The truth is this: all I really want to do is travel. I am always in the process of planning my next trip—to a surf destination, a mountain adventure, or a cultural getaway. The following eco-friendly destinations are at the top of my list. Maybe they should be on yours, too?
I am dying to go to Nicaragua. While Costa Rican shores are getting crowded with surfers, Nicaragua still offers pristine breaks where I hear you can have the waves all to yourself.
Los Cardones Ecolodge offers a Nicaraguan getaway that allows you to surf to your heart's content and still be a friend to the environment. Los Cardones is set on a long stretch of beach in Managua, Nicaragua. The resort offers five modest bungalows with palm roofs and private balconies. Surfers and friends can enjoy miles of beaches for surfing, snorkeling, beach-combing, hiking, and horseback riding. One break is directly in front of the lodge and others are within walking distance. Yummy meals are made by the staff from produce and cheeses that are purchased from local vendors. Fish comes from the local market or from the fisherman that catch it right in front of the lodge.
Los Cardones does not claim to be a five-star resort, but what they can boast is being a friend to the environment. Built in a spirit of conservation and minimal impact, all construction is designed to blend in with the existing vegetation and adapt to the sites. Refuse is recycled by composting. Well water is used for cleaning and showering and then drained through a network of perforated pipes to irrigate the gardens. The soap used is eco-friendly and biodegrades quickly.
With the allure of reasonable rates and surf right outside the door, I might need to find myself at Los Cardones lounging in a hammock after a long surf session in the very near future.
Want to get your surf on in a more upscale local? Some place with a spa, fine dining and, perhaps, air conditioning? Then Nihiwatu might just be for you. Situated on Sumba Island in the Indonesian Archipelago, Nihiwatu is a small and exclusive hideaway lodge.
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