Based on travel trends from this year, it’s clear travelers care about the planet and want to give back through sustainable tourism. From Mexico to the Caribbean and beyond, there are plenty of hotels and destinations offering ways for travelers to connect with nature beyond Earth Day.

Ocean Club Resorts, Providenciales in Turks & Caicos

Located along world-renowned Grace Bay Beach sits Ocean Club Resort, two all-suite properties providing the ideal open-air setting and direct beach access for guests of all ages. The resorts were the first properties to be Green Globe Certified in the Turks & Caicos. The resorts had to pass a series of eco-friendly tests and audits that measured efforts and, in the end, were certified by globally recognized Green Globe program. Some of the eco-friendly initiatives making the resorts eligible for the certification include placing cloth reusable shopping bags in each suite, replacing plastic straws with paper and Styrofoam containers with paper boxes, using LED lighting, and encouraging guests to reduce water and energy use during their stay. The resorts also purchase eco-friendly products, partner with like-minded vendors and make eco-operation decisions while providing a high level of service for their guests. They recently introduced a carbon footprint calculator, providing guests with the opportunity to offset the eco-impact of their stay.

Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Fairmont Mayakoba commits to sustainability and plays an important role in giving back to the planet and local communities. Since May 2015, the resort has collaborated with the reef restoration program in partnership with Oceanus AC, a local organization dedicated to the conservation of coral reefs. Oceanus installed three nurseries in the Puerto Morelos National Park through this initiative and partnership. Fairmont Mayakoba obtained healthy fragments of the more significant colonies of coral, transferred to the site of restoration. The hotel encourages guests to participate in this conservation effort through a snorkel tour to get to know the nurseries and better understand the process Fairmont follows to preserve the coral. Guests will see the efforts to restore the reef firsthand. Fairmont also hopes to train and certify local coral reef restoration groups to recover current erosion and teach eco-conscious practices.

Royal Uno All-Inclusive, Resort & Spa, Cancun, Mexico

From May to October, beachfront Royal Uno All-Inclusive Resort & Spa welcomes thousands of baby sea turtles to its shores. With turtle conservation initiatives, the resort hires special shore guards to protect emerging sea turtles, their nests and their hatchings from any danger. In 2022, the resort cared for and released 15,925 baby turtles on its shores for the protection.

© Royal Uno® All Inclusive Resort & Spa

Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, Connecticut

Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, located on the waterfront in Old Saybrook, is one of Connecticut’s most eco-friendly hotel destinations and the state’s first Green Lodging-certified hotel. The resort features three saltwater pools with reduced chlorine fumes, preheated in-room water utilizing excess energy from the other sources, and refrigeration and air conditioning by a water source heat pump system.

© Coco Collection, Maldives

Coco Collection, Maldives

Made up of two different boutique island resorts, Coco Bodu Hithi and Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, Coco Collection creates a unique Maldivian experience, ranging from luxe amenities to eco-forward initiatives. The resorts’ marine life development, Chef’s Garden and Olive Ridley Project, a turtle rehabilitation program, create a way for guests to get involved in conservation efforts. The resorts’ location in the Baa Atoll offers a richly diverse marine biodiversity, which helps support the resorts’ efforts in protecting the beautiful surroundings. The resorts’ educational programming takes guests on a journey with associates on coral tree planting sessions, reef cleanups and fish ID snorkeling. Coco Collection also offers on-site marine educators allowing guests to learn more about the underwater ecosystem.