Eco-Friendly Resorts of the Riviera Maya (Cont'd from last submission)

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort

Ideal for couples and families looking for tons of activities, the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort in Puerto Aventuras offers five sister resorts in one complex: Barcelo Maya Beach, Barcelo Maya Caribe Beach, Barcelo Maya Colonial Beach, Barcelo Maya Tropical Beach and Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe. Bright colors and works from local artists infuse this group of hotels and its more than 2,700 rooms with vibrant Mexican culture as tourists are treated to the all-inclusive vacation on a grand scale.

Guests have access to the amenities at all five resorts, including several bars, buffets, beachside grills and specialty restaurants. Groups with a wide range of ages or interests fit right in at the complex, which has seemingly endless options. Water sports, tennis, basketball, darts, archery, beach volleyball, billiards, a giant chess set, a kids' water park, spa and a mini-golf course are just some of the diversions available. A disco and a teen club are popular nighttime hangouts, or visitors can opt to attend a show in the on-site theater.

Green profile: All five of the hotels within the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort system are Green Globe-certified and implement eco-friendly practices, including water reuse, energy conservation, recycling and the use of biodegradable materials. Every year the resort plants roughly 15,000 plants to reforest green areas.

The resort reaches out to the community through ecology lectures at nearby schools and a policy that requires 75 percent of its consumable materials (food, brochures, linens, furniture, office supplies, etc.) come from regional suppliers.
Visitors to Barcelo Maya Beach Resort are encouraged to learn about local flora and fauna through various identification signs, and the kids' clubs have areas designated for eco-learning. As part of the resort's turtle protection program, guests can help hand deliver hatchlings back to the sea.


Viva Wyndham Maya and Azteca

Just two miles from shopping in Playa del Carmen, Viva Wyndham Maya and nearby sister resort Viva Wyndham Azteca offer a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of fun to keep guests occupied. Both hotels incorporate Spanish colonial-inspired accents into comfortable accommodations; with 480 rooms, the Maya is slightly larger than the more intimate Azteca, which has 270 rooms.

The resorts are stress-free with all-inclusive packages that allow guests to take advantage of dining and activities at both. A variety of menu options await -- between the two properties visitors can feast at seven restaurants offering delights such as an international buffet, Mexican cuisine and Asian or Mediterranean a la carte dinners.

Enjoying the great outdoors is easy here with sailing, fishing, golfing, scuba diving, hiking and Jet Ski rides. These family-friendly resorts also have structured activities for kids such as sand-castle building, talent shows, art projects and games, so parents can enjoy a little free time working out at the health club, getting a massage at the Renova Spa or laying out on a beach lounger. And the entertainment doesn't stop when the sun goes down -- possible themes for nightly productions include "Grease," "Aladdin," cabaret or a guest talent show.

Green profile: Highlights of Wyndham Worldwide's green program include uniforms made with recycled plastics, biodegradable laundry bags, recycled key cards, an "EarthSmart" guest linen reuse program and renewable energy purchasing. Both the Viva Wyndham Maya and the Azteca have earned a Green Globe Certification for their adherence to environmental conservation and protection standards.

Leading cleanups at Los Pinos public beach, engaging local elementary school students in activities promoting environmental education and donating staff time to protect wildlife in a local park are just some of the resorts' community efforts.


Fairmont Mayakoba

Lanchas, or covered electric boats, traverse the canals throughout Fairmont Mayakoba's 45-acre property located within a master-planned luxury community roughly 42 miles south of Cancun, near Playa del Carmen. Cars are not allowed in the complex of this self-declared "Venice of the Caribbean" -- the boats, gliding along deep lagoons connecting sections of the hotel, along with golf carts and bicycles, are the modes of transportation here.

Guests enjoy the resort's pristine beach or follow nature trails beneath the shade of mangrove trees. Other resort amenities include tennis courts, five swimming pools, four restaurants and Willow Stream Spa, featuring a range of spa treatments, a fitness center and a beauty salon. And for avid golfers, the resort offers an additional perk: It's next door to El Camaleon, an 18-hole golf course that hosts the Mayakoba Classic, a stop on the PGA tour. The hotel has activity programs for children and teens, and babysitting services are also available.

Green profile: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has written the book on eco-friendly resorts -- literally. In addition to creating a guidebook on sustainable practices for hotels, the luxury chain employs strategies to improve waste management and water and energy conservation, setting a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from its existing hotels to 20 percent below its 2006 emissions levels by 2013.

The Fairmont Mayakoba leads the company's membership with the World Heritage Alliance. The hotel helped build up a predominantly Mayan-owned cooperative operating tours of Sian Ka'an, serving as a training resource and supporting the local guides by offering the tours to its guests. Other community outreach efforts include purchasing crafts made by locals using sustainable practices to give as gifts or sell at the resort cafe.

Rooms come with recycling bins, and visitors will find information about the hotel's environmental policies, as well as suggestions for having an eco-friendly vacation, in the guest directory.

Ecology manager Lyn Santos hopes all businesses in the Riviera Maya -- and the rest of the world -- will make efforts like the Mayakoba has because, after all, "we only live on one planet."


The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in November/December 2009. Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 998-6925 for current rates and details.