The World's Cleanest Countries/Costa Rica # 5

Apr.20.09 Swiss Travel, Costa Rica

The declining health of Mother Earth has drawn growing attention over the last two decades, with countries coming together to fight a range of environmental threats, from declining fishing stocks to global warming. Witness the Kyoto Protocol, the first widely adopted set of environmental protection guidelines, which emerged during the 1990s and took effect in 2005. Kyoto led to the development of the first large-scale emissions trading market, Europe's Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme, which puts caps on carbon dioxide pollution. A similar carbon market, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, began operating at the start of this year in 10 Eastern U.S. states.

In spite of nearly universal support for a cleaner globe (the U.S. was one of only a few countries that failed to adopt Kyoto), it's mainly the rich nations that enjoy pristine environments, according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network and Yale University's Center for Environmental Law and Policy developed the index to highlight the cleanest countries, and give laggards the opportunity to benchmark efforts to improve their own environments and the health of their citizens.

Switzerland tops the list with an overall EPI score of 95.5 out of 100, while European countries account for 14 of the top 20 environmental performers. Europe has the infrastructure to provide clean drinking water and treat waste water, lowering the likelihood that Europeans will suffer from waterborne disease. Europe scores consistently well in EPI's environmental health ranking, which measures the effects of pollution on human health. A second broad measure, ecosystem vitality, measures the health of fisheries, the amount of greenhouse gases a country pumps into the air and how well it preserves the diversity of its plants and animals. On this measure, the performance of developed countries diverges. Scandinavia, with its low population and vast open spaces, enjoys pristine forests and relatively little air pollution.

The U.S., once a leader in environmental protection, has failed to keep pace. "Starting 25 years ago, the United States started to fall behind in relative terms. Before that time, Europe always had dirtier air and drinking water," says Mark Levy, associate director of Columbia University's earth science center.
Then-President George H. W. Bush signed the last significant American air quality legislation in 1990, an amendment to the Clean Air Act. The U.S. scores a meager 63.5 on the ecosystem vitality scale, vs. an average score of 74.2 for the world's richest nations. The U.S.' overall EPI score is 81, putting it in 39th place on the list.

Improved science has led to a better understanding of the linkage between pollution and human health. "The science that's come out has shown that the harder you look for air-pollution-related health problems, the more you find," says Levy. "Scientists have recommended that environmental regulations be tightened. Europe has done that, but the U.S. has been stuck." Countries are also handicapped according to their locations, with sub-Saharan African countries suffering from scant and poor-quality water, and Asian countries affected by depleted fishing stocks. Switzerland's weakest marks come in agriculture, in part because farmers in the mountainous country have a tendency to overwork their limited crop land.
A few developing nations break into the top 10 of the rankings. Costa Rica has a per-capita gross domestic product of $11,600, but ranks fifth overall as it protects its forests and rich biodiversity, both lures for ecotourists.

Another Latin American country, Colombia, ranks ninth overall. The country carefully guards its coffee plantations, a source of lucrative exports. Ironically, the presence of guerrillas and drug lords also makes the countryside hard to develop, even as developers rapidly cut down rainforest in neighboring Brazil.

EPI researchers caution that the information used to develop the scale often comes from local sources and can be of less-than-ideal quality, especially in developing countries. They ranked 149 countries, and left the remaining 50 or so off the list for insufficient data.

Awesome Belize Experience-Blancaneaux

Blancaneaux Lodge is outside of San Ignacio, Belize in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, a 300-square-mile national wildlife reserve in the Maya Mountains. The Sofia, our private Islander aircraft, can transport you from Belize City in less than an hour. The adventurous may choose to travel by road; the Lodge can be reached from Belize City and Belmopan via the Western Highway. Belize is less than two hours by air from Houston, New Orleans and Miami.

Here amid the pines and tropical foliage Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Eleanor first found this modest forest hunting lodge while hiking in 1981 and for years it was a private hide-away for his family and friends. In 1993 it opened its doors to a discerning public who were looking for comfort and style in a remote and adventurous location. Blancaneaux Lodge is designed to provide rustic comfort in harmony with its surroundings, and it definitely succeeds.

The Lodge's accommodations mirror the rainforest's vibrant hues. Each bungalow features a soaring hand-woven thatched roof, artisan-crafted and antique colonial furnishings and a luxurious Japanese bath with views of the jungle sky.

Food is prepared from fruits and vegetables grown in our own Organic Garden. The Lodge is a guest in this fertile natural forest. To complement this, our chef has established a three-acre, self-sustaining organic garden that produces all of the fruits and vegetables used to make traditional Coppola family recipes. Dine on fresh seafood, smoked meats and authentic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood-burning Italian oven. Local rum punches await at the Jaguar Bar.

The Privassion River courses through the Lodge's grounds. Above the river, a kaleidoscope of forest birdlife plays against the palmettos. All of the electricity used at the Lodge is generated by a hydroelectric plant that harnesses the power of the river. Blancaneaux Lodge is surrounded by many cave complexes that vary from the tiny to the vast. On the vast side is the Rio Frio Cave, an enormous two-ended cave carved out of a mountain by the Rio Frio River. Many other caves surround the Lodge. Some, such as the popular Barton Creek Cave and the newly opened complex at Actun Tunichil Muknal, contain pottery and bones left by the Mayans.

The hidden Big Rock Falls are a short trip away by car, horse or mountainbike. Hike down to the misty base of the falls, and swim in the warm pools. Or take a trip to the Rio On Pools, where small waterfalls spill between pools carved by the river out of the mountain granite. Some of the pools are connected by natural waterslides. The Lodge houses a number of handsome horses in its private stable. Our friendly guides will lead you on horseback to local falls and caves or will take you deep into the jungle where you can spot unusual birds and other wildlife.

Secluded and luxurious the Enchanted Cottage is without doubt Blancaneaux Lodge's ultimate hideaway. Set on a forested bluff overlooking magnificent waterfalls the cottage was designed to be a writing retreat for owner Francis Ford Coppola. The cottage boasts a private pool, expansive hardwood decking, airy screened porch, stunning master bedroom, full kitchen, a luxurious bathroom with underfloor heating, Japanese tub, open fire and steam room.

An attendant is on call 24 hours a day and a gas powered golf cart is provided to get you around the property when desired.

Between the 01 March and the 30 April 2009 the Enchanted Cottage is available for $900 US per night + tax/service, based on availability. This is a saving of $500 US a night. Contact your Virtuoso Travel Advisor Today

San Juan Islands Washington- What a great idea!!

NHB Has a great new experience that they just released for 2009;

Discover the San Juan Islands. A close up nature safari through Washington's colorful San Juan Islands!

Trip Overview-Watch for orca whales in their natural environment as we cruise among the islands Hike through old-growth forest and survey the North Cascades from atop Mt. Constitution Kayak the sheltered waters of Orcas Island, paddling among seals, otters and bald eagles

The San Juan Islands lie like a scattering of deep green emeralds against the sapphire waters of an inland sea. In the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, the archipelago is protected from heavy Pacific weather, enjoying 250 sunny days a year. One of the earth’s most aesthetic marine environments, the islands teem with wildlife. Orca whales and Stellar sea lions cavort in the saltwater reaches, myriad sea birds nest on rockbound shores, and black-tailed deer browse pastures of tall grass and wildflowers. Our immersion into island life happens at a peaceful rhythm, as we encounter nature up close on foot and at sea.

ASK YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR ABOUT IT TODAY!!

Dominica-A Hidden Gem

There's still some islands in the Caribbean that offer great adventure and exotic destinations. One of the great ones is Dominica. Challenging to reach from the U.S. via air, Dominica is accessed through Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, or Antigua. It offers some great Eco-resorts and adventure experiences from island hiking, coastal kayaking, and great snorkeling outings.

One of the best Eco-resort locations is Jungle Bay Resort & Spa. With 35 cottages built right into the coastline without any clear-cutting, Jungle Bay takes on a true exotic island rain forest feel that can't be matched in many places currently in the Caribbean. The spa is extraordinary, the restaurant is great, and the open areas provide perfect settings for everything from board meetings to Yoga. Trips to Boiling Lake, Glasse Pool, and Victoria Falls are not to be missed. This experience will bring you back to be grounded with nature. It's an extraordinary place.

Belize Canopy Lodge

There is a new rainforest treetop lodge in Belize that is raising the bar on canopy experiences in the southern part of the country. Located in a very remote part of Belize, this place offers caving, mountain biking, day and nighttime safaris, and guided tours of archaeological sites. They even stayed true to the Eco movement by utilizing Eco-smart vehicles for your transfers to this 12 treehouse retreat. You can even join an archaeological snorkeling trip to ancient Mayan sites. Looking for something new? Ask your travel advisor about Machaca Hill Rainforest Canopy Lodge.