Eco-friendly hotels make it easier to see more of Canada while offsetting the environmental impact of travel. Whether you're planning a mountain getaway or a coastal escape, learn how to find eco-friendly hotels for a more mindful vacation, and read more about these top 12 eco-friendly hotels in Canada.

What are eco-friendly hotels?

Eco-friendly hotels and lodges actively work to minimize the environmental impacts of tourism and contribute to the communities they serve. These eco hotels prioritize the environment by implementing waste-reduction practices, such as changing guest linen and towels less frequently, providing soap and shampoo in bulk containers rather than travel-size bottles, and using energy-efficient fixtures and systems.

Some eco-hotels in Canada are members of Green Key Global, a green hotel certification program for accommodation (Green Key Eco-Rating) and function venues (Green Key Meetings Program) with the goal of minimizing their carbon footprint and leading environmental standards. This program awards hotels a rating of 1 to 5 green keys based on their eco-travel practices.

12 green hotels in Canada to book for your next trip

1. Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino

2. Algonquin Eco-Lodge, Ontario

3. Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, Vancouver

4. Element Calgary Airport, Calgary

5. Boxotel, Montreal

6. Banff Aspen Lodge, Banff

7. Trout Point Lodge, Nova Scotia

8. Inn at Laurel Point, Victoria

9. Hotel du Vieux-Quebec, Quebec City

10. Globetrotters B&B, Niagara-on-the-Lake

11. The Inn on College, Saskatoon

12. Around The Sea Rotating House, Prince Edward Island

Green Key rating: 5
Best for: Canadian coastal luxury in an eco-friendly setting

The Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island’s west coast in Tofino is a luxurious haven, and it represents sustainable travel at its best. As a top green hotel in Canada, sustainability is nothing new for this resort. During planning and construction, careful consideration was given to preserving the ancient forest while making room for the hotel.

Inside, you’ll find walls of red cedar and spruce trees in the lobby, café, and library, and the dense rainforest still stands just steps from the Inn, with old-growth cedar and Sitka spruce. The Inn is also part of the Clean the World initiative, a global organization that repurposes soaps and shampoos to support communities in need.

Green Key rating: N/A
Best for: Nature lovers looking for a relaxing getaway

The Algonquin Eco-Lodge in Ontario puts sustainability first. You’ll be completely off the grid at this cozy lodge in Algonquin Provincial Park and surrounded by lake views and hiking. The lodge runs on micro-hydro electricity sourced from a nearby waterfall, and some of its environmentally friendly amenities include a wood-fired sauna and an outdoor carbon-neutral hot tub. Enjoy the company of your travel buddies by the campfire in the evenings, and spend your days exploring the provincial park or canoeing in the eco-lodge’s private lake.

Green Key rating: 4
Best for: Luxury, eco-friendly stay in the heart of Vancouver

Part of the Coast Hotels chain, the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel is located in downtown Vancouver. As one of the most eco-friendly hotels in Vancouver, Coast Coal Harbour Hotel has a Zero Waste management system, meaning none of the hotel’s waste ends up in landfills. Its Refreshingly Green initiatives help keep Vancouver beautiful through efforts such as recycled keycards, refillable containers, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and low-flow plumbing fixtures.

While doing its part for environmental stewardship, the hotel also offers luxury services and amenities, including the Sanatio Spa and on-site dining at Prestons Restaurant and Lounge. This green hotel is just around the corner from Stanley Park, where you can spend the day exploring Vancouver's seawall.

Green Key rating: 4
Best for: Family-friendly stays

Element Calgary Airport by Westin is certified through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as a green hotel. This eco-friendly hotel features rainfall showerheads and other low-waste features, including energy-efficient appliances in each room. It also provides recycling bins for paper, plastic, and glass to encourage eco-conscious travel.

Green Key rating: N/A
Best for: Modern, urban, and eco-friendly hotel for longer-term stays in Montreal

Feel right at home in la belle ville de Montréal! Boxotel is one of the greenest hotels in Montreal and offers a unique boutique hotel concept with 20 rooms fit for short-term visits or longer stays. Located right in the Latin Quarter, Boxotel is within walking (or biking) distance to more of Montreal’s neighbourhoods.

Take your pick between a studio, a loft, and an apartment space, and lounge on the rooftop for views of downtown Montreal. Each unit comes with a kitchen, washer/dryer setup, and a modular living configuration, and guests can use the automated lighting and temperature system to reduce their energy consumption. Use the hotel's compost bins for food waste, and enjoy the locally made, eco-friendly soap provided.

Green Key rating: N/A
Best for: Outdoors enthusiasts

Going green is a priority when one of Canada's top tourist towns, such as Banff, resides in a national park. The Banff Aspen Lodge was renovated in May 2021 with a contemporary design and green features, including a property-wide recycling program, low-flow toilets, and motion sensor lighting in the hallways. Guest rooms are equipped with eco-friendly containers, vegetable-based soaps, and hand towels and toilet paper made of recycled materials. If you're staying more than two nights and don’t need housekeeping services, the hotel will make a $4 donation to the Banff Community Foundation in your name.

Green Key rating: 5
Best for: Luxury, serenity, and superb flavours at a low-impact eco resort

Located in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area of southwest Nova Scotia, Trout Point Lodge offers a luxury stay in the wild. Some of the property’s sustainable initiatives include 100% solar-powered and/or rechargeable landscape lighting, sustainable seafood dining, and minimizing packaging waste. Guests can unwind in the electricity-free, wood-fired cedar hot tub and barrel sauna, both free to use during your stay. Wine and dine in style at the resort’s two dining rooms, which serve Atlantic-Acadian cuisine with ingredients sourced from the on-site gardens as well as sustainable regional partners.

With no wifi service at the property, you can enjoy a screenless experience during your stay. Go on a Forest Bathing excursion, or book a guided hike or kayaking session to explore the nearby Tusket and Napier Rivers and the surrounding Acadian Forest. In the evenings, join the staff astronomer for stargazing walks within the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve.

Green Key rating: 4

Best for: Ocean views and local flavours with sustainable, stylish, and modern suites

The Inn at Laurel Point is British Columbia’s first carbon-neutral hotel, thanks to eco-friendly features like hydrothermal HVAC technology, energy-efficient LED lights, low-flow fixtures, and an impressive seven-stream recycling system. Located on-site, Aura Waterfront Restaurant and Patio sources sustainable, seasonal ingredients locally. Soak in the views of downtown Victoria and the Inner Harbour from the private balcony of your luxurious room.

Green Key rating: 5

Best for: Sustainable stays in historic Old Quebec

In the heart of Old Québec, Hotel du Vieux-Québec is an innovative, sustainable hotel consistently rated the best in Québec City. In line with carbon-neutral standards, this eco-friendly hotel is powered by Bullfrog Power biogas, a climate-friendly alternative sourced from a methane capture project. The hotel also has three rooftop gardens that produce organic vegetables, flowers, herbs, and honey for the restaurant while regulating the building's temperature and reducing HVAC energy consumption.

As for the design, all new furniture at HVQ is made locally. Refillable fixed containers in the bathrooms are filled with the hotel's soap, shampoo, and conditioner, and water-saving fixtures are installed in newly renovated rooms.

Green Key rating: N/A

Best for: Bed & breakfast packages for eco-conscious travellers

Globetrotters B&B is an eco-friendly hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, one of Ontario’s top places to visit. Conveniently located within a 20-minute walk of Old Town, you can go on foot to find local restaurants, charming boutiques, and award-winning wineries. Check out the area's wineries during your visit, since your stay includes complimentary wine tasting coupons.

When booking at Globetrotters, you can choose from one of three types of suites, all of which come with a complimentary breakfast of seasonal fresh fruits and home-baked pastries. Linens are air-dried, and the all-natural bath products are sourced from a local Niagara-on-the-Lake business.

Green Key rating: N/A

Best for: Accessible downtown location close to public transport

Stay at the budget- and eco-friendly Inn on College, located in a quaint Saskatoon neighbourhood populated with elm trees, trendy local cafés and restaurants, and quirky shops. The University of Saskatchewan is right across the street, and the hotel is a short walk from the popular Meewasin River Valley Trails.

The property has recently been renovated to improve energy efficiency, earning awards for its green efforts, and it's also an active participant in the Tourism Saskatoon Green Stem initiative. Guests love the comfy organic cotton mattresses, locally made in Regina.

Green Key rating: N/A

Best for: Unique, eco-friendly stay by PEI’s beautiful Cavendish Beach

This sustainable vacation rental is one of the most unique accommodations on Canada's East Coast. Around The Sea is the world’s first rotating house with luxury condo rentals, offering guests views of Prince Edward Island’s National Park Beach on the Green Gables Shore. This two-level house has four rentals available, and as it rotates throughout the day, you'll have an ocean view from every room.

Start planning your stay at a green hotel

Exploring Canada through eco-friendly hotels lets you experience new spaces while doing your part as an environmental steward. By pairing eco-conscious accommodations with simple habits like reducing waste, using public transportation, and supporting local initiatives, you can significantly reduce your environmental footprint. Start planning your next trip with sustainability in mind.

Want to read more?

• Stay close to home and take a vacation in Canada.

• If you love the Canadian outdoors, unwind at these campgrounds across the country.

• Practice slow travel with a remote work trip to Costa Rica, a world leader in ecotourism.