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Who doesn't love watching the setting sun after a fun-filled day of travel, disappearing below the horizon and turning the sky into a beautiful canvas of red and orange hues?

Today we want to share some amazing photos of sunsets from the sustainable hotels listed on our website:

Baja California Peninsula, México

Baja California offers a unique contrast between intense ocean-blue water beaches and arid desert landscapes. Photo by RED Sustainable Travel.

Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

The Arenal Volcano is well known for providing tourists with magical eruptions in the night. But this photo proves that the views are just as great right before dark. Photo by Catarata Eco Lodge.

Cancún, México

Cancún has amazing beaches and a great weather, but its romantic sunsets may be what has made it one of the top destinations for couples getaways and weddings. Photo by Dreams Riviera Cancún Resort & Spa.

Yacuma Protected Amazon Rainforest Reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Imagine experiencing a sunset right in the heart of the Amazon jungle! Photo by Yacuma Ecolodge.

Lago Atitlán, Guatemala

Lake Atitlán, also known as the "mirror of the sky," has been called the most beautiful lake in the world. So you can expect exceptional views behind its three impressive volcanoes. Photo by Hotel y Centro de Convenciones Jardines del Lago.

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Most of us like to sit, relax, and enjoy a sunset. But zip lining in the amazing cloud forest is another option to enjoy this magic moment! Photo by Hotel El Establo .

This entry was posted on January 21, 2014 at 5:36 PM and has received 720 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

We love this photo of an Ecuadorian squirrel monkey just relaxing in the treetops. It feels like just the right sentiment for a Friday afternoon! Travelers to the Ecuadorian Amazon will have tons of wildlife encounters like this one, with hundreds of species of birds, monkeys, frogs, and more to discover in the forest.

Read more about the Ecuadorian Amazon:

Amazon Souls: British girl leaves the city to live with an indigenous tribe

Luxury in the Jungle: An exceptional ecotourism experience

Where Hemispheres Meet: A guide to travel in Ecuador

This entry was posted on November 8, 2013 at 5:39 PM and has received 595 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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International travel has grown astronomically in recent years. Last year, the number of international arrivals reached 1,035 million! While this is great news for the tourism industry, it also represents a challenge for businesses – how to attract all these new tourists to my country, to my destination, to my hotel, to buy my services?

Every year, dozens of travel shows, exhibits, and conferences are organized around the world. These events give hotels, domestic tour operators, airlines, tourism boards, and car rental companies the opportunity to display their goods and services to a large crowd of key business decision-makers, including tourism leaders, international tour operators, the media, and companies that arrange incentive trips, conferences, and events.

During travel shows, tourism trends are exposed, destinations are promoted, business deals are closed, and like-minded businesses share ideas with each other and learn new ones from industry experts. The expertly designed tours that you book for your dream vacations are quite often born at travel shows.

The Travel Mart Latin America (TMLA) conference is the biggest and most important travel show in the region. It was established over 30 years ago, and since then has become a great opportunity for the region to display the attractions of its various tourist destinations. The event brings together more than 600 tourism services suppliers and 200 buyers from 25 different consumer countries like the United States, England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and the Czech Republic.

Recognizing Travel Mart's key role in the tourism industry, the Rainforest Alliance decided to collaborate with the fair organizer to use Travel Mart as an opportunity to promote sustainable tourism. The organization helps differentiate Latin American sustainable tourism providers at the fair, link sustainable suppliers and buyers interested in green tourism, and educate participants through seminars on topics relevant to responsible tourism.

The Rainforest Alliance has participated in TMLA events in Colombia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, and, most recently, Ecuador.

At the 2013 TMLA held in Quito, with the help from the Rainforest Alliance more than 50 sustainable business entrepreneurs participated as did 12 members of the Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability program. These business people have been trained in the Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program and are committed to mitigating tourism's impact on threatened landscapes and cultural treasures and providing sustainable livelihoods in the local communities where they work. At the event, hotel owners and TOPS members promoted their sustainable accommodations and services, and shared their innovative conservation efforts.

In addition, with support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Rainforest Alliance organized a seminar on the potential of sustainable tourism to have a positive impact in protected areas. There were more than 50 participants, including officials from the Ecuadorian ministries of tourism and the environment and representatives from the private sector worldwide, who shared and discussed their different perspectives on the potential of sustainable tourism and its impacts on the ecosystems and communities near protected areas.

Participants also highlighted the increasing demand for sustainable tourism services. "We are receiving more and more customers who demand authentic experiences and more sophisticated sites and green consumers who are looking for sustainable products," said Antonio del Rosal of Adventure Travel.

According to the TMLA organizer, the event gathered 70 tourism and travel journalists from around the world and 7,000 pre-scheduled appointments were carried out during the two days of business sessions. The fair visitors also participated in different activities and events related to tourism in Quito.

Katy Puga of the Rainforest Alliance was encouraged by the event's massive reach and emphasis on sustainability. "It's truly inspiring to see so many key business and government leaders taking sustainability seriously and recognizing the key role of tourism in protecting our planet."

This entry was posted on October 30, 2013 at 6:41 PM and has received 616 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

At the age of 21, Sarah Begum realized a childhood dream by leaving the UK to live with the Huaorani indigenous tribe deep in the forest of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Sarah immersed herself completely in the Huaorani way of life--hunting, gathering, and even marrying a local warrior. She made a documentary film of her journey called "Amazon Souls," which screened at the Cannes Film Festival for the first time earlier this year.

The Huaorani's ancestral home, Yasuni National Park, is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. The park is situated at the intersection of the Andes, the Equator, and the Amazon basin, where a stunning variety of birds, amphibians, insects, mammals, and flora converge. Some Huaorani communities welcome travelers, offering guided tours through the forest and a first-hand look into their fascinating way of life.

Begum's film raises awareness around the importance of rainforests and the rich cultures of its peoples. She spoke with us about her life-changing experience with the Huaorani.

Q. What inspired your journey to the Amazon rainforest?

Begum: When I was 9 years old, I learned about deforestation at school and immediately wanted to know more. My curiosity gave birth to a dream and a passion to save the Amazon rainforest.

Then at the age of 21, I was studying filmmaking at Kingston University and I didn't feel like I was getting enough from the course. I was appointed president of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and asked to come up with ideas for a project. I instantly thought of the Amazon rainforest and my classmates encouraged me to develop the idea.

I gave up my role at SIFE to focus on making my very first film in the rainforest. I poured my savings into the project, got some funding from a couple of private investors, and was awarded the Enterprising Student Award for my idea.

Q: Why did you choose to live with the Huaorani tribe?

Begum: I did a lot of research on tribes and I felt the greatest connection with the Huaorani. Their relationship to jaguars fascinated me as well as their pristine way of life and their status as the fiercest warriors of the Ecuadorian Amazon. I was compelled to find out more about them in person.

Q: What surprised you the most about their way of life?

Begum: I thought it would be how they hunt for food and gather resources–but the thing that surprised me the most is how westernization is affecting their culture.

Q: What are the big issues facing the Huaorani?

Begum: The biggest issue is losing their home and way of life to deforestation and oil exploitation. Recently, President Rafael Correa and the Ecuadorian government abandoned an initiative to keep oil in the ground. Ecuador needed to raise $3.6 billion to prevent drilling for oil in the park. When Correa closed the project, he had only raised $13 million. If this [drilling and deforestation] goes ahead, the Huaorani's way of life will be severely threatened.

Westernization is also a problem. While some young members choose to coexist with the western world, spreading the message about protecting their lands and raising awareness of their culture through eco-tourism, other members have chosen to abandon their culture completely.

Q: How do tourism activities impact the Huaoroni?

Begum: Tourism can have negative as well as positive effects. But ultimately, the Huaorani tribe does rely on ecotourism to sustain the jungle and their existence.

Q: Your documentary film, "Amazon Souls," screened at Cannes earlier this year. When can the public expect to see the film?

Begum: I am hoping to release the film worldwide once a broadcaster decides to take it on. After broadcast, I would like to make it available in many other forms for the public to be able to view and share. Fingers crossed! I also intend to go back to make a sequel, so hopefully with lots of support and backing I can make this happen. It would be great to show the Huaorani "Amazon Souls" in person.

Q: What's the one message you hope to spread?

Begum: We all need to unite as one in order to raise awareness of what is happening in the Amazon rainforest, and in rainforests all over the world. Oil exploitation and deforestation need to end. The rainforest shelters such beauty. The Huaorani are under serious threat--not only of losing their home, but of losing their way of life.

Q: What can people do to help protect the rainforests and the Huaorani way of life?

Begum: People are actually not very far away from the rainforest–-many things we use and eat are from the Amazon. We should be grateful to the Amazon for providing such treats and we can show our appreciation by supporting campaigns that aim to save the Amazon rainforest. We need to come together to raise awareness by spreading the message of its existence, its suffering, encourage support from others and share stories and videos such as "Amazon Souls." People can also help by supporting the Rainforest Alliance and others who aim to protect the Amazon on a daily basis.

***

Inspired to plan your next sustainable trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon? Check out Napo Wildlife Center and Sani Lodge to get started!

This interview was originally posted on the Rainforest Alliance's Frog Blog.

This entry was posted on September 10, 2013 at 5:05 PM and has received 773 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The Amazon is one of the most famous travel destinations in the world, its very name synonymous with wilderness, nature, and adventure. It's no surprise that this natural wonder of the world attracts so many travelers each year--it just may be the ultimate ecotourism experience! Here are some fascinating facts about the incredible Amazon:

1. One in ten known animal species on Earth exists in Amazonia.

Though the Amazon covers a relatively small portion of the Earth's surface, it is extremely rich in biodiversity. Many of its species are so highly specialized that they live nowhere else in the world, and we are continually discovering new species that we didn't previously know existed. For example, since just 1990, seven new species of monkeys and 12 new species of fish have been identified!

The rainforest is also home to the smallest monkey in the world, the pygmy marmoset, and the largest eagle in the world, the harpy eagle. Some other interesting animals of the Amazon are capybaras, sloths, pink river dolphins, and emperor tamarins.

2. The Amazon River is the largest river in the world by volume, with a total flow greater than the top ten rivers worldwide combined.

One-fifth of the world's entire fresh water supply is found in the Amazon Basin. It contains more fish species than the entire Atlantic Ocean and the largest number of freshwater fish species on Earth, including more than 25 species of piranha, electric eels, and pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish.

3. The Amazon is both the "lungs" and the "thermostat" of our planet.

The Amazon rainforest's trees and other plants continuously recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen, producing 20% of the world's oxygen supply. It is also one of the world's primary carbon reservoirs. Through the sequestration and storage of carbon dioxide, the rainforest acts as the world's thermostat, regulating temperatures and global weather patterns.

4. The Amazon rainforest helps us fight cancer.

Of the 3,000 plants the U.S. National Cancer Institute has identified as useful in the treatment of cancer, 70% are found only in rainforests. Twenty-five percent of the active ingredients found in the cancer-fighting drugs available on the market today come from organisms found only in the rainforest. And only about 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medicinal properties.

5. There are more than 200 indigenous groups still living in the rainforest – some of which have never had contact with the outside world.

Many of these indigenous groups still live the centuries' old traditions of their ancestors, eschewing modern technology in favor of a life more in tune with nature. Some communities have opened their doors to visitors, starting lodges and tour companies to share their knowledge of the Amazon with travelers.

6. The Amazon rainforest represents more than half of the remaining rainforests in the entire world, and it's shrinking.

Once, rainforests covered 14% of the earth's land surface. Now, they cover 5-7%, and that area is decreasing rapidly. Scientists predict that if deforestation continues at the current rate, the last remaining rainforests on our planet could be consumed in less than 40 years!

Do your part to protect the rainforest by traveling sustainably. Many hotels participate in reforestation projects, and even get their guests involved with their sustainability efforts.

Are you ready for your Amazon adventure yet?

This entry was posted on August 14, 2013 at 6:32 PM and has received 1857 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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The Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands located 656 miles off the coast of Ecuador, are famous for their stunning and well preserved natural beauty, including a large number of endemic species that are some of the world's most exotic animals.

Today we present five of the most famous animals that are unique to the Galapagos:

1. Giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)

These are the largest turtles in the world and among the longest living. The largest Galapagos giant tortoise measured almost 6 feet and weight over 880 lbs. They can live over 100 years in the wild while captive individuals have been known to reach 170 years. Today there are only 11 kinds of giant tortoise in the Galapagos, down from 15 when Darwin arrived, and about 15,000 individuals total. All are threatened with extinction. One interesting fact: these huge, peaceful creatures can rest for up to 16 hours per day.

2. Marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

The Galapagos is home to the only marine iguana in the world! These curious animals live on land but feed on a wide variety of algae on rocks in the sea, either skimming near the surface or diving more than 30 feet (9 m) deep. They can remain underwater for up to 45 minutes, until their body can no longer withstand the cold temperature. It is said that these animals are an excellent example of adaptation. When algae are scarce, they have been seen eating crustaceans, grasshopers, and even terrestrial plants. When even those foods are hard to find, like during severe weather events associated with El Niño, the marine iguanas become thinner and shorter. Marine iguanas have an exotic Jurassic appearance. Males are about 4-5 feet long and females about 2 feet. According to the IUCN, the population of Galapagos marine iguanas consists of approximately 50,000 individuals and is threatened by pollution and predation by exotic species on the islands.

3. Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)

These penguins are the only wild endemic species that live north of the Equator in the Galapagos. They are descendants of a small group of extinct Humboldt penguins that scientists believe were carried to the Islands by the Humboldt Current, which originates in Antarctica and flows north along the west coast of South America from the southern tip of Chile to northern Peru. Unlike other penguins, they can have up to three breeding periods per year, thanks to abundant food (fish and crustaceans) in the islands. They usually lay two eggs and incubate them for about 40 days. Approximately 1,000 individuals of this species live on the islands and they are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Galapagos penguin is the world's third smallest penguin at only 20 inches tall approximately. In Spanish, they are called pájaro bobo, which means "silly bird."

4. Flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi)

Also called the flightless cormorant of the Galapagos, this large endemic bird is unique because it is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly. These birds evolved in an isolated island environment that was free of predators. By gradual evolution, they felt no need to fly and eventually lost their flight. Their wings became greatly reduced, measuring only one-third of the area that would be necessary for a bird of its size to fly. These birds live on the rocky shores of the volcanic islands they inhabit, where they fish for eels, small octopuses, fish, and other aquatic creatures. Their population is estimated at around 900 individuals.

5. Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaecki)

These sea lions are among the largest animals of the Galapagos. They can weigh up to 550 lbs! They are a favorite among tourists, who see them lying on rocks, piers, and even benches near the beaches. Galapagos sea lions are very friendly, and it is safe to dive and swim near them as long as you don't disturb them. However, it is common for groups of sea lions to fight each other over territory. Females give birth to one pup per year and care for them until they are two or three years old. Females live longer than males--up to 20 years. The Galapagos is home to about 50,000 sea lions.

The unique wildlife of the Galapagos is part of what makes this destination so special--and fragile as well. To protect these and other important species, tourists are only allowed to visit the Islands with a licensed tour company. Check out these sustainable tourism business in the Galapagos and plan the trip you'll never forget!

This entry was posted on July 23, 2013 at 3:38 PM and has received 1258 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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The Amazon jungle area near the border between Ecuador and Peru is one of the most remote and well-protected parts of the western Amazon Basin. It is a pristine region surrounded by forests are home to at least 19 species of mammals, and 37 species of amphibians as well as 11 reptile and 250 bird species. Also in this region is an indigenous community called the Achuar or "the people of the achu palm" -- a plant that is abundant in the swamps of the area.

The Achuar still maintain their rich ancestral traditions, and for years they have made a living from subsistence agriculture, hunting, fishing, and gathering in the tropical moist forest. In 1993, these communities decided to venture into tourism as a new opportunity for economic development.

In 1996, the Achuar allied with an Ecuadorian entrepreneur to found Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve. The hotel was built by local craftsmen using materials from the area and in a native style. About 90 percent of Kapawi's staff is Achuar, and they ensure that the hotel's operations are "ecologically responsible and culturally sensitive" according to the dictates of their own lifestyle.

After only a few years, the community project became a complete success. National Geographic named it one of the "Best Hotels in Ecuador" in 2011 and it won the Ecuador Prize of the United Nations 2010 Program for Development, the "Ecotourism Award 2002" from Skal International Tourism Professionals, and the "Ecotourism Excellence 2000" prize from Conservation International. This year, the Rainforest Alliance recognized Kapawi as a "2013 Sustainable Standard-Setter" during its annual gala in New York City.

General manager Andres Ordóñez tells us about Kapawi's success as a business, an engine of development, and a tool for preserving Achuar culture.

Question: Why did the Achuar opt for tourism instead of other activities to diversify their income?

Ordóñez : When the project began in the mid-1990s, the economic development outlook for these communities was not very positive. In decades past, there had been a lot of conflict stemming from oil exploration and exploitation. Agriculture was not a good option either due to geographical conditions, and because the local people needed nothing more than their vegetable gardens for home consumption anyway. So tourism emerged as an innovative proposal that allowed them to generate revenue, fulfill their desire for recognition, consolidate themselves as a nationality, and obtain legal possession of their lands. Moreover, it made them pioneers in the region.

Q: How have the local people benefited from Kapawi's great success?

O: More than a brand and a business, the hotel is the spearhead of the Achuar Nationality of Ecuador. Kapawi has become a tool for preserving Achuar culture and lands through sustainable tourism, which has generated many jobs and training opportunities, and has exposed these communities to the world as the guardians of the jungle.

Q: Can you expand on how the hotel contributes to the economic welfare of Achuar communities?

O: In addition to providing employment and training, the funds raised from tourist entry fees are delivered quarterly to the community for various needs. The priority is to support health and education, so money is first allocated to clinics and schools. Then the administrative costs of the six communities are divided up, and additional money is investmented in training, workshops and innovative projects, such as building the first solar canoe of the Amazon, now in the final implementation phase.

Q: Why did Kapawi seek SmartVoyager certification and Rainforest Alliance Verification?

O: Certifications and verifications help support responsible management by endorsing our hard work and reinforcing the actions the hotel is taking for sustainability.

Q: How did Kapawi's employees feel about receiving the Rainforest Alliance's "2013 Sustainable Standard-Setter Award"?

O: The news was received with a lot of excitement due to the award's international significance and because the Rainforest Alliance has been special ally of Kapawi's for many years. This award recognized the communities' management, particularly Kapawi's staff, who consider themselves to be Ecuadorians who understand the importance of sustainability. We are very proud to be one of the few companies that have sustainable tourism as the core of its operations.

Q: What are the main challenges the lodge is facing?

O: The main challenge is keeping Achuar culture active and alive, because the temptations to deviate are many. The hotel is now 100 percent owned by the community, which is a great achievement--but it also means that the owners do not yet have sufficient economic resources to recapitalize and innovate, which is essential for facing regional competition and growing costs.

Q: Is it more difficult to keep the traditional culture alive when you must adapt to the modern needs of the business, such as adopting new technologies and learning other languages?

O: As Darwin said, "The species that survives is the one that adapts to changes." Contemporary dynamism accelerates some changes, but the Achuar have maintained a relationship of harmony and respect with their land, which has been the keystone to preserving strong ties with their roots and maintaining a business based on their traditions. Technology, the internet, and learning languages are business tools that strengthen the company and help the Achuar share their culture with the world.

Q: How do you plan to maintain and improve Kapawi Ecolodge's sustainable tourism business model?

O: We have to maintain practices for cultural and environmental sustainability while working simultaneously on business model innovation. We want Kapawi's positive impact to reach more communities and boost productive development. We are already working on this and we hope to start a new phase in 2014.

Q: How has your life changed since you starting working at Kapawi?

O: I have worked in the tourism sector for 18 years and in community tourism for 10 years; however, this work is special. Working at Kapawi involves extraordinary commitment and long term dedication because we must not only meet the objectives of the business, but also support the vision of an entire people--of 7,000 people who want to preserve their culture and nature and live in harmony with it.

This entry was posted on July 9, 2013 at 1:01 PM and has received 1909 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The lush, humid forest of the Chocó bioregion is a bird lover's paradise that extends across western Colombia and into northwestern Ecuador. It is one of the most biologically rich areas of the world, particularly in terms of bird life, with more than 500 bird species in total, including over 60 endemic species that exist nowhere else in the world. In fact, the Chocó is classified by Birdlife International as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA), as it is one of the most critical regions for the conservation of birds in the world.

For everyone except the most expert birders, your chances of seeing wildlife are hugely increased by enlisting the services of a local guide who has intimate knowledge of the forest and its inhabitants' favorite spots to feed and congregate. Here are some of the bird beauties you might see during a visit to the famous Chocó bioregion:

Booted racket-tail These emerald green hummingbirds with their fluffy white "boots" are hard to miss! They are common visitors to lodge bird feeders, so you should have a good chance of getting to see one fairly up close.

Cock of the rock The males of this species look like something out of a surrealist painting! The truly lucky birder might witness an impressive "lek" display, during which a group of males will gather to compete for mates by performing complex courting rituals.

Velvet-purple coronet This stunning, amethyst hummingbird is endemic to the Chocó region. They seem dull and drab until their feathers catch the light, treating spectators to a magical, iridescent sight.

Plate-billed mountain toucan Listen for the mating duet of this species, which consists of females and males calling to each other with loud rattles and clicks.

Turquoise jay The turquoise jay is a vibrant blue color with a distinct black face mask. They often travel in big, noisy mixed flocks.

Red-headed barbet The red-headed barbet is a strikingly-colored bird that loves to feast on bananas and other large fruit.

Learn more about sustainable birding tourism and how it supports the conservation of endangered bird species.

This entry was posted on June 19, 2013 at 11:41 AM and has received 2663 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

These travelers are camping on the shores of a peaceful lagoon in Cajas National Park, located in the highlands of Ecuador. The name "Cajas" is derived from the indigenous Quichua word that means "gateway to the snowy mountains." Traveling with a sustainable tour operator like Expediciones Apullacta will ensure that you not only enjoy the best trails and camping spots, but also that you won't cause any unintentional harm to these fragile ecosystems.

Find sustainable hotels and tour operators in Ecuador

This entry was posted on June 14, 2013 at 9:45 AM and has received 648 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Of the eight species of hammerhead shark that exist in the world, six are found in Ecuador. The scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), is the most common in the country and the flagship species on the Galapagos National Park insignia.

This photo from Surtrek Ecuador & Galapagos Tours is proof of the overwhelming abundance of these remarkable animals in Ecuador. Surtrek offers cruises and diving excursions in places where hammerhead sharks usually appear and give the tourists a grand show.

This entry was posted on February 8, 2013 at 2:23 PM and has received 673 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.