Hacienda Tres Rios in Mexico’s Riviera Maya

If you’re looking for all-inclusive luxury at a resort that happens to be gentle on the environment, then you have got to check out Hacienda Tres Rios in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region. Sun, sand, pools, food……Hacienda Tres Rios has it all!

Located in the Riviera Maya region, Hacienda Tres Rios is less than an hour drive from the Cancun airport, away from the over-developed region of Cancun and situated in the heart of Mexico’s fun, yet still remarkably natural, region. Hacienda Tres Rios is an all-inclusive resort. Upon check-in, you are given a bracelet which identifies you as a guest. From the moment you check in, you have unlimited access to the food, snacks and drinks on property, as well as the pools and beach.

With all of the indulgence, you might think that Hacienda Tres Rios could not be eco-friendly, but beyond the lush pampering atmosphere for guests lies a strict guideline for conserving our natural resources.

Looking back at the resort from the pools area.

A room at the Hacienda Tres Rios, with a jacuzzi tub on the patio overlooking the ocean.

The breakfast buffet

The resort was designed to be eco-friendly before it was even built, which means that it was able to indulge in green practices where many other properties cannot. The rooms are situated to allow optimal sunlight exposure without overheating the interiors. Natural rivers that flow on the property and feed the mangroves were kept and maintained. In fact, the natural water sources run underneath the building, feeding the mangroves which are so important to the ecological balance of the region.

The resort’s water supply is totally resourced from the ocean, being careful not to consume the precious fresh water resources in the area. Instead a desalinization plant captures and purifies ocean water, sending it through a thorough reverse osmosis system to provide fresh, clean and safe water throughout the resort, from the taps to the showers to the drinking faucets.

The desalination and reverse osmosis water treatment facilities that create fresh, clean water for guests.

The chef uses local ingredients, including items from his own kitchen garden on property, to create the main meals and the healthy green welcome drinks, made of celery, parsley and other natural ingredients, that greet guests in the lobby each day.

The chef in his garden.

Using native landscaping is highly important at the Hacienda Tres Rios. After all, native plants can adapt to the harsh weather conditions much better than anything imported. The resort has their own nursery where they harvest and grow mangrove seedlings and other native plants to repopulate the land to an even more dense landscaping than what would naturally occur in nature. Extra plants are donated to area organizations to help improve and reforest the natural environment, which is still recuperating from hurricanes from many years ago.

Growing mangrove seedlings by the thousands.

The Resort's nursery grows a variety of earth-friendly plants used for landscaping and reforestation.

The natural environment is so important that guests are encouraged to explore the resort’s untouched wilderness – up to 95% of which has never been developed. Bike trails, kayaking, swimming in naturally occurring cenotes (like small crystal-clear lakes) and eco-tours are just some of the options in exploring the untouched wilderness of the Mexican jungle.

Sunrise at the Hacienda Tres Rios.

Be forewarned – this untouched jungle-like area is highly protected. You’ll want to bring sunscreen that is biodegradeable – since that is highly important among Mexican nature resorts. Bug spray is a definite must, too! All-natural and biodegradeable formulas are encouraged, and I was extremely thankful for a small bottle of the stuff in my room, since mosquitoes in the standing pools of water around the mangroves are large and prolific! Bugs tend to be seen everywhere in the more remote regions of the resort, since pesticides are not sprayed. However, the cool blue waters of the pool and the ocean, where you will likely spend most of your time, seem to be bug-free.

One of the amazing, tranquil pools at the resort.

Whether you are seeking eco-friendly accommodations or just want to indulge in a ocean-side retreat, the Hacienda Tres Rios is ready to offer you pampered luxury without compromising earth-friendly principles. Now, I’ll raise a glass to that! (After all….it’s included in the all-inclusive plan!)