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Tea N' Sea Travel

Travel Tips, Uncategorized · August 4, 2022

Tropical Vacation Packing List: 10 Eco-Friendly Essentials

Every vacation has its essential items you definitely want to pack, and a tropical or beach vacation is no exception. You don’t want to leave off anything important from your packing list, and if you want to pack a little more eco-friendly, you’re going to want to consider bringing these 10 items!

what to pack for a tropical vacation
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Reef Safe Sunscreen

This one is a definite if you’re going to be applying sunscreen at all (which you SHOULD be packing and applying if you’re on a tropical vacation!). With all the toxic chemicals found in sunscreens, you don’t want to be putting them on your body, and definitely not in the ocean? Our world’s reefs face a lot of stress while they’re just trying to survive. From rising ocean temperatures to plastics, runoff and waste, sunscreen is one thing you can do while you’re out on your snorkel adventures to help protect your skin, and our reefs. Not only are they safe for the oceans, they’re typically gentle on your skin as well! Check out this natural sunscreen from Raw Elements, and bonus if you opt for their plastic free options!

Girl holding a tin of eco friendly sunscreen that is reef safe and plastic free on the beach

Turkish Cotton Towel

No tropical vacation packing list is complete without a towel, but forget those heavy, printed, fluffy beach towels at home. Those are much better suited for the spa or home. Lugging a heavy towel around is never fun, and they take SO long to dry. Opt for a lighter Turkish towel, made of lightweight cotton, quick drying, and made with *actually* cute designs. Plus, they are great doubling as a sarong for when you need a quick coverup!

Snorkel or Dive Gear

girl scuba diving with pink fins in front of a shipwreck in a tropical destination

Speaking of spending time in the big blue, don’t forget to pack your snorkel gear if you have it! If you don’t own any, consider renting equipment from a dive shop or your accommodation. It’s way more eco friendly to use what you already have, or borrow from someone else than to buy it once while you’re there, never to use it again. If you are heading somewhere for diving or snorkeling and want your own equipment, check out these fins that I use when snorkeling and this mask and snorkel set!

Solar Phone Charger

If you’re spending all day out on the beach or somewhere without an outlet, you don’t want to be worrying about your phone battery when you’re trying to take pictures or use your map to navigate! Investing in a solar phone charger is a great way to harness a renewable resource to keep your battery charged on the go. And it’s perfect for a beach or tropical destination since (hopefully) you’ll have lots of sunshine! Living aboard a sailboat, solar power is something we use every day to power our home, and this portable charger is great since it is sand, dust, and splash proof!

More Sun Protection

Rather than only relying on sunscreen, opt for physical sun barriers like a UV shirt or a big hat. During the summers and when I’m down in the islands, a big hat is a MUST for me. I love the natural grass fiber ones, since they breathe nicely and the beige goes with any outfit! You can find them in many places, especially down in the islands where locals will make them out of palm fronds, grasses, or other natural materials! If you need one before you leave for your trip, I’d recommend one like this with a drawstring!

Another physical barrier to the sun that’s a good thing to include is a long-sleeve UV shirt! They make them in wicking materials, but a long sleeve linen or cotton should keep the sun off your skin as well, but may not prevent all the UV rays from passing through the material. There are endless choices, but a good long sleeve helps protect your skin so much in the intense tropical heat!

selfie of a girl wearing a grass hat to protect her from the sun

Sustainable Toiletries

Something not talked about too much unless you’re familiar with the sustainability community is travel sized toiletries. The small, single use plastics are definitely not ideal when you’re trying to pack a sustainable, ocean friendly bag! But you can’t bring your big containers you would normally use (or refill) at home, so what do you do? There’s a couple options. My favorite way to transport toiletries is avoiding the liquids at all! I use shampoo bars, and it’s so nice to pop it into my reusable soap holder, and not worry about having to keep liquids under a certain size. Another option is to invest in silicone (or reuse your travel size) containers! Use your big containers, or bulk store to fill up what you need, and avoid the plastics!

Along the lines of sustainable toiletries, the OG swap is to a bamboo toothbrush. You can also start using toothpaste pellets (another liquid free option!), and either a safety razor or a Leaf razor! Both of these are long term handles and heads, with just replacing the blades! 

Reusable Utensils

Most people have heard about denying a straw (save the turtles) or bringing your own reusable ones, but you can actually take it one step further by bringing your own reusable utensils when you get takeaway meals to bring to the beach. Pair that with a reusable water bottle, and you’ve got a sustainable, ocean friendly lunch to bring to the beach! Definitely add this adorable set to your tropical vacation packing list if you plan to order take away meals!

Sustainable Swimwear

Let’s be honest – the styles of swim changes almost as quickly as the tides, so it can be hard to keep up with that “fast fashion” and be sustainable at the same time. While I’m all for finding bikinis that make you feel confident, I’d definitely air on the side of quality over quantity. Investing in higher quality swimwear helps the environment by reducing demand for the swimsuits you’re only going to wear once or twice at most. While I do have way too many bikinis than one gal needs, my favorites are sustainably and ethically created. Keep reading for my favorite brands to include on your tropical vacation packing list!

SaltyLuxe Swim makes beautiful, high quality bikinis out of plastic pulled from the oceans, and the company donates to Marine conservation with every purchase. One more of my favorite swim lines is from a small company here in little St. Augustine, called DH Swim. These bikinis are handmade, reversible (hello, 4 styles in one!), and customizable! And if you’re up for a little digging, you can try thrift shops or second hand sites (like Poshmark) for pieces!

Definitely opt for swimwear that you can trace the origins of, or that are working towards a sustainable line, rather than purchasing from those fast fashion brands!

girl laying on the beach reading a book wearing a sustainably made bikini

Lightweight Clothes

Of course, if you’re planning a trip to the beach or to the islands, you need to know what to pack for all those other outfits for when you’re not at the beach or swimming in the big blue ocean. I’m a huge fan of lightweight fabrics and neutral colors, so that you can mix and match with many different outfits. Whites, linens, lightweight cotton, tanks, cotton shorts, flowy sundresses – you get the gist. This strategy also made it easy for me to learn how NOT to overpack (which I was HORRIBLE about before). If you need help learning how to do that, I’ve got a total guide on it, and spoiler alert – you only need ONE pair of jeans (and even less if you’re heading to the islands!)

For the Adventurer:

girl hiking down a hill in the bahamas

Now if you’re planning some tropical hikes, you’re going to want to leave those big hiking boots for the mountains at home. Even if you’re hiking mountains in the tropics, odds are the terrain is going to be a lot more slippery than the rocky trails you’d use big boots for. My favorite shoes for hiking in the islands are Tevas, they’re not only lightweight, super cute for everyday wear, comfortable, but they’re great to wear in muddy or wet conditions. Bonus – you don’t have to worry about wet socks! There are many different styles of Tevas, but I would opt for a pair that has a strap around the back of the heel if you’re looking for a pair to wear on your adventures!

For Your Accessories

Of course, no vacation outfit is complete without the right accessories! My biggest recommendation would be to leave the expensive, shiny jewelry at home or in the safe when you’re out on adventures or swimming in the ocean! Opt for cute, colorful, and versatile accessories like the cute bracelets and anklets from Pura Vida. I’ve loved their bracelets for so long, they’re the perfect pop of color to make your tan stand out, and they often partner with organizations benefitting different communities and ecosystems!

There are so many ways that you can make your tropical vacation packing list more sustainable, but these are some ideas on how to start! Don’t forget, the best things are the ones you already have to live a little bit more sustainable on your travels! And check out this post if you’re in need of learning how to avoid overpacking!

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the eco friendly packing list for a tropical vacation
tropical destination packing list

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Posted In: Travel Tips, Uncategorized · Tagged: eco friendly travel, eco travel, packing list, sustainable travel, travel tips, tropical destinations, tropical travel

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    Yesterday marked exactly one year since I visited Yesterday marked exactly one year since I visited Mo’orea, and wow it feels like yesterday. Where were you exactly one year ago?? 🌺

And I don’t just mean physically, but I’d love to know that too. But what chapter of life were you in. Over the last year I’ve gone through a lot of growth, many ups and downs, visited quite a few places, have moved, changed my trajectory and so much more. It’s crazy when you journal and reflect, you can really see how much can change in a year, whether it be readily apparent or not.

So here’s to Mo’orea, thank you for the trip of a lifetime. Can’t wait to see you again 💕

#moorea #mooreaisland #tahiti #frenchpolynesia #frenchpolynesianislands #tropicalvacation #grouptrip #saltyluxeretreat #saltyretreat #saltyluxe #saltyvibes #tropicalvibes🌴 #tropicalisland #tropicaltravel #tropicalinspo
    There’s something so fun about retro Florida tha There’s something so fun about retro Florida that I’ve always loved 🦩

While you may think of the art deco and retro vibes in Miami, St. Augustine has the cutest little escape to indulge in all the pink, tropical and retro feel. It’s a great place to stay for girl’s trips, romantic getaways, or even a little staycation! Pair that with some pink books, and pink suits, and you can live out your Barbie hotel dreams! 💕

#retrofloridavibes #retrofloridastyle #thelocalinnsta #staugustinefl #staugustineflorida #visitstaug #floridatravel #visitflorida #floridahistoriccoast #tropicalflorida #tropicalvibes🌴 #boutiquehotels #floridatravelblogger #barbiehotel
    If you like to stay active on vacation and don’t If you like to stay active on vacation and don’t just want to lounge around the resort when you visit Mo’orea, here are 4 activities you can do to stay active and experience the more adventurous side of the island:

🌄 Hike one of the many mountain trails -  Mo’orea is pretty mountainous, with a variety of hikes that you can find, ranging in length and difficulty
💃🏼 Take a Polynesian dance class - Connect with and learn some local culture by learning Tahitian dance!
🏄🏼‍♀️ Take a kite surfing lesson - one of my favorite spontaneous decisions, I’d love to learn more about kitesurfing, and Mo’orea is a great place to learn!
🧘🏼‍♀️ Take a yoga class with @julia_tahiti - One of my favorite yoga classes underneath the palms with the South Pacific lapping the shore nearby

Are you more of an active traveler or do you like to relax?

#moorea #frenchpolynesia #activetravel #mooreaisland #tropicaltravel #tropicaldestination #islandtravel
    Are you more of a sunset or sunrise fan? 🌅 For Are you more of a sunset or sunrise fan? 🌅

For me, I’m a sunset girl through and through. There’s something so beautiful about how the longer you watch, the prettier they seem to get. Lead a pretty sunset into a starry night and wow you’ve got a happy Taylor.

I’d love to be a sunrise girl, but my biological clock leans towards night owl, which of course makes sunrise difficult to wake up for. The exception to that is if I’m sailing, I love a good sunrise watch.

These are some of the prettiest sunsets I’ve seen in a while:
🇬🇩 Watching the sun melt below the horizon on BBC beach in Grenada with the girls
✨Watching a stunning sunset and playing in bioluminescence at Matanzas inlet
🍕 Having a pizza and wine night with my best friend and Mahi
🌞 Another shot from the matanzas night because ARE YOU KIDDING with those colors!??
🌴 The first sunset I saw from my trip to Mo’orea

I encourage you to try and romanticize your life as much as possible, especially by adding more sunrises or sunsets into your routine 💕

#floridasunsets #grenadasunset #caribbeansunset #mooreasunset #tropicalsunset #tropicalvibes #sunsetvibes #tropicaltravel #tropicalparadise #femaletravelbloggers #outdoortravel #beachtravel
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This past weekend I went camping for the first time and had the BEST time! I met up with a bunch of friends from Outsiders Together, and I can confidently say I’ve got new friends to adventure with. These new friends made me feel so welcomed and helped me through my first experience camping, from setting up my tent, cooking, and so much more.

The Chassahowitzka River is also a great place to go paddling. From Seven Sisters Springs that has caves to swim through, lots of wildlife, and even “The Crack” which has salt water from the Gulf, the river is definitely one of the more unique ecosystems I’ve seen. We spent the whole day paddling on the river until we were all tired, hungry, and a little crispy from the Florida sun.

Have you ever been camping?! Where do you recommend I try camping next? ⛺️

#campingvibes #floridacamping #outsiderstogether #floridatravel #naturalflorida #floridaexplored #exploreflorida #visitflorida #adventuretravels #outdoortravel #adventuregirls #travelgirlshub #femaletravelbloggers #womenwhoexplore #chassahowitzkariver #sevensisterssprings
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While in Mo’orea, we took a tour to this sacred site, and basked in a traditional beauty ritual that the Tahitian women have performed for centuries, and still perform to this day. We got to indulge in our feminine energy and were guided by a beautiful soul, @eva.teuarangi 

It was truly a soul opening experience, and a turning point when I started to feel like sisters with the women I was traveling with. While yes, we took pictures, it was amazing seeing a group of 10 girls completely be indulged in what we were doing and learning about the culture we were indulging in. After a while, the cameras were forgotten, even though we were in a group of mostly photographers, creators, and bloggers.

It’s been just short of a year since these photos were taken, and it’s funny because I’ve been so afraid of posting them. This day was wildly transformative for me, but I still stare at these photos and see the flaws I’ve been trying to work on. I felt wildly beautiful taking these photos, but looking back at them I can’t help but pick apart so many details of myself. I still have a hard time posting them today, but feel the beauty of the falls and the experience is something that shouldn’t be held back.

I wish so badly that we weren’t as hard on ourselves as women. That we could always hold the feelings of being beautiful and loving the bodies we are blessed with. The bodies that allow us to swim, hike, explore, eat good food, feel the sun. I wish I could hold onto the feeling that I had when we were all here at this waterfall, and that everyone gets to experience the bliss of being immersed in nature and loving people. 🌴💕

#moorea #afareaituwaterfall #tahititourisme #frenchpolynesia #mooreaisland #pacifictravel #pacificislands #tropicaltravel #islandtravel #femaletraveler #mothernatureisbeautiful #tahitianwaterfalls #islandwaterfall #adventuretravels #travelgirldiary #frenchpolynesia🇵🇫
    Five years ago today I took a huge leap of faith, Five years ago today I took a huge leap of faith, literally, off the world’s tallest bungee bridge in South Africa. 🇿🇦

Crazy to think that five years ago was when my life took a total 180 from the “plan” I had my entire life. I was going to be a veterinarian, but I didn’t love vet school, so I withdrew and hopped aboard a sailing yacht to work for the season. I worked and saved, and then traveled to South Africa for almost a month.

Truth be told it took two days (and a couple Savanna Ciders) to be brave enough to jump. But now, I’d jump again in a heartbeat and try to tell everyone that is interested to try it to absolutely do the thing that scares you.

My life has changed drastically, and I try to do something “out of the box” as often as I can. To push my comfort zone and feel at peace in discomfort. Even if it’s just sitting in silence.

What is something you’ve done that’s pushed your comfort zone recently? Also would you ever try bungee jumping??

#bungeejumping #bloukransbridge #faceadrenalin #southafricatravel #visitsouthafrica #gardenroutesouthafrica #adventuretravels #adventuretraveler #africatravel #visitsouthafrica #femaleadventurer #femaletravel #theinfluencerbootcamp

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