Chile is a favorite adventure destination among the world's most demanding ecotourists who pursue sustainability on their routes. Because Chile is green not only in its landscapes, but also in its infrastructure, we highlight five world-class sustainable hotels in the most attractive destinations from north to south.
Ecotourists and the world's most demanding travelers have it clear: the new luxury is green and is found in nature destinations that have a new generation of sustainable hotels capable of delivering a balanced experience with the environment. Whether by the good use of energy, the optimization of natural resources, ethical and responsible practices with the environment, the community and food.
According to the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, tourism contributes around 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and they expect it to grow by 130% by 2035. In the last five years, the global hotel industry has grown by approximately 2.3% according to IBIS World, so in Chile we know that it is important to continue to grow but at the same time reduce the carbon footprint and the negative impact that our hotels can generate to our environment.
Chile, the best adventure tourism destination in South America according to the World Travel Awards 2021, has everything to offer a green vacation both for its landscapes and its infrastructure. Here are five world-class sustainable hotels in our country's favorite destinations:
- TIERRA ATACAMA HOTEL & SPA, SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
The sun is an essential source of clean and sustainable energy, and if there is something abundant in the Atacama Desert, it is sunlight. That's why the Tierra Atacama Hotel was one of the first in South America to be self-sufficient in clean energy thanks to its own solar power plant with 588 photovoltaic panels and a high-efficiency lithium-ion battery system and intelligent energy management that allows for uninterrupted supply. In addition, 100% of Tierra Atacama's water is drawn from its own well to avoid using water intended for the townspeople, in a sector where it is scarce. The water is then treated by a reverse osmosis plant, making the hotel self-sufficient in water and maximizing this precious resource with its own treatment plant, reusing gray water for irrigation. In the desert, energy and water are very precious commodities, and Hotel Tierra Atacama is one of the pioneers in seeking sustainable solutions in this regard.
https://tierrahotels.com/atacama/
- ECO BOUTIQUE HOTEL BIDASOA, SANTIAGO
If you want to make the most sustainable check-in of the capital, the chosen one has to be the Bidasoa Hotel, considered one of the most sustainable in Latin America. Its building was built to be as energy efficient and clean as possible: it works with aerothermal energy and does not use fossil fuels to heat or cool the spaces. It has solar panels with a solar tracking system and a garbage digester that generates gas from organic waste. They have water treatment, ionic acceleration, LED lights, waste management and compost, and the cars they use for their guests are hybrids, so they have charging stations for electric cars.
Bidasoa is not only concerned about being sustainable with the outside world. "We work every day on the concept of inner ecology, which is the management of people. We talk about managing emotions, thoughts and sensations," explains the creative director. A concept that they put into practice both with guests and with the team that works in the place.
- PUYUHUAPI LODGE & SPA, AYSÉN
Hidden in a bay in the middle of a Patagonian fjord just 15 minutes by boat from the Carretera Austral, this lodge was built with native woods, only from fallen trees. The boiling water from the surrounding hot springs provides heating and hot water to the rooms, while the water from the waterfalls that fall in its radius, deliver drinking water and supply electricity through turbines. It has a sewage treatment plant that returns wastewater in a clean manner, in accordance with the regulations and the naturalness of the springs. Almost 100% of the lodge's supply purchases come from the Aysén region and they prefer local producers and suppliers over any other.
https://www.puyuhuapilodge.com/
- ECOCAMP PATAGONIA, TORRES DEL PAINE
Chosen among the 100 best hotels in the world by Time magazine, EcoCamp Patagonia is immersed in the Torres del Paine National Park, and since it was built in 2001 has set the standard for its sustainable approach, from the design of its facilities to its waste management. The hotel is 98% powered by clean energy from solar panels and four small hydraulic turbines, and since 2008 it has been a carbon neutral company that annually offsets all its emissions through the Carbon Fund. One of its most outstanding sustainable practices is the use of ecological composting toilets and a biofiltration system to help replenish the soil. Their motto "leave no trace" is present in every aspect of their operation and in the products they use. EcoCamp has received several awards along the way, such as Tripadvisor's "Green Leaders" and the "Latin American Sustainable Luxury Award," to name just a few.
- EASTER ISLAND ECOLODGE, EASTER ISLAND, EASTER ISLAND, ECUADOR
Remote and paradisiacal in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is one of the main Chilean tourist destinations and one of great interest for international travelers who value its nature, the mysterious culture of the Rapa Nui, and today, also, its sustainable offer. Among the hotels that stand out in this aspect is the Easter Island EcoLodge, which is 90% supplied by the energy produced by its photovoltaic panels that heat the water, reducing the use of gas by almost 100%. The building was constructed from waste, mostly tires and plastic bottles, which has helped significantly to lower temperatures during the hot months and thus avoid the use of air conditioning. They have an acclaimed educational program of reforestation of native flora in the hotel's garden and on three other hectares of the island, and they also created the MIT Scholarship that offers free university studies on the mainland to students from the island.
Follow the S seal
Chile created a seal to help the most demanding ecotourists. It is the Sustainable Tourism Distinction, graphically recognized with the S Seal, which guarantees visitors that the tourist service that has this distinction meets global criteria for sustainable tourism, in the socio-cultural, environmental and economic areas. Its evaluation criteria are based on those defined by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an international organization and world reference in accreditation and promotion of sustainable tourism practices linked to the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
https://chilesustentable.sernatur.cl/
Other related news
