Ecotourism is on the rise; and according to most travel experts, it will represent a significant chunk of the global travel market in the next decade. But what is ecotourism exactly? According to the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), it means “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”.
From choosing to support local companies to booking accommodations and activities that have minimal impact on the environment, there are many ways we can invest our travel dollars to travel sustainably and respectfully.
In this post, we’ll go around the world to explore 8 different types of eco-friendly accommodations, from least to most expensive, so you can find the best option to suit your own travel budget!
1. Go camping in Canada’s magnificent backyard
Budget: From $10 CAD/night
The most budget-friendly eco-lodge is probably your camping tent, as long as you’re mindful of the impact you have on nature and avoid damaging precious habitats.
What better way to commune with nature and have fun with your friends and family without breaking the bank than going on a camping trip? Canada is home to countless beautiful campsites located in the heart of national parks, from Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands to Fundy in New Brunswick, Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park, Banff in Alberta, or BC’s Alice Lake, to name a few. The average overnight campground fee in Canada ranges from $10 to $40 for a tent and from $50 to $75 for a full RV hook-up.
So get out there and enjoy our country’s beautiful backyard!
Did you know?
If you have a medical emergency out-of-province, your provincial health care plan won’t cover you for everything.
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2. Stay in a cabin in the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest
Budget: From $100 CAD/night
Ecuador’s Sarcha Urco Lodge is a sustainable family project that offers a selection of cabins and bungalows in the middle of the jungle. They protect 130 hectares of cloud forest in the Chocó Andino Biosphere Reserve, declared by UNESCO in 2018, giving refuge to more than 450 species of birds and hundreds of tree and animal species. The owners believe that “human beings can have a healthy and symbiotic relationship with ecosystems” and offer their guests natural and cozy cabins, healthy food prepared with local products, and other services with respect for diversity of life, local economies, and different cultures.
Sarcha Urco is the perfect place to relax to the sound of nature and bird watch. You can plant and harvest healthy food yourself by taking a farm tour of the hotel’s predesigned productive ecosystem. They also offer tours that’ll take you all around the cloud forest and introduce you to new wildlife species.
3. Sleep in a tree house in South Africa
Budget: From $140 CAD/night
Teniqua Treetops allows you to rent a tree house nested within the magnificent indigenous Knysna Forest, in South Africa; here, you can soak-up amazing views from your room and have access to forest trail and river walks leading to rock pools. According to the owners, this is also the perfect place to watch thunderstorms! They have a goat petting zoo on-site and can take you on amazing adventures such as star gazing at night, spotting scorpions in the wild, visiting an elephant park, or touring a distillery.
Teniqua Treetops take their impact on the environment seriously by limiting the number of guests they receive, minimizing energy usage and protecting the indigenous forest they’re built on. They use bio-degradable and eco-friendly products, septic tanks for all suites, and the houses are built on stilts to minimize our footprint on the forest.
4. Visit a minimalist hotel in the Italian Alps
Budget: From $150 CAD/night
Bühelwirt is a mountain sanctuary in the Italian Alps built in 1910 by two sisters who, because they were women, had to go before a regional court to obtain approval to build a guest house. 110 years later, the hotel has expanded and is thriving. The owners’ philosophy is to “establish harmony between the inside and the outside” and make the hotel “a sanctuary for people seeking strength and inspiration”. It offers a 100% organic and rooted in nature experience, which means the carbon footprint is kept as low as possible by providing the guests with zero-waste products, using green electricity generated with the power of water, and using a water filter system and reusable water bottles. Furthermore, the owners purchase climate protection certificates to offset the residual amount of greenhouse gas created by the hotel’s activity.
The restaurant serves true South Tyrolean quality organic meals, and the spa offers a variety of treatments with natural cosmetic products. You can participate in all sorts of activities in the winter and summer season alike, such as hiking and mountaineering in the beautiful Alps, snowshoeing, skiing, or tobogganing. Make sure you’re covered for all your adventures if you engage in more extreme activities. Thanks to the hotel’s perfect location, guests can enjoy breathtaking views from the minimalist comfort of their rooms.
5. Rent a parcel in the French terroir
Budget: From $175 CAD/night
Parcel is a company that allows travellers to rent an eco-friendly tiny house in a parcel of land in the middle of the French countryside. The eco-designed tiny houses are without wi-fi and TVs to invite their guest to fully disconnect. They operate on solar panel energy, use dry toilets and water recovery. The concept is to immerse you in nature to (re)discover the pleasure of simple things. You can rent a parcel in different French regions where wine growers, market gardeners or farmers welcome you to their land and share their passion of locally sourced ingredients by inviting you to a farmhouse breakfast, country-style aperitif or barbecue under the stars. Some of the parcels are kid-friendly and dog-friendly.
And if you want to continue exploring the countryside after you leave your parcel, take a look these French towns and villages to make your trip even more memorable.
6. Escape to an ecolodge in the Jordanian desert
Budget: From $200 CAD/night
Inspired by the historical caravanserai – camel caravans who would stop in inns along their long trips on the silk route – Feynan Ecolodge was constructed in 2005, by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature; this non-governmental organization is devoted to the preservation of Jordan’s natural resources, and is the first of its kind in Jordan. Feynan is located along the southwestern edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, which has a diverse array of landscapes and wildlife – but is also one of the most threatened reserves in Jordan.
The hotel offers travellers “the opportunity to experience Jordan’s wilderness, meet its native people and explore its ancient history, with minimal impact on the environment”. Feynan has 26 unique rooms, where you’ll enjoy the tranquility of the Arabic desert, wake up gazing at the sun rising over the mountains in the morning, and go to bed to the flicker of a candle flame. They provide meals made as much as possible with produce and ingredients from nearby shops and farms. For example, the bread they serve is supplied by Um Khalid, a Bedouin mother of five from the local community who bakes the flat bread fresh each day on a traditional half moon shaped oven. You can also have your dinner under the stars and try to catch sight of a shooting star. The hotel offers many activities, such as hiking and canyoning, mountain biking, and cooking experiences.
Read about our blogger’s recent experience in Jordan to learn more about this incredible destination.
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7. Destress at a sustainable Vietnamese beach resort
Budget: From $200 CAD/night
Located on the Vietnamese island of Phú Quốc, Mango Bay is a beach resort with sustainable energy and water conservation practices, and strict recycling and waste treatment policies in place. They use natural air circulation and fans instead of air conditioning, natural light during the day, solar panel hot water, and they provide energy efficient appliances (there are no TVs on the premises). They also contribute to the conservation of the land by planting thousands of trees, using locally sourced building materials, and by discouraging fishing along their properties to allow reef rehabilitation.
Mango Bay also supports War at Risk, a non-profit organization aiming at the long-term conservation of Vietnam’s threatened biodiversity by combatting the illegal wildlife trade and promoting the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The resort also supports local communities by ensuring their staff are from surrounding communes, using local suppliers as much as possible and re-investing its income locally. For example, most of the furniture at Mango Bay has been made in the resort workshops by local craftsmen, and recycled or sustainable, certified timber.
The resort offers a great selection of activities, from yoga to Vietnamese cooking classes, paddle boards, kayaks and snorkels, gardening, or exploration tours of the beautiful island where you’ll spot elusive wildlife.
Take a look at our suggested best places to visit in Vietnam if you want to explore the country beyond Phú Quốc island.
8. Luxuriate in the Costa Rican jungle
Budget: From $500 CAD/night
Finally – if you’re looking to splurge for your next vacation – I highly recommend spending a few days at Rio Perdido.
During my last trip to Costa Rica, I spent 6 days in this eco-lodge nested in the jungle in the beautiful province of Guanacaste.
15 years ago, the land was barren due to cattle farming and logging. In less than a decade, the Rio Perdido team has transformed it into a natural oasis by regenerating the ecosystem and committing to leaving the smallest footprint possible. They kept the land’s topography as close as possible to its original state and developed their hotel by electing structures founded on existing geological formations and, when that was not possible, to be elevated by pylons. They even managed to design their ziplining course without harming the trees, by building the structures around them. Their philosophy is that “if nature is respected, she will generously return her bountiful gifts to our guests”. They also support the local communities by sponsoring efforts to boost education and economical growth in the region. Furthermore, 90% of their staff is from surrounding towns.
We had an amazing stay, bathing in the thermal river, taking volcanic mud baths, hiking lush trails, and meeting many friendly critters such as monkeys, lizards, birds, frogs, capybaras, giant butterflies, and big insects. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. This was hands-down one of my most gratifying travel experience to date and I feel very fortunate to have been able to live it. Rio Perdido is one of my new happy places!
After reading this, do you feel like getting a bit closer to nature next time you travel? These were just a few examples of the many kinds of eco-accommodation out there, and I hope you’re inspired to give one of them a try!
Safe travels,
Thomas
