There’s some interesting myths in the ethical travel arena right now. For example, the assumptions that in order for a hotel to be ethical, it needs to be small, or that for a hotel to be environmentally friendly, it needs to call itself an eco-resort.
Is it possible to have a resort-style, relaxation-centric vacation while still choosing sustainable travel options?
On my recent trip to Cabo San Lucas to go whale watching, we stayed at Casa Dorada: a big, beautiful, right-on-the-beach resort.
Much more than what meets the eye (though what you see certainly isn’t bad either – the place is paradise!), Casa Dorada is NOT a “big box” hotel, but a sustainability smash hit, wrapped up in a bombshell package.
Have your cake, and eat it, too. Have your relaxing resort vaca, AND support sustainable travel, too!
5 Reasons to Choose Casa Dorada in Cabo San Lucas
Sustainability superhero
When traveling, staying at an incredible hotel that you know supports and empowers the local community (the people and the environment) just feels better. If you’re interested in ethical travel, and you want your choices to reflect your sustainable mindset, Casa Dorada is a slam-dunk.
To kick off, Casa Dorada won the “Sustainability Hotel of the Year” last year.
They support a wide range of sustainable programs and projects, ranging from social support for employees to environmental action activities. Some of my favorites?
The Turtle Protection Program the hotel participates in supports the protection, conservation, and research of natural resources and wildlife of the Los Cabos Municipality (especially turtles).
Casa Dorada hosts an internal recycling contest (El Tapaton), which supports a women’s institute in building shelters for vulnerable women.
The hotel has a program to regularly receive students with disabilities, assisting to promote their development, autonomy, and labor inclusion.
The hotel has been recognized as one of a few companies that provide the necessary support and facilities so that employees can complete their basic education (“Empresa Libre de Rezago Educativo”).
Location, location, location
Our main purpose in visiting Cabo was to see whales (and we did, a LOT of them), and Casa Dorada was so conveniently located, we could walk to our whale watching boat!
When I’m on vacation, the last thing I want to do is waste time in a car getting from my hotel to wherever I want to be. While we had rented a car for our Cabo trip (mainly to avoid the stiff taxi fees coming to and from the airport), we didn’t even touch it the entire time we stayed at Casa Dorada.
The hotel is located right on the main beach in Cabo San Lucas, meaning you can stroll down the beach whenever you’d like, popping into whatever restaurant or bar along the way looks good. With a 20 minute walk, you can find yourself off the beach and in the marina, where even more dining and drinking options await, and many tour companies are located.
So. RELAXING.
Our second main purpose in visiting Cabo was to RELAX. Coming off the holiday season, experiencing daily work stress, just LIFE, you don’t really need a reason to need to relax, but we certainly had a few.
Really, Casa Dorada is set up so well, you don’t even need to leave the resort if you don’t want to. It’s a relaxing oasis in itself. We spent most of our time sitting poolside (or at the swim-up bar), playing chess, laying out on the lounge chairs on our terrace, and dining in the on-site restaurants for breakfast and a few main meals.
Beautiful rooms
We stayed in a junior suite, which features a king bed, a slightly separated living and dining area (with a sofa bed), a bathroom with a shower AND bath (YAY!), a full kitchenette, and a big terrace.
The room was beautifully decorated in a sophisticated beach style, and the multiple, big closets let us keep our clutter and suitcases from ruining the pretty space. When I’m on vacation, I don’t want to see my suitcase and think about having to pack up and leave!
The little things
Small thoughtful, helpful touches make all the difference on a relaxation-focused trip, and Casa Dorada nailed this.
You know I love me my robes, and the ones provided at Casa Dorada were extra luxurious-feeling. The bathroom toiletries were marked as cruelty-free, recycled material, made in Mexico, and supporting social good – so that’s awesome!
The fridge (and full-on kitchenette, if you feel like cooking!) was a welcome amenity, as we bought a few bottles of wine we wanted to keep chilled. It’s also great for holding leftovers (I found the portions pretty big in Cabo), or for stocking up on some staples if you prefer to self-cater.
You can book your vacation at Casa Dorada direct on their website here.
You can also book Casa Dorada using Agoda or Booking, with rates starting around $300 a night.
While I was a complimentary guest of Casa Dorada, all opinions remain my own.
Pin it for Later: Casa Dorada, A Sustainability Star in Cabo San Lucas
A short vacation in Thailand turned into a life abroad with a canceled ticket home. Nearly a decade later and after living in Bangkok, Rio de Janeiro, Puebla, and Puerto Vallarta, Steph is on to her next adventure and living back in beautiful, cosmopolitan Mexico City. She is living, traveling, and working (both as an expat therapist and an international health insurance representative) around the world to find the beautiful, inspirational, and interesting while sharing it with you!
