7 Easy Tips for Traveling More Sustainably

Stay, shop, play, eat, and drink local

When asked about the one thing that makes the biggest positive impact while traveling, experts agree that it’s localizing your experiences. “This could mean traveling closer to home, but it could also mean more intentionally and actively participating in the local supply chain,” Collins says.

Supporting local businesses stimulates economic growth wherever you land, ultimately leading to financial independence and better living conditions for its residents. It goes all the way from the top, like choosing an independent hotel instead of an international chain, down to shopping at an artisan market, or, perhaps most importantly, deciding where to dine.

When visiting a food-forward destination, this might look like doing your research and making a reservation at a local spot that’s actively invested in giving back to the community. A great example? La Gruta, located in an atmospheric, naturally cooled grotto about 25 miles outside of Mexico City near the famous Teotihuacan archaeological site. Earlier this year, the restaurant’s sustainability program was recognized and awarded twice by Guía México Gastronómico, an organization that distinguishes the 250 best restaurants in the Mexican Republic.

At La Gruta, third-generation chef-owner Carlos Cedillo not only oversees the lush organic gardens that provide the bulk of the kitchen’s ingredients, but has also implemented a variety of social, economic, and ecological sustainability measures. There’s a composting system turning leftovers and unused produce into nutrient-rich soil and they work with area farms to establish fair trade practices for anything they need to outsource, like heirloom corn, certain cactus fruits, beans, and livestock. They also reuse wherever possible, even requiring their ice cream vendor to wash, sanitize, and refill the same tubs for every delivery. All that plus community outreach programs and an emphasis on gender equity and fair pay within the business, and you’ve got what Cedillo calls “sustainability at the table.” Oh, and did we mention the inventive, Pre-Hispanc-inspired food is amazing, too?

That’s all to say, do your Googles in the planning stage to make sure your all your hard-earned vacation cash stays in the community. If you don’t know where a souvenir comes from or whether your driver has been hired by a foreign company, the best you can do is ask and hope for an honest answer. You’ll find most people are pretty proud to tell you when something is homegrown.