Recently we made our way down to Costa Rica to do a little exploring and noticed how prevalent eco lodges were there. As it turns out, Costa Rica is credited as one of the pioneers in the eco lodge movement. There are tons of eco lodges to choose from in Costa Rica, but you can also find them across the globe in destinations like Indonesia, South Africa, Chile, and Australia. In this article we’ll explore what it means to be an eco lodge, the benefits of staying in them, and things to keep in mind when picking one out.

With the rise of eco-conscious travelers—like you, perhaps—comes the need for more thoughtful accommodations. One solution? Eco lodges. Eco lodges are typically built with local materials and ideally, local labor, and integrated into their surroundings in a way that minimizes environmental impact. It’s also common for eco lodges to use sustainable practices, like serving local seasonal food or using solar power.

Their ultimate goal of the eco lodge is environmental and social responsibility, but lookin’ pretty is a nice bonus. Eco lodges are usually a visual wonder, made using beautiful natural and local materials, or an artistic hodgepodge of recycled materials repurposed as design elements. The vibes tend to be natural, down-to-earth, and low-key. 
 

Here are a few commonalities among eco lodges you might find:

• Located in a rural area 
• Natural or recycled materials in construction 
• On the smaller side, usually with only a few rooms available
• Commitment to minimizing environmental impact and supporting conservation
• Energy-saving methods and renewable energy 
• Tranquil setting, away from big buildings, construction, noise, and traffic
• Posters, books, and maps onsite that inform guests about the area’s flora and fauna
• A dedication to fair wages, ultimately contributing to the local economy
• Advocacy for ecotourism and sustainable travel
   

Eco Lodges Help You Be A Better Tourist

There are two sides to the tourism coin: it can help uplift local economies, but it can also be destructive to local communities. Eco lodging is a great alternative to lodging options that can be exploitative to the local community. The use of local labor at fair wages, the conservation-forward approach to construction, and the sustainable practices used in eco lodging can help make tourism a benefit to the local landscape and community, rather thana hindrance. 
 

Do Your Due-Diligence 
 

There isn’t an eco lodge search engine like Vrbo or Expedia, or a global certification to indicate that a facility has met certain standards to be considered an eco lodge, so you need to do some research before deciding where to stay.

With the rise of interest in eco-friendly travel, it’s important to be mindful of greenwashing in your search. Some places may masquerade as eco-friendly to lure in sustainably minded travelers. To avoid staying at a green-washed facility, do a thorough check of their website for sustainability info to see what concrete actions they’ve taken or are actively taking to minimize their impact on planet earth. Remember that no lodge is totally perfect and not every accommodation can aspire to being carbon neutral. 
 

The Short Of It Is, Eco Lodges Are A Great Choice 

Ultimately, eco lodges can offer you a sustainable lodging alternative and a way to contribute to the local economy in a way that’s more beneficial to the community you’re visiting—and gives you a pretty cool place to stay while you’re doing it.