Travel sustainably

Pleasant weather is coming, restrictions worldwide are getting more relaxed, and holidays are just around the corner. As you should already know, traveling is quite polluting due to the transport that we use for them such as cars, planes or boats. From Sustonable, we have collected the most sustainable destinations from traveling to this 2021.

• Slovenia. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in Europe since 60% is covered with vegetation. Its Tourism Board has a structured national certification program to develop and promote green destinations. Currently, they have more than 350 designated conservation sites across the country that protect plant, animal, and bird species. The country has had strong tourism growth in the last ten years, reflecting the support and government involvement. Ljubjana, named Green Capital in 2016, is the jewel of Slovenia. The European Commission recognised the incredible work done in the city to turn it into a green hub. Its parks and the turquoise river, as well as the characteristic green dragons, invite all visitors to relax and enjoy its smoke and stress-free areas, whose center and riverbanks are reserved for pedestrians, bicycles, buses, and electric taxis.
• Copenhagen. At the forefront of innovation and research for a greener future, Copenhagen aspires to be a Carbon Neutral City by 2025. Its inhabitants can boast of being the most sustainable and cleanest city in Europe thanks to half of its The population uses the bicycle as the primary means of transportation. Its high recycling rate and the implementation of power generation systems also contribute to this high sustainability index.
• Pontevedra. It is an excellent example of adaptability to become a fantastic sustainable tourism destination. The reforms of the Spanish city have been aimed at giving the city back to the people and removing road traffic from the center. His investment in mobility earned him the UN-Habitat award for an urban model and the award for Excellence in Mobility in 2015. This award recognises the effort dedicated to adapting the city to make it a more sustainable environment. They have reduced 66% of the emissions in the urban area in 14 years and constructed 40 kilometers of pedestrian and bicycle paths near the estuary and rivers.
• Botswana. In addition, to have legislation for harmonising tourism with local businesses, a fifth of the territory of this country is a protected area. This allows tribal communities to be partners in the industry, giving them benefits and a voice on the projects undertaken in their ancestral lands. Landowners, tribes lease them to companies that must demonstrate their ability to generate economic, social, and environmental benefits.
• Røros. Located in southern Norway and declared a World Heritage Site, it is a city of just over 5,000 inhabitants. Røros is known for maintaining and protecting its customs and hallmarks over the years without neglecting the privileged enclave in which it is located. Its sustainable architecture based on wooden buildings and its support for local commerce and gastronomy attracts more than a million visitors each year.
• Praia. Located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal in the Cape Verde archipelago, it is a former Portuguese colony. Its small and paradisiacal capital, Praia, has launched an ambitious plan to ensure that by 2050 the entire island territory can be supplied 100% with renewable energy. An expensive but very effective way to become a sustainable city and destination. In addition, Praia has natural settings worthy of admiration and a great variety of landscapes such as volcanoes, valleys, natural parks, or plains, which make Praia a unique, sustainable destination.
• Curitiba. Responsible renovation efforts in this Brazilian city are aimed at urban mobility. Historically, Curitiba is a pioneer in green awareness since it was the first Brazilian city to implement the public Rapid Transit Bus system more than 40 years ago. Today, this sustainable destination allocates a significant investment to pedestrianize the main avenues of the city center and discourage road traffic. Curitiba is also a pioneer in measuring the rates of CO2 absorbed by its green spaces. It is also one of the Brazilian cities most aware of the practice of recycling waste.
• Portland, The city of Oregon, has more than 400 kilometers of bike lanes; it is constantly researching and innovating in its maintenance and improvement, such as LED lights to illuminate the bicycle lanes at night or its bike-friendly airport. The airport management is promoting the use of this means of transport among its 12,000 employees, and it also has bicycle parking, a repair shop, packing service for cyclist travelers. Its trains and shuttle buses are designed to allow the transport of many bikes. In addition, other initiatives such as vertical gardens or green roofs to provide self-sufficiency for citizens make Portland one of the best sustainable destinations.
• Santa Fe. Buildings of more than three stories are restricted in the city so that they do not block mountain views or change the city’s architectural structure. Santa Fe supports annual festivals and cultural events that support sustainability. Overall, the city does a lot of conservation work to maintain its historic character and promote sustainable tourism.
• The Azores. This Portuguese archipelago is an almost intact natural landscape since only 5% of its surface is built. By traveling to a sustainable destination like the Azores, we are supporting the generalization of this type of practice. Its location, separated from the mainland, protects it from the massive influx of tourists and facilitates the contact of its visitors with local people. The islands of Graciosa, Flores, and Corvo are the jewel in the crown of the Azores. Declared Biosphere Reserves have a large number of endemic species and arthropods.