Highest Rainforest Alliance Score Ever

Sandos Caracol Eco Experience Resort achieved the highest Rainforest Alliance score in Mexico, as the companies continues to prove its “eco” prowess!

After an extensive review of our facilities, grounds and services, we have been verified by the famous Rainforest Alliance as a sustainable resort, and worthy of our highest Rainforst Alliance Score.

With a history dating back 25 years, the Rainforest Alliance is a thriving organization that strives to prevent deforestation and environmental destruction across the globe by helping farmers, foresters, travel-related businesses and other industries to channel their eco practices toward greater sustainable development. Through their verification programs, the Rainforest Alliance helps conscious consumers (like our guests!) to easily identify sustainable businesses and hotels.

In order to achieve our Rainforest Alliance verification, at Sandos Caracol we were able to comply with their strict standards for environmental sustainability as well as social sustainability, helping our natural surroundings and our own local community. Our final score after an extensive audit by the Rainforest Alliance was an impressive 95.47%. By implementing the Rainforest Alliance’s standards, we were able to achieve this excellent score and move up from 67.46% in 2011 and 70.89% in 2012. Sandos Caracol earned its high score thanks to a variety of our programs, services and amenities, such as:

Xcalacoco Experience: the resort’s sustainable activity program focusing on the environment and Mayan culture, with eco tours, cultural workshops, nighttime Mayan shows, Mayan cooking, eco activities and so much more for our guests every day of the week

Environmental education programs for guests and employees

Use of fresh food products in our restaurants

Vegetarian options available, especially at Salvia, our beachfront health food restaurant

Use of energy-saving programs and alternative energy sources

Water-saving programs

Plant a Tree Program, where guests can commemorate their stay by planting a native tree at the resort

Making sure organic leftovers from our restaurants and kitchens have a sustainable final destination as compost, sending them to our on-site compost system as well as a local ranch

Recycling bins and programs. We sent over 46 tons of materials to recycling companies throughout the year.

Working alongside the Amigos de Sian Ka’an organization to create the first state inventory of greenhouse effects in the region, helping us to minimize our output

Strict animal policy to benefit the native wildlife living at the resort

Our highest score during the Rainforest Alliance audit was in the area of the Sociocultural Environment. Sandos Caracol is proud to help local Mayan communities through cultural programs at the resort, working with organizations like Xyaat and Corazón de Vida Maya to give local towns a place to sell their artisanry and hiring them to carry out traditional Mayan ceremonies. All Sandos Mexico resorts work with Pack for a Purpose so that our guests’ donations reach native communities in the region.

Thanks to the Rainforest Alliance, our employees and our guests for helping Sandos Caracol Eco Experience Resort to earn this important recognition!