Today's post comes from Irene Lane, the founder of Greenloons - a premier online resource dedicated to inspiring people to think different, be different and travel different in ways that help to ensure a more sustainable planet.

When I was younger, my preferred travel destinations were always cities. Perhaps it was because from the ages of 5 to 18, I lived in smaller towns, or maybe it was because I found cities to be life-affirming, educational, and liberating. Whatever the reason, I felt rejuvenated after a trip to Singapore, London, Paris, Sydney, or even New York. However, that sentiment changed with a recent trip to the Peruvian Amazon.

It was my third trip to a rainforest ecosystem and my second to the Amazon, but everything else about this trip would end up being unique. I was invited by Rainforest Expeditions in Peru, to participate in one of their wildlife photography safaris through the Tambopata National Reserve, a relatively remote and unexplored area of the Amazon.

Bursting with life

In a country where there are issues with water pollution, soil erosion, and deforestation, the Tambopata National Reserve is a fledgling success story of the symbiotic relationship that can exist between natural resources, wildlife, and cultural standards.

As a result, the region is bursting with life. It is not just the vast wildlife contained within the rainforest with its jaguars, caimans, capybaras, black hawks, geese, macaws, turtles, monkeys, peccaries, frogs, butterflies, and countless tree and plant species. Life was also encompassed within the sweet smell of the afternoon rains as we relaxed in hammocks at the Rainforest Alliance Verified™ Refugio Amazonas Lodge.

My fellow travelers and I listened with rapt attention and fascination as we asked questions and learned from the area's volunteer ecologists, who were observing the habits and habitats of the myriad of butterfly, frog, and bird species in the region.

I observed life in the easy smiles of my three guides -- a professional photographer, an entomologist, and a local guide -- spotting what my suburban eyes always missed and eagerly imparting their knowledge about the mysteries of the rainforest. I learned that caimans are smaller, distant cousins of crocodiles with pointier heads, shorter tails, and U-shaped noses. And that butterflies drink the salty "tears" of the endangered yellow spotted river turtles, which helps the butterflies to reproduce.

The leaf-cutter ants that roam the rainforest floor live in communities of workers consisting of wingless female ants that never reproduce and male ants whose only function is to mate with a queen (after which he may die). Theirs is a truly female-led (and organized) society!

Connecting with communities and nature

Ultimately, what changed my perspective was the profound sense of connection I quickly felt with the Peruvian rainforest. I felt connected to the local community because I stayed in sustainable lodges that partner with local families and businesses, sharing the social, economic, and environmental benefits of ecotourism.

I felt connected to the forest when the caiman "smiled" for my photo, and when I stared right into a frog's eyes and knew that it was just as curious about life as I am. On several occasions, peccaries suddenly emerged en masse from the rainforest, settled into the ecolodge's front clearing to eat some roots, and then completely disappeared 20 minutes later. I learned how to use medicinal plants to cure skin diseases, organ failure, and even addiction.

I wasn't merely observing the multitude of life around me, as I do when visiting cities. Instead, I felt like a direct participant doing her part to respect life, nature, culture, and the future.

Finally, I felt privileged to be among the people and indigenous tribe communities that work hard to preserve their culture and protect the land that, in turn, protects them in times of need - a truly connected life!

This entry was posted on March 25, 2014 at 12:53 PM and has received 2007 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Yesterday, the world celebrated the first ever World Wildlife Day! The United Nations established this day to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that environmental conservation provides to people and the planet. At the same time, the UN aims to remind us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, which has wide-ranging economic, environmental, and social impacts.

Wildlife is a key part of the tourism industry, and sustainable tourism actually helps to conserve ecosystems that are important to many species of flora and fauna. To honor this day, we want to share with you some of our favorite wildlife photos from the sustainable business listed on our website:

Skillful monkeys

These spider monkeys owe their name to their ability to move from tree to tree with a speed and agility that makes you imagine they have eight limbs rather than four. Unfortunately, they have become Central America's most threatened primate-especially the Nicaraguan subspecies, which is critically endangered.

The cutest sloths

Isn't this mama sloth and her baby the most adorable pair ever? There are six known species of sloths living in South America, and one of them is critically endangered - the pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus), found only on a tiny five square kilometer island off the coast of Panama.

Strike a pose!

This is a little Legler's stream frog (Hyla legleri), found in Costa Rica and Panama. This species is threatened by habitat loss, which is an sadly common occurence. Amphibians (frogs and toads, newts, caecilians, and salamanders) are the most endangered group of animals on the planet: nearly 1/3 of the world's species are on the brink of extinction.

Hungry hummingbird

Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds don't suck up nectar through their beaks like a straw--they lap it up with their long, pointy tongues! The Hummingbird Society lists 28 species as endangered due to habitat destruction and loss.

Up close with a gray whale

Hundreds of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) arrive every year to Baja California, Mexico, to court, mate, and reproduce. Of the original three gray whale populations, one is extinct in the North Atlantic, one is critically endangered in the Western North Pacific, and one has recovered from very low levels in the Eastern North Pacific and was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1994.

A stunning scarlet macaw

The scarlet macaws (Ara macao) were adored by the Mayas and the Aztecs. This species of macaw is not currently endangered, but their populations have declined in many countries due to the loss of habitat from deforestation and indiscriminate hunting for the illegal pet trade.

The great Galapagos tortoise

The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), native to seven of the famous Galapagos Islands, is the largest living specie of tortoise. There are 15 recognized subspecies of Galapagos tortoises, but only 11 are still alive today. Continued poaching and the presence of invasive animals such as rats, dogs, and goats represent the greatest threat to the survival of these majestic creatures.

This entry was posted on March 4, 2014 at 5:46 PM and has received 1410 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The green basilisk lizard pictured here is also known as the "Jesus Christ" lizard for its incredible ability to walk on water. That's right--their specially designed feet and unique running style allows it to sprint across the water's surface. Green basilisk lizards are also great swimmers, and can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes at a time.

You can find these striking creatures in Latin America from parts of Mexico to Ecuador, but they are especially prevalent in Costa Rica.

This entry was posted on February 28, 2014 at 4:03 PM and has received 1238 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Travel to the Atlantic Forest of South America (in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and eastern Argentina) and you might spot one of these gorgeous feathered friends! The spot-billed toucanet is easily distinguishable for its interesting bill pattern, which usually consists of black spots or stripes on a pale background. This gorgeous member of the toucan family forages for fruit in the forest canopy, often hanging around in pairs.

Photo taken at Posada Puerto Bemberg in the Puerto Bemberg Nature Reserve in Argentina.

This entry was posted on February 14, 2014 at 4:13 PM and has received 1212 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

On the warm black sand beaches of the Caribbean island of Dominica, hundreds of tiny baby sea turtles emerge from their eggs and crawl to the sea. If you know when to go, you can witness this amazing natural phenomenon for yourself, and some hotels even have sea turtle conservation programs where you can help protect the adorable hatchlings (under the supervision of a trained scientist, of course). It's a spectacular experience all animal and nature lovers should have at least once in their lives.

All sea turtle species are threatened with extinction, often because of humans disturbing or destroying nesting beaches. Rosalie Bay Resort, where this photo was taken, has pioneered sea turtle conservation efforts in Dominica, and offers their guests opportunities to learn about and interact with leatherback, green (pictured), and hawksbill sea turtles.

 

You may also like:

12 Miles of Paradise: Visiting Sea Turtles in Nicaragua

Fun with Turtles in Costa Rica!

Tips for Taking Eco-Friendly Wildlife Photos

This entry was posted on January 31, 2014 at 2:25 PM and has received 1253 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

From Selva Verde Lodge's beginnings in the 1980s, it was a pioneer in supporting the local community, especially women. Deep in the lowland tropical rainforests of Sarapiquí, founders Giovanna Holbrook and Berth Carter hired members of remote local communities to work at their budding ecotourism lodge. They established a rule that staff members must retrieve their own paychecks, so that husbands could not collect their wives' earnings, helping women to gain domestic empowerment and independence.

For a long time, attending school was just a dream for Sarapiquí's poorest children because their families could not afford the cost of textbooks. Consequently, in 1993, Selva Verde Lodge partnered with JADE (Joventud Activa Desarrollo Educativo, or "Active Youth for Educational Development") to open a public library to give local children free access to the textbooks they needed. From these noble beginnings, the library evolved over the years into the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC), a robust community center that is now the local headquarters for the San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor. Today, this impressive place is a community center, conservation organization, and ecotourism operation all in one.

Travelers to the Sarapiquí region come for the multitude of nature activities available in this lush jungle setting, such as rafting on the Sarapiquí River and visiting nearby hot springs, waterfalls, and volcanoes. Twenty minutes away from SCLC is another amazing ecotourism attraction: La Selva Biological Station, one of the world's most important sites for tropical biology research. La Selva Biological Station offers accommodations in its Rainforest Alliance Verified™ ecolodge and nature tours with bilingual naturalist guides. Back at SCLC, travelers can take advantage of the center's rich cultural ties and participate in Costa Rican cooking classes, Latin dancing classes, and visits to local schools and farms.

The Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center remains the only public library in the region. It is currently implementing programs such as a children's theater camp, preschool story time, open lab computer assistance, movie days, adult literacy programs, women's empowerment workshops, and celebrations for national and international holidays, such as World Water Day.

If you're looking for a great gift for an environmentally-conscious loved one (or if you're in the generous holiday spirit yourself), think about making a donation to SCLC's library! You'd be hard pressed to find a better cause than giving the gift of books, learning, and literacy. Learn how to make a donation on SCLC's donation page.

This entry was posted on December 18, 2013 at 12:35 PM and has received 1633 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Monkeys are often the animals that travelers want most to see when they visit the Amazon. Indeed, if you take a trip down to the Amazon and leave without seeing a monkey, you've missed an opportunity to encounter one of the world's most fascinating and beloved creatures! You're sure to spot at least a few of these amazing animals if you explore the forest with a knowledgeable local guide. Here are a few of the most peculiar and wonderful types of monkeys you can find in the Amazon:

Capuchin monkey

Capuchin monkeys are small creatures at around 3 pounds and so named as their distinctive coloring reminded explorers of the brown hooded robes of Capuchin Friars. Capuchin monkeys can jump up to nine feet, often bounding through the air from one tree to another. They are very clever animals and have been observed using leaves as cups to drink water from tree cavities. They feed on fruits, insects, and small birds and frogs.

Emperor Tamarin

Many species of tamarin inhabit the forests of the Amazon, including the striking emperor tamarin, named for its resemblance to the mustachioed German emperor Wilhelm II. Tamarins are generally small creatures, growing no longer than 10 inches. They are known to be graceful, playful, and friendly in the wild. Emperor tamarins live in the southwest Amazon Basin where the borders of Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil intersect. A great place to seen an emperor tamarins is Manú National Park in Peru.

Pygmy marmoset

Even more unique than tamarins are marmosets, a family of tiny monkeys that are often endemic to a very small area. The pygmy marmoset pictured here is the smallest monkey in the world, weighing just over 3.5 ounces. The normally live in groups of six and communicate with each other via vocal calls, visual displays, and chemical secretions. The pygmy marmoset can rotate its head 180 degrees and feeds on the natural gum of trees. They inhabit much of the western Amazon Basin, and can be found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Howler monkey

The specialized vocal chamber of a howler monkey allows it to make those characteristic booming territorial calls that can be heard from three miles away--the loudest sound of any land animal. The first time you hear a howler monkey in person, it can be quite startling! They are relatively large (around 20 pounds) and slow-moving, and are the only folivores (leaf-eaters) of the New World monkeys. There are a variety of different species of howler monkey; the photogenic red howler pictured here was photographed in the southwestern region of the Amazon basin in Peru.

Photo by Tambopata Research Center.

Spider monkey

With their disproportionately long limbs and prehensile tails, spider monkeys are one of the largest as well as one of the most intelligent monkeys of the Amazon. Their bodies are about two feet long while their tails grow up to three feet long. As you might guess, spider monkeys use their long, strong tail as an extra limb, swinging with great agility from branch to branch.

Squirrel monkey

Even smaller than capuchin monkeys at around 2 pounds, squirrel monkeys have been known to travel in packs of up to 500 individuals! They are naturally inquisitive and spend more time on the forest floor than any other Amazon monkey species, avoiding the upper canopy to hide from large birds of prey looking for a meal. Their diet consists primarily of fruits and insects.

This entry was posted on November 21, 2013 at 12:54 PM and has received 5255 views. There are currently 1 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 698 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Sloths have a reputation for laziness because they move very slowly and seem to spend most of the day sleeping in the canopy of the rainforest. However, these furry creatures sleep only for about nine hours a day - six hours fewer than previously thought!

These sleeping patterns can vary depending on factors such as geographical region, temperature, weather, the species of sloth, and whether the animal is in the wild or in captivity. Studies have shown that captive animals sleep more, perhaps because they don't need to spend too much time foraging and remaining alert for predators.

This photo is from Finca Luna Nueva Lodge, a self-sufficient ecological hotel located only 10.5 miles away from Costa Rica's famous Arenal Volcano and next to the Children's Eternal Rainforest.

This entry was posted on October 11, 2013 at 1:07 PM and has received 754 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The island of Ometepe is quite a unique place: formed by two twin volcanoes joined by a low isthmus, giving it the shape of an hourglass, it is the largest volcanic island in a freshwater lake in the world.

There are many activities to enjoy in Ometepe: hiking the steep volcanoes, riding motorbikes, visiting waterfalls and eco-farms, swimming in the massive blue lake, and going kayaking along the Istian River– one of the most popular tourist attractions!

Istian is a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds. The river and the swamp are not large, but there are a few different canals to paddle down where you can enjoy being surrounded by rich vegetation and spotting birds, monkeys, turtles, and caimans. During the relaxing ride, you will also be treated to some of the most amazing views of the Maderas and Concepcion volcanos.

This photo is from Totoco Eco Lodge, which helps guests arrange tours on the Istian River.

This entry was posted on September 20, 2013 at 12:24 PM and has received 676 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.