Five Eco-Friendly Resorts of Belize

Belize is a beautiful and increasingly popular vacation destination, with fewer crowds and myriad untouched jungle landscapes. One of the great things about visiting Belize is the wide variety of accommodations dedicated to preserving these jungle landscapes while showing them to the world. If you are planning (or even considering) a visit to Belize, read on for information on ten of the country's best ecologically-friendly lodges and resorts.

Orchid Garden Eco-Village

Located approximately 14 miles outside of Belize City, the Orchid Garden Eco-Village is committed to providing an amazing vacation experience in an ecologically-sustainable. Guests can enjoy heart-stopping jungle zip-lines, snorkeling and cave tubing, visits to Mayan ruins and more. The on-site restaurant offers a true vegetarian experience and is constructed from river stones and bamboo. The eco-village's swimming pond was crafted without concrete or chemicals, and Orchid Garden grows it's own fruits and vegetables.

Five Sisters Lodge

The Five Sisters Lodge is located in Belize's largest nature preserve, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Guests can travel to nearby waterfalls and other sights on Belize's only hydro-powered tram. The cuisine served at the lodge is local Belizean fare, and the furnishings at the lodge are locally crafted. Many guests enjoy soaking up the sun on the lodge's private island, The Garden of Eden. But the biggest draw of the Five Sisters Lodge is its myriad waterfalls, for which it is named.

La Casa Del Caballo Blanco

This unique eco-lodge actually helps maintain an on-site bird sanctuary and rehabilitation-release center. Guests of La Casa are encouraged to learn more about the resident birds and to volunteer in the program if they choose. A percentage of the lodge's profit goes directly back into their bird sanctuary and rehabilitation work. There are countless activities available for guests, including touring waterfalls, kayaking, white water rafting, visiting archaeological sites, cave diving and exploration and much more.

The Trek Stop

The Trek Stop is "designed with environmental friendliness and comfort in mind". Guests can enjoy a stay in a screened cabin with fans for cooling comfort. Other facilities are equally eco-friendly, including the composting toilets and solar-assisted showers. Want to try something no other facility in Belize has? Check out the Jungle Frisbee Golf Course, the only one of its kind in Belize. Other available activities include nature paths, tubing and kayaking, swimming and visits to nearby cities.

Blackbird Caye Eco Dive Resort

This unique dive resort is amazing - with tons of activities showcasing the beauty of Belize's waters in an environmentally-sustainable way. Visitors can enjoy diving and snorkeling of all varieties: explore the 30-mile-long Turneffe Atolle, choose from more than 70 dive sites located near the caye, or look for dolphins during a guided sea kayak adventure. Blackbird Caye creates energy for their buildings and desalinates their water using power from a solar and wind farm. They also integrate rainwater capture CFL lighting.

Information obtained on July 9, 2010 via:

http://www.blackbirdresort.com/index.html

http://www.casacaballoblanco.com

http://www.fivesisterslodge.com

http://www.thetrekstop.com

http://www.trybelize.com