Jesse asks: I want to visit Belize. Do you have suggestions for eco-friendly travel?
Belize, the small Central American country with a diverse landscape including dense jungles, rolling hills and a crystal ocean, has become a very popular destination for eco travel. With a beautiful natural setting, this small, but hospitable, country offers many opportunities for eco travel. Since English is the first language and the American dollar is worth about two Belizean dollars, travel is economical and easy. Located just 2 hours by plane from Miami, Belize is a tropical paradise waiting for you to explore. Here are five options for respite and adventure.
Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge
This beautiful jungle lodge is located in the jungle near the town of San Ignacio. The reasonably priced resort offers rooms that sleep 4 for under $200. The lodge also has a restaurant that serves 3 meals a day with locally grown food. This jungle retreat is a great place to unwind and just relax, nevertheless, they do offer many activities. Bird watching is very popular in this area, as well as tours of the nearby Mayan ruins. Other activities include, hiking, river tubing, canoeing, and horseback riding.
Turtle Inn Resort
If you want luxury, this is the resort for you. Located right on the beach at Placencia, the Turtle Inn offers “dwellings,” or luxury cabins ranging from $300 – $1000/ night. This popular destination also has an open air dining restaurant with fresh homegrown foods and wood burned pizza. Many activities are offered including snorkeling, a spa, cruises, and fishing.
Cotton Tree Lodge
Tucked between the river and jungle near Punta Gorda, the Cotton Tree Lodge is a place to unwind. The mission of this family-friendly eco lodge is to help people get in touch with the land, other people, and themselves.The room rates range from around $100-$500/ night. Although this lodge is very focused on sustainability, they offer lots of great amenities.
The on-site restaurant serves American and Mayan style meals with organically grown produce from the locals and the lodge garden. Recreation nearby is abundant with hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, swimming, birding, horseback riding, yoga, and medicinal plant walks.
Xanadu Island Resort
Tropical luxury best describes this eco friendly island resort. The guest rooms are domes that can sleep up to 6 people. The rates range from $150-$600/ night in the peak season. The resort itself has pools, kayaking, and bicycle riding, as well as a bird sanctuary. Nearby there are plenty of water and jungle adventures to go on including Mayan ruin tours, hiking, snorkeling, and diving.
Pooks Hill Jungle Lodge
This green jungle lodge is located in the beautiful city of Belmopan. A rustic vacation spot, it is a great place to explore Central America’s best jungles. The lodge has different size cabanas to rent ranging from $100-$300/night. Located In the Cayo District, the Pooks Hill Jungle Lodge offers tons of activities to keep everyone busy. Hiking, birding, swimming, tubing, and night walks are available onsite. Nearby you can visit caves, ancient temples, and Mayan ruins, the Belize zoo, a baboon sanctuary, and go zip lining.
-The Alternative Daily
