There is a common saying that “what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico”. If that was the case we wouldn’t have delicious tamales, tasty tequilas, or any pictures from the recent NTR / Warped Tour eco-adventure to Playa Viva!

For the past five years, the Vans Warped Tour has been running the Eco-Initiative contest to find the most ‘green’ band, touring staff, and sponsor for the entire length of the tour. If you don’t know, the Warped Tour is horrendously tiring for everyone and a labor of love for all involved so adding another element of eliminating plastic, recycling and composting, running bio-diesel through their trucks, and getting in front of tens-of-thousands of screaming maniacs to preach about the environment and living a non toxic lifestyle can – and is – a daunting feat. If you haven’t been to a day on the tour, go and you’ll know what’s up. Thank me later.

Every year the title of the ‘Greenest Band on Warped Tour’ gets awarded after an all out battle between several contenders. After a fiesty and feverish race to the end…this year that badass green band was Big D and the Kids Table! Way to be.

Working for months with our friends at Playa Viva, a sustainable resort in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, the best itinerary was set for maximum education and relaxation which included several releases of baby sea turtles from the on-site sanctuary, a kayaking tour through the local mangrove to witness the bio-diversity, a group tour of a local exotic animal sanctuary, a class on the sustainability efforts of Playa Viva itself (they’re killing it), I even went for a morning run through the property with Founder, David Leventhal, to learn about his work and vision.

Highlights for myself were getting in the water with Keep A Breast ambassador Julie Cox and catching a few waves in front of Lourdes famous spot. Walking the beach on an impromptu Plastic Sucks! beach clean-up afternoon.

Nuzzling a dwarf armadillo named Shrek. Sipping organic tequilas with the boys from Big D and the Kids Table and practicing the little Spanish I know with the chef who prepared locally grown, organic meals three times a day.

As with any trip south of the border there will always be some undocumented tales – those are for us and our underwater homie to know – and for you to experience yourself

Thanks everyone for an amazing trip and to especially to Playa Viva for hosting a lifetime of memories. Warped Tour for providing such an incredible dedication to greening the music industry, and Chef and his crew for ridiculously tasty, organic and local meals day in and day out.

~Casey