Sandos Creates Eco-Friendly Vacation Experiences in Mexico’s Top Beach Destinations

WHY IT RATES: Sandos has numerous environmentally friendly programs worth exploring—Eric Bowman, TravelPulse Senior Editor

Sandos Hotels & Resorts believes that all travelers should be able to experience a vacation where they feel good about how they interacted with the environment. Earlier this year, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Playa del Carmen earned its highest-ever score of 97.27% through its annual Rainforest Alliance Certification, a recognition given to companies who make measurable benefits to the world’s forests, wildlife and communities.

Not only does Sandos run its very own sustainability programs, the company also makes sure it’s easy for guests to help the local environment throughout their stay at these all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.

Each of Sandos’ Mexico properties implements a variety of environmentally-friendly programs in order to minimize its eco footprint, like baby sea turtle programs, working hand-in-hand with local communities near the resorts, deer and macaw repopulation programs in Playa del Carmen, a Mini Farm of rescue animals at Sandos Caracol, and extensive recycling initiatives at every property.

Sandos’ Environmental Director Guadalupe Barron states: “Sustainability wouldn’t work without a team commitment… We work with a responsibly-run waste program, starting with when it’s created until it reaches our recycling warehouses. We focus 100% on applying the 3 Rs, in this order: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. But we also go two Rs further: Reject and Repair.”

Best of all, these resorts organize awareness campaigns that make it easy and fun for guests to join in on the positive impact during their Sandos vacations! You can help heal the oceans that surround Sandos resorts by reducing unnecessary plastic contamination through the “Say No to Straws” campaign and by using biodegradable sunscreen whenever you swim in the ocean or a cenote.

You can even take action right on the beach by participating in their frequent beach-cleaning events. Even the smallest details can help, like hanging your room towels to reuse the next day and cut down on water use, keeping your balcony door closed while the A/C is running, and using the marked bins throughout the property to easily separate your organic trash. One of the best ways travelers can make an impact is by respecting the area’s local plants and wildlife! Sandos has a “Don’t Feed the Animals” campaign to spread awareness among guests about the dangers of feeding the wild critters that live freely at several of the resorts.

If your kids are still excited about meeting some animals up close, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort hosts the Animal Keepers activity every day, where children can learn how to care for and feed rescue animals. Sandos Caracol also features Eco Tours in English and in Spanish so you can learn about the ancient Maya legends and the natural surroundings found throughout the local ecosystems of the Riviera Maya. Sandos’ resorts in Playa del Carmen strive to showcase the traditions, customs and cuisine of local Maya culture, hosting four nighttime shows each week with Maya dancing and ceremonies in the most beautiful outdoor locations at Sandos Caracol.

On Day of the Dead, guests are treated to a two-night festival of centuries-old Mexican traditions. Plus, all Sandos Mexico resorts work with Pack for a Purpose to help local communities, so leave some space in your suitcase to bring down school supplies, kitchen utensils, educational toys and more that Sandos will donate to nearby villages.

SOURCE: Sandos Hotels & Resorts press release.