10 of the most beautiful eco-friendly hotels in the world

By traveling consciously and staying in eco-friendly hotels, you can make both yourself and Mother Nature happy. Among the ways these hotels contribute to sustainable tourism, we can count that they are built with sustainable materials, offer regional products and have a low environmental impact. With this list of our favorite eco-friendly hotels, you’ll be amazed how luxurious it can be to contribute to the environment while on vacation!

Hix Island House – Puerto Rico

Have you ever dreamed of living on an island in the Caribbean and enjoying the wonders of nature? You can make your dream come true at Hix Island House, which you will reach with only a 22-minute flight from the vibrant city of San Juan. The various buildings of the hotel, designed by architect John Hix, were built with a strategy to catch the trade winds while remaining true to the philosophy of wabi-sabi: use natural materials, adapt to nature, invite naturalness and imperfections into daily life. If you wish, you can also stay in the hotel’s Casa Solaris building, which uses only solar energy. When you’re not sunbathing on Vieques’ largest beach, Sun Bay, open-air yoga sessions await you in the covered yoga area between trees and birds.

Whitepod – Le Valais, Switzerland

A simple hotel that colors the mountain landscape of Valais, the Whitepod offers a unique luxury camping experience just an hour and a half from Geneva. In winter, the crackling of wood burning in the stove will make you completely forget about the snow outside the PVC walls of your personal dome accommodation. In summer, however, the Whitepod discards the white shell outside and takes on a green camouflage to blend in with the lush green hills of the Swiss countryside. It takes a 20-minute walk from the reception to reach its capsule, which is decorated with sheepskin and wood, and your efforts pay off as a priceless view of the Alps. While at the hotel, you can enjoy daily tea and homemade pastries, seasonal (and free!) outdoor activities such as tennis, badminton, giant chess, sauna, and hikes to Dents du Midi mountain.

Jetwing Vil Uyana – Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Jetwing Vil Uyana is a family project dating back to the 1970s. This legacy left by the family continued with brothers and sisters Hiran and Shiromal Cooray, who implemented an environmentally friendly and sustainable strategy without sacrificing comfort. The hotel is located within a nature reserve, which is a man-made wetland that also provides habitat for hundreds of bird species, mammals, butterflies and amphibians. This indescribable paradise is located just a few hours from the bustling capital city of Colombo, yet it feels like you are far away from the rest of the world. The best place to observe the richness of Sri Lankan nature is the World Heritage Site of Sigiriya, which houses the ruins of a 5th century palace. It is enough to wake up to the view created by the sun shining over the rice field by staying in houses built from recycled materials, with reed walls and bush roofs, and to understand the rich simplicity of living in harmony with the environment.

Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Who said luxuries can’t be eco-friendly? Featuring energy-efficient lighting, eco-friendly cleaning products and organic cuisine, the ultra-chic Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas hotel manages to combine ecotourism with glitz. The hotel’s LEED® Gold certification dispels any doubt about the eco-friendliness of this sanctuary with its sumptuous pools and suites. From its lobby to its 392 rooms, the luxury hotel is completely decorated in an elegant and Asian-inspired style. The view of the Las Vegas Strip can also be admired while sipping a cocktail at the Mandarin Bar on the 23rd floor of the hotel.

Lefay Resort and Spa Lago di Garda – Gargnano, Italy

Located in Lago di Garda (Lake Garda), only 15 km from Verona, the 5-star Lefay Resort and Spa is the epitome of Mediterranean elegance, built in the middle of a rich land of natural terraces and hills adorned with olive trees. The wooden and stone façade of Lefay Resort is in perfect harmony with the surrounding Riviera dei Limoni from an aesthetic point of view. Since the overflowing water will be used for irrigation, you can enter the hotel’s dazzling pool overlooking the lake with peace of mind! Vital Gourmet, Lefay’s kitchen concept that appeals to both the palate and the environment, draws attention with its strict ethical approach that uses seasonal products, local organic suppliers and only traditional Mediterranean products.

Lisu Lodge – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Built in the lush valley of Chiang Mai, Lisu Lodge takes its name from the nearby Lisu tribal village. As part of a community funded project to preserve Thai heritage, guests also have the opportunity to experience Lisu traditions with local families. You can take a bike tour from your guest cottage overlooking the paddy fields, stop at the tea plantations for a cup of freshly brewed tea, or do your best to improve the forest ecosystem by working with local communities at the Himmapaan plant nursery. After dining on traditional Thai dishes in the bamboo-walled hut, you can warm up around the campfire under the star-studded sky.

h2hotel – Healdsburg, California, USA

A modest and elegant location near San Francisco, the h2hotel will welcome you under a “green roof”. The grass-covered roof reduces the negative impact of rainwater on nearby Foss Creek and also reduces heat emitted from the building, preserving Healdsburg’s microclimate. You can go to Sonoma County for hiking and wine tasting if you wish, but you won’t want to leave the hotel without tasting h2hotel’s duck fat popcorn. While tasting these delicacies, you can also attend Pisco Sour cocktail preparation classes or Vinyasa yoga sessions. Afterwards, the pleasure of massage awaits you at the spa, which offers various treatments including wine, honey, lavender and lemons from the Sonoma region.

Park Hyatt Hyderabad – Hyderabad, India

With its flamboyant exterior, gargantuan columns in the lobby and world-class suites, the Park Hyatt Hyderabad is living proof that luxury and eco-friendly can support each other. You can indulge guilt-free in this palace that boasts energy saving, water efficiency and carbon reduction technologies. Thanks to details like these, the hotel was also awarded LEED® Gold status in 2011. The geographical location of the hotel also makes it easy to visit Hyderabad landmarks such as the Charminar mosque and the Golkonda fort.

Finca Rosa Blanca Inn – Costa Rica

Finca Rosa Blanca Inn is located a short drive from San José, within a few kilometers of Costa Rica’s active volcanoes and within an organic coffee growing area. In 1985, Taoist Tai-Chi teacher Teri and artist Glenn started it all with one wish: to open an eco-friendly hotel with the lowest possible impact on the environment. These efforts include hiding the electrical system completely underground to prevent wildlife damage and using coffee grounds as fertilizer. You can tour the coffee growing grounds with an experienced guide to learn about the high quality organic coffee produced here, taste ripe coffee berries (if it’s coffee season) and join a catación (coffee tasting) session to compare the aromas of Costa Rica’s sacred coffee beans.

VIVOOD – Benimantell, Alicante, Spain

You can admire the vast landscape of the Guadalest Valley from your private jacuzzi and forget about the world for a while – after all, you’re in VIVOOD. Located an hour away from Alicante, VIVOOD tries to open its senses to nature and local products, while aiming to combine environmental responsibility with luxury. Accommodations designed by architect Daniel Mayo blend naturally with the green landscape. VIVOOD suites in natural colors with very minimalistic and straight lines create the feeling of stretching towards the horizon. You can enjoy the silence of the valley while hiking on Aitana, the highest mountain of the Costa Blanca. VIVOOD is also the perfect place to watch the orange glow of the setting sun at the other end of the valley.