Hotel Hellnar is 10 minutes away from Snaefellsjokull National Park where there is an abundant wildlife such as arctic fox and white-tailed eagles and the park has many incredible views of rock and ice formations as ancient lava flows are prominent in this landscape and there are a wealth of caves in the area, which are said to have inspired Jules Verne to choose the top crater at Snaefellsjokull as the entry point in his famous novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth. The hotel can help arrange horse-riding tours through lava-fields or along sandy beaches and Island Tours from Stykkisholmur where boat sails close to islands where birds such as puffins, cormorants, kitti-wakes and seaeagles nest. Also, there are many hiking trails from the hotel to a wide range of nearby natural attractions.

Hotel Hellnar is the first travel and tourism business in Iceland to be certified by GREEN GLOBE, and has been certified since 2002. This hotel is safely far away from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano which erupted in the spring of 2010 and caused so much havoc with air travel to Europe. They offer accommodations with spectacular ocean view, at the heart of Snaefellsjokull Glacier. They are open from May 10th to September 15th. The hotel was originally planned to be a spiritual retreat it is currently a modern but simple, single story wood building that comfortably coexists visually with the surrounding natural splendor. See more information on the hotel’s website.

For more information on travel in Iceland you may want to check out this great travel guide on Amazon.

Here is a website that will also provide more detailed information about sustainable travel in Iceland.

Black Sheep Inn is a relatively inexpensive eco-friendly hotel high in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. It is near Lake Quilotoa, a beautiful volcanic crater lake located at 3800 meters (12,400 feet)and is near the town of Chugchilán. One of the best day hikes in Ecuador is nearby, a hike from Laguna Quilotoa, through the Rio Toachi Canyon, to the town Chugchilán. The cloud forest near Black Sheep Inn is part of The Iliniza Ecological Reserve. The inn is considered one of the top 50 Ecolodges in the World in 2009.

One of the most awesome views in Ecuador is that of the Cotopaxi’s snow-covered volcano, the highest active volcano in the world at 19,347 feet. Black Sheep Inn is located in the Cotopaxi Province and the trip to the volcano is a 3+ hour drive from the Inn.

Just a few of the Black Sheep Inn’s features include Gourmet Vegetarian Meals, Yoga Studio, Sauna and Hot Tub, a Gymnasium, a 10 acre farm with dogs, a cat, pigs, chickens, rabbits, llamas, and a flock of Black Sheep. They have satellite internet available and a Water Slide and zip line! Check out their excellent website for extensive details, descriptions and photos.

One of the best hiking guides for Ecuador is the Trekking in Ecuador – see below.

A great opportunity to enjoy the unparalled beauty of the Muir Woods with a knowledgeable local guide. Tom Martell is a certified naturalist and member of the California Alpine Club, Mount Tamalpais Trails Preservation Council, and the Sierra Club Historical Society, who has been walking these trails for twenty years.

Your tour is custom-made, and will be either 4 miles in length including a packed lunch or 2 miles without. There are never more than six hikers on an excursion, and often less. The tours are on well-maintained trails and are not strenuous. Photo stops with breathtaking glimpses of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean along the route!
For information and booking, CLICK:

http://www.earthfoot.org/places/usca01.htm