Eco-Honeymoon

To compliment our eco wedding we also went on an eco-honeymoon to Costa Rica and just got back early yesterday. We chose Costa Rica for it's rich selection of eco options in a variety of price ranges. Although it is easy to find high end eco-resorts the world over, finding a selection of mid-ranged options can prove to be more challenging.

We started off our self-guided 13 day honeymoon on the Pacific Coast at La Cusinga Lodge www.lacusingalodge.com. We were the only guests there, given that this is the low, rainy season on the Pacific side. We were greeted our first morning with strange animal noises. My husband, Adam thought perhaps that they were sea lions, given that our room overlooked the ocean. We found out the cries belonged to Howler Monkeys, which are found throughout Costa Rica. The food was amazing, the accomdations were great. The resort not only generates most if not all of their own power, but also grows their own food. The cabins offer rustic luxury in a beautiful setting with excellent hiking trails to a beautiful protected beach.

From this quiet area, we travelled through the mountain range to the Caribbean coastal town of Puerto Viejo to Tierra de Suenos Lodge www.tierradesuenoslodge.com, a collection of cabins near the sea. Also deemed an eco-accomodator, is run by Angie & Brenden. This is an excellent location between the fun port town Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. These affordable cabins offered excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including monkeys, sloths, marine life, and being close to the nightlife of Puerto Viejo.

After relaxing for a few days in the relaexed pace of the south Caribbean, we spent one night in Tortuguero at Casa Marbella http://casamarbella.tripod.com. The night turtle tour was well worth the visit, along with the following wildlife tour the next morning. While the accomodations were a little basic for a honeymoon, they offer the best guides in the area.

Onto our final destination of Arenal to take in the active volcano at Leaves & Lizards
www.leavesandlizards.com, easily the nicest place of our honeymoon and best value. Hosts Steve & Debbie are actively involved in reforestation projects on their farm and helping neighbours in doing the same. They have thought of all the details, including high thread count sheets, comfortable beds and even a boot warmer after a wet day of horseback riding.

Really any destination can be made eco-friendly, but it takes some simple steps. First, understand where you are going, can you find an eco-accomodator, one who benefits the earth and their community in some respect. It can come in the form of generating their own electricity, growing their own food, using organic ingredients in food and natural cleaners, the list goes on and on. A great place to start is www.ecotourism.org, many countries have boards that rate accomodators for their eco efforts. Don't get lost in the greenwash, look for reviews from others, be it travel writers or through websites, such as www.tripadvisor.com. All of our resorts encouraged reusing towels and linens, one even asked that guests refrain from using energy taxing small appliances such as hair dryers.

When looking into transportation, consider offsetting your travel with a carbon off-set program that will plant trees to help clean the air. If given the choice between air or car, opt for a car, a hybrid one is even better, as the emissions released in the stratosphere by airplanes are more harmful due to their altitude than vehicles, which have an opportunity to be cleaned by the trees around.

When choosing activities, support those that help endagered animals and lands, such as refuges and national and area parks. Utimately taking the time to consider the impact when making decisions regarding your honeymoon will ensure you start your new life on the right foot and ensure it will be a place you and your future children can enjoy at a later date.

Natural Wedding Prep

Every woman wants to look her best for the big day. Natural beauty prep is not a new area for me, it was the area that I started being more socially conscience as a teenager by only buying cosmetic products that were against animal testing. Over the years I have also learned how sensitive my skin is to most forms of man-made chemicals and as such my bathroom is well stocked with a variety of natural products.

Recently I have started exploring beyond hair products (some of my favourites are Prarie Naturals and Yes to Carrots), trying out mineral make-up, natural deoderants and perfumes made of pure essential oils instead of made in a lab. I've been reading up on how to make my own masks, moisurizers and such and am getting familar how to better take care of my skin both inside and outside through diet and supplements.

Even my nails and toes are going chemical free, with polishes like Zoya which are free of harmful chemicals and are exceptionally long wearing. I have even starting using a nail polish remover made from corn.

As part of looking at my beauty regimen, I realized there are certain areas that I am dependant on repeat consumer products and I looked for ways to find more premanent solutions. A few months ago, I underwent laser eye surgery to remove my need for contact lenses and the solutions and such that go with it. I love being able to see all the time and it is less to pack on the honeymoon. I also explored laser hair removal a few months ago, again to remove my dependance on razors and shaving creams and have made my appointment to have my unwanted hair removed later this week as a surprise for my fiance. With travelling to Costa Rica for our honeymoon and the warnings of safe water usage, reducing my need for shaving and potential complications from using local water to shave seems to be the right way to go and also reducing my need to pack shaving supplies on the honeymoon.

My final beauty appointment before leaving for our honeymoon will be to cut my long locks and donate to Angel Hair for Kids. Donating my hair to this organization will ensure that my locks are used for a wig for a burn or cancer child victim. It also means that my hair needed to remain colour free and healthy, which has been kinder to my sensitive scalp and my wallet.