Turtle Island Resort
There's space for only 14 couples at a time at this private-island resort in the South Pacific's Yasawa Archipelago, which makes for extreme serenity. Both the 1949 and 1980 Blue Lagoon movies were shot here, and by limiting accommodations to only 28 guests, the resort helps sustain the natural beauty of clear blue water and white-sand beaches that has been captured on film. You won't come across any televisions or tennis courts here, but you will find more than 500,000 trees, which have been planted on the island during a 28-year reforestation program. The resort's kitchen, which is stocked by way of a four-acre organic garden, is filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, and showcases the sweet rewards of going green. —Kara Zuaro
Contact:
Turtle Island
Fiji
800-255-4347
turtlefiji.com
Jungle Bay Resort & Spa
Dominica abounds with natural beauty—from its hidden waterfalls and natural hot springs to the banana birds chirping overhead. At the Jungle Bay resort, couples are invited to revel in the gorgeous surroundings, whether they're hiking to the vaporous Boiling Lake or enjoying a couples massage in a private studio with an ocean view. The resort's 35 cottages, built from found wood and volcanic stone, are perched on wooden posts beneath the forest's canopy to reduce soil disruption. Natural ventilation flows through the cottages, eliminating the need for air-conditioning. The on-site restaurant serves 95-percent locally grown organic food, and all food waste is recycled in compost bins.
Contact:
Point Mulatre
Commonwealth of Dominica
West Indies
767-446-1789
junglebaydominica.com
Lapa Rios Ecolodge
Sumptuous and eco-sensitive, Lapa Rios is leading the way for environmentally friendly resorts. It recently converted to biodiesel, which means the facility is running off used kitchen grease and reducing carbon emissions by 75 percent. Set on a 1,000-acre private rain-forest reserve in Costa Rica, this resort offers plenty of wildlife watching—guests may spot scarlet macaws, toucans and howler monkeys without leaving the decks of the 16 thatched-roof bungalows. For those who aren't satisfied by lounging on the beach or by the pool, the resort offers rain-forest hikes, ocean kayaking and horseback riding; and honeymooners are invited to plant a tree in the rain forest to symbolize their ever-growing love and commemorate their stay.
Contact:
Corcovado National Park
Costa Rica
506-735-5130
laparios.com
Six Senses Soneva Gili
Six Senses resorts are known for their commitment to sustainable development, and eco-friendliness doesn't get more exquisite than the 44 overwater (on stilts) accommodations at Soneva Gili. A 15-minute boat ride from Male, the capital of the Maldives, brings guests to this breathtaking coral island resort. Rooms range from the 2,200-square-foot Villa Suites, furnished with king-size beds, to the Private Reserve, a 15,000-square-foot overwater compound. All rooms offer overwater and rooftop sundecks, private open-air bathrooms and air-conditioned bedrooms. At the Six Senses Spa on Soneva Gili, couples are invited to enjoy a coconut body scrub or Maldivian sand massage while watching sea life below through glass floor panels beneath the massage tables.
Contact:
Soneva Gili & Six Senses Spa
Lankanfushi Island, North Male Atoll
Republic of Maldives
960-664-0304
sixsenses.com/soneva-gili
Tiamo
Located on a private beach accessible only by boat, Tiamo's 11 private bungalows are surrounded by 125 acres of naturally preserved wilderness. At this remote and serene eco-resort, going green doesn't feel like a sacrifice—showers are heated by the sun, and bedrooms are cooled by tropical breezes and solar-powered ceiling fans. Guests rave about the friendly service and outstanding meals, from coconut French toast for breakfast to pineapple-glazed mahimahi for dinner—all prepared in a sustainable, solar-powered kitchen. If couples aren't content to gaze from the beach at crystal-clear waters, they're invited to kayak with sea turtles, sail into the sunset in a trimaran or visit natural attractions with the resort's team of trained biologists.
Contact:
Driggs Hill, South Andros Island
The Bahamas
954-889-7076
tiamoresorts.com
Chumbe Island Coral Park
A 45-minute boat ride from the main isle of Zanzibar (an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania), Chumbe Island boasts an unspoiled shoreline along the Indian Ocean and a coral reef that's teeming with over 400 species of fish. Environmentally minded honeymooners will appreciate the solar-powered lighting and composting toilets in each of the seven thatch-roofed eco-bungalows on this 16-acre island. The accommodation fee includes everything but alcoholic drinks, so budget-conscious couples can enjoy guided forest walks and snorkeling lessons without shelling out extra cash. Food at the on-site restaurant is included too, featuring cuisine with African, Arabic and Indian influences—and plenty of options for vegetarians.
Contact:
Chumbe Island
Zanzibar, Tanzania
255-24-223-1040
chumbeisland.com
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Looking for a luxury hotel with an earth-friendly philosophy? Get ready to unwind in Northern California wine country. The Fairmont Resorts have won great acclaim for their Green Partnership Program, which focuses on conserving water and energy, improving waste management and working with local environmental groups to aid the communities surrounding each hotel. But for guests at Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, the environmental responsibilities are as simple as reusing towels and supporting the hotel's Sonoma Overlook Trail Improvement Plan by taking an education hike through this picturesque area. Then couples can retreat to their four-poster beds or enjoy rejuvenating treatments at one of the few spas in the country with its own source of natural hot springs.
Contact:
100 Boyes Boulevard
Sonoma, California
United States
707-938-9000
fairmont.com/sonoma
Maho Bay Camps
Widely regarded as the best eco-resort in the Caribbean, Maho Bay Camps is a perfect retreat for couples who love camping and don't require too many creature comforts. This 30-year-old eco-resort, which stretches across acres of unspoiled land in the Virgin Islands National Park, offers 114 ocean-view tent-cottages, built with translucent fabric and wood frames. Each residence, surrounded by lush foliage to ensure privacy, has a deck, electric outlets and lights, a propane stove and an ice cooler, but the only air-conditioning is provided by fans and trade winds. Guests enjoy water sports, yoga classes and glassblowing demonstrations at the Trash to Treasure Art Center, where gorgeous glass pieces are made from crushed bottles.
Contact:
Maho Bay (off North Shore Road)
Virgin Islands National Park
St. John, Virgin Islands
800-392-9004
maho.org
Ranweli Holiday Village
A private boat carries guests to Ranweli's secluded beach, but the resort is easy to access at just 11 miles from Colombo International Airport. The 72 beachfront double-occupancy bungalows and 12 river-view family suites at Ranweli resemble a traditional Sri Lankan village, and each is constructed with local building materials and offers an air-conditioned bedroom and solar-powered shower. There's a pool on the premises for the times when the sea waters are too rough for swimming, an on-site Ayurvedic spa offers herbal massages and other holistic treatments, and the resort’s resident naturalist takes guests on birding expeditions. Ranweli offers both Eastern and Western food—if you can take the heat, be sure to sample their deliciously spicy Sri Lankan curries.
Contact:
Waikkal
Sri Lanka
94-31-227-7359
www.ranweli.com
Uno Lodge
Take romance to new heights at this mountaintop lodge in Chihuahua, Mexico. This rustic-yet-comfy 12-room stone chalet overlooks the Urique River and Copper Canyon from a 6,000-foot precipice. The area offers some of the best hiking in North America, and adventurous visitors can climb down the gorge to explore the area's caves, streams, waterfalls, archeological ruins and local villages. The local Tarahumara Indians, who run the lodge in partnership with the Texas-based company Canyon Travel, welcome guests and serve fresh local fare and top-shelf margaritas. Guests enjoy luxurious linen sheets and panoramic views, along with eco-friendly amenities—solar panels power the electricity and heat the spalike stonewalled showers.
Contact:
Copper Canyon
Chihuahua
Mexico
Reservations via Canyon Travel: 800-843-1060
canyontravel.com/unoydoslodge.htm
