Catalogue of Ocean and Coastal-related Ecoresorts
Eagle Beach, Aruba, aerial view. Photo © Bucuti and Tara Beach Resorts
This catalogue and its summary table include the following regions:
Each entry in the catalogue includes a link to more information.
Click the arrows on the right to open or close the table of ecoresorts.
Asia Pacific Region
Fiji: Matava – Kadavu Island
Matava positions itself as Fiji’s premier eco-adventure resort. Located on Kadavu, the fourth largest island in Fiji, the resort can accommodate 22 guests. According to Matava’s “Responsible Tourism Code of Conduct,” the resort distributes financial support to local communities, provides employment opportunities to local people, and utilizes locally owned businesses when possible, such as for transportation services. In addition, Matava provides support to local organizations and communities through the Matava Foundation. The foundation promotes sustainable development and education programs as well providing medical support to local communities.
Matava also supports extensive marine conservation efforts. The resort has established a marine reserve for the surrounding coral reef working with the neighboring village of Kadavu Kora. Fishing and shell collecting are strictly banned in the reserve. In addition, Matava also helped establish a marine reserve for the village of Nacomoto. The resort makes payments to Nacomoto every time guests dive in the village’s waters. In addition, all guests of the resort are encouraged to make donations to the Matava Foundation and to the marine reserves upon departure.
Fiji: Moody’s Namena Resort – Namenalala Island
Moody’s Namena Resort is located on Namenalala Island in Fiji. Small-scale development on the island and subsequent resort construction first began in 1983. Today, Moody’s can accommodate 12 guests. The resort’s greatest conservation asset is the Namena Marine Reserve, which was officially established in 2004. Dive tags, priced at 25 USD each, are mandatory for all scuba divers in the marine reserve. Proceeds from tag sales are sent to a committee composed of 11 villages that manage the Namena Marine Reserve. The committee, which controls fishing rights, has suspended all fishing activity (both commercial and subsistence) in the reserve in favor of receiving proceeds from dive operations and protecting the area as a breeding ground for adjacent reefs that are open to fishing. Moody’s has worked with Fiji Fisheries scientists and the Coral Reef Alliance, which funded the installation of mooring lines and educational programs.
Fiji: Nakia Resort and Dive – Taveuni
Nakia Resort and Dive, located on Taveuni Island, first opened in 2007 and has a maximum capacity of 10 guests. The resort has a comprehensive environmental management plan covering energy use, recycling and waste management, community engagement, and land conservation. The resort is almost completely reliant on renewable energy from hydro, wind, and solar sources. Nakia Resort and Dive is deeply involved with local communities on Taveuni, developing water systems, hiring local staff, and providing scholarship funds for local children. Although the resort does operate a dive operation, Nakia does not appear to be presently involved in marine conservation efforts or agreements with the local communities. As of 2010, however, Nakia did plan to develop marine conservation projects targeting the Somosoma Strait near the resort.
Fiji: Palmlea Lodge and Bures – Vanua Levu
Palmlea Lodge and Bures is part of Palmlea Farms, located along the coast of Vanua Levu, Fiji. The mission statement of the resort includes a commitment to recycling, energy efficiency, and water re-use through local community initiatives. The lodge and farm creates numerous economic opportunities for local people. The resort, however, has neither a dive operation nor is involved with marine conservation projects despite immediate access to the Great Sea Reef.
Kosrae: Kosrae Village Ecolodge and Dive Resort
Kosrae Village Ecolodge and Dive Resort, on Kosrae in Micronesia, was constructed in 1994. Today the resort operates 10 guest cottages and a 5 Star PADI dive operation. Soon after opening in 1996, the resort began the Reef Protection Project. Coral monitoring and reef surveys are integral parts of the program. The resort invites sport divers, after providing appropriate training, to help with the Reef Protection Project. Kosrae Village also helped install a mooring buoy system along 43 miles of reef. In addition, the resort is a member of The Kosrae Reef Protection Community Action Committee (KRPCAC), which was established in 2005 in response to the need for increased marine conservation efforts. Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization (KCSO) is the local NGO primarily responsible for coordinating marine management plans among local villages, dive operations, and state agencies. KRPCAC has established marine protected areas around the island via agreements between KCSO and the Kosrae Island Resource Management Agency.
Solomon Islands: Tetepare Island Ecolodge
Tetepare Island Ecolodge, located on Tetepare Island in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, is locally owned and managed. The ecolodge was built with funding from the European Union and can accommodate 13 guests. The resort’s operations benefit conservation efforts on the island and the Tetepare Descendants’ Association (TDA). TDA is a local landowners’ association composed of more than 3000 members established to protect the island’s natural resources. The entire island is now designated as a conservation area.
The ecolodge in conjunction with the TDA, created the largest contiguous marine protected area (MPA) in the Solomon Islands, stretching 13 km. Numerous marine conservation projects are supported by the resort, including turtle, seagrass, trochus, and water quality monitoring. TDA rangers, partly funded by the ecolodge, patrol the MPA and TDA marine monitoring crews participate in Reef Check surveys. Technical advisors from Australian Volunteers International work with TDA to manage projects and assist with training. In addition, the ecolodge and TDA receive support from other international partners, such as the World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International, through participation in the Solomon Islands Community Conservation Partnership.
Solomon Islands: The Wilderness Lodge – Gatokae Island
The Wilderness Lodge is located in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, on Gatokae Island. The resort was established in 2002 with the explicit goal to provide sustainable income alternatives for local communities. The resort was seen as a way to improve rural livelihoods without promoting destructive logging and mining projects. The resort is officially located in Peava Village and can accommodate 12 guests. The Wilderness Lodge has previously partnered with many academic and non-governmental organizations, although the exact details of those partnerships are not made explicit. Currently, The Wilderness Lodge is partnered with AusAID’s (Australian Government’s overseas aid program) Enterprise Challenge Fund to develop village-based ecotourism by expanding the resort in a responsible and sustainable manner as outlined by AusAID. To date, however, no formal marine conservation projects or MCAs have been established on Gatokae Island.
Indonesia: Alor Divers Eco Dive Resort – Alor Archipelago
Alor Divers Eco Dive Resort is located on Alor Island, between Flores and Sawoe Sea. It can accommodate 12 guests. The resort employs local people as well as used local building materials during the construction of some of the buildings. No other sustainable development or community initiatives were mentioned on the website. Alor Divers does, however, state that a portion of resort proceeds go towards conservation efforts in the area, although the efforts are not specified. Alor Divers states that it is committed to developing ecotourism around the nearby Pantar Strait Marine Park, but, once again, does not provide any additional information.
Indonesia: Banyan Tree Bintan – Bintan
Banyan Tree positions itself as luxury ecoresort hotel and resort group. They own and operate numerous properties throughout Asia as well as a few resorts in Australia and Mexico. Banyan Tree Bintan, located in Indonesia, opened in 1995. The resort contains 64 villas. In 2007, the Banyan Tree Bintan Conservation Lab was established to promote marine and terrestrial environmental conservation efforts in the area, focusing on raising awareness of the importance of Indonesia’s biodiversity. The lab collaborates with both visiting scientists and local communities to develop alternative livelihood programs. No specific information about the lab’s marine conservation initiatives is provided.
Indonesia: Black Marlin Dive Resort – Kandidiri Island, Sulawesi
Black Marlin Dive Resort operates 15 bungalows on Kandidiri Island in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Black Marlin has several green programs, including recycling, energy efficient lighting systems, and water filtration and re-use. In addition, the resort operates a coral rehabilitation program and reef clean-ups. The coral rehabilitation program constructs artificial reef structures through the use of EcoReef and BioRock products. No information about involvement with local communities or marine protected areas is provided.
Indonesia: Eco Divers – North Sulawesi
Eco Divers manages and operates two properties: Lembeh Cottage Resort & Spa and Kima Bajo Resort & Spa. Lembeh Cottage is the smaller of the two resorts, with only 12 rooms. Both properties operate PADI 5 Star dive centers. The dive centers frequently operate within the Bunaken National Park. Eco Divers’ website notes that it is a member of the North Sulawesi Watersports Association and are actively involved in several marine conservation projects that center on sustainable fishing practices. No further information is provided.
Indonesia: Gili Eco Villas – Gili Trawangan Island
Gili Eco Villas operates seven villas on Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. The resort has a considerable eco infrastructure, including solar and wind power as well as the use of sustainable construction materials. Gili Eco Villas partners with the Gili Eco Trust, a marine conservation LoNGO that collaborates with numerous resorts, dive operations, and other businesses in the area. Gili Eco Villas is specifically involved with the coral rehabilitation project using BioRock systems and a turtle hatchery program. In addition, the resort asks all guests to make a one-time donation to the Gili Eco Trust.
Indonesia: Kri-Eco and Sorido Bay, Papua Diving – Raja Ampat
Papua Diving operates two resorts in Raja Ampat, Indonesia: Kri-Eco and Sorido Bay. Kri-Eco and Sorido Bay can accommodate 20 and 14 guests respectively. Kri-Eco is the only property marketed as an ecoresort. Nonetheless, Papua Diving founded The Raja Ampat Research and Conservation Center (RARCC) in 1993 to promote marine conservation efforts in the area. In addition to partnering with local communities to develop tourism projects, RARCC has also worked with Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, and The Nature Conservancy. The exact scope and extent of such relationships are not provided.
Indonesia: Misool Eco Resort – Batbitim Island/SE Misool
The Misool Eco Resort, located on Batbitim Island in Indonesia, operates eight cottages. The resort has two MCAs with local villages, establishing large no-take zones. Misool Ecoresort has an extensive partnership with TNC as documented in the Field Projects section of this site. The resort is also a partner of the Misool Conservation Center, a LoNGO.
Indonesia: Nihiwatu Eco Lodge – Sumba Island
Located on Sumba Island in eastern Indonesia, Nihiwatu Eco Lodge opened in 2007 and currently has 14 rooms and operates a small dive center. Nihiwatu’s website contains an extensive “Sustainable Tourism Philosophy” that states that the resort’s goal is to create income opportunities to Sumbanese people to alleviate poverty. To help achieve this, Nihiwatu Eco Lodge established The Sumba Foundation in 2000. The foundation organizes village-based programs such as the construction of health clinics and water wells. No information, however, is provided about any marine conservation work.
Indonesia: Nikoi Island
Nikoi Island is a privately owned island off the coast of Bintan, Indonesia. The resort opened in 2007 and now operates 15 cottages. In addition to green initiatives, such as solar energy and low voltage lighting, there is local involvement and management of the resort. Most significantly, Nikoi Island established The Island Foundation soon after opening to work with local coastal communities in East Bintan and throughout the Riau Archipelago to improve income, health, and education. The foundation plans to develop a marine conservation program that will create a conservation zone along East Bintan. No specific details are provided about the project or how the Nikoi Island resort will actually be involved.
Indonesia: Wakatobi Dive Resort – Southeast Sulawesi
Wakatobi Dive Resort in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia is a relatively large-scale operation compared to other ecoresorts in the area. Wakatobi operates 26 villas in addition to a large dive operation, which includes a liveaboard ship. The resort is deeply focused on conservation objectives that can demonstrate the long-term advantages to local communities of protecting coral reefs for ecotourism. Wakatobi established the Collaborative Reef Conservation Program in association with local village leaders. The partnership includes 17 villages from Wakatobi Island, which has a population of almost 100,000, and the surrounding area. The Collaborative Reef Conservation program provides economic alternatives to fishing, such as tourism, and to date has established marine reserves that cover 20 km. The reserves are managed through a “reef lease” system, by which Wakatobi pays for use of the marine reserve.
Malaysia: Gayana Eco Resort – Gaya Island
Gayana Eco Resort is located on Gaya Island, off the coast of northern Borneo. The resort has 52 villas situated over a lagoon within Sabah Park. Although there is no dive center, Gayana has a Marine Ecology Research Center that aims to provide guests with a “unique and eco-friendly experience”. The center operates a giant clam restocking and coral restoration program. No further information about the Marine Ecology Research Center or marine conservation efforts is provided.
Malaysia: Lankayan Island Dive Resort
The Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) is a privately managed no-take marine protected area 80km from the coastal town of Sandakan in north-eastern Sabah, Malaysia. The reserve covers 463km2 of the Sulu Sea and includes the islands of Billean, Tegapil and Lankayan. SIMCA is managed by a private not-for-profit called Reef Guardian and funded in part by conservation fees levied on visitors to Lankayan Island Dive Resort (LIDR), the only accommodation within the reserve. SIMCA was established in 2001 as an IUCN Category II Conservation Area under the provisions of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. In 2003, the government of Sabah leased the conservation area to Reef Guardian, a private non-profit organization owned by Pulau Sipidan Resort, parent company of Lankayan Island Dive Resort. The agreement runs for 30 years at the cost of RM 60,000 (US$19,000) per year. The lease has an optional ten-year extension.
Philippines: Alegre Beach Resort and Spa – Cebu
Eighty km from Cebu in the Philippines, Alegre Beach Resort and Spa has 19 cottages. Although the resort does not appear to have any green initiatives, Alegre has created a marine sanctuary off of its privately owned beaches. No other information about ecotourism or marine conservation is provided.
Philippines: El Nido Resorts – Northern Palawan
El Nido Resorts operates two resorts in Northern Palawan of the Philippines: Lagen Island Resort and Miniloc Island Retreat. Lagen Island can accommodate 70 guests and Miniloc can accommodate 40 guests. The El Nido area was declared a marine reserve by the government in 1998. El Nido Resorts are owned and operated by Ten Knots Development Corporation (TKDC), which claims to patrol for illegal fishing in the reserve and has established research programs focused on sea turtle and dugong ecology. No information about MCAs or engagement with local communities is provided.
Philippines: Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort – Sumilon Island
Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort is located 150 km from Cebu City. It is situated on a 24-hectare island, which is surrounded by a marine protected area. The island’s waters were established as a fish preserve under the Sumilon University Marine Preserve in 1974.
Western Indian Ocean
Kenya: Diamond Beach Village – Manda Island
Diamond Beach Village, located on Manda Island in Kenya, contains six cottages. The resort attempts to minimize impact on the environment by utilizing solar energy and recycling water. In addition, all rooms are built from local materials and the majority of employed staff is from local communities. No information about any conservation work is provided.
Madagascar: Chez Arol Ecolodge – Masoala National Park
Chez Arol Ecolodge is located within Masoala National Park in the northeast of Madagascar. The resort can accommodate 25 guests. Although there is no information about sustainable construction or development initiatives, Chez Arol supports a local school through monetary donations to a nearby village. Their website also indicated that local community members are the stewards of the marine reserve adjacent to the resort.
Madagascar: Tsara Komba Lodge – Nosy Be Archipelago
Tsara Komba Lodge lies within the Nosy Be Archipelago of Madagascar. It positions itself as a luxury eco lodge and contains 8 villas. Some of its green initiatives include using solar power to warm water, the use locally available building materials, and a recycling program. One of Tsara Komba’s main missions is the “creation of wealth and its redistribution” to local communities. This is partially accomplished by employing local people and purchasing food products and other materials from local businesses. Tsara Komba partners with Des Villages Et Des Hommes, a LoNGO, which supports the village of Antrema. No information is provided about any environmental conservation efforts.
Mozambique: Guludo Beach Lodge – Quirimbas National Park
Located in the Quirimbas National Park of northern Mozambique, Guludo Beach Lodge was founded in 2002 with the explicit mission to relieve poverty and protect the environment. The owners of Guludo Beach Lodge established the Nema Foundation concurrently with the construction of the resort. The lodge donates 5% of its income to the foundation. The Nema Foundation is a registered UK non-profit charity that works with 12 communities in the area. Some of the foundation’s primary initiatives are to provide clean drinking water and mosquito nets. The lodge, in addition to having an extensive environmental policy, has also established various marine conservation projects. The resort’s lead dive instructor directs these projects, including collecting whale observation data and conducting reef surveys.
Mozambique: Ibo Island Lodge – Quirimbas National Park
Ibo Island Lodge lies within Mozambique’s Quirimbas National Park. The lodge contains 9 villas and Ibo Island itself is a nominated World Heritage Site. The lodge receives support from Equator Ventures, a partnership between Conservation International and the United Nation Development Program’s Equator Initiative. The resort, located within Quirimbas National Park, one of the world’s most biological diverse ecosystems, is committed to environmental conservation through sustainable tourism. Ibo Island Lodge receives support from Equator Ventures through loan financing and enterprise development funding. The goal is to conserve biodiversity and improve rural incomes.
Mozambique: Vamizi Island
Vamizi Island, located in the Quirimbas Archipelago of Mozambique, opened in 2005. Today the resort contains 13 villas. The resort’s website states that Vamizi Island is “first and foremost a conservation project.” The associated Maluane Project was founded to direct the island’s development and subsequent management as well as provide alternative incomes to local communities. The goal is to combine tourism and wildlife conservation. A conservation fee of 20 USD is charged to every guest in addition to a request for donations. The Maluane Project established a local fishing association to manage fish stocks and the surrounding marine environment. There is a permanent conservation team present on Vamizi Island that heads the Maluane Project. The team conducts a turtle monitoring program, reports illegal fishing activity, and aids in invasive species removal. In addition, a partnership between the resort and the Word Wildlife Fund is scheduled to commence in 2011. This partnership will create a marine protected area and build a marine conservation center on the island. The lodge will support WWF staff members as needed.
Seychelles: Bird Island Lodge
The Bird Island Lodge, which contains 24 cottages, is located in the northern archipelago of the Seychelles. The resort has been operating since the early 1970s and exclusively employs local people for its staff. Today, the island is also a wildlife reserve and employs a full-time conservation officer. Conservation programs include monitoring various migratory bird species as well as Green and Hawksbill turtle populations. No information is provided about any formal marine conservation projects, but they purport to being, “…responsible for the protection, preservation and enhancement of Bird Island and its surrounding reef and waters through sustainable management practices.”
Seychelles: Cousine Island
Cousine Island (not to be confused with Cousin Island) is a privately owned, 62-acre island in the Seychelles. It positions itself as an eco-luxury lodge and only contains 4 villas. The island was purchased in 1992 and immediately set aside as a nature reserve, primarily for endemic land birds. Today there is a “conservation team” on the island that provides information to guests and conducts conservation projects, such as terrestrial species monitoring, which guests can assist with. Cousine Island constructed and now manages the Island Conservation Center on neighboring Praslin Island. The center provides oversight for all conservation work in the area. In addition, the Cousine Island Conservation Trust was established to receive donations from guests and organizations. No information about specific marine conservation strategies is provided.
Seychelles: Fregate Island
Fregate Island Private, as its name implies, is a privately owned island in the Seychelles. The resort contains 16 villas. The owners initially began the Fregate Island Ecological Program to focus on the conservation of terrestrial flora and fauna. The project has been extremely successful. The second largest population of wild tortoises in the world, at 600 individuals, is found on the island. This is in large part due to the Juvenile Tortoise Program that the resort operates. No other information about specific marine conservation projects is provided.
Seychelles: North Island
The North Island in the Seychelles is owned and operated by Wilderness Safaris, a South African based ecotourism company. The island was constructed in association with governmental conservation agencies. The resort contains 11 villas. Although no information is provided about marine conservation efforts, certain bird species and tortoises were re-introduced to the island and various invasive animal and plant species were eradicated. The North Island’s website states that the resort has an ongoing environmental conservation plan to restore the island’s indigenous species.
Tanzania: Chumbe Island Coral Park – Zanzibar
Chumbe Island Coral Park is a privately managed nature reserve on Chumbe Island in Tanzania. The island reserve was established in 1992 and includes a 30-hectare marine reef sanctuary. The area is managed privately through leases and management agreements with the government. As part of the Chumbe Island Park Project, an eco-lodge with seven cottages was constructed. The buildings incorporate various green initiatives, including solar energy and water recycling. Park fees are charged for every guest. More detailed information about Chumbe Island Coral Park can be found in the Field Projects section of this site.
Tanzania: Matemwe Lodge – Zanzibar
Matemwe Lodge is located on a privately owned island off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania. Although no information is provided about any green initiatives or marine conservation efforts, the lodge is deeply involved with the local community. Matemwe has invested in a sewage treatment plant and mosquito nets for community members.
Tanzania: Pole Pole – Mafia Island
Pole Pole resort is located within the Mafia Island Marine Park, the first marine park in Tanzania. The resort contains 7 villas. No specific information about eco initiatives or conservation strategies is provided, other than stating that the resort has a low environmental impact. Pole Pole is labeled as an exclusive ecoresort.
Tanzania: Saadani Safari Lodge
Saadani Safari Lodge is located along the Tanzanian coast, approximately 170 km north of Dar es Salaam, within the Saadani National Park. The lodge contains nine tented cottages. The stated mission of Saadani Safar Lodge is to alleviate poverty in the nearby village of Saadani through ecotourism. The lodge has installed a windmill to pump freshwater, sponsored a local school, and provided scholarship funds for children. In addition, the lodge also finances agricultural cooperatives and sustainable technologies. No information, however, about marine conservation initiatives or involvement is provided.
Caribbean
Aruba: Bucuti Beach Resort
Bucuti Beach Resort, located in Aruba, is composed of 104 rooms. It has been in operation since 1987 and today the resort owns 14 acres of beachfront property. Bucuti has an extensive “Environmental Policy and Energy Conservation” report that documents its various green initiatives and conservation programs. The resort’s green initiatives include using solar power for heating water and local products and services. In addition, Bucuti also works with Turtugaruba, a local foundation that protects giant green sea turtles. Due to Bucuti’s sustainability and conservation efforts, the resort was awarded the first Green Globe 21 certification and was the recipient of the Caribbean Hotel Association Environmental Stewardship award.
Bahamas: Small Hope Bay Lodge – Andros Island
Located on North Andros Island in the Bahamas, Small Hope Bay Lodge has been in operation since the 1960s. The lodge contains 21 rooms and claims to have one of the premiere dive centers in the Bahamas. Although Small Hope Bay is not actually marketed as an ecoresort, its owners support ecotourism initiatives that allow guests to learn about the local environment and culture. The resort does support the Andros Conservancy and Trust and helped establish the North and Central Andros National Park, the largest park in the Bahamas.
Bahamas: Tiamo – Andros Island
Tiamo operates a 10-cottage resort on South Andros Island in the Bahamas. It positions itself as a luxury ecoresort. Besides the use of solar electricity to power the entire resort, Tiamo was constructed from locally available materials. Although no information is provided about conservation efforts, Tiamo does have diving, fishing, and wildlife tour operations that all rely directly on the preservation of South Andros Island.
British Virgin Islands: Guana Island Resort – Guana Island
Guana Island Resort is located in the British Virgin Islands. It is an 850-acre privately owned island and has a maximum capacity of 30 guests. There is no information about green initiatives or marine conservation efforts, but Guana Island does operate an Animal Restoration Program, which has successfully established populations of the Caribbean flamingo and stout rock iguana on the island.
Grenada: KIDO Ecological Research Station
KIDO Ecological Research Station (KERS) is located on Grenada in the West Indies. It is supported by the YWF-KIDO Foundation, a non-profit corporation based in Grenada. Its mission is to preserve the natural ecosystem, heritage, and promote sustainable development of the southern Grenadines. They are involved in numerous conservation projects and also operate a 23-person lodge on the island of Carriacou, which hosts both tourists and researchers. Conservation projects include a Wildlife Sanctuary on Carriacou, the Sea Turtle Monitoring and Rescue Program, and environmental awareness and education initiatives. KERS receives international funding and support from many agencies, such as the European Union, Earthwatch, and The Nature Conservancy.
Trinidad and Tobago: Paria Springs Eco Community
Paria Springs Eco Community is located on Trinidad. It is an adventure tour company that offers natural history, wildlife, and recreational tours. Although Paria Springs partners with a small 12-room guesthouse near the town of Grande Rivierre, the company is seeking funding to build its own lodge and associated facilities. Paria Springs has several conservation projects. It established the Paria Springs Trust to generate funding for the Ocelot Conservation Project. The foundation has received donations from the Tropical Rainforest Coalition and Friends of Conservation. There is no information about marine conservation efforts.
U.S. Virgin Islands: Maho Bay Camps – St. John’s
Maho Bay Camps operates two eco lodges, one at Maho Bay and the other at Estate Concordia Preserve. Both are composed of “eco-tents” with numerous green initiatives, including the use of solar electricity and sustainable building materials. Maho Bay contains 104 eco-tents and Estate Concordia Preserves has 25. Although no information is provided about marine conservation efforts, Stanley Selengat, the owner of Maho Bay Camps, is purportedly active in the conservation community. He is a member of the US National Park System Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors of The International Ecotourism Society.
Caribbean: Sandals Resorts International
Sandals Resorts International operates 13 resorts throughout the Caribbean, including properties in Antigua, Bahamas, Jamaica, and St. Lucia. Sandals recently established the Sandals Foundation to promote community, educational, and environmental initiatives. In October 2010, Sandals began the Marine Sanctuaries Project with the establishment of an MPA near Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Hotel staff is responsible for monitoring and policing the MPA. Sandals intends to establish and manage MPAs off all their properties in the Caribbean. In addition to their conservation efforts, all Sandals hotels are Green Globe Certified.
South America
Colombia: Estado Natural Ecolodge – San Bernardo del Viento
Located near the town of San Bernardo del Viento, Estado Natural Ecolodge is on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. The resort is within the region of Playa del Viento, which contains the Tumbes-Choco-Magadelna Hotspot, an area rich in biodiversity and considered endangered by Conservation International. Estado Natural Ecolodge plans to operate all of its facilities on solar power by the end of 2011. The resort also has a reforestation program that plants mangrove and other native trees in the lagoon. In addition, Estado Natural Ecolodge established the Guardianes de la Naturaleza, an NGO that promotes environmental education programs. The NGO has both classroom projects (which include designing conservation curriculums for schools) and field projects.
Ecuador: Finch Bay Eco Hotel – Galapagos
Finch Bay Eco Hotel is located on Santa Cruz Island within the Galapagos Islands. It contains 27 rooms and operates scuba diving, wildlife viewing, and other recreational activities throughout the islands. Finch Bay was awarded the Smart Voyager Certification, a certification given to hotels in Ecuador that meet certain conservation standards. The resort has implemented various green initiatives, including the use of local building materials and solar power. In addition, all staff members undergo an environmental training program and the resort also follows the Galapagos National Park’s conservation rules and policies. Regarding marine conservation, Finch Bay continues to restore mangrove forests around its property.
Ecuador: Red Mangrove Lodges
Red Mangrove Lodges operates six resorts in Ecuador. Five of those resorts are located in the Galapagos Islands. The resorts on are Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Floreana Islands. The goal for all lodges is to have a negative carbon footprint by the end of 2011. Currently, only the resort located on Floreana Island operates solely on renewable energy. Red Mangrove Lodges is involved in numerous community projects, mostly focusing on health initiatives. Although no information is provided about environmental conservation efforts, Red Mangrove Lodges is attempting to develop its properties throughout the Galapagos in a sustainable manner.
Central America
Costa Rica: Arenas Del Mar Beach and Nature Resort
Arenas Del Mar Beach and Nature Resort is located adjacent to Manual Antonio National Park on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It is has received an ecotourism certification from Costa Rica’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). In addition to green initiatives, including the use of solar energy to heat water and a recycling program, Arenas Del Mar has designated 75% of its property as a nature reserve. The resort has instituted conservation programs to reduce coastal soil erosion by planting trees and partnered with LoNGOs, including the Titi Conservation Alliance. Since 2006, Arenas Del Mar has been a member of the Blue Flag Program, which seeks to sustainably develop Costa Rica’s beaches. As part of the program, the resort conducts water quality monitoring, has instituted a waste management policy, and promotes environmental conservation through education. The resort is also involved in numerous other terrestrial conservation projects and initiatives.
Costa Rica: Finca Exotica – Osa Peninsula
Finca Exotica is located on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, on the Pacific coast. It is adjacent to Corcovado National Park. The resort contains cabins, tents, and house rentals. Finca Exotica has a robust eco-infrastructure that includes solar and hydropower, waste recycling, and an on-site organic farm. In addition, Finca Exotica was a founding member of the Refugio de Vide Silvestre Mixto, a nature reserve established in 2007 to protect the Osa Peninsula. The resort also operates a Sea Turtle Conservation Program in partnership with Friends of the Osa’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program. Together, they conduct volunteer and educational programs. In 2010, this program expanded to include Rio Oro and Carate beaches.
Costa Rica: La Cusinga – Uvita
La Cusinga opened in 1996 and now contains 10 cabins. The resort borders Bellena Marine Nature Park on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. La Cusinga established the 600-acre private Finca Tres Hermanes nature reserve that is “dedicated to marine and terrestrial conservation.” In line with the resort’s CST certification, it uses solar energy and sustainable, local building materials. La Cusinga also supports community businesses and organizations that are eco-responsible and runs education workshops for school children in the town of Uvita-Bahia Bellena. Regarding marine conservation efforts, La Cusinga has monthly beach clean ups with guests and staff as well as operates The Liberation of Young Turtles conservation program.
Costa Rica: Lapa Rios – Osa Peninsula
Located on the Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios has been CST certified since 2001 and contains 16 bungalows. It established the 1000-acte Lapa Rios Reserve, adjacent to the Corcovado National Park. The resort has an extensive environmental strategy, detailing 21 dimensions of ecotourism sustainability and conservation. It includes employing only local residents, the use of locally sourced building materials, solar heated water, and guest education and involvement in projects, such as the terrestrial habitat-monitoring program. Lapa Rios’s marine conservation efforts are not discussed in as much detail as it terrestrial programs.
Costa Rica: Latitude 10 Exclusive Beach Resort – Santa Teresa
Latitude 10 Exclusive Beach Resort is 6 km north of Cabo Blanco National Park. It is located near the town of Santa Teresa on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. To promote ecotourism, in addition to employing local residents, Latitude 10 established the Building for the Future Program to improve local schools. The resort has instituted several green initiatives, including using solar electricity and biodegradable cleaning products. Latitude 10 also has a Blue Flag Beach and is committed to conserving its coastal environment.
Costa Rica: The Harmony Hotel – Nosara
The Harmony Hotel is located near the town of Nosara, Costa Rica. The resort contains 24 rooms and is CRT certified. Harmony Hotel established a nature sanctuary in conjunction with the Ostional Wildlife Reserve. Although Harmony Hotel is involved in various green initiatives, such as renewable energy, no additional information is provided about its nature reserve or any other environmental conservation efforts.
Honduras: Mango Creek Lodge – Roatan, Bay Islands
Mango Creek Lodge is located on Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras. The resort opened in 2004 and today 81% of its power comes from solar and wind sources. The resort has implemented other green initiatives, including water re-use. In addition to supporting local schools, Mango Creek Lodge has also established a Queen Conch preserve off of its beach. No other information about marine conservation efforts is provided.
Nicaragua: Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge – San Juan del Sur
Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & EcoLodge is situated on an 800-acre private nature reserve, located near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. It contains 15 bungalows. In addition to its nature reserve, Morgan's Rock has also implemented tree conservation and reforestation projects along 1,800 hectares of coastline. The resort has several green initiatives, including solar heating for water. Since 2009, Morgan's Rock has worked with the NicaFrance Foundation to support local school children in rural communities. No information is provided about marine conservation efforts.
Panama: Islas Secas – Islas Secas
Islas Secas resort is located 25 miles off of the Panama coast in the Pacific Ocean. The resort is spread over 16 uninhabited islands. It can accommodate 14 guests. In addition to green initiatives, such as solar power for all rooms and an onsite garden, Islas Secas resort installed moorings on all dive sites in the surrounding waters. They have also partnered with Project AWARE to clean the local beaches and worked with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Shark Tagging and Monitoring Project. No additional information about marine management or ownership status of the islands is provided.
Panama: Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge – Colon Island
Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge is located on Colon Island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago on the Caribbean coast. The resort positions itself as an “aqua lodge” and contains nine cabins situated over the water. Although the Punta Caracol has some green initiatives, including solar power for rooms and a recycling program, no information about conservation plans or efforts is provided.
North America
Mexico: Baja Expeditions – Baja California
Baja Expeditions is an adventure travel company that operates in Baja California, Mexico. They operate sea kayaking, whale watching, scuba diving, and wildlife cruise tours. As part of these programs, Baja Expeditions operates two “eco camps”, one in San Ignacio Lagoon and the other on Espirito Santo Island, with a stated mission of conserving the marine and terrestrial environments of southern Baja. To achieve this, Baja Expeditions has partnered with several non-governmental and scientific organizations. They have worked with the World Heritage Alliance to promote and preserve World Heritage sites, such as the Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino, and also Ecology Project International to form partnerships between scientists and Mexican students. In addition, Baja Expeditions and The Nature Conservancy partnered to obtain funding for the creation of the Isla Espirito Santo Natural Marine Park.
Mexico: Centro Ecologico Sian Ka’an – Tulum
Centro Ecologico Sian Ka’an (CESiaK) is located near Tulum, Mexico. CESiaK is an NGO that was established in 1998. It operates an ecotourism and education center as well as a small lodge, which contains several cabins and a restaurant. Revenues generated though tours, accommodations, and other activities are used to fund the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. CESiaK has instituted several green initiatives, including wetland waste management and solar and wind power. In addition, the center operates educational and biological research programs.
Mexico: Sandos Caracol Eco Resort and Spa – Playa Del Carmen
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort and Spa is located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It is owned and operated by the parent company Sandos Hotels and Resorts. It is an extremely large operation for an ecoresort, containing 952 rooms. In 2009 the Sandos Eco Club was established to promote ecotourism. Energy saving programs, recycling, and the use of biodegradable products are resort-wide initiatives have been instituted. In addition, Sandos also organizes beach cleaning events and several conservation projects. These include the SOS Marine Turtles Project and Mangrove Swamp Project. To monitor their conservation and sustainability initiatives, Sandos also created an internal Ecological Committee to analyze its operating procedures.
Canada and U.S. (British Columbia and Alaska): King Pacific Lodge
King Pacific Lodge is a unique resort. The lodge is built on a barge that can be towed to different locations. During its operating seasons, King Pacific is located on the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest in Northern British Colombia, Canada. Owned and operated by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, it contains 17 rooms. The lodge has several green initiatives, including a cumulative carbon footprint reduction of 50% by 2012 with the use of energy efficient appliances and lighting systems throughout the lodge as well as an on-site water filtrations system. In addition, King Pacific has a close relationship with the Gitga’at Nation of British Columbia: it “… was the first private tourism operator to sign a working protocol with a First Nation in British Columbia thereby recognizing their rights and title to their traditional territory”. King Pacific and the Gitga’at Nation have worked together to establish student mentoring and conservation initiatives. Guests of the lodge can participate in the Guarding the Gifts fund, which supports conservation projects with Gitga’at members within Great Bear Rainforest.
U.S. (Alaska): Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge – Homer
Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge is located across Kachemak Bay from Homer, Alaska. The resort can accommodate 12 guests. Although there is no information about green initiatives, Michael McBride, the lodge’s owner, purports to be an active member of the conservation community. He was a trustee for The Nature Conservancy and board member for the Wildlife Foundation. The lodge commits a “significant portion” of its income to various conservation organizations, such as the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies and Alaska Conservation Foundation.
U.S. (Alaska): Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge – Seward
Near Seward, Alaska, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge is located within Kenai Fjords National Park. The lodge, which is owned and operated by Alaska Wildland Adventures (AWA), was built in collaboration with Port Graham Corporation (PGC). The lodge resides on a private wildlife sanctuary owned by PGC, an Alaska Native Corporation. There is no information about specific green initiatives, although the lodge’s website does state that it was built with minimal impact on the environment.
U.S. (Alaska): Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge – Homer
Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge was built in the 1970s. It is located on a privately owned property within Kachemak Bay State Park. The lodge operates entirely on wind and hydro-electricity. Sadie Cove’s website does state that they support conservation organizations, however, no further information is provided.
U.S. (Georgia): Little St. Simons Island
Little St. Simons Island is a privately owned, 10,000-acre barrier island off of the coast of Georgia, USA. The resort accommodates 32 guests. Little St. Simons Island has a deep occupational history, dating back to 700 A.D. when the Guale Indians inhabited the area. The lodge was first opened to the public in 1979. The majority of the island is still undeveloped. The resort has implemented several green initiatives, including a geothermal heating and cooling system for the guesthouses. Little St. Simons Island received a Green Globe 21 certification for its sustainability efforts. In addition, the resort is committed to preserving the natural terrestrial and marine environment. It employs a team of naturalists to lead wildlife tours and provide guests with information about the island’s ecosystems.