We all know vacation can be good for the soul, but can it be good for the conscience and the environment, as well? Absolutely. Visit these eco-friendly, ultra-indulgent resorts that reduce your carbon footprint as well as your stress.
Costanoa Coastal Lodge and Camp
Pescadero, California
Costanoa, located in scenic Northern California, is a resort set amidst the stunning California coastline. Their mission is to allow guests to retreat from the chaos of everyday life and experience "the pace of nature." Activities at the camp include hiking, mountain-biking, music and art exhibits, educational lectures, kayaking and luxurious spa treatments and many others.
Accommodations feature 40 cozy rooms at the North and South Buildings, 12 rustic Douglas fir cabins and comfortable tent bungalows with all the amenities of home including electricity and heated mattress pads for chilly nights. However, if you're really ready to rough it, there are open camping plots and platforms available, too.
Sustainability
-- Costonoa has a comprehensive recycling program that reduces their landfill output by at least 20 tons each year. Products that are biodegradable, unbleached, scent- and dye-free are used whenever possible. Guests can even relax in one of the lodge's Adirondack chairs constructed from milk jugs once destined for landfills.
-- As you may know, a single compact fluorescent bulb can save the environment 1.65 tons of greenhouse gas emissions during its lifespan. Costanoa has replaced all their incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs in addition to a new program aimed at replacing electric hot water heaters with more efficient propane units.
-- Food at Costanoa highlights locally grown produce, wines and sustainable seafood. Many of the herbs used in the kitchen are from the lodge's own organic garden.
-- A tip for the eco-traveler: Costanoa offers a discount to any guest arriving via bicycle or an alternative-fueled vehicle.
The Pacuare Lodge
Pacuare, Costa Rica
From the California coast to the rainforests of Costa Rica, we arrive at another vacation getaway with an eye toward the environment. The Pacuare area of Costa Rica sits in a protected land zone of incomparable beauty. The lodge itself was built with minimum impact on the surrounding area and does not offer electricity. We guarantee you won't miss it as you dine under the stars and candles light your elegant bungalow sanctuary. From action-adventure vacations that take you to the whitewater of the Pacuare River to romantic honeymoons, the lodge truly has something for everyone.
Sustainability
-- The creation of the Pacuare Lodge is the very definition of minimum impact. No trees were cut to build the bungalows and main lodge; the lumber was purchased from a sustainable reforestation project operated by small farmers. The roofs are made from palm leaves and were built by the indigenous Cabecar Indians.
-- Going above and beyond, the lodge has purchased a large area of rainforest that was in danger of being cleared. Visitors are not allowed to explore this virgin forest, but for the eco-minded traveler, a feature like this is a big draw.
-- A percentage of each internet reservation at the Pacuare Lodge is donated directly to the three primary schools located along the Pacuare River.
Nkwichi Lodge
Lake Niassa, Mozambique
The Nkwichi Lodge rests on the shore of Lake Niassa, the ninth-largest lake in the world, which forms the border between Malawi and Mozambique. The beautiful white-sand beach is the lodge's central feature. If you're traveling with family or friends, stay at the idyllic Songea House and Chalet. It offers a beautiful outdoor dining room, secluded private beach and an airy communal area. Meals are provided onsite by a private chef.
Sustainability
-- The Nkwichi Lodge exists in accordance with the Manda Wilderness Conservation project, which means that the lodge is built in such a way that, if it were to be removed, the surrounding environment would return to its natural condition within two years.
-- Money earned by the Nkwichi Lodge helped build schools, found a maternity clinic and assist over 350 farmers to improve the community's nutrition.
-- The lodge's lighting, office computers, refrigeration and freezer facilities all run entirely on solar power. Toilets drain into eco-composting pits; once full, they are closed and a tree is planted in the enriched soil.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Tofino, British Columbia
Named for its location on the Bedwell River in Clayoquot Sound, this resort, open from mid-May through September, will redefine your idea of camping. Their signature white tents feature fireplaces, four-poster beds, antiques and private baths. In addition to the private guest tents, there are massage, lounge and dining tents. At night, the entire resort is aglow with soft candlelight – including your own tent, which will be filled with up to 50 glowing candles.
Activities at this grand hideaway are all eco-friendly: horseback-riding, hiking, whale-watching, rock-climbing and cooking will fill your days while tranquil hot springs, hot tubs and spa treatments ease you into night.
Sustainability
-- The resort employs locally and their many educational naturalist and recreational activities contribute to a global understanding and appreciation of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve Area.
-- The resort prides itself on several low-impact operations that are constantly updated as technology advances. From comprehensive recycling programs to organic gardening and composting, the resort is non-intrusive and conservancy driven.
-- The resort has several environmental programs that include salmon-stream restoration, bear-habitat mapping and First Nations studies.
Ecocamp
Patagonia, Chile
In the breathtaking wilderness of Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, Ecocamp offers a perfect compromise between hotel accommodation and camping. Their signature dome-shaped tents are large and provide very comfortable beds – in addition to keeping guests in close contact with the environment. The tents are inspired by the lodgings of the coast's indigenous people, the Kawesqar (or Alacalufes), who built their homes out of organic materials found on site. The camp offers English-speaking tours into the rugged and awe-inspiring Chilean wild as well as superb dining and all the comforts of home.
Sustainability
-- Solar energy is widely available at Patagonia since during the summer they receive up to 17 hours of daylight. Additionally, the camp is currently experimenting with wind energy; although the wind flows irregularly at times, the light for their dormitories is provided via wind energy.
-- Ecocamp is a member of www.carbonfund.org and offsets all its carbon output using projects like renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation.
-- Ecocamp is also a member of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) promoting responsible travel to natural areas. Guests of the camp are not only waited on, they are educated about the surrounding area and preservation is reinforced by every daily activity.
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