By Alicia Flores

When you come to Mexico on vacation, one of the easiest and most meaningful ways you can reduce your environmental impact is by bringing your own reusable water bottle. It may seem like a small gesture, but it can make a big difference.

Across Mexico’s coastlines, discarded single-use plastic bottles are one of the most common forms of litter. Many travelers, trying to stay hydrated, accept dozens of small water bottles throughout their stay—on excursions, in hotel rooms, and at restaurants. Unfortunately, most of these bottles end up in landfills or, worse, in the ocean.

By bringing your own bottle, you can help shift this pattern. Most restaurants, cafés, and hotels are happy to refill your bottle with purified drinking water if you simply ask. In fact, many properties now have refill stations or large garrafones (19-liter jugs) available for guests.If you’re staying at a large resort, do your part by politely declining small plastic bottles whenever possible. Instead, ask where you can refill your own. The more guests who make this simple request, the more hotels will prioritize refill options in the future.

Traveling responsibly doesn’t mean giving up comfort—it means being thoughtful about the small daily choices that add up. Bringing your own bottle is a simple way to stay hydrated, save money, and help protect the beautiful landscapes you came to enjoy.

Bottled water waste: The average traveler staying one week at an all-inclusive resort can easily go through 30–40 small plastic bottles of water. Multiply that by hundreds of guests, and a single hotel can generate thousands of bottles per week.

Global picture: An estimated 1 million plastic bottles are sold every minute worldwide, and less than 30% are recycled.

Ocean impact: Every year, 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean—much of it from disposable food and drink packaging.

Refillable wins: A single reusable bottle can replace hundreds of disposables each year.

Travel Tip: If you plan to order takeout or eat on the beach, consider packing a reusable food container (a simple Tupperware works perfectly). Many local restaurants will happily pack your meal into your own container if you ask—it reduces waste and keeps your food fresher on the go.