Posts Tagged ‘Eco Lodge’

By Dian Hasan | October 12, 2009

The animal world is more captivating than ever. With the explosion of media, especially TV programs dedicated to animals and wildlife, and with a big help from the internet, information about animals have become readily available like never before. The most intelligent of animals, apes, are of particularly interest, as they… well, remind us so much about ourselves.

With continued research we are learning about just how intelligent they are. Recent research indicate that Orang Utans have the ability to heal themselves with self-made medication when they are sick, making concoctions of herbs and leaves they find in the forest. An interesting find indeed, as research has demonstrated that Orang Utans in the wild are healthier than those in captivity, that are more prone to ailments. Germs passed from humans are one reason to blame. The fact that Orang Utans recognize which plants to use for medication is fascinating. You can get involved by becoming a volunteer to work with these fuzzy, cuddly & friendly Man of the Forest (Malay translation of Orang Utan)!

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By Dian Hasan | September 25, 2009

A unique hotel stay experience awaits in the Peach State of Georgia. If you’ve always fancied a stay in a “Yurt” (Mongolian traditional tent) that is a common sight across the Mongolian steppes. This of course doesn’t come with the harsh weather conditions of the Mongolian plains, but does render a unique experience of glamping (glamorous camping). Cedar House Inn & Yurt Camp, Atlanta, Georgia.

WHAT MAKES IT GREEN: this eco friendly hotel is located in the heart of the Georgia Mountains and wine country. Embracing passive solar principles, low electrical consumption, and recycling waste the Cedar House Inn defines “green.”

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By Dian Hasan | September 25, 2009

Algonquin Wilderness Eco-Lodge, lies on the southern border of Algonquin Park (3 hrs from Toronto or Ottawa), is a wilderness enthusiasts’ dream! Open all year round, with plenty of activities during Summer or Winter. With over 60 km of wilderness trails inside the park, Algonquin Wilderness Eco-Lodge is ideal for cross country skiing, dog sledding, hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking. The best time to visit is in Fall when the spectacle of foliage burst into their amazing colors.

WHAT MAKES IT GREEN: beautifully secluded amidst remote Algonquin forests, with a combination of alternative energy sources, the Eco-Lodge still provides all the finer comforts. Famous for its cross-country skiing, dog sledding, hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking, the hotel promises a true wilderness experience.

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By Dian Hasan | September 25, 2009

A sheltered oasis in untamed Kachemak Bay State Park, the lodge lies just north of Tutka Bay and only 10 miles by boat from Homer, Alaska, the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World”. Custom-built in the mid 1970’s by owner/operator Keith Iverson and accessible only by boat, float plane, or helicopter, Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge offers the visitor a unique opportunity to participate first hand in Alaska’s wilderness lifestyle with a true Alaskan sourdough.

Nestled between the dramatic vertical peaks of Sadie fjord are a variety of accommodations in private, hand-crafted cabins – a sauna and bath house next to a rushing creek; a communal entertainment and TV lounge; a dining hall complete with professional chef/waitress; and an Alaskan sized Barbecue/fire pit. The atmosphere is rustic elegance, a great place for a honeymoon, a holiday or a family reunion.

WHAT MAKES IT GREEN: offers the visitor a unique opportunity to participate in Alaska’s wilderness lifestyle in a genuine, year-round, Alaskan home and lodge, for example planting a new tree with each guest.

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By Dian Hasan | September 22, 2009

One could pretty much argue that Green is the new “Black”. At least in the hotel world. Parallel to the world’s fascination with “being green” and the “green movement”, eco hotels are popping up in all corners of the globe, like mushrooms in the monsoon season. These range from hotels that a just a tad bit green, in their building materials and use of alternative energy, to full-blown hotels with a clear mission of protecting the environment and benefiting their immediate communities. Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge in Nicaragua is one fine resort of the latter genre.

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Are you looking for sunshine in the wet and cold winter months? Want to paddle some warm water and run fun waterfalls? Check out some Mexican culture far away from tourists? Enjoy great hospitality and authentic Mexican food? Don’t want to worry about shuttling logistics or about convincing an airline attendant to check in your boat as skis? Make your way to the Huasteca region in San Luis Potosi and let Leland and Andria of Brushy Mountain Publishing and the Huasteca Secreta staff take care of the details! This was our first all-arranged paddling trip and it has set rather high standards and expectations for future ones.

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By Dian Hasan | September 11, 2009

Let’s be frank, we all live with lists! The vast majority of us LOVE it, while others disdain it. But we all get through life – a little easier – equipped with these lists, or a variation thereof. Published Best Of~ lists, in particular, probably fascinate us the most.

The Media makes perennial compilations – print, electronic and now… viral. Everyone from Celebrity Gossip magazines to TV Gossip Shows, Yahoo and YouTube… including glossy Travel Magazines, like Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure who each year anoint “what’s hot” and “what’s not”, in Hotels, Spas, Airlines, Restaurants, and Travel Destinations. Even National Geographic has their version of a hot hotel list, but focuses on what matters the most – whether or not they have a green heart. The result: 50 Top Ecolodges: The Most Earth-Friendly Retreats in the World’s Most Spectacular Wilds. Here’s a partial look at some of them, across the 5 different categories of: Island, Savanna, Jungle, Desert, and Mountain.

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Most travelers associate Costa Rica with verdant tropical jungles, and it’s easy to forget that the country also has a splendid coast, facing the Carribean Sea. The Mediterraneus Hotel, architectural jewel of the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is located just few minutes from Potrero Beach, in Guanacaste Province.
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When Chilean architect Rodrigo Verdugo ventured into the design of two Eco Loges in Chile’s Huilo Huilo Private Natural Reserve, he was set to take his imagination to new heights. While La Montaña Mágica (The Magic Mountain) Hotel was inspired by an erupting volcano, with cascading water replacing the fire and amber, the idea for the second lodge, Baobab Hotel was probably drawn from a bee-hive, or a snail’s shell. Read the rest of this entry »

Tree houses as hotels are certainly not a new concept, but La Montaña Mágica (The Magic Mountain) Hotel is not just another hotel. Located within the Huilo Huilo Private Natural Reserve, Chile, it is without a doubt one of most unique hotels in South America. This whimsical eco-lodge is shaped like a volcano and complete with every modern comfort, and features cascading water that covers the exterior, giving it a fairy-tale like look. Makes you imagine encountering some character out of Lord of the Rings saga. Read the rest of this entry »