Green Postcards

Eco-Travel Headlines (and links!)

This is the first year I’ve been privileged to live in close proximity to an REI, and I’m definitely going to miss the quick access to great outdoor gear when we move in August. REI’s just-released 2008 stewardship report has some great green highlights:

• A goal to reduce their 2006 emission levels by one-third by 2009 – that’s moving fast, people.

• They get 20% of their power from renewable sources and are trying to increase that percentage.

• Their ecoSensitive products feature recycled, renewable, and/or organic materials and are labeled to help explain to consumers how those material choices are made.

Finally, and most relevant to this blog, they partner with Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset all their fabulous REI Adventures. Their carbon-neutral tours are one of my favorite places to get a quick travel daydream fix. Here are a few packages that sneak under Green Postcards’ $150/day price limits (If you’re an REI member; $20 for a lifetime membership. Trust me. You’ll make up the cost with your annual member refund – usually 10% of what your combined purchases for the year):

“Everest Classic”:
19 days of hiking in Nepal for $2699.

“Nepal’s Royal Trek”
16 days of hiking and a jungle safari for $2399.

“Paddle Baja: Islands and Coast Route”:
8 days of kayaking in the Sea of Cortez for $1045.

“Loon Lake Kayaking”
Three days of kayaking in Loon Lake, California, for $365.

“Mono Lake Kayaking”
Three days of salt-lake paddling in Lee Vining, California, for $380.

“Sierra Day Hikes”
Three to four days of hiking in the Tahoe National Forest for $320-$430.

“Yosemite Backpack”
Four days of backpacking through Yosemite for $535.

“Appalachian Trail Hut to Hut Hiking”
Four days of hiking through the White Mountains of New Hampshire for $415.

“Basic Rock Climbing: Rumnet Rocks”
Three days of introductory rock climbing  in New Hampshire for $425.

“Basic Rock Climbing: North Carolina”
Three days of introductory rock climbing in the Pisgah National Forest for $355.

“Basic Rock Climbing: Northern Virginia”
Three days of introductory rock climbing on Crescent Rocks and Elizabeth Furnace for $315.

“Mount Rainier Classic Hikes”
Three days of hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park for $450.

“Yellowstone Backpack”
Four days of exploring Yellowstone National Park for $580.

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Splurge Saturdays: Boca de Iguanas eco-community on Mexico's Costalegre

Boca de Iguanas is an eco-community on Mexico’s Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. In addition to the communities’ residences (available for full or fractional-ownership), the resort has a beach-front boutique hotel and free-standing beach cabanas.

The car-free resort uses solar power for electricity and water heating. Trash is recycled, and the resort’s compost generates fertilizer for the gardens. Rain water is collected, grey water is recycled, and sewage is treated on-site through a natural biological plant. The resort uses natural cleaning products to keep its water supply toxin-free.

Boca de Iguanas has set aside a mangrove conservation area, overseen by a staff biologist, and considers the entire resort an animal sanctuary. Something squeamish future residents should take note of on the resort’s website:

“Each house includes ‘cave’ areas to sustain bat populations, which aid in reduction of insects as mosquitoes, flies and gnats.”

It’s not only the bats who get love here; the resort also sets up seasonal turtle camps to protect the species while their young are hatching.

The best news for you Green Postcard readers: If you can stand a little construction, you can visit Boca de Iguanas on the cheap. The resort is offering 40 percent off room rates while the resort is still being built. Standard rooms, with flat-screen TVs and huge bathrooms, are currently $144 (normally $160-$240). Beach cabanas, with thatched huts and walk-in showers (no television or A/C), are now $144 (normally $200-$280). And deluxe suites, with Jacuzzis and terraces, are $160 (normally $200-$280).

Photos from www.bocadeiguanas.com

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Splurge Saturdays: Casa Magna in Tulum

To end our week  of Mexican beach goodness, let's dream a little about Casa Magna, two eco-luxe villas on the Tulum beach. The resort only runs its electricity during limited hours, skips the air conditioning in favor of ocean breezes, and goes for the romance of candles over energy-sucking bulbs late at night.

Originally built by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar (and abandoned when he was killed in 1993), Casa Magna has been re-birthed as a place of peace -- really boho-green-chic peace. Casa Magna's owners know a thing or two about creating cool places to relax and de-stress. They run Amansala, of Bikini Bootcamp fame, up the road.

Lucky for you, this Saturday splurge isn't too far off our Green Postcards limit. Double rooms (two queens) start at $225. Friend- and family-ready rooms (sleeping four to six) go for $310. (If all six of you pitch in, that's $52 a night. That's downright Green Postcardsy.) Romantic king-bed rooms are $245-$265.

The real splurging starts with Casa Magna's retreat -- The Cleanse.  The package includes six days of healthy meals, yoga and fitness programs daily, trips to nearby ruins and ceynotes, two massages and a Mayan clay treatment. You'll be so blissed, you won't even notice the $1,950 charge (per person for a shared room) on your credit card. You'll probably even want to come back alone ($2,400). In a deluxe room ($2,850).

And bring friends. If you'd like to take over an entire villa, you can. Villa One has eight bedrooms and can sleep sixteen adults. Stay six nights for $15,500 - $18,500 depending on the season. Villa Two has thirteen bedrooms, so its rate go a higher -- $24,000 to $28,000. The prices include a private chef who prepares all of your meals, housekeeping, free bike and kayak rentals, and all the privacy of living in your very own beachfront villa for a week. I think I'll go daydream about that for a while.

Come back next week for two U.S. getaways -- one Texas ranch and one funky Hawaiian beach stop.

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Clean energy cabanas on the Tulum beach, Part 2

For all the eco-details on Cabanas La Luna’s Tulum retreat, see yesterday’s post.

Cabanas La Luna
Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Phone: +31 6290 83364 (Netherlands)
E-mail: tulum AT cabanaslaluna.com

La Luna owners Victor Bartels and Hanne Jesca Bax like to spend their Tulum time having romantic dinners beside the campfire, taking beach walks, and having lunch at neighborhood restaurants. They say their guests should not miss the local food created by La Luna’s private chefs, Elvia (breakfast) and Rodrigo (dinner). (Breakfast is $10 per person. Three-course dinners are $20 for adults and $15 for kids under 10.)

Cabanas: Three double cabanas with queen or king beds, private bathrooms, dining areas and hammocks. Two family cabins sleep four to six people with king and queen beds, private bathrooms, decks, dining areas, and hammocks. Three-night minimum stay.

January 16 – September 15: $125 - $300 per night for two to six, or $775-$1850 per week. (That’s $44 - $62.50 per person, per night.) Rent all five cabanas for $5450 per week; sleeps 16 total. (That’s about $49 per person, per night.)

September 16 – December 15: $95 - $250 per night for two to six, or $595 - $1550 per week. (That’s $37 - $47.50 per person, per night.) Rent all five cabanas for $3950 to $4450 per week; sleeps 16 total.     (That’s around $36 to $40 per person, per night.)

December 16 – January 15: $150 - $350 per night for two to six, or $950 - $2175 per week. (That’s $52 -     $75 per person, per night.) Rent all five cabanas for $6500 per week; sleeps 16 total. (That’s $58 per person, per night.)

Villa Zanzibar: Four bedroom villa with private bathrooms, living area and kitchen. Sleeps eight to 12 people. Three-night minimum stay.

January 16 – September 15: $500 per night for up to 12. $3100 per week. (That’s $37 - $62.50 per person, per night.)

September 16 – December 15: $375 per night for up to 12. $2400 per week. (That’s $28 - $47 per person, per night.)

December 16 – January 15: $600 per night for up to 12. $3750 per week. (That’s $45 - $75 per person, per night.)

Don’t forget to pick up a Lonely Planet Mexico guide before you go. Victor and Hanne say the perfect La Luna songs are "Don't Worry, Be Happy", by Bobby McFerrin,   and The Eagles'“Tequila Sunrise.”   Download ‘em for your beach-side playlist before you go.

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Clean energy cabanas on the Tulum beach, Part 1

For you regular Green Postcard readers, you know Tulum is a bit of an affordable eco-destination paradise. The small beach village is close to Mayan archeological ruins and has a growing hotel zone, mostly made up of clusters of hammock-strewn cabanas. Cabanas La Luna is one such beach-front outpost, just outside of town, distinguished by its commitment to sustainable travel.

La Luna’s five cabanas (which can be rented separately or as a collection to sleep up to 16) and its four-bedroom villa run entirely on renewable energy. The resort’s solar and wind power systems were built to accommodate the existing guest quarters, plus any future expansion. Current owners Victor Bartels and Hanne Jesca Bax use both new technology and centuries-old practices to keep the resort’s energy use low: They only use one refrigerator for their restaurant. Guests have ice-chests. Efficient light bulbs and timers that shut off community-area lights at midnight keep electricity use at a minimum, as do the candle-holding sculptures that light the resort at night.

They watch their collective gas use as well: Guests can rent bikes at La Luna to cut down on taxis and car trips. They also buy local produce for their restaurant from a local farmers’ market, which limits the miles their food travels from farm to table.

Even with all these clean energy efforts, La Luna manager Rene is most proud of the resort’s wastewater system. For starters, their water pump (run by generator for only 25 minutes a day) shuts off automatically when the reservoir is full. Their water comes from a natural well, and is recycled and filtered through a wetland system. Renee explains:

“The black water from our toilets is … filtered in a tank, which is buried in our garden. When this tanks fills up, the left-over water flows in the next tank -- during this process we are getting rid of the smell! When the second tank is … filled up, all the water flows into our wetland. The banana trees will vaporize most off the water through their leaves. The left-over water will end up in another tank, which when totally filled up will irrigate our front garden automatically.” 

La Luna is currently working on sourcing non-toxic cleaning supplies from nearby Cancun and nurturing their new garden. They’d also like to increase community tourism cooperation with a local hotel alliance that would share equipment like back-up generators, laundry, and transportation services.

In addition to your classic beach-lounging activities and bike rides to Tulum to get a taste of the local culture, La Luna guests also have an opportunity to interact with the Yucatan’s wildlife. The resort now offers tours to Centro Ecologico Sian Ka’an (CESiaK), a nature reserve and eco-education center close to Tulum. The resort’s beaches are also a key breeding area for sea turtles. During the breeding season (spring and summer), La Luna helps its guests keep the resort a safe place for the turtles. “We ask our guests … to limit their light usage in the cabanas and close all the curtains in order to block … light and create a turtle-friendly hatching area on our own beach,” say Victor and Hanne. They also give guests red foil to cover their flashlights because the turtles seem to be less disturbed by red light.

For Cabanas La Luna rates and activity suggestions from Victor and Hanne, come back tomorrow!

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Keeping up with the Green Joneses in Barra de Navidad, Mexico, Part 2

See yesterday's post for the story of Casa de los Abuelos's solar power

Casa de Los Abuelos
Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico
Phone: 250-490-7802 or 250-492-4329
E-mail: info AT barravacations.com

Bob and Wanda Jones, Casa de los Abuelos owners, say that their neighborhood is still growing – and that means nearby construction should be expected. Although their guests have told them the building didn’t bother them, the Joneses are discounting their rates through the end of the year. See guest comments here.

Casa de Los Abuelos is 200 feet from the beach with three bedrooms with king beds and an extra queen blow-up mattress. There are three bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, satellite radio, and twice weekly maid service. Oh, and a really great pool. 

Now through November 28: $195/night for up to four. $35 per person per night for extra guests, up to eight total. (Five night minimum.) That’s $41.88 - $48.75 per person, per night.

December 20 to January 2, 2009: Fourteen nights for $5880.00 for up to six people. That’s $70 per person, per night.

November 29 – May 1, 2009: $250/night for up to four. $35 per person per night for extra guests. (Five night minimum.) That’s $48.75 - $62.50.

In addition, mention that you saw this feature and receive 10% off these already affordable prices!

Remember to pick up a Lonely Planet Mexico guide before you go, and load up your i-pod with Jimmy Buffet, the Joneses’ pick for the perfect Casa de los Abuelos music.  

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Keeping up with the Green Joneses in Barra de Navidad, Mexico, Part 1

Casa de los Abuelos (house of the grandparents) is in a growing neighborhood in Barra de Navidad, Mexico. Barra de Navidad is a little beach town on the southern Pacific Mexican coast, about 125 miles south of Puerto Vallarta. This three-bedroom, red-painted rental offers a green version of beach-front, small-town living.

Owners Bob and Wanda Jones say that installing and setting up their solar panel system was a challenge, but now they are getting 6 kilowatts of sun-power per day. "Power usage must be careful to make the most of what we generate off the panels," they say. Their back-up energy comes from a bank of batteries that can last up to two days with smart power use. Despite the hard work it took to start the solar project, the Joneses now are looking forward to adding more panels and increasing their energy self-sufficiency.

While you’re enjoying the solar power, the Joneses say their guests should also take time to drink in the local culture. “[Spend] time in the evenings shopping, eating out, and watching how old Mexico still operates,” they suggest. Similarly, the couple likes to spend the time they have at Casa de los Abuelos “eating at the streetside restaurants with the locals and dining out.” They also like stretching out under the home’s palapa, swimming in the pool, and combing the miles of beaches.

Come back tomorrow for rental rates and a Green Postcard first – a discount for mentioning this feature!

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Explore Mayan architecture at eco-resort Rancho Encantado, Part 2

See yesterday’s post for all the details on Rancho Encantado’s secret Mayan archeology tours and yoga workshops.

Rancho Encantado
Laguna Bacalar, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
US Phone: 1-800-505-MAYA or 505-894-7074
Mexico Phone: 983 11 7 76 29 (Heriberto)
          983 10 1 33 58 (office)
MSN Messenger: ranchoencantado AT hotmail.com
Skype: ranchoencantadous
E-mail: bookings AT encantado.com

All Rancho Encantado casita and suite rates include a buffet breakfast and a gourmet dinner. Prices are listed Summer Season / Winter Season. (Summer is May 1 through November 14. Winter is November 15 through April 30.) Rancho Encantado offers ground transfers to and from Belize City Airport ($200 for two, one way, or $50 per person for four or more people, one way) or Chetumal Airport ($30 per person, one way). Book now to make it in time for the resort’s Earth Day (April 22) activities!

Garden Casita: Casitas have living rooms, kitchenettes, bathrooms with showers, and patios. $95 / $125 for one; $120 / $160 for two; $45 / $60 for each additional person.

Laguna Casita: Casitas have living rooms, kitchenettes, bathrooms with showers, and patios.$125 / $155 for one; $145 / $190 for two; $60 / $75 for each additional person.

Splurge Option: The Laguna Suite, with a Jacuzzi bath and a patio that extends to an over-the-water deck, is $220 / $285 for two.

Casa Estrella de Bacalar:  This vacation rental is right on the shores of Laguna Bacalar next to Rancho Encantado and sleeps four. It has a master bedroom with private bath and a second studio guestroom with bath off the living room. If you don’t feel like cooking, you can get a 20 percent discount on meals at Rancho Encantado. May 1 – Nov. 14: $1,250 per week for up to four people. Nov. 15 – April 30: $1500 per week for up to four people. That’s $45 - $54 per night per person!

Susanna’s favorite Rancho Encantado music are the natural birdsongs that fill the air. Study up on your aural ornithology to impress your hosts and make sure you pick up a Yucatan guide book as well!

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Explore Mayan architecture at eco-resort Rancho Encantado, Part 1

So, you’ve eschewed the glitzy congestion of Cancun, but now even the laid-back cabanas of Tulum are seeming too crowded for you? Keep on heading south, my friend. Just thirty minutes or so before you hit Belize, you’ll find the eco-resort Rancho Encantado. The collection of twelve cottages and a private home rental rests on the shores of the fresh-water Laguna Bacalar. The resort functions as a hidden hub for trips to the nearby village of Bacalar with its 16th century fort and swimming Cenote Azul; Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo, only thirty minutes away; and a variety of nature and architectural sites, including the Sian-ka’an nature preserve.

You may not want to venture out from Rancho Encantado, though, once you get into the routine of rising for the (included) buffet breakfast, heading to the spa for one of therapist Mallina’s mud wraps, checking out the various birds and orchids onsite, then puling up a chair for a gourmet dinner at night (also included). If you can launch yourself out of your hammock, Rancho Encantado offers a full board of “back-stage” Mayan architecture tours. Through a relationship with the National Institute of Archaeology and History, Rancho Encantado guides can get visitors permits to sites that haven’t opened to the public yet, putting you right on the cutting edge of Mayan excavation. Rancho Encantado also hosts a variety of workshops throughout the year; check out the upcoming yoga escapes.

All this Yucatan adventuring and relaxing is backed up by a solid eco-pedigree. Owner Susanna Starr ticks off Rancho Encantado’s green list: buildings made of native and traditional materials; non-toxic cleaning supplies; organic produce raised onsite; offsetting carbon emissions with tree planting; and a roster of community activities, including Laguna preservation and pet clinics. Susanna says she’s most proud of that community involvement, especially the how the resort has worked with local schools to recycle and the Earth Day activities they’ve organized for the past three years. In the future Susanna says Rancho Encantado wants to increase their energy efficiency and continue to educate locals and visitors about how to protect the Laguna.

Come back tomorrow for rates and lodging details!

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Eco Tulum offers beach resorts filled with pared-down luxury, Part 3

See Thursday’s post about Eco Tulum’s collection of green destinations on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, in Quintana Roo. Today we’ll cover lodging options for Zahra, Eco Tulum’s family-oriented destination.

Zahra
Address: Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Phone: 1-888-898-9922 (from the U.S. or Canada)
01 800 514 3066 (from within Mexico)
E-mail: reservations@ecotulum.com

All cabanas have electricity (and powered ceiling fans) from morning until 11 p.m. Hot water is available in all cabanas as well. High season is Nov. 15 – April 30 and July 15- Aug. 31. Low season is May 1 – July 14 and Sept. 1 - Nov. 14. Holiday season is Dec. 18 – Jan. 2. All come with free morning yoga classes.

Nohoch: Cabana sleeps four. Two queen beds, private bathroom, patio. Sea view. Low season: $85/night. High season: $95/night. Holiday season: $135/night.

Nahil: Lodge rooms sleep two. King bed and private bathroom. Patios on first floor, balconies on second. Low season: $85/night. High season: $95/night. Holiday season: $135/night.

Tunich: Small cabana sleeps two. King bed and private bathroom. Low season: $35/night. High season: $45/night. Holiday season: $55/night.

Super Budget Option: Chan cabanas each have a queen bed and share a common bathroom. Low season: $25. High season: $35. Holiday season: $40.

Family Friendly Splurges
OK. So the price does edge above Green Postcards $150 self-imposed limit. But you are sharing these digs with several people. If most of them are grown-up, you can split the bill, right?

Family Suite: Sleeps six. Upstairs master suite with king bed and tub. Downstairs has a queen bed and two bunks. Private bath. Low season: $150/night. High season: $190/night. Holiday season: $250/night.

Kanab: Sleeps four. One king bed and two bunk beds. Big windows for the sea views. Private bathroom. Low season: $140. High season: $170. Holiday season: $220.

Noh: Sleeps four with the same configuration as Kanab, minus the sea view. Low season: $120. High season: $150. Holiday season: $200.

Splurge Option, #2: Eco Tulum also owns Azulik, 15 beach-front villas that offer privacy, simple luxury, and constant concierge attention. Rates are $255 - $390/night based on villa and season. 

As I mentioned before, you might want to pick up a guide to Tulum before you go. At the very least, you can use it as a pillow as you’re lounging in the Mexican sun.

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