by Christa Visperas

Created on: July 09, 2009   Last Updated: July 20, 2009

The growing awareness of the dangers faced by the earth's natural habitat has made eco-tourism a popular choice for ecologically conscious travelers. Eco-tourism is gathering momentum everywhere in the globe, because it not only educates and offers a different kind of travel experience to eco-tourists, but it also benefits local communities by preserving their environment, culture and way of life through various ways of conservation efforts.

The ecolodges in Latin America are one of the best examples of ecotourism in action. To stay in these interestingly constructed eco-lodges is a great adventure in itself.

The Sacha Lodge in Ecuadorian Amazon

Nothing brings the lush attractions of the Amazon rainforest into view better than sunrise at Sacha Lodge. Travelers wake up to cool mornings of birds chirping and rainforest animals such as toucans, agoutis and monkeys busy with their own morning rituals.

Lodging accommodations at Sacha Lodge are comfortable and constructed using locally sourced materials, strategically built into the lush jungle surroundings, as close to nature as possible. The amenities of the modern world are present in these quaint surroundings, but they are unobtrusive from the inaudible generator, to water from a local well using the best purifying systems. Even the soaps and shampoos are biodegradable!

Be it hiking the pristine rainforest, or paddling a canoe along the creek, or piranha-fishing in the lakes, adventurous souls will delight in the sights and sounds of Sacha Lodge from sunrise to sunset.

The Selva Bananito Lodge in Costa Rica

Selva Bananito Lodge & Reserve was originally a family farm that was later on converted into a private, biological reserve. A moral decision to preserve 850 hectares of wood rather than earn a formidable income out of it is the most fascinating bit of history about this lodge.

The lodge embraced recycling to extreme but positive levels, using second-hand hardwood trees discarded by loggers to construct almost 80% of the cabins. Water in the lodge is heated through solar energy, and every room has biodegradable soaps. Waste composting is practiced and water lilies are part of the water purification process.

Since the Selva Bananito Lodge borders the La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a natural bird migration corridor, a spectacular migration of raptors, vultures, and other migratory birds will delight ornithologists and bird-watching tourists.

For great adventures

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