| You recycle your empties, you've dabbed in organic apples
and you ease your conscience with recycled toilet paper once in a while,
but that's as far as it goes. When it comes to holidays, you need a
rejuvenating break - not an endurance test. The good news:
It's possible to have an eco holiday that puts you in touch with nature
and lets you have fun in reasonable comfort. Long gone are the days
of leaky bamboo huts, beards and beads. Herewith are 10 of our
favorite eco holiday options in the Americas:
Other lodges listed below:
ECUADOR
Black Sheep Inn, P.O. Box 05-01-240, Chugchilán, Cotopaxi;
(011-593) 3 281-4587;
www.blacksheepinn.com $18-$38 per night per person.
Vying for status as the highest inn in the world, the Black Sheep Inn
in Cotopaxi is an ecotourism venture flush with environmentally-friendly
credentials.
Americans Michelle Kirby and Andres Hammerman arrived on the Andean
plateau, some 8,000-12,500 feet above sea level, in 1994 and transformed
the mountain lodge into a recycler's dream. Shower water is charcoal
filtered and nourishes the reeds that feed the llamas, guinea pigs and
sheep. There's a vegetarian restaurant, a sauna and "composting" toilets,
which fertilize the organic garden.
The stunning Andean mountain range surrounding the inn is the main selling
point. Hiking, horse riding and llama treks ranging from half an hour to
full-day excursions are available. Treks take in the varied micro-climates
of Chugchilán, the sierras of Rio Toachi Canyon, the wildlife haven of
Cloud forest and Pre-Incan ruins.
Rooms are comfortable, cozy and clean. The months of June-August, at the
end of the rainy season, are the best time to visit. At this time, the
countryside is a wash of green, yet the weather is sunny and clear.
Other lodges listed in the article and
their websites:
US MAINLAND
Spring House Farm, Chimney Rock, North Carolina,
www.springhousefarm.com
Cozy Moose Lakeside Family Cabins, Greenville, Maine,
www.mooseheadcabins.com
CANADA
Forest House Lodge, Air Ronge, Saskatchewan,
www.foresthouse.ca
Cree Village Ecolodge, Moose Factory, Ontario 1-888-CREE-WAY or
1-705-658-6400
BELIZE
Chaa Creek Adventure Centre, Rainforest Reserve and Spa, San
Ignacio, Cayo District,
www.chaacreek.com
COSTA RICA
Lapa Rios, Puerto Jimenez, Pennisula de Osa,
www.laparios.com
Genesis II Cloud Forest, adjacent to Tapanti-Macizo de la Muerte
National Park, www.genesis-two.com
HONDURAS
The Lodge at Pico Bonito, La Ceiba, Alantida,
www.picobonito.com
US VIRGIN ISLANDS
Maho Bay Camps, St.John Island,
www.maho.org
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© Miami Herald 2003 |
