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.