The Top Eco-Friendly Beach Getaways - From Luxe to Low Key

At o+m, we can’t get enough of the ocean. We love being in it, around it, near it, but most importantly saving it. We love travel, especially to far off, exotic locales, and we especially love those out-of-the-way spots that share our passion for the planet and everything in it.

When we find hidden gems that deliver both comfort and luxury and are focused on sustainability and minimal impact, we know we have found our people.

Bonus points for locations that offer no wifi or phone service. What better time or place to truly unplug than vacation, right? Any place offers us this ultimate luxury, the ability to disconnect to reconnect, immediately moves to the top of our list. (Highly recommended if you haven’t tried it!)

Below is our latest list of favorite beach getaways for anyone looking for a sustainably focused, sun soaked holiday, from luxe to low key.

&Beyond Mnemba Island, Zanzibar

Hands down, the most amazing spot we’ve ever been. A private retreat in the Indian Ocean with only 10 open- air bandas, Mnemba is an incredibly special place. One of the first things you’ll notice about the island, besides it’s natural beauty and stunning turquoise waters is the sound. As writer Rima Suqi puts it so beautifully in her spot-on review (read it here at OrganicSpaMagazine), upon arrival you’ll be greeted with “layer upon layer of melodic cooing courtesy of the red-eye’d doves” who populate the island. You’ll immediately kick off your shoes, never to be worn again during your stay, and be lulled into the magic of this place. No phones, no wifi, just nature. Swim with wild dolphins, watch the delicate and diminutive Aders Duiker antelope tip toe through the forest outside our banda, feel the powdery, white sand between your toes and marvel at the most amazing cache of shells mother nature washes to the shore each night. With the motto “Care of the land, care of the wildlife, care of the people”, &Beyond stands for everything we believe in. Truly a once in a lifetime experience. www.andbeyond.com/mnemba-island/

Nomade Tulum Hotel, Tulum, Mexico

Nomade Tulum touts itself as “ a human centered hotel, conceived as a temporary habitat for those ready to learn and share, awake the soul, and free the mind.” It did not disappoint. It is located on the main beach of Tulum just steps away from the sea and surrounded by the most beautiful sandy beaches along the Caribbean side of Mexico. With Nomade’s eco-friendly ethos, natural materials are used throughout its moroccan hip decor. Daily yoga on the rooftop pavilion (every morning at 8 a.m.) detoxifies while the vegan fare breakfast replenishes. Bonus - both included in the price.

http://nomadetulum.com/

Papagayo Andaz, Costa Rica

Well-known travel blogger, It’s Not the Ritz, recommends Papagayo Andaz as a fav spot. A combo of luxury accommodations with a natural setting and eco-friendly standards. You can commune with nature and sleep in extraordinary comfortable beds, featuring frames made from locally sourced bamboo-like cane. The resort’s Onda Spa features nine nature-immersed treatment rooms. Andaz’s chic small plates eatery and bar, Chao Pescao, is big on personalization. Mixologists are open to giving or even receiving demonstrations on making a cocktail. It really is a true ‘pura vida’ experience. Don't let the Hyatt name fool you, this is the real-deal in eco resorts and bravo for the Hyatt chain adding an eco resort to it's roster.

www.papagayoandaz.com

Six Senses Resort, Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam

All the Six Senses properties are special. This one, in Vietnam's Ninh Van Bay, is particularly special. Rising from the sand dunes on an isolated beach, the resort is built from local sustainable materials, including the timber suites and a pedestrian bridge that brings guests from the river all the way to the beach. We loved island hopping by boat to visit local lobster farms, sunset cruises, and picking herbs from Dalats organic garden. The villas blend seamlessly with the local environment which gives it a rustic feel. Total harmony integrated perfectly in nature with an unspoiled view of the bay. www.sixsenses/ninhvanbay/

Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Nicaragua

Stay in colorful ocean bungalows or forest inspired dens in this rainforest chic haven. Their eco-friendly focus in apparent as the estate is on a protected wildlife reserve that includes sustainable farmland. You can gather your own eggs and milk a cow on their farm, go horseback riding on the beach, or go nutty (like we did) over their 4,300 square foot open-air yoga studio.

www.morgansrock.com

San Salis Ningaloo Reef, Australia

Located on a nature preserve 100 feet from the warm sea, San Salis is focused on minimal impact and sustainability. Right up our alley. There is no shortage of comfort, however, as each luxury tent features 500-thread count organic cotton sheets, composting toilets, and all power is solar-generated. Leave your electronics behind and commune with visiting kangaroos, swim with manta rays, or watch majestic whales breach on the horizon. Enjoy your days snorkeling in the Ningaloo Reef with dolphins and turtles, or chill in your own private hammock soaking in the sun. At night, dine beneath the stars and enjoy one of the best views of the Milky Way on the planet.

www.sansalis.com.au

So, grab your caftan and go adventure! Let us know your favorite planet-friendly locations! We love supporting other ethical companies no matter what they do or where they are. Together, our small decisions will add up big changes in our the world we all share.

Want to know more about us? Click here to check out our luxury caftans and tunics that are ethically made and locally sourced in Los Angeles.

Written by Mary Price