This post shares a list of 5 of the best sustainable eco hotels in Mexico for the conscious traveller, trying to leave a positive impact on the destinations they visit.
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Why choose sustainable eco hotels in Mexico?
When managed unsustainably, hotels and other accommodation providers can cause serious negative impacts on the environment, the economy and the communities where they are located.
From huge energy usage resulting in massive carbon emissions, to the enormous amounts of waste produced, and the degradation of natural areas to build them in the first place, hotels are not always the kindest to our environment. Add in low-quality employment, the exclusive nature of large resorts that can ostracize locals, and the fact that much of the profits from large hotel chains don’t actually benefit the country they are located in, and they aren’t much better for the society or economy either! These are just a few examples of the disadvantages of tourism, and sadly hotels are at the heart of this dilemma.
Choosing a sustainable, or eco-friendly hotel is one way we as travellers can ensure we are not contributing to the negative impacts of tourism. Ensuring our tourist dollars contribute positively to the communities we are visiting, and that the environment we have travelled so far to see is not being destroyed by our presence.
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5 Best sustainable eco hotels in Mexico
The good news is, if you’re travelling to Mexico and want to make conscious, positive choices about your accommodation, it won’t be too hard. This list is by no means exhaustive, and there are a plethora of sustainable eco hotels in Mexico to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a beachfront resort, a chic city stay or a wild jungle lodge – any style of accommodation can be operated sustainably and there are so many options out there!
But, we were lucky enough to personally stay in these five wonderful eco hotels in Mexico during our six-month travels around the country. And we highly recommend each of them to the conscious traveller, trying to leave a positive impact on the destinations they visit.
1. The White Lodge
East Cape (Cabo Este), Baja California Sur
Hidden away in the remote East Cape area of Los Cabos, The White Lodge is an eco-wellness retreat, with a stunning Mexican minimalist design. With just ten rooms, all offering views over the dazzling Sea of Cortez, this property is the ultimate in peace and relaxation. Simple aesthetics and thoughtful touches are all over the property, and it feels completely blended with the pristine desert environment. The White Lodge operates in a truly sustainable way, reducing water and energy use, plastic and food waste, with no chemicals being used in the buildings at all. A true piece of paradise.
2. Hotel Maraica
San Pancho, Nayarit
Located just steps from the beach in laidback San Pancho, Hotel Maraica is an eco-friendly hotel designed in harmony with nature and the tropical environment it is situated in. Developed with natural materials, the hotel has many eco-initiatives in place to reduce its impact. Solar panels provide energy, which is carefully conserved through the conscious decision to exclude air conditioning, televisions and other power-hungry appliances from the rooms. Wastewater is captured, filtered and reused in the tropical gardens throughout the property, and you won’t find any single-use plastics anywhere! We spent three nights here, and came away refreshed, rejuvenated and re-energised. From the hammock overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the balcony of our room. To the fresh, healthy food at their onsite restaurant Muvieri. And daily sunsets that light up the sky, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Hotel Maraica.
3. El Patio 77
Mexico City, CDMX
Tucked away inconspicuously in the peaceful suburb of San Rafael in Mexico City, El Patio 77 is the capital’s first eco-sustainable bed and breakfast. Set in a historic, 1890 mansion with just eight unique rooms, each is themed on a different Mexican state. El Patio 77 reimagines the traditional image of eco hotels in Mexico. Forgoing tropical vibes and yoga retreats, in favour of a sophisticated style and opulent luxury. We felt like we could be right at home in an Agatha Christie novel, with the checkerboard tiles, winding staircases and velvet lounges. Although the style might be different, El Patio 77’s operations are all geared towards sustainability. The historic mansion was renovated in 2009 to make it more sustainable, using solar panels to produce power and heat water, a sophisticated water system to capture rainwater and filter and reuse greywater, there are no single-use plastics on the property, and where possible, food, furniture and decor are all sourced locally.
4. Casa Tortugas Boutique Hotel
Cancun, Quintana Roo
Hidden amongst a sea of mega-resorts in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Casa Tortugas Boutique Hotel is a Mexican-owned and operated boutique hotel. Offering an authentic and tasteful alternative to the stock standard hotel chains Cancun is known for, staying at Casa Tortugas felt like being a guest in someone’s (very beautiful!) home. Choosing locally-owned tourism businesses is one of the best things you can do as a sustainable traveller, to ensure your money is contributing directly to the local economy and community. The need for this is amplified in huge resort cities such as Cancun, and Casa Tortugas Boutique Hotel is one of the only locally owned options in the area. Being a small, boutique hotel the environmental impact is much lower than huge, all-inclusive resorts. And Casa Tortugas has measures in place to reduce plastic waste and minimise water and energy usage.
5. Hotel Cielo y Selva
Punta Allen, Quintana Roo
Hotel Cielo y Selva is a laidback, beachfront property in the heart of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, located in the tiny beach town of Punta Allen in Quintana Roo. Although there are a few hotel-style rooms and cabañas, the real appeal of Hotel Cielo y Selva is their glamping, a very low-impact style of accommodation. We absolutely adored spending three nights right on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, under the swaying palms, and we felt truly reconnected with nature. The property was created with nature at its heart, and there are many eco-initiatives in place to ensure the conservation of this precious part of Mexico. Energy is provided via solar panels, and the hotel has an incredibly thorough waste management system, as well as strategies to reduce plastic waste in the first place. Hotel Cielo y Selva is one of the best eco hotels in Mexico, offering a truly low-impact, back-to-nature experience.
Sustainable eco hotels in Mexico
This list was just a tiny snippet of some of the amazing sustainable, eco hotels in Mexico. No matter where you’re visiting in the country, with a bit of research you are likely to find some fantastic hotels doing positive things in the sustainability realm. If you’ve stayed in any great eco hotels in Mexico before, please let me know in the comments below!
The Comments
Charlie Bankser
All good but using a drone which you clearly did for the photos takes away from the relaxing experience of other guests and travelers around you.
Not all of us are lucky enough to do this for a living. Some in fact most people only get a week of vacation and drones ruining the tranquil experience you often promote and we pay dearly for, robs us of our valued vacation time. It would seem a lot of these photos were taken in the early morning, which would emphasize, the noise of your drone is not so nice for the rest of us,
Sally
Charlie BankserHi Charlie, thanks for sharing your opinion on drones. Everyone is entitled to have their opinion, but I’m not sure why people who don’t have drones forget this. We are always cautious of when and where we launch our drone, and within a few seconds of ascending, it can’t be heard by anyone. I wish I could say the same for families with children around hotel pools, or large groups of friends drinking and partying late into the night. Everyone is entitled to do their own thing on holidays, and we should all be accepting and patient when that doesn’t necessarily coincide with our own preferences. Thanks, Sally