Posts Tagged ‘eco travel’

La Cocotera Eco Lodge Receives Scarlet Macaws for Reintroduction Program in El Salvador

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Great news! We have officially received two Scarlet Macaws as part of an educational component of a larger reintroduction program with SalvaNatura, El Salvador’s largest NGO. Their names are Lily and Tito. No one knows their exact age, but they came to us from a rescue center where they had spent the last 15 years of their lives in a cramped cage. The birds now reside in an aviary that we have built for them and are happily enjoying the larger space.

La Cocotera Resort El Salvador Scarlet Macaws

Lily and Tito, El Salvador Scarlet Macaws at La Cocotera Eco Resort

The Scarlet Macaw is an incredible bird, now extinct in El Salvador and most of Central America.  Hunting, poaching for the pet trade, and the destruction of habitat through deforestation have all been contributing factors in their population decline. As an environmentally active eco lodge in Central America, we are working in conjunction with SalvaNatura to sponsor a project that reintroduces macaws into the wild and establishes a self-sustaining population.

SalvaNatura is a private, nonprofit organization recognized nationally and internationally for its successful work on the issue of environmental conservation in El Salvador. For more information, visit www.salvanatura.org. You can read more about the Reintroduction of the Scarlet Macaw to El Salvador here.

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For more information on our El Salvador all-inclusive hotel, visit us at lacocoteraresort.com

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Eco Travel Tips from Your Environmentally Friendly Resort

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Traveling around the world can offer some of the greatest inspiration to preserve this wonderful gem that we call Earth, but traveling can also be harmful for the unaware eco-consumer.

In an effort to witness all the natural beauty of Central America and its world renowned national parks, make an effort to avoid inadvertent damage. Take these steps from National Geographic’s Traveler for the ultimate guide to sustainable travel:

  • Try booking a stay at an environmentally friendly resort or hotel. Be mindful of the global impacts of resources used; take initiative to find a local eco friendly hotel or even community environmental programs near your lodging.  Visit  LaCocoteraResort.com to read about our environmentally friendly methods and our Green Leaf Certification.
  • Make sure to unplug your home or office when you leave for a vacation. Responsible traveling begins at home! Before you head out, make sure to unplug any appliance that won’t be in use while you’re away, such as computers, phone chargers, televisions, video game players and microwaves. According to Thomas Kostigen, co-author of The Green Book, “as much as 10 percent of the electricity used in your home is wasted energy burned by adapters, chargers, computers and other appliances that we leave plugged in when we’re not using them.”
  • When you are making preparations for your trip, go paperless. Use online resources to plan and book your trip, and only when necessary, print out maps and other materials at home on recycled paper.
  • To lessen the negative impact of your travels - and help ensure optimum positive impact - thoroughly research your destination before you book. Traveling to some destinations during the market-induced high season can increase your overall negative impact, so planning a month earlier or later can be beneficial.
  • Finally, visit during a festival, or schedule your trips in conjunction with vibrant, local celebrations that provide a window into the culture and help support traditional crafts and customs. This helps sustain local economies and cultures. Travelers support the living culture because they spend money on food, lodging, locally made crafts or local events. One of our most popular events at our hotel is the turtle release program, which helps the eco system and supports the culture without inadvertently trampling it.

All these methods are simple and helpful ways to travel better and show respect for the ecosystem both in your own home and all they way across the world.

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“Responsible Traveler” Pledge for Eco Resorts and Visitors

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

A corner stone of our tropical El Salvador eco resort is, of course, a great concern for the environment that is shared by many of the patrons and guests here. Beyond booking an eco-friendly resort for a vacation, an organization called the World Heritage has put together an online Responsible Travel Pledge, a list to help travelers remain mindful during their journey. By signing the Friends of World Heritage, the list hopes to empower others and help preserve the natural and cultural attributes that make places you visit, like El Salvador, unique.

Actions that visitors can take to alleviate any ecological footprint are understated but important. The Responsible Travel Pledge challenges travelers to incorporate three basic tenets when planning a trip and when traveling to a World Heritage site:

  • Discover the natural and cultural beauty of World Heritage sites by learning about the history, customs, folklore, and biodiversity that make them so special.
  • Share their commitment to these sites with hotels, tour operators, and other travel-related entities.
  • Preserve the natural and cultural values of World Heritage sites by following designated trails, respecting local rules and customs, and not removing archaeological or biological treasures.

By signing the Responsible Traveler Pledge, travelers can take small but important steps to preserve  more than 850 places that the international community has recognized as World Heritage sites, and help ensure that these natural and cultural treasures remain for generations to come. Visit www.globalproblems-globalsolutions.org to learn more about World Heritage sites and to sign the Responsible Traveler Pledge.

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Being Environmentally Friendly: How to Travel Green

Monday, April 27th, 2009

bungalow-view-biker

Eco travel is a phrase that has been tossed around in travel blogs and recent travel news, but what does it really mean? While you don’t have to forfeit all  worldly possessions, there are plenty of little changes that you can make to do your part and travel green. Here are few tips on How to Travel Green:

  • Take fewer, longer trips. Save all of your vacation time  for one big trip a year, rather than several small ones throughout.
  • Choose destinations with easy access to other areas so you get the most out of your trip.  You’ll  save money, meet more local people, and get a lot of exploring and learning done all in one trip.
  • If you need to get around at your destination, use public transportation, walk, or even bike whenever possible.
  • When renting a car, choose the smallest vehicle that can comfortably accommodate you and your travel party, or rent a hybrid.
  • Stay at an eco friendly resort
  • Take an eco tour - learn about the local people and  natural environment
  • Recycle in your hotel room -   many hotels have begun implementing a linen re-use program. You can contribute to the green movement not only by reusing linens and sheets, but by saving your recyclable trash too. Leave a note for the housekeeping staff so they know not to wash your linens.
  • If possible, unplug everything in your hotel room to conserve energy.
  • Use your own toiletries instead of the provided ones.
  • Keep your showers short, and shut off the water while you’re brushing your teeth.
  • When you leave the room, turn off the air conditioning, heat, television, lights or any other electric devices.

La Cocotera -  Environmentally Friendly Resort in El Salvador

La Cocotera was built following the “green leaf” system utilized by the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). Our hotel features:

  • Solar energy
  • Energy saving light bulbs/ kinesthetic power flashlights
  • Biological (not chemical) waste water recycling treatment plant
  • Environmentally safe products, shampoos and soaps
  • All cleaning products are environmentally safe
  • Recycling of plastics, paper and glass
  • Ionization pool filtration

La Cocotera also offers ecotourism opportunities such as a Turtle Release program and nature tours. To learn more, visit our Ecotourism Page!

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