Go Eco Part 2

5 more Eco Friendly Resorts

Amanpulo, The Philippines

"Amanpulo is part of the lush Amanresorts group, a pioneer in promoting environmental responsibility since its first resort, Amanpuri, opened in Phuket, Thailand, in 1988. The company's properties are typically located in secluded island paradises where guest activities are focused on the natural world, and Amanpulo is no exception. But its environmental commitment is wide-reaching, especially within the local community. The kitchen sends food waste to local pig farmers, and the resort buys back the ensuing pork for staff meals. Amanpulo also offers the services of its staff physician to locals free of charge in case of medical emergencies, and awards two full, four-year Filipino college scholarships each year to local students who can't afford to continue their studies."

Jardim Atlantico, Portugal

"The Jardim Atlantico hotel on the island of Madeira has been eco-friendly since it first opened in 1993; the 30 environmental awards it's won since are a testament to its dedication. Conservation programs include super-energy efficient systems, constant monitoring of the hotel's impact on the surrounding landscape and a reforestation initiative.

There's also an 8,000-meter "Barefoot Walk," essentially a reflexology massage with every footstep. Guests walk along a path strewn with pinecones, mud, sand, pebbles and the leaves of laurel and eucalyptus trees; each element possesses unique healing properties. At the end of the path is a traditional Madeiran irrigation channel to refresh your feet after the walk."

Palm Key, Ridgeland South Carolina

"Palm Key is a low-impact marshland resort in South Carolina's Lowcountry that's perfect for nature lovers. Guests can wander through 3-1/2 miles of nature trails in the resort's maritime forest, where thousands of birds congregate at a time. The resort refrains from using chemicals on the lawns or landscape and has designed inverted crown roads throughout the property to protect the run-off into the marshlands."

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur California

"This 100-acre nature preserve is home to a number of indigenous species, including several that are rare and endangered, including the California condor, wood stork and Western Pond Turtle. Guests can hike, bird watch and play amateur astronomer, but that's just the starting point. At Post Ranch Inn, bed sheets in the 40 rooms are made from 100 percent organic cotton, and the resort vehicles are all hybrids. The inn also provides on-property housing to 90 of its employees in an effort to reduce traffic and carbon emissions."

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, Costa Rica

"Spa treatments at Tabacon use materials, such as coffee and coconut body scrubs and volcanic stone massage, which have been revered by local Mayan and native peoples for millennia. But the resort's practices behind the scenes are just as environmentally sound. Tabacon has pledged to become 100 percent carbon neutral in 2009, and is well on its way towards that goal. It has cut electricity consumption at the resort by 35 percent in just two years and has launched an ambitious tree-replanting program to offset the carbon generated by guests' transportation to the resort."






text and images from fineliving.com