Articles with the theme green

Some Ideas to Travel Green | Earth Day 2010

From turquoise blue oceans to exuberant vegetation, Mother Earth has given us striking, beautiful places to visit, one being Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Unfortunately, as travelers our visits tend to strike the environment in a negative way.

Responsible, sustainable tourism is necessary if we wish to preserve the sustainability of the environment and the beauty of the colorful coral reefs of the Caribbean, the white sand beaches of the Riviera Maya, and the luscious, tropical jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula. There are certain actions we can take as responsible visitors to compensate for the damage we have caused and prevent further deterioration of our ecosystems.

Making these small gestures will help decrease the impact we have on natural habitats, while still ensuring an exceptional vacation as we enjoy the natural wonders of the Riviera Maya.

Before you leave for your Riviera Maya or Cancun vacation, make your home eco-friendly to help save the environment and help you save money.

*Turn your water heater to the lowest setting.

*Adjust air-conditioner or heater thermostat to the lowest level.

*Turn water off from the outside connection.

*Unplug appliances and switch off surge protectors.

*Discontinue your newspaper delivery during your vacation.

Environmentally conscious hotels and resorts with “green” policies such as Hacienda Tres Ríos in the Riviera Maya are contributing to a more responsible, sustainable tourism industry. When arriving to your resort, make these small gestures and you’ll l help decrease the impact we have on natural habitats:

*Request your room towels and sheets not to be changed everyday.

*Turn off AC, heater, lights, and TV when you are not in the room.

*Take shorter showers and shut-off the water while you apply soap and shampoo.

*Open shades for natural light, but shut them when you’re out to maintain the room temperature.

*Use biodegradable sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

*Do not feed or disturb fish, animals, plants, and other living creatures.

*Do not buy souvenirs made out of animal or plant parts.

*Do not litter and use recycle bins when available.

*Reduce your carbon footprint by supporting projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions to counterbalance the emission from your vacation, otherwise known as carbon offsetting.

Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort, one of Yucatan Holidays world-class resorts, developed a set of Best Environmental Guidelines as a foundation for its planning, construction, and operation. The Green Team—composed of engineers, architects, and scientists—is in charge of following the Tres Ríos’ mission for sustainable luxury tourism in Mexico; this means ensuring the conservation of the area’s jungles, mangroves, and dunes without sacrificing luxury and comfort.

Visit the Yucatan Holidays website and discover how the Hacienda Tres Rios Resort offers you a real green travel experience for this Earth Day 2010

Cancun and Yucatan Holidays Join the Earth Hour Initiative

Last year, over 4,000 cities in 88 countries participated in the world’s largest global climate change initiative-Earth Hour. This year, Yucatan Holidays—along with Cancun and the Riviera Maya—join 92 countries in pledging to turn off our lights on March 27 at 8:30PM local time in support of Earth Hour 2010 to help bring awareness to climate change.

In Cancun—with its abundant and diverse ecosystems—the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), along with local society, federal and local government authorities, and a proactive private sector will be participating in a public event on Earth Hour in Plaza Forum by the Sea on Blvd. Kukulkan KM. 9.7 in the hotel zone.

Cancun is one of the most important tourist destinations in Latin America. The Yucatan Peninsula draws 10 million visitors each year. This implicates mayor consequences in climate change and ideal opportunities to bring awareness to the issue.

This year, the world’s eyes will be on Mexico for being the host of The 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November. 

Earth Hour is the biggest worldwide event for climate change. The symbolic act of turning off non-essential lights during one hour serves as a starting point for debate about the present and future of our planet. The aim is to unite a global network of individuals, corporations, and governments with solutions to address climate change. But most importantly, it is about an individual commitment to make long-lasting behavioral changes and inspiring others to do the same.

The first Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia with 2 million people and businesses turning off their lights to call attention to climate change and its consequences at a global level. Four years later, the event has broken its own records with 92 countries and 1,100 cities involved. Nine out of 10 most populated cities in the world—including Mexico City—will be participating.

 

Yucatan Holidays wants to encourage you as individuals to make the Earth Hour pledge along with us and take initiative through your actions into a low-carbon, eco-friendly lifestyle. Visit the WWF’s Earth Hour official website for more information.