Planning makes perfect. Or maybe that's practice. If you're planning for a Spring Break trip (me too), you might want to consider these Top 10 Emerging Destinations for Green and Sustainable Travel from a site called Greenloons. 'Loons? It seems they're only loony about guiding people to spots that have been certified as green.
"Traveling sustainably in new destinations helps raise living standards and can create environmental reverence by emphasizing conservation education and advocating sustainable activities that lessen degradation," says Irene Lane, Greenloons founder.
That's right, you can tell that to your friends: I'm not just going on vacation, I'm helping people. And why not? There are worse ways to spend your money. These folks also are in tune with family vacations. If you have (and take) the kids, theyll be able to give quite a fantastic presentation on What I did on my vacation.
So without further delay ...
1. Jordan
Flowers blooming at the Monastery at Petra in Jordan.
Greenloons says Jordans eco-lodges combine local heritage and educational experiences while exploring a mix of modernity, ancient wonders and nature. Think horse or camel safaris, Bedouins, the endangered Arabia oryx, Petra, the Dead Sea and trekking through Dana Nature Reserve.
2. Borneo
Mother orangutan with her baby, Borneo.
Borneo boasts 'jungles, beaches, caves, exotic wildlife and more than 5,000 diverse and endemic plant species are revealed by, among others, trekking the relatively untouched Mt. Kinabalu and exploring the Kinabatangang River, home to wild boar, orangutans, elephants, king fishers, macaque and proboscis monkeys. Award-winning eco-lodges harvest rainwater, use solar power and manage wildlife rehabilitation.
3. Philippines
The Igorot people in Banaue, Philippines. Credit: Dylan Waters
National Geographic named the Philippines as one of its 20 Best Destinations for 2011 and the island of Palawan (top right) as its top eco-destination.
4. Belize
View from the Main Mayan Temple called Caana at Caracol, Belize with the Temple of the Jaguars to the rear of the plaza.
This one has a special place in my heart. A relative went here and, as the saying goes, all we got was a hat.
The Loons say Belize offers more than 87 distinct types of ecosystems, making ecotourism the lifeblood of its economy. Along with 150 identified species of mammals are rainforests, Mayan temples, the world's second longest barrier reef and an abundance of eco-lodges educating travelers about the fragility of its ecosystem.
5. Botswana
Lion cubs swimming in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
Botswana favors low volume, high quality, environmentally conscious safari travel into the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert, the savannahs of the Moremi Reserve and the forests of Chobe and Linyanta Game Reserves.
Rounding the (last but not least) bottom of the list are Poland, Croatia, Guyana, Argentina (home to Perito Moreno, one of the world's only advancing glaciers) and Ethiopia.
Ethiopia?
Blue Nile Falls near Bahar Dar in Ethiopia.
Its gems include Lalibela, called one of the greatest spiritual-historical sites of the world.
Have you visited any of these? Either way, this list is something to ponder, especially when you stack it up against more popular destinations. Some of these are pricey, but sound much more memorable than a lot of McResorts out there, if you can afford it.
By the way, Greenloons says it only lists award-winning ecotour operators that adhere to environmental and other standards by numerous recognized third parties, including the United Nations Global Compact. So your money goes to good use, it seems.
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