In honor of Earth Day this month, travel planners put together a list of trips and journeys that support local conservation, promote community-based activities, and encourage making environmentally aware choices when traveling. Here are their top picks for sustainable travel for Earth Day and beyond.
Take the Slow Route: It’s been found that slow travel not only benefits the environment but also your mindset. Slow travel allows you to explore new places and cultures at a relaxed pace while being more respectful of the locals, the surroundings, and the environment.
Origin, Global
Travel company Origin believes strongly in having a positive impact on the world and on the places its travelers explore. That’s why the company carbon offsets all members’ trips and prioritizes accommodation and destinations that have a strong connection to the local community and share Origin’s sustainability values. More on their commitment to sustainability here. Below are five ways to get on foot, bike, train, or even horseback in order to travel more sustainably from the travel experts at Origin.
Crossing the Andes on horseback from Chile to Argentina
This adventure of a lifetime is the epitome of slow travel in the most traditional sense of the word. Strictly available during the warmer months of November through March, the itinerary crosses the Andes from Chile’s Lake District to northern Patagonia in Argentina led by an expert horseback rider and guide. The unmarked trail is completely off-route and border crossings are done by boat across glacier-fed rivers and lakes.
Sailing through the Balearic Islands
Take a sailboat through Spain’s stunning archipelago where waves are seemingly non-existent. Start in Mallorca, the biggest island of the four with its dominating Sierra de Tramuntana (World Heritage Site) and secluded coves. Sail along the jagged coastline and jump off cliffs into turquoise waters. Continue overnight to Ibiza for a night out after docking at the buzzing port. Take it easy as you make your way to Menorca and the famed sanctuary of Formentera with its stunning white-sand beaches.
Train from Amsterdam to Venice
Sit back and relax as you glide past the traffic out of Amsterdam and into the countryside on your way to the floating city of Venice. This newly launched overnight sleeper service takes you right to the city center straight to St. Mark’s Square. Cross snowcapped mountain ranges and adorable villages making your way to one of the most romantic cities in the world, all with peace of mind that you’re doing the environment a favor by skipping that low-cost flight.
Hike coast to coast in Costa Rica
How about a hike from the Caribbean to the Pacific? In Costa Rica, it only takes 16 days. The newly minted Camino de Costa Rica starts at the Pacuare Nature Reserve and ends at Manuel Antonio National Park. Both are well-known tourist destinations (and rightfully so), but everything in between is solidly off the usual itineraries. In a country with so many zip lines that its forests sometimes feel like theme parks, the Camino offers a completely different perspective.
Biking the temples of Cambodia
Take the slow road from Bangkok to Angkor on a 7-night bike adventure through the countryside of Thailand and Cambodia. This low carbon footprint experience allows you to bike along the coast to Chanthaburi, through thick jungles and past charming villages, culminating with a spectacular sunrise at Angkor Wat.
How to book a slow travel journey
You can download the Origin app (available on iOS) or visit the Origin homepage to request a trip. Simply let us know your desired destination, trip dates, and preferred budget and an expert travel curator will then be in touch to start planning your trip. Origin is a travel company that creates completely custom-made trips. Origin’s mission is to deepen the traveler’s experience through boundless personalization and unique connections. Origin uses the knowledge of human travel experts and then superpowers their trip curation with machine learning. For more information, visit www.origin.me.
Go Nature-Positive: Supporting local conversation efforts not only can enrich your overall travel experience, but it can provide invaluable learning opportunities while helping the communities you visit.
Naya Traveler, Global
Naya Traveler creates journeys that transcend mass tourism, bringing back purpose and depth to travel through authentic cultural experiences that honor the traditions and heritage of its destinations. Naya Traveler offers curated experiential journeys to culturally rich destinations, steeped in ancient traditions and customs. For more information, visit www.nayatraveler.com.
Nature-Positive Travel in Mashpi Rainforest, Ecuador
Supporting local conservation efforts goes hand-in-hand with enriching your travel experience with invaluable learning opportunities. Ecuador packs a wide range of biodiversity, from the last bastion of the cloud forest to prehistoric volcanoes along the tip of the Andes range. Just a 3-hour drive from Quito, Mashpi Lodge is a unique luxury hotel that doubles as a research station, sitting in the heart of a 3,000-acre private Reserve made up of 70% primary forest. Mashpi Lodge’s accommodation and orientation towards families, wellness and scientific research offer the perfect environment for sophisticated and inquisitive travelers to experience the refuge and biodiversity of the Ecuadorian Rainforest. This journey includes Quito, the Otavalo Region, and The Galápagos Islands. Rates start at $900USD per person per day including accommodation, private transfers, and a personal local guide. Rates are based on double occupancy, dependent on itinerary specifics, and do not include airfare.
Practice eco-mindfulness in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Nestled along the rugged Oaxacan coastline, Puerto Escondido, Mexico beckons visitors with its pristine beaches and tranquil lagoons. With a wide array of eco-friendly activities, it is a nature lover’s paradise that will leave visitors awestruck. As the sun rises over the Pacific, visitors can enjoy a peaceful stroll along the shoreline, taking in the salty sea breeze while admiring the breathtaking scenery. Thrill seekers can catch a glimpse of majestic whales on a whale-watching tour, or participate in a turtle release program, where many sea turtles take their first steps toward the ocean. Meanwhile, the town’s vibrant food scene incorporates organic, locally sourced ingredients, and the lively farmers’ market is a must-visit for anyone interested in supporting small-scale producers. Discover this paradise on earth while staying at the luxury, eco-friendly Casona Sforza, an accommodation whose foundations were built upon saving the town’s traditions while proving support for the local community and taking care of its surrounding nature. Rates start at $800USD per person per day including accommodation, private transfers, and a personal local guide. Rates are based on double occupancy, dependent on itinerary specifics, and do not include airfare.
Environmentally Aware Choices in the Comporta Countryside, Portugal
With the help of Naya Traveler’s experts, it is now easier than ever to make informed decisions on the logistics of your journey, which not only contribute to a more meaningful trip but also to the preservation of the environment on a local and global scale. Sprinkled with surfers, fresh fish shacks, and bohemian boutiques, the village of Comporta on Portugal’s west coast—just an hour’s drive from Lisbon—can be easily compared to Montauk, Mallorca, or Jose Ignacio in Uruguay, thanks to its laidback lifestyle. Yet beyond the charms of the town itself, the countryside of Herdade da Comporta sits within one of Portugal’s most valued and looked-after nature reserves.
Rolling estuary prairies, deserted sandscapes, and flourishing rice paddies set a pristine backdrop for a unique wellness experience that places positive environmental practices at the forefront: Quinta da Comporta. This unique property, centered on wellness and designed by Miguel Câncio Martins, integrates the principle of minimizing its environmental footprint into every aspect of the experience. From the sustainable and calming decor that blends seamlessly with the surroundings to the use of recycling and natural energy sources in its construction, this property prioritizes eco-friendliness. In addition to its delicious on-site gastronomy, the property’s focus on locally sourced ingredients creates a rare and empowering experience of the destination as a whole. This journey includes the regions of Lisbon, Alentejo and Porto. Rates start at $900USD per person per day including accommodation, private transfers, and a personal local guide. Rates are based on double occupancy, dependent on itinerary specifics, and do not include airfare.
