El Encanto Eco-Hotel and retreat center is located just 96 miles north of Puerto Vallarta and only 14 miles south of San Blas. This perfect location enjoys a microclimate that remains largely green and rain free November through May. The creatively renovated accomodations at El Canto are shaded by ancient hardwood trees and surrounded by beautiful exotic plants.

El Encanto is situated on seven acres of lush tropical gardens that front the Pacific Ocean and share the site with the renovated ruins of a 19th century hacienda. Historically it served as home to a pre-Columbian settlement; today it is a rustic retreat center with an artistic temperment that attracts people from all walks of life.

El Encanto strives to operate a successful retreat center offering quality and affordable workshops and seminars in the fields of art and physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The abundance of delicious healthy food and herbs produced in the organic gardens are shared in the daily meals. Their working philosophy helps to support their local community as well as sustain the indigenous cultures of Mexico, and their ancient rituals.

A beautiful place with a wonderful feeling - really well done. Two big Green Thumbs up!
They offer retreat and vacation facilities. You may choose from Beachfront apartments, Garden rooms, or a romantic camping knoll. (Ask about reduced monthly rates.)

Rates: Beachfront: $50night up to 2 persons, $1,200.monthly,$10. night each add’l. person. Garden: $30for 1, $600.month,$10. each add’l. person. Camping: $15nightly 1 person, $5 nightly each add’l. person.

Email for info:info@encantomexico.com

Contact: http://www.encantomexico.com/index.html

Visit these majestic creatures in their tiny oasis of ever-decreasing forest located in The Virunga National Park in Northern Rwanda. You will return with magical memories of the immense size of the silverback, and the playfulness and the gentleness of the gorillas as a whole. Also you will be touched by the new optimism and vitality of the Rwandan people working hard to rebuild their communities and livelihoods.

The aim of this tour is to see not only the mountain gorillas but also to allow you to get a better understanding of their fragile environment and the issues that local people and other wildlife face. Your participation on this tour helps fund a variety of community and conservation initiatives in the country through the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), and includes a trip to the remains of Dian Fossey’s original research station at Karisoke, where she undertook her groundbreaking work as well as a visit to her final resting place in the forest. You will also be entitled to a year’s membership to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

Pricing: From £2395 for 2006 and £2515 for 2007 per person (7 days) on a twin share basis fully inclusive from the UK including international flights (based on scheduled airlines and availability and minimum 4 persons travelling together). We also offer this trip tailor-made all year from £2,585 per person.

Contact: http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip100027.htm

This is a five day trip that changes everyones lives! You are invited to join a small team that will be building cooking stoves in the highland villages of Peru. Most Peruvian women in these villages still cook in a mud hut with poor ventillation and soot soaked walls balancing their pots on stones above open flames. This trip immerses you into true Peruvian culture that you won’t see while out with your tour groups, yet due to the schedule, you are able to incorporate it into a longer holiday if you wish.

You will meet in Cajamarca, Peru at noon on Monday for lunch at the Hostel. You’ll have a stovebuilding class for 3-4 hrs in the afternoon. The next day you’ll meet the local family you’ll be building the stove for and help transport the materials. Day three you build the stove for the family, on Day four you complete the work and enjoy the family hospitality. On Friday, breakfast is cooked on the new stove!!! You arrive back in Cajamarca Friday afternoon.

Departures: Monday Departures from U.S. year round

Price: From U.S. $435.00 excluding flights (5days), including building supplies

Contact: http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip100765.htm

The small town of Churchill holds mysteries that attract curious scientists and adventurers from around the the world. During the brief summer it is home to beluga whales and a stunning array of wild flowers; in autumn the tundra hosts magnificent polar bears. Due to its location beneath the Van Allen Belt, Churchill has one of the heaviest concentrations of Aurora Borealis activity on earth. This is a truly superb northern adventure - learning of traditional cultural activities and enjoying natural wilddlife scenes, dogsledding and igloo building will fill your days! This expedition is limited in size to approximately 14 travelers.

Physical Requirements
Easy/Flexible
The Northern Lights & Wildlife program does not require a high degree of physical fitness. However, we will sometimes be exposed to cold weather for moderate periods of time and may walk in deep snow. Some nights we will stay up late searching for the lights. All of our activities are optional

Dates 2007: Full Moon: Feb 2 and March 3, Jan 20-26, Jan 27-Feb2, Feb 3-9, Feb 10-16,Feb 17-23, Feb 24-Mar2, Mar 10-16, Mar 17-23, Mar 24-30

Fees: $3,395.00 per person double occupancy SingleSupplement $595.00 Deposit $500.00 Fees may increase for 2007.

http://www.nathab.com/app/cda/nha_cda.php?command=Adventure&adventureId=121

The Black Sheep Inn is a home-spun ecological guesthouse and farm high in the rural Ecuadorian Andes. Stunning Scenery. Horseback, Hiking, Biking, Sauna, and Permaculture.

Contact:
The Black Sheep Inn
PO Box 05-01-240
Chugchilan, Cotopaxi, Ecuador
South America
Contacts: Michelle Kirby & Andres Hammerman
Phone: (593-3) 814-587

Email

http://www.blacksheepinn.com

The Napo Wildlife Center is a fabulous, luxurious eco-lodge in the heart of Amazonian Ecuador. The lodge is just a part of a large conservation project that includes the conservation of approximately 52,000 acres (over 21,400 hectares) of the mostly pristine Amazon Rain Forest within the Yasunì National Park. This is an important biosphere reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador.

The lodge consists of ten individual bungalows built using traditional materials and architecture, each with a lake and forest view from its private porch, silent generators provide ample power. Your bungalows are equipped with screens, fans, and mosquito nets for your comfort!

Your stay at the lodge supports the local community. The Lodge is located by the Anangucoha lake within the ancestral lands of the Anangu Quichua community and was built in conjunction with EcoEcuador, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation efforts in Ecuador. The Anangu Quichua community receives half of the profits from the lodge; allowing them to be active in conservation while working towards preventing logging, market hunting, and oil extraction, which are actively destroying their local forests.
Departures: Daily departures throughout the year
Price: £ 400 for (4days/3nights) including flights from Quito,£500 for (5days/4nights) including flights from Quito

http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip100924.htm

The philosophy of Enchanted Mountain Yoga Vacation Program is to create a complete experience of Yoga and integration in a manner that includes all major costs and activities. Your seven nights accomodations as well as three natural gourmet vegetarian meals per day (fish is an option with dinner); a full Yoga package ideal for your relaxation and revitalization!

Also included in your package are your Eco-Adventures, Beach transportation, Short hikes and transportation to Garapoba, the local fishing village for local shopping. All you need to do is book your travel and arrive at Enchanted Mountain - the rest is taken care of!

All buildings at Enchanted Mountain Center are made from recycled materials. This means that instead of cutting down rain forest trees, the owners bought old buildingsd and houses that were being torn down in the area and reused the lumber and bricks for their construction. In addition to being ecologically sound, the result is a very unique architecture that blends in with the surroundings beautifully.

Pricing: $795.00 double and $995.00 single occupancy

Contact: http://www.enchantedmountainbrazil.com/