Go Away And Go Green
Everywhere you turn these days, someone or something is telling you to Go Green! Years ago, going green meant with envy, but today people are getting hip to the fact our environment is in trouble and it's on us to help make it a better place.
Now, I'm no Greenpeace Activist, but I do my part. I recycle. I turn off lights. I even bought those ugly spiral light bulbs for the lamps in my home. For some people, these small life adjustments are enough. For others who want to do more, there are surprisingly many things they can do to decrease their carbon footprint in the world.
Ever think about going green on your vacation? Recently, I visited Tulum, a small seaside town around ninety minutes south of Cancun. While the jungle makes up greater than 90 % of the surroundings, it's not exactly the green I'm chatting about. For years, Tulum has been the host to a developing quantity of eco-friendly resorts. These resorts function nearly completely on wind and solar energy however several do possess gas or diesel driven back-up generators just in case. Many of the eco resorts do use wind and solar for the bulk of their power needs.
In Tulum, these eco-cabana resorts line the pristine beaches leading into Sian Ka'an Biosphere, a 1.3-million-acre nature reserve stretching down the Caribbean coast. These resorts offer a range from rustic cabanas situated on the beach to luxurious adobe-style rooms. Smaller in comparison to the major resorts in Cancun however, most do not lack in amenities. Many resorts like Playa Azul and Los Lirios Cabana Resort and the super luxurious Blue Tulum Hotel offer full spa services from beach-side massages to skin treatments using natural Mayan skincare products. Almost all of them have restaurants that serve delicious, gourmet food well into the evening. The variety of options was a pleasant surprise!
My earliest trip to an eco-friendly resort was a couple of years ago in Tulum. I'm no camper, by any means, therefore when I read the brief list of gear to bring, my stress level went up a rung upon seeing flashlight as on the list of must-haves.
A flashlight? I thought. What's up with the electricity? There is none after 11pm, that's what! Now, some people would never even consider staying in a place that doesn't have full electricity running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But, I was desperate for a vacation. I figured I'd see what this whole eco-resort thing was all about.
It was 2006 and my first time in Tulum. I've been back 3 times since! My experience was amazing. Being on the beach takes care of the worry that it will be too hot in the room without A/C. The lights being turned off after 11pm wasn't a problem at all. I had my flashlight, but there were also Tiki torches lighting up the entire property, so yeah, electricity wasn't sorely missed at all. Overall, my first venture into eco-tourism was no different than any other vacation I'd had in the past.
I should note that some of the eco resorts in Tulum do have 24 hour electrical power, but you need to definitely confirm those facts before departing if that is a priority for you.
The need to be green has reached way ahead of the Greenpeace set. Give it some thought and consider doing more than your part.
