Posts Tagged ‘Eco Tourism’

Post Ranch Inn is blessed with one of the most extraordinary locations on the face of the earth, a place of such breathtaking beauty it’s hard to believe it’s even accessible by mere automobile-driving mortals. Big Sur is the most scenic destination along California’s most scenic drive, Highway 1, which links Los Angeles with San Francisco and features such curiosities as Hearst Castle and Steinbeck’s Monterey along the way.

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The Balinese Hindu believe in Re-incarnation is part of Hindu Balinese psyche, it’s probably one of the reasons there is such an air of bliss on the island. To a degree this also applies to hotels, that can come back, under a new brand identity and management, and emerge stronger and better. Such is the case of COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri, now part of Madam Christina Ong’s growing empire of chic hotels, from London to Bhutan, resurrected a blissfully delightful hotel, the former Begawan Giri in Ubud, Bali’s artistic pulse in the highlands. Read the rest of this entry »

Rice fields are a common sight across much of Asia, dotting the countryside. They are just as part of the landscape on flat plains, often with volcanoes or mountain ranges as backdrops. They do, at often times, climb to great heights, in the form of terraced rice fields. They are done with such precision and aesthetic beauty, with bare hands from farmers who probably never really take time to appreciate the beauty of the “work of art”. The best example of this is probably in the Philippines. The Banaue terraced rice fields of Ifugao mountains in Cordillera are indeed sights to behold. Even UNESCO has taken notice! Read the rest of this entry »

If your travel ideas stem from childhood fairy tales like Hansel & Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood, involving verdant European forests, leprechauns, the big bad wolf, the mean witch, and other surrealistic creatures that dwell in the woods, than Kolarbyn eco stay in Sweden may fulfill your fantasy. Kolarbyn is of course an accommodation in modern-day Sweden, and although you won’t find any weird creatures no matter how hard you look, the eco experience promises to be truly unique. And your stay will make a difference in the protection of the area’s wildlife. To ensure the moose, wolves and beavers will be around for many a millennia to come. And Volunteers are always welcome, making this a unique Voluntourism destination. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dian Hasan | July 27, 2009

The hotelier Francis Ford Coppola is generally better known for his films, and for a thriving sideline in Northern California wines. But his foray into the hospitality sector in his beloved Belize can be counted as one of his hits. After winning praise for his rustic, elegant Blancaneaux Lodge, built in 1993, he added to the empire with Turtle Inn, a wonderfully quirky, environmentally friendly beach hotel on an unspoiled patch of rainforested Caribbean coastal paradise. Read the rest of this entry »

I am not sure about you, but I love to drink coffee. I drink it morning, noon, night, and every chance I get in-between. The thick dark liquid permanently runs through my veins. Most would label me as a coffee addict, but would even go so far as to say I am more suited to the title of coffee fiend. This is why, when the chance to spend a weekend at an organic coffee plantation in Central Java arose, I was there in a heartbeat, a caffeine induced heartbeat admittedly… Read the rest of this entry »

Perfect for those with no taste for the tropics, or anyone who appreciates an inventive and inspiring hotel, Hôtel Palafitte is a South Pacific-style overwater bungalow hotel, located not in the Maldives but on the waters of Switzerland’s Lake Neuchâtel, at the foot of the Jura mountains, with a stunning view of the Alps across the lake. Completed just in time for the Swiss Expo.02, this is an utterly futuristic execution of a timeless concept. After all, farmers lived in houses on stilts above the waters of this very lake some five thousand years ago — but never quite like this.

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It must be something in the Spanish water! As there’s a mushrooming of design hotels across Spain, with such progressive design language, it defies explanation or categorization. Something of a mystery really, and we don’t have the space to investigate the reasons (and don’t even get us started on the food), so we’ll have to be content merely to report on another worthy development: the Aire de Bardenas, set at the edge of a desert in the northern province of Navarre. Read the rest of this entry »

The mere mention of the words ecotourism and Central America immediately conjures images of one place, Costa Rica, whose entire country brand is built on its “gentle approach” to tourism. An approach that may have been very progressive when Costa Rica began developing its modern tourism infrastructure a few decades ago, deliberately going against the grain, shunning high-rise and condo-strewn resorts and opting instead to maximize its natural assets. A strategy that has paid off handsomely, and one that other countries are emulating. Less-known El Salvador, Costa Rica’s neighbor to the south has one gem of an eco resort that borrows the same DNA of eco-responsible hotel development, La Cocotera Resort and Eco Lodge. Designed for those seeking the luxury of nature in its unspoiled state and tranquility. Read the rest of this entry »

Northern Chile is a place of contrasts, where the coast is miles away from the Cordillera to present a magical place, a place that you must visit to be closer to nature and the glorious universe. At the same time, turquoise colored water can be found mere miles away from the dryest desert in the world, a group of irrepetible postcards. Read the rest of this entry »