watched. What seemed like an action filled, one of a kind experience to us, was just typical day for the Scarlet Macaws and Spider Monkeys looking on. I imagine we are the perfect entertainment for them and I am sure they had a laugh as we are trying to fly, climb, and hang as if we were one of them.
Overall, our time in Cancun and XPLOR was not only phenomenal, but also was very educational as well. I look forward to increasing my mindfulness to be eco-friendly while traveling. If for every vacation we try to challenge ourselves to further ecotourism by supporting places, resorts, and companies that are working hard at sustainability, then we can help lessen our footprint in the sand.
TIP 1: When working with your travel agent and planning your vacation, try to find places, resorts, and companies that are environmentally certified or have sustainability practices in place.
TIP 2: Bring an empty refillable water bottle to the airport. Once you pass security you can refill it at a water fountain. You will be helping with plastic consumption.
TIP 3: Sometimes you must take a flight, however trains are now becoming a less harmful way to travel across country. It’s not always the destination, but the journey.
TIP 4: When scheduling your excursions, keep in mind activities that might give back to the environment such as volunteering at koala hospitals in Australia or turtle sanctuaries in Mexico.
TIP 5: Be cognizant of your waste. If there are extra toiletries, plastic bags, etc. in your hotel, bring them home to use for future vacations and for guests coming to stay.