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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 2319 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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One of the biggest tourist attractions of the Dominican Republic and the other countries of the Caribbean is the natural coral reefs. Reef ecosystems, which occupy about 11% of the Dominican Republic's coastline, offer opportunities to explore rich marine biodiversity through activities such as snorkeling, diving, and, more recently, exploring coral gardens.

Coral gardening is a new activity that minimizes reef ecosystem degradation and its negative impact on marine life. It consists of developing underwater coral nurseries, using primarily rare and endangered coral species, and then transplanting them to degraded reefs in order to protect them and improve their health. Consequently, deteriorated coral reefs can again attract marine life and balance the surrounding ecosystem.

In the Dominican Republic, the creation of coral gardens is being promoted to tourists thanks to the project "Coral Gardening to Support Reef Conservation," developed by the Multilateral Investment Fund and the Puntacana Ecological Foundation (FEPC) since 2012.

This project aims to merge sun-and-sand tourism with elements of conservation, education, and culture. Tourists interested in participating in coral gardening visit local communities and take a tour that allows them to observe and even participate in the entire process of creating, maintaining, and expanding the coral nurseries. This process begins with the collection of material from existing coral colonies.

Snorkelers dive underwater to carefully extract the precious coral, transport it to underwater nurseries, and secure it to frames made of rope and metal. When the corals in the nurseries grow, tissue fragments are pruned and a team transplants them to the degraded reefs. In the Dominican Republic, tourists can work with two species of endangered and eye-catching corals: staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) and elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata).

Currently, Puntacana has the largest coral garden program in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. The FEPC has also created nurseries in Punta Rusia, Sosúa, and La Caleta National Underwater Park.

For communities in these tourist destinations, coral gardening means more income from the arrival of more tourists. In addition to those who come for the beautiful beaches, coral gardens also enhance scientific, academic, and volunteer tourism. Residents are also benefiting from new job opportunities in the development of coral gardens and indirect revenue from services such as transportation, food, and guided tours.

This project is expected to grow in coming years to stimulate the sustainable development of other tourism communities in the Dominican Republic while continuing to support the restoration of coral reefs threatened by climate change and human activities such as unsustainable urban and coastal tourism development, overfishing, overharvesting of marine species, and irresponsible recreational diving.

To learn more about this project please visit the Puntacana Ecological Foundation.

This entry was posted on April 2, 2013 at 6:50 AM and has received 1416 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.

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How would you like to visit the country with the second-highest level of biodiversity in the world? Besides its breathtaking natural setting, this country produces some of the best quality coffee and the most beautiful emeralds on the planet. Its people are known for their great warmth and the best rumbas of South America.

This alluring country is Colombia.

Located on the southeastern border of Panama, Colombia is a country that has almost everything: beautiful beaches on its Pacific and Caribbean shores, lush forests and Amazon jungles, deserts, snow-capped mountains, a pleasant tropical climate, cosmopolitan cities and a rich cultural heritage. It is home to 102 indigenous ethnic groups, around 64 Amerindian and Afro-Columbian languages, more than 30 traditional festivals, and 191 folk rhythms. UNESCO has named seven cultural traditions as elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage and seven natural and cultural properties as World Heritage sites.

Thanks to these various attractions, highly increased government security measures, and improved political and social stability in recent years, Colombia is being reborn in the eyes of the world as an excellent tourist destination. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of visitors to the country grew by 10% per year on average, which is almost four times the world average.

Tourism in Colombia is a huge industry and offers something for every type of visitor. The country officially promotes 17 specialized tour themes, including sun and sand, culture, agrotourism, nature, cruises, diving, golf, bird-watching, religious tourism, and wellness tourism.

For example, ecotourists can enjoy dozens of protected areas, which encompass ten percent of the national territory, or they can venture into the Colombian Amazon region, which represents one third of the country. They can tour the Archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia or visit Cartagena, San Blas, and Santa Marta--tourist favorites that they combine beautiful beaches with nature and colonial history.

The Colombian coasts are also a delight for diving, snorkeling, and sailing enthusiasts, with plentiful coral and endemic and migratory marine species, such as sea turtles and humpback whales that visit from July to October.

Another popular destination is the Coffee Triangle, or the area in the beautiful highlands of the Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda departments, where you'll find the heart of Colombian coffee farming and a reflection of authentic rural life.

The different routes connecting the Triangle offer the opportunity to visit and stay in typical coffee haciendas, tour small coffee farms managed by local families, and, of course, taste what many consider to be the best coffee in the world. You can also go horseback riding or biking in the mountains, go bird-watching, participate in adventure sports, tour nearby towns, and visit the Coffee Park and Panaca theme parks. Because of its beauty and high cultural value, the Colombian coffee landscape was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011.

Finally, you can't go to Colombia without appreciating its large cosmopolitan cities: Cali, Bogotá, and Medellín.

Bogotá, the nation's capital, is known as the "Athens of South America" and is compared with cities like London and Buenos Aires. It is the financial and political center of the country, home to famous universities, exquisite architecture, a modern transportation system, museums, and endless accommodation options for visitors. Medellín is considered the cultural center of Colombia and is a vibrant and modern city that still retains a regional charm. Meanwhile, Cali is positioned as the world capital of salsa--the perfect destination for those who want to dance and enjoy authentic Colombian rumbas.

All of Colombia's charms can be enjoyed sustainably. The government has tools such as the Quality Tourism Certification and the Colombian Environmental Seal to identify and distinguish services and products that meet certain environmental and social criteria. The international seal SmartVoyager also certifies tourism businesses in the country.

Visit our directory for a list of sustainable businesses in Colombia and discover this up-and-coming tourism destination before the rest of the world catches on!

This entry was posted on March 5, 2013 at 7:53 AM and has received 1186 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Lake Atitlán is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world – some say that it is actually THE most beautiful on Earth! Located in the department of Sololá, in the highlands of Guatemala, this lake is a gift to the eye, with its deep blue waters surrounded by three majestic volcanoes and a dozen villages that contain a rich and magical cultural heritage.

Atitlán is the deepest lake in Central America, about 1,148 feet (350 m) deep with a diameter of 15 miles (24 km). It is estimated to have formed about 84,000 years ago from a major volcanic eruption that interrupted the course of the three rivers that come from the north, collecting their waters here to fill the lake. Another theory holds that the lake is an old crater of an extinct volcano. The volcanoes that rise above the lake are Atitlán (11,604 ft), Tolimán (10,361 ft) and San Pedro (9,908 ft).

Thousands of people from around the world visit the lake every year to enjoy its beauty and the many activities offered there: kayaking, scuba diving, exploring the canopy, hiking, trekking up the volcanoes, bird-watching, biking, and of course, visiting the 12 local Maya villages.

Upon reaching the lake, the first village encountered is Panajachel, which is more touristy and has the best facilities for lodging, food, and shopping. Panajachel is the hub for visiting the other small villages, named after 'the 12 Apostles', where you can relax and learn about and appreciate indigenous culture and traditions while enjoying the wonderful natural setting.

Santiago Atitlán, San Pedro La Laguna, San Marcos, and Santa Cruz la Laguna are some tourist favorites. Santiago is the largest and it remains deeply rooted in Maya and Catholic traditions. San Pedro attracts young and bohemian tourists due to its large number of hotels, hostels, and low-cost restaurants. Meanwhile, San Marcos and Santa Cruz La Laguna offer many spiritual tourism options with centers for meditation, relaxation, and yoga.

The magic of Atitlán was enhanced in 1996, with the discovery of an ancient Maya city submerged in the lake. Following several expeditions, researchers have found six ceremonial monuments and four altars believed to belong to the pre-Columbian era.

The lake can be visited year-round. Although it rains a lot from May to October, the weather is always warm and it is said that the sun never fails to shine there every single day. In fact, Atitlán is a Mayan word that means "the place where the rainbow gets its colors."

To find sustainable hotels near Lake Atitlán, visit Sustainabletrip.org.

This entry was posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:55 AM and has received 720 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

There are a few places in the world that promise unique experiences for lovers of diving, snorkeling, and marine life, and one of them is on the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras: the magnificent Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

The Mesoamerican Reef is the second largest reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia) and the largest in the Western Hemisphere, extending approximately 625 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico to the Bay Islands on the northern coast of Honduras.

Throughout this reef system are vast expanses of coastal wetlands, seagrass pastures, lagoons, mangrove forests, beaches, and dunes. These ecosystems are home to a rich biodiversity that includes 65 species of stony corals, 350 species of mollusks, more than 500 species of fish, and one of the largest manatee populations in the world. In addition, on the reef and in its surroundings live many endangered species such as leatherback sea turtles, West Indian manatees, black coral, and marine crocodiles, and seasonally it is also home to the largest aggregation of whale sharks worldwide.

This rich biodiversity and the beauty of the landscapes created by the reef's ecosystems make it a great tourist attraction. An estimated one in five people living on Caribbean coastlines is employed in tourism, an industry that is among the primary sources of income in these countries.

For starters, travelers can enjoy beautiful, fine white sand beaches that are products of the disintegrated remains of corals, calcareous algae, and other reef organisms. Tourists can also explore the coastal wetlands and mangroves of this reef, which serve as the nursery for many species of fish and provide an excellent opportunity to observe wildlife on canoeing and kayaking excursions.

However, scuba diving is the way that tourists can best experience the reef in all of its splendor. The warm, shallow, crystal clear waters of the coast bordering the Mesoamerican Reef offer impressive visibility of the hundreds of multicolored fish, turtles, manatees, and other marine species, as well as many types of coral.

Cancun, the Riviera Maya, and Costa Maya are some of Mexico's most popular sites for diving. In Belize, the biggest attraction is the Blue Hole; considered one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, it is located in Lighthouse Atoll and consists of a system of underwater caves and passages with stalactite formations dating to the last ice age. On the Caribbean side of Guatemala, the port of Livingston is popular for diving directly offshore and in the nearby Belize Cays. Finally, Honduras boasts sites such as Tela, Cayos Cochinos, Puerto Cortes and the Bay Islands (Roatán, Guanaja and Utila).

Sadly, the Mesoamerican Reef faces major threats caused by pollution, over exploitation of resources, and uncontrolled coastal development, among others. For this reason, and because of its immense importance for wildlife and the economy, the countries near the reef have created several national parks and protected areas to help conserve it. Some of these are Cozumel Reefs National Park, the Belize Barrier Reef, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, and the Cayos Cochinos Marine Park.

Similarly, initiatives such as the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI) and several community projects aim to implement best sustainable tourism practices to reduce the negative impact of tourism activities on the wonderful Mesoamerican Reef.

If you want to experience the reef responsibly, search our listing for sustainable hotels and tour operators on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

This entry was posted on November 13, 2012 at 12:28 PM and has received 1058 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The Gulf of Papagayo, in the North Pacific region of Costa Rica, is one of the top 20 places in the world for diving and one of the best in Costa Rica, beaten only by the magnificent waters of Cocos Island.

The warm waters of this area are rich in plankton, tiny organisms that attract a large number of marine species. Dives at the nearby Catalina and Murciélago Islands offer opportunities to see large schools of fish, impressive bull and whale sharks, octopus, turtles, barracudas, and giant manta rays -- like the one in this photo from Ocotal Beach Resort.

Diving is practiced year-round at Papagayo, although the best diving is during the rainy season, mainly from June to September. For more information about eco-friendly diving, visit our sustainable scuba diving page.

This entry was posted on November 2, 2012 at 11:53 AM and has received 587 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.