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 Yucatan, Mexico
The beachside resort Hotel Eco Paraiso Xixim, located on the northwestern tip of Yucatan Mexico, can be found on coastal bio-preserve that used to be a former coconut plantation. This green chic and super environmentally-friendly resort boasts floral that is entirely native and all of its waste—from water to garbage—is recycled or reused. Not only does this hotel have a little natural history museum onsite but also offer ecological walks, hikes and kayak rides so that you can safely explore and be educated about the natural habitat during your stay. Whose says we all can’t play nicely in the enviro sandbox together?
Green highlights:
Native sea turtles and flamingo, thatched roof bungalows, no-air-conditioning and low-construction density. For more information, visit www.ecoparaiso.com
 Tenuta Di Spannocchia, Italy
This twelve-century rustic Tuscan farmhouse and bed & breakfast specializes in organic farming, wildlife preservation and promoting earth-friendly education for both locals and visitors. All guests are required to join the Spannocchia Foundation—a nonprofit organization supporting educational programs for locals and a sustainable forestry project ($60 per family). During your stay, explore the Tuscan countryside by foot, feast on local produce and wine, and take a traditional Italian cooking class or two. You can even enroll in onsite language classes which will have you conversing like a local in no time. Ciao!
Green highlights:
Working organic farm, onsite ecological centre, group enrichment programs, renewable resource use and support of the Spannocchia Foundation. For more information on the foundation, visit www.spannocchia.org
 Cruise North Expeditions, Canada
Enroll in an Artic expedition that will leave you dreaming of its serene beauty, abundant wildlife and spirit of the North long after you’ve returned home. Cruise North Expeditions offers travelers an authentic first-hand path into the history of the Artic. You’ll visit local Inuit communities and see how many still practice traditional land-harvesting methods all the while exploring the beautiful rugged Canadian landscape by foot. Enjoy responsible whale & polar bear watching and—if you can stand it—coldwater kayaking. Ouch! During their spare time, this Inuit-owned expedition company helps clean and protect the north with their Artic Clean-up Mission project and has collected hazardous waste in abandoned mining camps. Not a big surprise that they have won several prestigious environmental awards for their earth-friendly ways, year after year.
Green highlights:
Awarded Spirit of Leadership award for the Artic Clean-up Mission, support of local Innuit communities, lectures on global warming. For more information, visit cruisenorthexpeditions.com
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