The Lodge at Chaa Creek

[Zelda]

6 Eco Vacations for Summer

Choose greener hotels and resorts when you travel.

Story by Lori Brown, originally published May 2010 on Earth911.

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The Lodge at Chaa Creek (San Ignacio, Belize)

Awarded Best Eco Resort by Caribbean Travel & Life in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, as well as Belize's first ever Green Globe Certified Silver Status by the Global Certification Programme, Chaa Creek is definitely the top scorer in a league of prestigious green resorts. National Geographic Adventure Magazine's Top 50 Eco Lodges in 2008 isn't a bad accolade to add to the wall either.

The lodge believes that "travel, when conducted mindfully can be a powerful tool for positive change, inspiring awareness of environmental responsibility and social commitment."

Chaa Creek goes above and beyond when it comes to living by their green message. All solid waste is separated and reused or recycled, organic kitchen waste and grass trimmings are composted, aluminum cans are crushed and used as fill material in concrete building foundations.

Glass that is not recycled is crushed on-site in an electric glass crusher and used as an aggregate when mixing cement. Fruits and vegetables for visitors and staff is grown on their Maya Organic Farm. The list goes on and on.

In addition to their daily practices, lodge founders Mick and Lucy Fleming established the Belize Foundation for Conservation (BFC), which is now based from Chaa Creek's on-site Natural History Center.

The lodge hosts various environmental education projects, including summer camps and teacher training programs, and partners with conservation projects ranging from agroforestry research to howler monkey reintroduction.

http://www.tonic.com/article/6-eco-vaca ... or-summer/

[Miss Kenni]

That's really neat. It would be too much to ask, I think, but just in case -- is there any indication they would take in such recyclables from others in the surrounding area who are currently either dumping or trying to burn them? Kenni

[Zelda]

not that I've heard... they're a long way out there, and many are too lazy to undertake the journey.

much to my dismay, despite clear instructions, my former caretaker burned trash, (including cans and bottles) and buried their baby's used disposable diapers... behind my guesthouse.

UGH !!

I'm just happy if there's no actual garbage blowing onto my land from the road, where schoolchildren pass by... I pick up a bag a week of candy wrappers, plastic bags, etc in front of my gate.

some habits are difficult to change.

my WISH is that Chaa Creek would expand their program, set up a pick-up point in San Ignacio, and TEACH recycling and proper basura disposal at the local schools... gotta get 'em when they're young

[krc]

Every morning after my walk I jump down in my ditches and pick up candy wrappers, straws, ice cream wrappers and occasionally I still find returnable bottles.

No burning at all allowed in our village and here in Florida under our recycling program we recycle about 75% of our trash.
I miss doing that in Belize.

Littering drives me crazy.

[catdance62]

Here in Arkansas they use the prisoners (city and county jail occupants) to pick up trash, I guess they don't try to run off. I've seen them out on the main highway too, but out there they guard them on horseback. Maybe those are the state prisoners. Poor people and crackheads pretty much pick up all the aluminum cans. We dont' have returnable bottles. Belize has a lot of trash, but Guatemala is way worse. It seems that no matter the country, littering would be considered to be a bad thing, wouldn't you think? I guess that's not the case....

[woodsman]

Isn't it ironic how people in Belize strip the ground bare of all vegetation and fallen leaves around their houses, meticulously raking everything away but non-bio degradable garbage they just leave on the ground where it falls?

The first thing they should teach children at school is that the fumes from burning man-made materials are TOXIC.

[Zelda]

partners with conservation projects ranging from agroforestry research to howler monkey reintroduction./

kudos to Chaa Creek Lodge for helping with those worthy projects.

for more information on the fine folks who rescue howler monkeys, tend and rehabilitate them, and re-introduce them to the wild, (if at all possible):

The Wildlife Care Center of Belize

http://www.wildlifebelize.com/about.html

oft-times with an assist from the amazing and fabulous

BELIZE BIRD RESCUE:

http://www.belizebirdrescue.com/