Green Vacations

Green travels around the world

Three Amazing Eco-Lodges in Nicaragua

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With a rugged Pacific coast, aquamarine Caribbean coast, and dense tropical forests surrounding enormous volcanoes in the middle, Nicaragua is a nature lover’s dream.  A new crop of eco-lodges has sprung up to meet the needs of travelers who want to take in the country’s amazing natural landscapes while minimizing their own impact on the delicate ecosystems.  Although these three lodges are hundreds of miles apart, they are each steadfast in their commitment to providing unforgettable, sustainable travel experiences.

Jicaro Island Eco-Lodge

Possibly Nicaragua’s most famous eco-lodge, Jicaro Island Eco-Lodge has been featured in both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler.  Its proximity to Granada makes it an ideal destination for travelers who want to see a Nicaragua’s natural wonders in a short time span. The hotel consists of nine casitas (“little houses”) on a private island in Lake Nicaragua.  Each two-storey casita is raised off the ground, treehouse-style, with views of the lake from the upstairs bedroom and lower living area.  The on-site restaurant focuses on seasonal local cuisine, and there is an open-air spa where guests can indulge in health and beauty treatments.

Jicaro Island Eco-Lodge has always been committed to sustainability in travel.  All of the buildings were constructed from trees that fell during Hurricane Felix, and they were strategically placed around the site so that no large trees had to be removed.  Upon opening, the hotel introduced sustainable practices like a water filtration system (to eliminate the need for disposable water bottles), ceiling fans instead of air conditioning, solar panels for heating water and organic, biodegradable cleaning products.  The hotel’s nature tours allow guests to learn more about the local eco-system, whether it is through a visit to the biological studies station in the Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve or learning how to use traditional artisanal fishing methods to catch your own dinner from Lake Nicaragua.

Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Eco-Lodge

Located on Nicaragua’s wild Pacific coast, eighty miles south of the Nicaraguan capital, Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Eco-Lodge consists of fifteen bungalows, a private nature reserve, sustainable agricultural land and a protected tropical forest.  The lodge has its own private beach where sea turtles make their nests, and the surrounding jungles are home to sloths, anteaters, monkeys and macaws.  Every private bungalow has its own open-air terrace, and some have personal plunge pools as well.  The lodge has an open-air yoga studio with a palapa roof and a restaurant where more than half of the food served is grown or raised on-site.

Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Eco-Lodge makes animal conservation its top priority.  They have helped restore the local wildlife population through their commitment to keeping poachers at bay and rehabilitating the forest.  Since the lodge opened, staff have planted more than two million trees on the eco-lodge’s property, with the goal of developing a sustainable forestry industry that eliminates the need for illegal logging.  They also offer a range of tours with a focus on the local ecosystem.  The Breakfast on the Farm experience whisks guests to the resort’s private farm, where they care for the animals and learn how local ingredients travel from farm to plate.  The seasonal Turtle Watching excursion allows guests to see five different species of sea turtles as they nest and hatch, and teaches guests about Nicaragua’s sea turtle conservation efforts.

Selva Negra Ecolodge

Located in the landlocked highlands of northern Nicaragua, the Selva Negra Ecolodge is one of the country’s most affordable ecotourism choices.  At Selva Negra Ecolodge, guests can choose between private bungalows, traditional hotel rooms and shared dormitories in the style of a youth hostel.  The ecolodge also has its own organic farm, coffee plantation and restaurant, all of which can be visited for a pre-arranged day tour by travelers who don’t have time to stay overnight. Selva Negra Ecolodge has been family owned and operated for more than one hundred years, and is one of the area’s largest employers of local workers.

Selva Negra Ecolodge believes in spreading their message of sustainability to all of their guests.  Guests are not only taught how to make their stay more environmentally friendly (for example, through reusing towels, separating recyclable materials and staying on the ecolodge’s marked hiking trails), but they are also taught ways to bring the same sustainable practices home with them.  Selva Negra Ecolodge is famous for its daily coffee tour, where guests see how coffee is made and learn how to choose beans that are both socially and environmentally sustainable.  Nature tours are offered during the day and at night, with limited group sizes so as to not disturb the resident animals.

Nicaragua’s dry season runs from November to May.  During this time, there is little rain and temperatures are generally pleasant.  If you would like to see nesting Pacific sea turtles during your trip, it’s best to visit between July and November.

Top Ten Green Museums

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Museums are the invaluable cultural institutions that serve a crucial purpose in our ever-expanding modern world. By their very definition, they’re conservationists, saving artifacts, objects, and knowledge for the future in responsible and ethical ways. And now is the time for the museum of the future, in which the buildings housing these amazing exhibits are as environmentally friendly as their conservation practices. The movement to encourage all museums around the world to pursue green innovations has gained incredible traction in the last several years, and it’s become vitally important that any new construction embody the best in green design principles.

Of course, being green in a museum means more than just eco-friendly construction materials. It has to do with how the space is used, how things like heating and cooling are achieved, how much waste they produce, and how energy efficient the building is. It’s also necessary for the space to serve multiple functions, fulfilling the diverse needs of the community. Certain groups (like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums) also have environmental requirements for accreditation. Finally, a central tenet of being a green museum means having a focus on educating the community about an environmental concern.

Here’s a list of the best sustainable museums around the world, including new museums and those that have undergone renovation. With a diversity of subject matter, these museums appeal to the full range of human imagination as they fulfill the promise of sustainable design.

California Academy of Sciences  (United States)

This landmark scientific institution combines education, outreach, and research in innovative ways that appeal to visitors from around the globe. Their signature green roof provides energy, controls waste water, and serves as a place to nourish various plant specimens. The green roof also reduces their energy requirements by keeping the building cooler. Inside, you’ll find a focus that’s as green as their roof. The indoor rainforest, aquarium, and natural history museum combined offer practically countless exhibits on the natural world, conservation, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. Their service to the public is also a vital one, and they’ve been educating visitors and conducting invaluable research since they opened.

Natural History Museum of Utah (United States)

With a particular emphasis on the natural history of Utah and the surrounding regions, the NHMU is dedicated to preserving artifacts and educating visitors about the relationship between humans and the natural world. Renovated in 2011 to meet new green building standards, this popular regional museum works to minimize their environmental impact while maximizing the cultural impact they can make on their visitors. Their green roof and extensive solar array work to manage water waste and take advantage of the sun to heat and cool the building. Many of their building materials are locally sourced, too!

Jeongok Prehistory Museum (South Korea)

Built on a site of archeological significance in South Korea, the Jeongok Prehistory Museum is dedicated to creating a space that brings the prehistoric past alive for visitors. The structure is built between two elevated points, making it fit seamlessly with the natural environment in striking ways. The soft edges and curvy structure evoke natural flowing water, which, combined with their prehistoric garden, makes the outside just as attractive as the inside. The construction of the exterior is not only beautiful, but it also regulates internal temperature to minimize energy waste.

Salvador Dalí Museum (United States)

Home the most extensive collection of Salvador Dali’s work outside of Europe, this museum is already renowned for its cultural offerings. Designed to evoke the same sense of languid movement and surrealism as the paintings it houses, this museum minimizes energy use and reduces any negative impact on the delicate Florida ecosystem. It even has important environmental features that are unique to its geographic area – it’s built to be hurricane-resistant.

Exploratorium (United States)

This bayside museum in San Francisco is another exemplar of sustainable design. With cooling and heating provided by recycled bay water, they reduce the amount of energy needed to manage building temperatures. They also take advantage of solar panels on the roof to provide energy for the building, so they avoid carbon emissions. As a museum their mission is to instill wonder and curiosity in their visitors, and their exhibits certainly have a focus on the environment and human interaction.

Ningbo History Museum (China)

This stunning, unique museum was built from the ultimate in recycled materials – local used tiles and bamboo cased in cement. Imagined to represent the intersection of mountains and oceans that have influenced this region of China, the Ningbo is both visually evocative and environmentally friendly. The recycled materials not only reduce construction waste, they also represent important facets of local culture as they replicate traditional building materials from generations prior. The artifacts and objects within continue the story of Ningbo, with a variety of exhibits about local culture, history, and heritage.

Grand Rapids Art Museum (United States)

This extensive museum features a well-curated collection of art and artifacts that range from the Renaissance to Modern Art, all in an eco-friendly building. When it was built it won the honor of the world’s first LEED-certified art museum, with green features like water recycling facilities, CO2 reduction technologies, and heat minimizing systems. The museum’s striking visuals also makes it an attractively green building, offering distinctive angles and thoughtful interior design. Their mission to bring together creative spaces for the community also evokes the human side of green initiatives.

Cité de l’Océan et du Surf (France)

With a location on the Basque coast of France, you know this building is bound to be inspiring. Charged with a specific ecological focus, the Cité de l’Océan et du Surf (as its name indicates) features exhibits that explore the important intersections between the built environment and the ocean. Like many of the other museums on this list, this building was designed to evoke its subject mater, with flowing, graceful curves, bright, airy windows, and wide open spaces that call to mind the beautiful wilderness of the ocean. It’s a multi-award-winning building for its innovative and sustainable design, too.

Children’s Discovery Museum (United States)

This Illinois museum was the first LEED-certified children’s museum in the entire country, and was an early pioneer in advancing sustainable design. This modest but engrossing educational museum was built to emphasize the use of recycled materials, green power, and environmentally friendly items like paint and adhesives. Because it’s part of the expansion of a new and updated town center, its leadership in green building has set an important example for the community and for children’s museums across the country.

Museum of Liverpool (United Kingdom)

Another striking design, the Museum of Liverpool is a curated history of the industrial development of this British port and the significant role it has played and continues to play in global development. With such a lofty goal, it’s no wonder that the building itself stretches to new heights in green design. Energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions was the primary concern of the designers, and their CHP system is among the best at generating both electricity and building heat through the same mechanisms.

 

 

Best Sustainable European & UK Architecture

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The single most important trend in modern architecture is arguably the move towards sustainable construction. Green, eco-friendly buildings are changing our ideas not only about how construction can be achieved in more environmentally sensitive ways, but how we as humans use space in our communities. As more and more architecture firms advance new techniques for green building, our modern built environment functions in greater harmony with the natural world. In Europe, green building is closely linked to their plans for reducing human-caused climate change.

Regional organizations like the Architects’ Council of Europe put forth best practices and guidelines for how green building can be achieved by its member organizations, although the most popular green certification organization worldwide is BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). There are also a number of smaller organizations that endorse a series of international architectural prizes. For example, the European Commission offers the prestigious European Green Capital Award and the Green Leaf Award, which recognize European cities for their extensive efforts to include sustainable architecture in their plans for the future. The Emirates Glass LEAF Awards recognizes innovative design with a sustainable focus.

If you’re interested in exploring some sustainable architecture on your trip to Europe, here are a few examples of the best green buildings from the last few years. They range from private residences to office buildings, and prove that green is always better.

Dragen Children’s House (Denmark)

This modern kindergarten is a sleek example of thoughtful and conscientious design. Conceptualized as a place that encourages green living and creative pedagogy, many features are environmentally friendly while inspiring children to be active. Without elevators, for example, children climb a series of staircases and ramps to navigate the building. The Dragen Children’s House only requires a small amount of energy, uses solar energy to heat their water, and incorporates a heat recovery system to minimize energy waste.

Environmental Learning Center (Amsterdam)

When you start with a mission that’s all about making sustainability a central focus to your visitors, you end up with a building like this one. This Dutch community center epitomizes the best in sustainable design. With features like a series of solar panels, a recycling heat and cooling system, and even bird houses that are designed to reduce the impact the building has on disrupting local ecosystems, the Environmental Learning Center incorporates a variety of green building tactics.

Passive Logements Wauters (Belgium) 

This chic Brussels building, the first built to passive standard, is actually a private house. Encompassing two duplexes, this visually compelling structure utilizes a number of green building techniques and features. Building materials were selected for their minimum impact on the environment, and construction practices were calculated to meet standard green criteria. The building also employs geothermal and solar technologies, and achieves near energy independence.

Unilever Headquarters (Germany)

Located on the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany, the international headquarters of Unilever is uniquely adapted to its environment (it’s actually shaped like a boat) and creatively designed to suit the company’s needs. Design features include wide-open spaces, easy access to various locations within the building, and communal spaces intended to encourage interaction. Green features include the use of natural light, natural ventilation systems, wind protection, and passive and active energy generation.

Badenerstrasse 380 (Switzerland)

A housing development in urban Zurich, the Badenerstrasse 380 is a prime example of design that takes into consideration not only the needs of its future inhabitants, but also how to meet those needs in environmentally friendly ways. The building is built mostly from wood and other natural materials, so it doesn’t create industrial pollution with the creation of artificial materials. All tenants even sign an agreement that they’ll practice an energy responsible lifestyle!

ECOstyle Warehouse (Netherlands)

Part of a community that aims for total carbon neutrality, the ECOstyle Warehouse in Oosterwolde was built for a company that itself has a great ecofriendly pedigree: they distribute educational kits about renewable energy and water efficiency. The building also employs solar technology and air-to-water heat pumps to regulate internal temperatures. They also recycle and purify rainwater.

United States Embassy (England)

Embassies aren’t just about security these days – they’re also about sustainability! The U.S. Embassy in London is a model of the new direction the government should take when it comes to green building. Solar arrays on the roof and heat pumps in the ground supply heat and power to the building, reducing their reliance upon a stressed power grid in busy London. They also recycle wastewater (at an onsite treatment plant) and use it for flushing toilets.

River Plaza (France)

This Parisian residential space has actually been recently renovated not once but twice, the second time being entirely focused on improving their use of green features and sustainable. It’s BREEAM certified, so they meet the highest in modern standards for green building on an international scale. The renovations have improved interior air quality and noise, as well as the outdoor spaces (with the inclusion of a lovely and eco-friendly green wall).

Torsplan (Sweden)

Located in what used to be a completely industrial area in the Swedish capital, Torsplan is a multi-use building that meets diverse community needs. It encompasses office space, restaurants, and a gym. Their most significant green features include individual HVAC units per floor, which helps to reduce heat waste in a big building, and their concrete construction, which also works to keep the interior temperature regulated.

Central Bank of Ireland (Ireland)

This Dublin-based bank is actually the first office building in the entire country to achieve an “outstanding” BREEAM rating. It’s an incredibly energy efficient building, with a 70% reduction in energy consumption over standard Irish building regulations. A mixed-mode ventilation system improves air quality, and offers a combined heat and power source. The design also utilizes natural light to reduce electricity consumption, making for a striking exterior as well.

How to Choose the Best Eco-Tour

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Eco-tourism is booming in recent years, offering ethical and environmentally friendly options for those who want to explore the natural world while minimizing human impact. Companies offer eco-tours that might be anything from a trek through the Amazon to a hike up an extinct volcano. Deciding what part of the world you want to explore is the fun and easy part, but once you’ve figured out your budget and where you want to go, how do you choose the right eco-tour?

Here are a number of tips to consider when planning for your environmentally friendly vacation. Choosing an eco-tour isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth it to keep these guidelines in mind as you make your decision.

Do your research

Make sure you really look at a tour company’s offerings and reputation before you book. A good way to get a sense of what people think of a tour company is through sites like TripAdvisor, which provide a free space for people to write their honest opinions about their experience with a particular tour or tour company. If you know someone who has been on an eco-tour before, ask for his or her opinions, too.

Don’t assume “green” buzzwords tell the whole story

Because eco-tourism is only becoming more and more popular, many companies try to get in on the trend by labeling their offerings as “green” or “eco-friendly” when their practices in fact don’t actually match up. Here again is where additional research can help – and it’s ok to call the tour company directly to inquire about their green practices. Asking questions about how and why they practice environmentally friendly tour operations can help inform your decision.

Look into local organizations

Some areas of the world actually have guidelines on what constitutes an eco-tour, and what standards or practices a tour company has to maintain in order to qualify as environmentally friendly. A quick search should be able to tell you if such a tour board exists, and you can use their standards to compare against the offerings of a tour company you have in mind.

Opt for smaller tours

Any tour company that advertises an eco-tour for big groups is being environmentally irresponsible. The more people that trek out into nature, the greater potential there is for damage to plants and animals. Smaller groups leave less of an impact on the environment, and they also provide a more enjoyable experience, so be sure to look into tour sizes before you book. Again, it’s ok to call the company directly to ask about this if the information is not on their website.

Investigate the accommodations, too

Often, eco-tours are totally immersive experiences that give you an opportunity to stay overnight in a natural environment. If this is the case for the tours you’re looking at, you should check to make sure that your lodging options are also environmentally responsible and sensitive to the local community. Attributes like sustainable building, natural materials, and a lack of disruption to the ecosystem are important considerations.

Be aware of the wildlife 

If your tour involves an animal sanctuary or an environment in which you may encounter wild animals, make sure that your tour operator isn’t going to offer or promise interactions with the animals. Any tour that advertises a chance to pet or feed local wildlife is not being responsible and actually poses a danger to the animals by risking them becoming reliant upon human assistance.

Find out how the tour company gives back

One of the central tenets of responsible ecotourism is that the tour company gives back to the community and contributes to the conservation of the environment. Whether that’s through donating a portion of their profits to preservation efforts, or hiring locals to help empower the community, make sure that your chosen company is actively helping out in some way.

If you take these factors into consideration when choosing a company for your eco-tour, you’ll be able to find a tour that’s truly environmentally friendly and ethically responsible to the ecosystem and people they interact with. Don’t forget to pay it forward after your trip, either! Your honest reviews about the company will help others make their decisions, too.

Why you should join a Ranger-led program in US National Parks

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If you want to see the real America, get out of the city and head for the Great Outdoors.

27 of the country’s 50 states have at least one National Park within their borders, and millions of people, both Americans and otherwise, choose to holiday in National Parks every year.

The first National Park to be created, in 1872, was Yellowstone, so vast that it extends from Wyoming into Montana and Idaho. Other popular US National Parks include Yosemite, with its stunning valley and the iconic El Capitan; Sequoia; Zion; Arches; Big Bend; Joshua Tree and the hot ‘n’ sticky Everglades of Florida. Covering many diverse landscapes, from parched desert to mysterious swamp, snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes to volcanos, the US National Park system provides protected habitats to an astonishing variety of wildlife, including bears, wolves, bison, alligators and bald eagles. These parks make for some of the very best holiday destinations in the USA.

The best way to appreciate the majesty of Yellowstone National Park is with a Ranger Program

National Parks are all about exploring the incredible scenery, whether you’re swimming or kayaking in a lake, hiking, mountain biking or horse riding along a network of trails, or just pausing for breath while fly fishing. But the system only works because it is managed to accommodate all of the ‘stakeholders’ – visitors; industry; tourism organisations; environmentalists and conservationists; government and, of course, the flora and fauna of the parks themselves.

What do US park rangers do?

A big part of successful park management is down to the Ranger service. These men and women perform a variety of essential roles, from helping injured animals to maintaining trails, enforcing regulations to educating the public. As part of this, most if not all US National Parks offer ranger-led programs that visitors can join.

Why join a Ranger-led program in a US National Park?

There are many different types of ranger-led programs in US National Parks, from tours of historic and heritage sites, to guided hikes and talks about wildlife.

Why join one?

  • To understand the fascinating ways in which a park functions, from managing the landscape to coping with transport, and learning firsthand the challenges and joys of being a ranger
  • To discover how different ecosystems can coexist in harmony, the fragility of the environment, and how park visitors can help protect it
  • To learn how to stay safe while wandering around the park with potentially dangerous wild animals in the vicinity, picking up tips such as how to dispose of food properly
  • To learn about the plants and animals you seeing all about you – how to identify different tracks, droppings or leaves
  • To find out fascinating park history such as how Yellowstone is actually centred over a gigantic supervolcano (ulp!) or why Joshua Trees are so-called
  • To get out and about in beautiful natural landscapes accompanied by a professional guide who knows all the best routes
  • To entertain and educate your children – they can even become junior rangers for a day
  • To admire the breathtaking beauty of US National Parks during different seasons

How to book a Ranger Program in a US National Park

Every park should have its own seasonal schedules available on the individual website, such as this activity schedule for Yellowstone National Park.

Keep in mind that some activities such as Ranger-led hikes can be very popular, especially during peak season, so it’s worth booking in advance.

Some activities may need to be paid for, while others cost nothing but a donation is recommended.

How to holiday in an American National Park

  • Dress for the weather and terrain, but always remember that park weather can be extremely changeable. In the morning it could be fresh and sunny, by afternoon it could be snowing
  • Always be aware there are wild animals around you. Inexperienced hikers should stay on marked trails and if you do plan to go off them, ensure someone knows your route and when you plan to get back
  • Carry water with you at all times, especially in parks such as Joshua Tree, Big Bend, Badlands or Arches where temperatures can be extreme and there’s little shade to be found
  • Know when to visit National Parks – some routes may be closed off during winter for instance, while in the summer months some areas can be very crowded or mosquito-ridden
  • It’s a cliche but it bears repeating: Take only photographs, leave only footprints
  • Camp if you can, for the full park experience
  • Coach tours operate in many US National Parks, but if you prefer to make your own way around then consider mountain-biking rather than driving to help with congestion
  • Don’t expect to see everything in just one visit – and even if you do, you’ll probably find it impossible not to visit again