With the return of Earth Day on April 22nd, hotels and resorts across the world are reflecting on their sustainability efforts and taking steps to further benefit their surroundings. Travel to Nicaragua’s lush Pacific shores, the vast plains of Zambia and the hottest destination in the Balearics for our pick of eco-conscious hotels.
Mukul, an Auberge Resort
NICARAGUA
Positioned on 1,675 acres of Nicaragua’s lush Pacific coast, Mukul has remarkable scenic surroundings, from sprawling emerald forest to the coastline’s deserted shores where the Pacific surf comes rolling in. With such a privileged setting, it’s natural Mukul would place importance on sustainability. This commitment to the environment began with the resort’s creation—rainwater catchments, regional materials and energy-efficient windows were all factored into its construction with minimal environmental disturbance and the replanting of 1,500 trees—and extends to its ongoing efforts. On Earth Day, Mukul will help guests achieve their conservation goals by giving people the chance to get involved with their environmental initiatives. And as the power is turned down on the evening of Earth Day, a local astronomer will then host a stargazing session, making the most of resort’s minimal light to celebrate the star-filled sky.
Angama Mara
KENYA
Angama Mara takes its name from the Swahili for ‘suspended in mid-air’ and lives up to this name through its elevated position overlooking the Maasai Mara. While staying in one of the two intimate camps that make up this luxury safari lodge, you have the opportunity to explore the Mara’s vast plains in search of its majestic wildlife, visit nearby Maasai villages and fly over the landscape by hot air balloon. At the roots of your experience here is the Angama Foundation’s principle of endeavoring to benefit the wildlife, land and communities in its surroundings. By working with the Mara Conservancy, the lodge undertakes projects including rhino monitoring, and in February the lodge revealed its new vegetable garden, which in Swahili is known as Shamba. With five zones for growing different produce, this garden enables the lodge to serve ‘Shamba-to-table’ lunches in the shade of the garden’s trees – you can even pick the ingredients yourself.
King Lewanika Lodge
ZAMBIA
The only permanent safari camp in Zambia’s remote Liuwa Plains National Park, King Lewanika Lodge by Time + Tide gives you the opportunity to stay within the extraordinary region that each year sees the arrival of the second biggest wildebeest migration on Earth. The lodge was created in partnership with the conservation non-profit African Parks to provide greater access to this landscape, and was designed by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens to incorporate just six villas overlooking the savanna. To enhance the experience you have here, the lodge has also launched Time + Tide’s signature Sleepouts concept, giving you the chance to fall asleep under the stars in Zambia’s great outdoors.
The Nai Harn
THAILAND
In recognition of its exemplary conservation and community efforts, The Nai Harn was recently named the winner of the Gold Level Green Hotel Award. Through its commitment to sustainability, the resort has made efforts to reduce plastic waste, recycle more and serve local produce, substituting plastic straws for paper straws, using eco-friendly cleaning products and installing energy-saving bulbs, as well as minimizing the distance between the farm and table. After exploring the surrounding landscape of mountainside, lush forest and pristine beach, dine on Thai dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients with a view over Nai Harn Bay.
Hurawalhi Island Resort
MALDIVES
Luxury and sustainability come hand-in-hand at Hurawalhi. 30 percent of the island is powered by solar energy through the integration of 4,243 sq m of solar panels, and a water bottling plant has been created to reduce the resort’s plastic consumption. The resort has introduced a food recycling program and it has built a collection of greenhouses for growing fresh produce. As well as only using glass bottles in its restaurants, Hurawalhi offers organic and biodynamic produce, benefiting both the environment and guests who want wholesome and nutritious cuisine. The restaurants’ other produce comes predominantly from local suppliers. You can experience the resort’s other conservation efforts by spending time in the Marine Biology Center where the resident marine biologist is on-hand to give greater insight into the surroundings and local marine life.
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay
SPAIN
To support the #PlasticFreeIbiza initiative and celebrate Earth Day, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay will begin the island’s pre-opening season with a beach clean-up at Talamanca Bay, starting at Playa Talamanca and ending at the hotel. While benefiting the island’s shores and contributing to the bigger environmental initiative taking place across the Balearics, the event will give participants the opportunity to learn about the environment here from local marine biologists. To keep the beaches clean, the hotel will also be collaborating with the local supplier of eco-friendly products Ecovissa whose biodegradable straws will be used in place of single-use plastic straws. To fully embrace the island’s natural beauty, join the hotel’s curated hiking and cycling excursions.
Nanuku Auberge Resort
FIJI
The all-villa Nanuku Auberge Resort sits on the coastline of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu – a destination that’s celebrated for its adventure sports and exceptionally lush environment. The luxury resort embraces both of these sides to the island as it offers adventures sports on land and in the water, and by hosting one of the leading sustainability programs in Fiji. Hands-on ecological programs are led by the on-site marine scientist, from coral planting and reef conservation to the replanting of mangroves. Nanuku has also banned the use of single-use plastic straws and plastic shampoo bottles in an effort to minimize plastic waste.
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