Celebrate your love and appreciation for Mother Earth this April with an eco-conscious getaway! Sure, you could do a neighbourhood clean-up, but what about learning ocean conservation from a mermaid in the Florida Keys, discovering sustainable gardening from chefs in Cancun, or planting trees in the jungles of Costa Rica?
Here are the best destinations to celebrate Earth Month this year.
Protecting Our Planet at Playa | Playa Largo Resort & Spa
Celebrate the planet this Earth Month at Playa Largo Resort & Spa – a breathtaking beachfront getaway in Key Largo, Florida, committed to being the most environmentally friendly property in The Florida Keys.
Once the site of an 1800s pineapple farm, the resort team dedicated $300,000 to environmental preservation. They surveyed trees and wildlife in the nearby area to ensure the Keys’ delicate ecosystem wasn’t harmed in the construction process.
The team moved and preserved dozens of decades-old gumbo limbo trees and studied local butterfly species to create a natural trail for guests to observe them in the wild. Its continued commitment to Mother Nature can be shown in the resort’s power knot liquid food composter to turn organic food waste into nutrient-rich gray water, which is used to water the grounds and reduce the carbon footprint by 147 tons per year.
Additionally, guests can enjoy an Eco Tour with on-property environmentalists or meet with a mermaid on the beach during the new moon and learn all about the marine life and ecosystem that call Key Largo home. This tropical oasis is truly perfect for connecting with nature and supporting the Earth’s protection.
Ecoventura Celebrates Earth Day with Flash Sale | Galapagos
To celebrate Earth Month, Ecoventura, which operates three identical luxury expedition yachts offering week-long itineraries through one of the Earth’s most precious areas, the Galapagos, will offer a one-day flash sale on April 22 with a 20% discount on selected departure dates only.
Intimate and exclusive for just 20 guests, Origin, Theory & Evolve, named after Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and Origin of Species and managed like floating boutique hotels, are the only Galapagos vessels to have joined the ranks of the esteemed Relais & Chateaux collection.
The seven-night itinerary includes daily excursions and educational briefings led by two certified naturalists — the most favourable passenger-to-naturalist ratio in the Galapagos. Daily activities include beautiful snorkelling opportunities, kayaking, beach walks and hiking tours that bring you up close and personal to the destination’s most fascinating species.
Wildlife wanders freely and fearlessly throughout the archipelago, so travellers frequently find themselves swimming with sea turtles, sunbathing with sea lions or face-to-face with the famous blue-footed boobies. With a commitment to sustainability for over 20 years, Ecoventura became the first recipient of the SmartVoyager ecological certification and established the Galápagos Biodiversity & Education for Sustainability Fund to support research and conservation projects.
Ecoventura also produces its own fresh water onboard, has a waste and recycling program and avoids single-use plastic on-board.
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
There’s nothing better than a retreat to the sparkling blue Mexican Caribbean to celebrate Earth Month in the tropics. Located on a pristine strip of beach overlooking the turquoise blue waters of the Gulf, JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa lures those in seek of a serene escape by the beach.
Drawing inspiration from the ombre-blue waters of the ocean, the resort immerses visitors in the beauty of the Mexican culture and environment. Now for Earth Day on April 22nd, JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa is offering guests the chance to get involved and learn about plant life at the resort’s JW Garden, where they will join executive chef Juan Pedro Maldonado in planting their own sprouts and learning how different plants are grown and utilized at the resort to make their dining more sustainable.
With other excursions available to connect with nature, such as exploring the natural and mystical nearby cenotes, The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa works to redefine the Cancun experience while making travellers’ quests both convenient and jam-packed with experiences like no other.
Saba
Tucked away in the Caribbean Sea, the five-square-mile Dutch Caribbean island of Saba sets the stage for a desolate getaway where guests can escape the monotony of everyday life in an off-the-grid destination surrounded by Mother Earth.
Take the meaning of an unplugged vacation to the next level as Saba solely uses solar power throughout the entire island for eight to ten hours a day through its two solar parks and is plastic-free as the island has put a ban on all single-use plastics. In 2022 alone, Saba collected over a million points of recyclable materials that were then exported to the U.S. to be properly processed.
While on the island, become immersed in an abundance of nature that can be found both above and below the sea. On land, visitors can be engulfed by serenity when exploring 20 hiking trails dotted with flora and fauna, many of which locals use to mix medicinal teas.
Embark on a guided hike with James “Crocodile James” Johnson – a seventh-generation Saban – for a sampling of the local vegetation. Fun fact: it takes 48 hours to complete all of Saba’s hiking trails, a gratifying physical and mental challenge for anyone up to conquer it.
Meanwhile below the ocean’s surface, an entirely unique world awaits. Saba plunges below as steeply as it rises above, and 30 protected dive sites are closely off-shore. What better way to disconnect from the world than to escape underwater for a bit?
Not to mention, Saba was named a “Hope Spot” by Mission Blue, an international marine conservation organization. Destinations that receive this award are considered special places as they have been scientifically identified as being critical to the ocean’s health.
Voluntour the World’s First Blue Destination | Bonaire
The world’s first Blue Destination renowned for its scuba diving, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire has long had a 100% protected shoreline and a renewed focus on preserving its pristine ocean, which has helped evolve the destination into one committed to sustainability.
Visitors will find eco-tourism experiences throughout the island, such as kayaking through a protected Mangrove Forest, exploring the art of coral restoration through a discovery dive, hiking among the cacti and cliffed beaches of Washington Slagbaai National Park and learning about the protection of Bonaire’s wildlife at Echo Conservation Centre or the Donkey Sanctuary.
There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer to help like feeding the rescued donkeys at the sanctuary, helping clean their area, and welcoming visitors as they come in. Animal lovers travelling to Bonaire can also get involved on the island through the animal shelter by walking and washing dogs or through marine-based opportunities like turtle conservation and reef renewal. With voluntourism on the rise, there are many ways to help continue to take care of the beautiful island of Bonaire.
Visitors to the island are required to pay a nature fee to visit both the National Park and natural Marine Park as well as are invited to sign ‘The Bonaire Bond’, a destination pledge designed to encourage responsible tourism to conserve Bonaire’s natural appeal and its untouched nature for years to come.
The Bond serves as a reminder of how critical sustainable tourism is to the livelihood of its local community while also giving back – coral trees are adopted through the Reef Renewal Bonaire Foundation on behalf of visitors who commit their signature.
The Reef Renewal Foundation (RRFB) trains, engages, and inspires the local community so that visitors to the island can also learn and play an active part in protecting Bonaire’s pristine underwater world.
Luxury Meets Sustainability in South Andros | Caerula Mar Club
Nestled on the island of South Andros in the Bahamas, Caerula Mar Club is committed to both luxury and sustainability. The property features sweeping suites and private villas made with sustainable materials, uses solar energy and 100% recyclable materials in lieu of plastics and reef-safe bath products and sunscreen, and works with local farmers and fishermen to source ingredients for its onsite restaurants.
In addition to educating guests through sustainability-focused ocean and land adventures, the resort team’s sustainability efforts within the local community have included developing hurricane shelters, hosting beach clean-ups, and working to preserve the island’s natural beauty by restoring and developing local concepts to facilitate tourism to the island.
Caerula Mar also offers guests the chance to encounter the wildlife of this secluded paradise. Adventurous travelers will jump at the chance to explore the Andros Reef, which is the third largest barrier reef in the world at 100 miles long and is conveniently located directly in front of the resort.
Guests can experience the purest diving experience in the Bahamas, with dives suitable for all levels of divers offering encounters with sea turtles, rays, reef sharks, tropical fish and blue holes that some say are home to the mythical creature called Lusca.
South Andros is also an amazing destination for fishing enthusiasts. Guests can book a fishing excursion and find out for themselves why the island is called the “Bone Fishing Capital of The World.”
Hotel Three-Sixty | Costa Rica
Earth isn’t celebrated just on Earth Day or Earth Month for Hotel Three Sixty – it’s celebrated year-round. For every night booked, Hotel Three Sixty plants a tree in the Costa Rican rainforest.
This is done in partnership with One Tree Planted to support reforestation and make a positive impact on nature, wildlife and people in Costa Rica. The initiative focuses on planting a variety of lowland trees (Pleodendron Costarricense), highland trees (Almendro de Montaña, Roble Encino), and mangroves (Rhizophora mangle).
Animals that live in the region and benefit from the reforestation include hundreds of bird species, such as macaws and yellow-throated toucans, white-faced capuchin monkeys, glass frogs, pumas, giant anteaters and hundreds more. Guests can take in the beauty of mother nature from the hotel’s infinity pool, open-air restaurant, yoga deck, hiking trail and more.
Argos in Cappadocia | Turkey
Travellers who want to connect with Mother Nature this Earth Month should book a trip to Argos in Cappadocia, a boutique hotel carved into the cliffs of Turkey’s historical region. This ancient monastery turned boutique hotel has been designed to blend in the volcanic landscape with rooms made of cave dwellings and terraces overlooking Pigeon Valley, Mount Erciyes and fairy chimneys.
Those looking to ground themselves and connect with Cappadocia’s unique environment can take part in a guided stroll under the mystical full moon, known for its meditative and spiritual healing energy or explore take part in the Kaymakli Underground City tour, which features eight stories of temples, wineries and even stables.
For those working up an appetite, master the art of Anatolian cuisine through the hotel’s immersive cooking classes, where guests can learn how to prepare special dishes such as the locally famous clay pot stew (testi kebab) using locally grown produce. Between the months of June and October, guests have the chance to harvest organic produce that is grown right in the garden of Argos.
Fly into the Future this Earth Day in Iceland’s First Electric Aircraft at Hotel Rangá
Hotel Rangá, set in the secluded countryside of Southern Iceland, is ideal for travellers seeking adventure and luxury in a sustainable way. Part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s Considerate Collection, a special selection of boutique hotels that go above and beyond in sustainability management, Hotel Rangá takes proactive measures to help protect and sustain the environment for future generations.
Guests can experience the Icelandic adventure of a lifetime in an eco-friendly way with the hotel’s “Flightseeing” experience in a fully electric aircraft, brought to Iceland by Hotel Rangá’s owner, Friðrik Pálsson, a man who combines his passions for hospitality and sustainable practices.
Taking off for the first time last year, this revolutionary electric aircraft soars above Iceland’s incredible cliffsides, waterfalls and lava fields without leaving a carbon footprint. The goal was to introduce emission-free transport to the country as a step toward a future of more sustainable travel.
For a one-and-only experience, book the new “Flying into the Future” offer, which includes accommodations, a one-on-one flight with the pilot in the new electric aircraft, as well as champagne in the hangar for toasting to a great cause. Available exclusively to Hotel Rangá guests, this flight of a lifetime will provide passengers with aerial views of Southern Iceland’s beautiful countryside and serene rivers.
Additionally, the hotel, which is naturally powered and heated by the country’s geothermal water sources, offers charging stations for electric cars, donates materials to the local elementary school as well as sends leftover food from Restaurant Rangá home with staff to feed their farm animals.
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
Inside the beautiful and protected natural peninsula of Punta Miquillo, Rio Grande, lies Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, a family-friendly, tropical escape perfect for celebrating Earth Month.
This expansive resort features lush tropical gardens and has a backdrop of the El Yunque rainforest. The peninsula is a host to a vast range of ecological systems, including its coastline, marine aquatic systems, mangrove forests, and more.
The resort features four pools, including Puerto Rico’s largest lagoon-style pool; a secluded beach with calm waters perfect for swimming and enjoying non-motorized water sports; a full-service spa; 17 on-site food and beverage outlets; and a 27-hole, world-class golf course.
Offering more than just breathtaking views and a relaxing escape, the resort is committed to embracing and preserving the natural treasures that surround it and consistently contributes to the conservation of its biodiversity, protection of endangered species, maintenance of ecosystem balance, and offers support for environmental research.
For guests eager to learn about the various ecosystems and observe wildlife in their natural habitat, they offer an exclusive ‘Wildlife Watchers’ package, which includes a four-night stay in the resort’s brand new Villas En La Reserva, complimentary ocean view hammocks, daily breakfast and more. What better way to celebrate nature than staying in a natural reserve, learning about and observing the different ecosystems that surround it?
Earth Day on the Garden Isle | Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort
There is no better place to celebrate Earth Day and appreciate the beauty of nature than on the eastern coast of Kauai at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort. This resort combines stunning natural beauty, luxurious accommodations, and endless activities to offer guests the ultimate wellness vacation.
In the spring, the weather on Kauai is mild and pleasant, with temperatures in the mid-70s and plenty of sunshine. The resort itself boasts beautifully appointed guest rooms, many of which offer ocean views and private balconies. But the real draw of the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort is its location.
Step outside of the hotel and into the stunning backdrops of the island and see nature from a completely new point of view. Guests can book the Spring Savings Package and celebrate Earth Day like never before with wellness activities like hiking trails nearby that take them through lush tropical forests, bike rides in the local town, kayaking, snorkelling, helicopter tours of the island, and so much more.
The Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort prides itself on their kuleana to take care of our beloved Kauai. This Earth Day, this island resort awaits you.
