Costa Maya beach resort in Yucatan, Mexico

We are committed to ecological practices as well as social responsibility to the local community. We believe that we have an obligation to protect the environment and reduce the impact of tourism by using eco-efficient energy and water systems, waste management practices and preserving the natural environment.

Our ecological practices are detailed on our web site, printed in every room and we encourage people to take a tour of our systems. In the local community, we are actively working with a group to improve the quality of education and living by raising money for the schools and hosting special events for the children. We hire local workers, buy local produce and are involved in community groups that are shaping the future of Mahahual.

We support the local community by working with a group to fundraise and improve the school and healthcare system in our town. We support the charity that we set up called Vision Mahahaulanas by donating money and time every month and by telling our guests about them. We encourage our guests to visit local attractions, eat in local restaurants and by local produce. We also encourage our guests to use public transport or local services. We employ all local staff. We buy local produce from the nearby shops for the guests and our meals as much as possible. All service providers are locals.

We get all of our electricity from our own solar system. We get some of our electricity from a wind turbine. We minimise energy use by using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances and turning off lights and appliances when not in use. We also have installed timers on bathroom light fixtures so lights cannot be left on.

We collect rain water in very large cisterns as our primary water resource. Grey water from showers and sinks in bathrooms is recycled into constructed wetlands that provide nourishment for plants. We have low flush composting toilets that reduce water use from 1 gallon per flush to 1 pint. All waste from toilets is composted and recycled. We only change towels and sheets after 2 - 3 days to reduce water usage. We use biodegradable cleaning products and guests are provided with biodegradable soap and shampoo.

We cultivate our garden without the use of pesticides and fertilisers and use our own compost. We encourage wildlife in our garden by not removing any flowering plants or shrubs. We compost all of our food and garden waste and use on our gardens. We recycle glass, plastic and paper and have facilities for our guests to recycle their waste too. We use recycled paper as much as possible. We give our guests leaflets and information about the conservation of the natural environment and encourage them to use public transport. Taking responsibility for protecting the environment, assisting our community and providing excellence in our accommodation, is our primary focus.