Peru's exhilarating Vilcabamba range in the central Andes Mountains is a favorite among avid trekkers and adventure travelers. As you ascend, tropical cloud forests and waterfalls transition to snow-capped peaks and glaciers in a matter of hours. Mount Salkantay, the second most sacred peak in Inca mythology, is the highest peak in the region at 20,600 feet elevation. The hanging glaciers of Mount Humantay (19,200 feet) feed into the turquoise waters of the enchanting Lake Humantay. Majestic Andean condors, with a wingspan of up to 10.5 feet, can often be seen circling overhead.

This photo was taken on a trek led by Mountain Lodges of Peru, which guides travelers through the beautiful mountains of Vilcabamba until their final destination: the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu.

This entry was posted on December 27, 2012 at 12:59 PM and has received 432 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Need some last minute gift ideas for the traveling adventurer in your life? Fear not -- we've got you covered.

1) Reusable water bottles and/or water filters

There's no need to waste money or natural resources by buying disposable water bottles with these nifty water solutions. Reusable water bottles are handy for everyday use as well, whether you're going to work, class, or are just running errands. Portable water purifiers, such as an ultraviolet light purifiers or packs of chlorine dioxide tablets are perfect for backpackers and anyone traveling in the developing world, where you can't always drink the tap water. There are even water bottles with built-in purifiers for the ultimate convenience factor!

2) Travel towels

According to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams' cult classic novel), a towel "is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have." Well, that goes for adventurers on planet Earth as well -- from camping, to lounging on the beach, to a long day of city exploration, a towel can be an indispensable tool. Many hotels charge extra to rent towels for the beach or pool, and some hostels don't provide towels at all. Aside from the obvious uses, towels can also be used to shield your head from the sun, to cover a questionable-looking bus seat or hostel pillow, or as a cushion. Quick-dry, antimicrobial, and UV protective fabric makes towels like these a thoughtful and infinitely useful gift.

3) Solar charger

Break free from the grid! Use a portable solar charger to juice up your cell phones, mp3 players, and digital cameras. This gift idea is especially great for trekkers who might not even have access to an outlet for days at a time.

4) Compression packing bags

Originally designed for storage purposes, travelers have caught on to the convenience of compression bags for their packing needs. Pressure valves on these plastic bags suck all the air out, shrinking your clothes and other items to a fraction of their size to make the most of your suitcase/backpack space. But be wary of weight restrictions on flights, as the more items you pack into your bag, the more it will weigh.

5) Portable coffeemaker

No one wants a travel buddy suffering from coffee-withdrawal grouchiness! There are several types of portable coffeemakers, mostly geared towards campers, that are perfect for those who are only functional after their morning cup o' joe. Coleman makes a highly reviewed drip coffeemaker that can go right on a camping stove. There are also French press-style coffeemakers that come in a variety of sizes, including a portable mug that you can drink right out of as soon as your coffee is ready.

6) Travel apps

Why not buy your loved one a travel app or two for their mobile device? There are so many different kinds of apps for travelers out there, from games to prevent boredom on long flights to language translators. Other travel apps include trip itinerary organizers, currency converters, free Wi-Fi finders, flight alerts, and databases with maps of every kind (city maps, rail maps, park maps, ski resort maps, and more).

7) Basic medical kit

A lightweight basic medical kit can be crucial in a pinch. Get one that is small with a soft container that will fit easily into a purse or backpack. If you're not in a major city, chances are there aren't convenience stores on every corner. Simple items like Band-Aids, Neosporin, bug bite cream, antiseptic wipes, and over-the-counter medicines for common ailments (like minor pain, allergies, indigestion, congestion, and heartburn) will be worth their weight in gold if the situation calls for them.

8) Donations

Does your traveler already have all the gear they could ever want? Make a donation in your loved one's name to a nonprofit organization that is working to help a destination he or she loves. If they bonded with a local community, there are many organizations doing great work for underprivileged communities, such as helping children get an education, advocating for women's rights, protecting local wildlife, and promoting fair treatment of workers in the tourism industry. If your traveler was awed by the beautiful natural environment they visited, consider donating to an organization that is working towards preserving that special place!

This entry was posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:04 PM and has received 673 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.

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Millions of people travel for the holidays every year. Many families take advantage of the time they have off from work or school to go on vacation during the holidays, often seeking warmer weather. For whatever reason you choose to leave home this holiday season, there are many ways you can help protect the planet while you travel!

Transportation

Trains, buses, and other forms of public transportation are the most energy-efficient way to travel. If you're traveling by plane, try to take a direct flight--in addition to being more convenient, it uses a lot less fuel. You can also participate in a carbon offset program that will help mitigate the impact of your trip. And if you just can't get around driving, make the effort to travel during off-peak times and take your car for regular maintenance before your road trip. Changing oil, properly inflating tires, and driving the speed limit can make a huge difference in fuel efficiency.

Lodging

Going on vacation for the holidays? Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America are all popular destinations for those looking to escape to warmer climates during the cold winter months. Do your research and book at a hotel that has made a commitment to protecting the environment and supporting the local community. Remember - all of the hotels, tour operators, and other tourism businesses in the SustainableTrip.org directory have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability with clearly outlined environmental and social initiatives (described in every listing's "Making a Difference" section).

Happy Holidays from the SustainableTrip.org team!

This entry was posted on December 17, 2012 at 2:11 PM and has received 802 views. There are currently 2 comments. Print this entry.

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This photograph from Ka'ana Boutique Resort, shows us Xunantunich, one of the wonderful Mayan ruins in Belize that was an important ceremonial center during the Classic Period.

This archaeological site, located 130 miles from Belize City in the Cayo District, covers an area of more than 1 square mile. It consists of six major plazas and is surrounded by more than 25 temples and palaces that are believed to have been inhabited by an elite governing family. Because sits atop a limestone outcrop, Xunantunich offers panoramic views of the hilly Cayo District.

The name Xunantunich comes from the Yucatec Maya word for "stone woman," referring to a ghost who Belizeans believe still dwells in the ruins. The woman is said to be dressed entirely in black with eyes like fiery embers. She usually appears in front of the 130-foot high building known as El Castillo and ascends the stone steps to disappear into the stone wall.

This entry was posted on December 14, 2012 at 11:31 AM and has received 645 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Buena Vista is a small rural town located in northern Costa Rica, over 124 miles (200 km) from the capital. It has gravel streets, a school, a community hall, small businesses, and homes surrounded by unique natural beauty. As its name suggests, the views from here are indeed beautiful. Each year, hundreds of tourists pass through the village to go to the famous volcano, Rincon de la Vieja, and enjoy the exquisite hot springs that flow from the mountain.

In early November, the residents of Buena Vista received several visitors who had a different mission: Caravana Tica. More than 70 people, including volunteers, artists, business executives, and representatives from nonprofit organizations, came to give back to the local people a part of what they have given the tourism industry.

Caravana Tica is an initiative led by the tour operator Ecole Travel, a company that has promoted responsible tourism in Costa Rica for 20 years, received the top rating from the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, and earned the Rainforest Alliance Verification. Ecole created the caravan as part of its environmental and social program to benefit the communities where their tourism activities have more impact.

"This is our vision of corporate social responsibility," said Ecole director Astrid Cremers. "We want to merge sustainable tourism and culture and reach out to the communities with cultural and capacity building activities. We want to leave something positive behind."

The caravan took advantage of the popular celebrations in Buena Vista and entered with a shot of culture. Ecole convened a group of actors who offered two nights of theater performances that surprised and brought smiles to children as well as adults. "This was a novelty for the community! Most of the people of Buena Vista had never seen a play before," said Izvetia Abarca, a teacher at the local school.

The tour operator also coordinated a Costa Rican folk dance presentation featuring the typical dances of Guanacaste, the province where Buena Vista is located. On that day, puppet making workshops were held for children, while the Kukara Makara artisan group taught local women how to use recycled and locally available materials to make crafts that they can sell to tourists to generate extra income for their families. Furthermore, Ecole is promoting a project that will teach these women to make boxes out of recycled paper, which will be used to package soaps made and sold at Buena Vista Lodge.

The Buena Vista School also benefited from Caravana Tica, as they received a large number of books and other school supplies donated by the companies Santillana and Zona Tropical. Additionally, caravan volunteers spent three days painting a large nature mural on one of the school's walls.

While Ecole Travel was the facilitator of Caravana Tica, Cremers emphasized that the event was made possible thanks to the collaboration of many tourism businesses and organizations. This year, 15 hotels, EARTH University, the Santillana publishing group, Rainforest Alliance, Zona Tropical, the University of Costa Rica, the Ministry of Education, and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute all contributed to the initiative.

"This shows that more and more tourism companies are interested in sustainability and social responsibility, and that if we unite, we can all give a lot more to the communities that are the foundation of our businesses," said Cremers.

This was the second Caravana Tica event. Last year, the initiative traveled to Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, and it was equally successful. According to Cremers, not only has the good response motivated them to continue taking the caravan to other communities, they will redouble their efforts to do it more often.

This entry was posted on December 11, 2012 at 10:20 AM and has received 659 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This amazing photograph from Surtrek Ecuador & Galapagos Tours captures the many beautiful colors of the Galapagos in one enviable shot: myriad shades of blue, forest green, almond sand, and a shock of lovely pink. Flamingos are just one of the many visually surreal elements that make up the ecological anomaly that is the Galapagos Islands. These unique birds are always a favorite among travelers for their odd appearance, peculiar habits, and, of course, their blushing hue. If you're really lucky, you might catch a group of flamingos during one of their bizarre and impressive courtship displays, which consists of intricate synchronized dances.

This entry was posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:58 AM and has received 516 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Our Making a Difference award winner this month is Harmony Hotel, a high-end hotel in Costa Rica that has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and local community. The hotel, steps away from one of the best surf spots in the region, cultivates a vibe of relaxation and laid-back, low-key luxury. We spoke with Marisol Yglesias González, the "Experience, Learn, Connect, & Relax (ELCR)" Manager, about what a stay at Harmony Hotel is like, what specifically the hotel is doing to implement sustainability, and how they're getting their guests involved in sustainable practices.

Q. How would you describe the atmosphere at Harmony Hotel?

González: We offer complimentary yoga and surfing lessons that are quite popular and part of Harmony's relaxing experience. When we ask our guests what were the most special moments of their stay, they often refer to these lessons, along with the sunsets at the beach, food and drinks, our amenities (outdoor shower, hammocks, and chlorine-free pool), and the friendliness of our staff.

Q. How can your guests connect to the environment and the community?

G: Visitors have the chance to see our sustainability initiatives first-hand through our "Green Living" tour. They can also participate in beach clean-ups organized by the hotel. After the clean-up, all the waste is collected and taken to the recycling center at the hotel, where it is weighed, registered, and classified.

We want our guests to connect with our culture as well, so we invite them to join local activities such as soccer matches at the beach with our staff members or Nosara's civic festivals that celebrate Costa Rican folklore.

Q. What kinds of wildlife can guests expect to see at your hotel?

G: Our guests often see many different types of animals during their stay at Harmony Hotel, including coatis, howler monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, skunks, squirrels, armadillos, and several species of birds (parrots, hummingbirds, sparrows, and magpies). Furthermore, Guiones Beach is part of the Ostional Wildlife Refuge, which is one of the most important nesting sites in the world for olive ridley sea turtles. Lucky guests will have the chance to see a couple of these turtles at Guiones!

Q. Why is sustainability so important for Harmony Hotel?

G: Harmony Hotel is part of a hospitality chain that develops its operations and services under the philosophy of sustainability. We want to offer our guests a high-end experience that is supported by sound environmental practices. We believe that sustainability is not just a lifestyle - it's a concept that can be implemented across any industry, especially tourism. Costa Rica's economy depends greatly on the tourism industry. At Harmony, we firmly believe that we have a valuable ecological heritage to look after, and sustainable development is the right way to maintain our economy as well as our natural resources.

Q. Can you talk a bit about what you're doing specifically to promote sustainability at Harmony Hotel?

G: In addition to our beach clean-ups,we have a "Plant a Tree" carbon offset program, in which guests can sponsor a native tree species grown in our nursery and plant it in our garden. This can partially or entirely compensate for the carbon footprint of their flight to Costa Rica. We also recently participated in a study that determined our own carbon footprint, which included several recommendations for mitigation, and we're currently developing a mitigation plan for greenhouse gases.

Our initiative to protect howler monkeys addresses the positioning of Nosara electrical lines. Howler monkeys try to use power lines to access their habitat, which has been fragmented by the building of roads and the clearing of land for development. Our initiative aims to prevent electrocution of the monkeys by positioning the power lines outside of areas where they live.

We abide by "The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism," and our staff has been trained to face any circumstance related to the sexual exploitation of minors. We require all of our providers sign our "Code of Ethics for Providers," where we explicitly state our zero tolerance policy in regards to human exploitation of any form, especially the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.

Harmony also has a reforestation program in which thousands of trees are planted during an annual three-day campaign in alliance with the Costas Verdes Foundation. These efforts are combined with environmental education for both the staff at Harmony and for local community members in Nosara.

Q. How are you supporting the local community?

G: Harmony Hotel partners with two organizations to help our local schools: Pack for a Purpose and Equilibrium. We have developed environmental education campaigns at local schools that promote sustainable practices and environmental awareness, covering topics such as conservation of flora and fauna, climate change, and organic waste management, among others. We contribute to improving the infrastructure of local schools and participate in local committees related to culture, art, and sustainability. We've also helped provide dental appointments for local children and have held lectures related to public health topics in order to promote health and avoid diseases.

At least 60% of our staff members live in surrounding communities. Harmony not only offers job opportunities, but also trains the staff. For instance, we provide scholarships for English classes to staff members who only speak Spanish, offer training in topics of interest to the staff, and have a corporate program that allows the staff to visit other hotels in the chain to get trained.

Q. Of all of the hotels in the Nosara area, what makes Harmony Hotel special?

G. Harmony Hotel offers our guests a unique and customized experience. Ideal for a total escape, Harmony is surrounded by vibrant gardens where guests mingle with hummingbirds and howler monkeys.

On the other hand, Harmony is ideal for a surfing adventure--we are the only hotel in the area that has direct access to Guiones beach, a pristine surf break with consistent, year-round waves. Harmony combines deep relaxation, low-key glamour, and sound environmental practices. When we ask our guests to describe their experience at Harmony in one word, most of them say: relaxing, peaceful, perfect, blissful, unforgettable, and, of course, harmonious.

This entry was posted on December 4, 2012 at 11:21 AM and has received 852 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.