Stay Today. Protect Tomorrow.
At The Barefoot Eco Hotel, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From the way we design our spaces to the experiences we create for our guests, every choice is made with a deep respect for nature, culture, and community. We believe that the beauty of the Maldives should not only be admired today, but carefully protected so it can be cherished for generations to come.
Our commitment goes far beyond reducing footprints: it’s about nurturing connections. We care for the ecosystems that surround us, honor the traditions of our local communities, and create meaningful experiences that allow our guests to feel a true sense of place.
This journey was proudly recognized in 2021, when The Barefoot Eco Hotel was awarded the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification. This prestigious certification represents the highest international standard of sustainability in travel and hospitality. It reflects our dedication to reducing energy and water use, promoting reuse and recycling, supporting workforce diversity and inclusivity, and preserving the authenticity of local cultures.
When you stay with us, you’re not only enjoying the Maldives, you’re becoming part of a shared story of care, responsibility, and hope for a brighter, more sustainable future.
Underwater Life
Marine excursions
All our marine excursions have been created and developed to reduce the impact on the environment, while also contributing to the monitoring of biodiversity and economy of the local community. Guests have the opportunity to support concretely the process by adhering to the numerous “conservation snorkelling” that take place within a monitoring framework. In reality, we don’t just watch dolphins and manta rays; we also keep track of them with the help of tourists. Thanks to these activities we are able to collect biologically significant evidence indicating the dynamics and behaviour of the population of these wonderful species on a short- and long-term scale.
Guests are invited to participate in the following activities throughout their stay:
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To protect the beach and associated systems, the marine biologist and diving center arrange clean-up days. As a result, we are able to maintain the environment clean and, more importantly, we are able to raise awareness of waste decomposition among our guests.
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We hold workshops about marine life three nights a week, covering topics from turtles to sharks, rays, dolphins, fish families, coral reefs, and plastic pollution. Moreover, blue planet documentaries and diving video are broadcast during the week after dinner.
Turtle and manta monitoring
Our Atoll hosts green and hawksbill sea turtles. Thanks to the project of ID monitoring that we are carrying on with the Olive Ridley association, which is based here in the Maldives, we are able to identify each turtle of the area as an individual. By doing so we can study and learn about the local population and its distribution.
Besides, we follow a Code of Conduct for how to behave with these magnificent animals while snorkeling and diving. We are very keen on sharing with the tourists the opportunity to see them, but even more important for us is that there is respect for this marine species. For this reason, we expose several flyers on how to behave and the code is always repeated to customers at each excursion.
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Help us photograph and identify green and hawksbill turtles seen on our snorkel and dive sites.
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We are fortunate to be one of the only beaches in the Maldives that is home to the olive turtle’s nest. In fact, this specie is an oceanic one and rarely reaches the reefs. We take minimal data while the female is on the beach so as not to disturb her.
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Juveniles will hatch approximately two months after nesting, usually May through September.
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We rescue and provide assistance to any turtles we encounter that are injured or stuck in a ghost net.
Moreover, we rely on a specific Code of Conduct for the interactions with the gigantic manta rays. We insist that our snorkeler and diver guests follow it when getting across with these beautiful animals.
We have also collaborated with Manta Trust taking part in the Maldivian Manta Ray Project, a project founded to learn more about the life cycle, population dynamics and habitat usage of the Maldives manta population. Throughout the research we can help the worldwide conservation of manta rays and in the meantime, we provide the guests with marine education and we spread the importance of their survival.