Looking for Sustainable Accommodation in Latin America or the Caribbean?
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008If you’re planning a vacation to Latin America or the Caribbean, read on…
The Rainforest Alliance has created an “Eco-Index” for sustainable tourism.
The Eco-Index Sustainable Tourism is a website providing information for environmentally conscious travelers and tour operators. If you intend to visit this area, the Eco-Index can provide you with up to date information on eco-friendly businesses, as well as tips to help you stay as eco-friendly as you can.
A main feature of the website is a database containing eco-friendly businesses in the area. The businesses, most of which provide accommodation, have been deemed environmentally and socially friendly by reputable environmental organizations and/or ecotourism certification programs. Each business in the database has already been certified as sustainable by an internationally known program or has been recommended by an organization or government agency with knowledge of sustainable tourism principles.
To see the kind of information provided by the Eco-Index database, check out this listing for Xandari Resort & Spa in Costa Rica. From the listing, you can see that Xandari was certified with Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) in November 2007. You can also see that 90% of Xandari’s staff are local residents. And, here’s Xandari’s take on making a difference for the environment:
Preserving nature is indispensable for Xandari; we live in a world that increasingly needs our help. We reforest and recycle, don’t use chlorine in our pools, make our own organic fertilizer, use efficient light bulbs, and educate our neighbors and employees about environmental subjects. Ninety percent of our employees are local. We donated 25 student desks to the local school and we maintain the green areas of the school and the local Catholic Church.
Generally, we fight to conserve nature in our country; by visiting a sustainable destination like ours you are helping to preserve nature.
Of course, this is just one of the many businesses listed in the database. So, if you’re planning a trip to this destination, be sure to check out the Eco-Index Sustainable Tourism website.
