Amid an ongoing environmental crisis, travel has become more than just an enjoyable experience for vacationers. Now tourists must choose their destination carefully and ensure that the hotels and resorts they frequent are committed to eco-friendly operations.

Unfortunately, terms such as “sustainable” have become buzzwords thrown around without much thought, resulting in destinations that look the part but aren’t as eco-friendly as they appear. Be it environmental awards, innovative initiatives (with meaningful results) or conscious partnerships, the hotels below have the credentials to prove that they are operating in a way that protects the natural world, not just hopping on a trend.

From caring for the immediate surrounding landscape and its wildlife to operating at a fully carbon-neutral level, our top picks of the world’s most luxurious prove that hotels can be eco-friendly without needing to sacrifice the impeccable levels of service and comfort that discerning travelers are accustomed to.

Pikaia Lodge has worked closely with the Ecuadorian government to ensure that it can welcome eco-tourists without risking harming the local environment and wildlife / ©Pikaia Lodge

From its construction to its daily operations, environmental consciousness is ingrained into Pikaia Lodge. Operating at a fully carbon-neutral status, the lodge successfully proves that the five-star comforts enjoyed at luxury hotels need not be sacrificed for the sake of sustainability.

The lodge itself is made of only the most environmentally friendly building materials, such as the hand-collected local Galapagos lava stone tiles that line most of the floors and walls. The building is designed to provide for itself where possible; solar paneling generates energy to power the lodge, the roof collects rainwater for purification, and the light-colored roofing prevents interior heat buildup, mitigating the need for air conditioning in the spacious and modern guest rooms.

Tourism in the Galapagos Islands is extremely controlled, with laws in place to prevent overdevelopment in this treasured part of the world. Pikaia Lodge has worked closely with the Ecuadorian government to ensure that it can welcome a select few eco-tourists on educational vacations, without risking harming the local environment and wildlife. Pikaia’s land-based tourism model (as opposed to visiting yachts and cruises) also ensures that the economic benefits are distributed across the local population.https://www.elitetraveler.com/travel/hotel-news/the-most-luxurious-eco-friendly-hotels-around-the-world