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Beaches and eco beach holidays
 It
is an unfortunate fact that the very act of jetting off to a
secluded beach in the Seychelles may be the thing that ultimately
contributes to its destruction through the effects off global
warming and sea level changes. So how can you have a beach holiday
and care for the environment?
The first idea is obviously to
head for the coast near to home. Britain and Ireland do have
some fantastic beaches, and as the summers warm up, they will
become more and more sought after. The Good
Beach Guide is a good place to start, with information
on clean seas around the UK from the Marine Conservation Society,
and Europa
gives information on clean water beaches in Europe.
Beaches range from silver sands
of the Iona in the Scottish Islands to secluded beaches in Ireland
or rocky coves in Devon and Cornwall. There is the extraordinary
pebble beach at Chesil, the freshwater water lagoon at Slapton
Sands, surfing at Newquay or optional clothing in Brighton. In
the towns, Britain has some of the finest historic piers in the
world including the worlds longest at Southend.
If you are traveling further
afield, you might consider getting involved in a marine or beach
conservation project -perhaps protecting turtles in the egg-laying
season or helping to clean up beaches.
Alternatively there are some
fantastic eco-lodges on coastal situations -see the list below
for beach front eco-lodges with a responsible tourism policy.
It goes without saying that the
coastal environment is extremely fragile, so try not to disturb
wildlife or remove any material from the beach.
UK & Europe -useful information
- Eurobeaches -blue flag and seaside award winning
beaches in Europe.
- Good beach guide
-information on clean seas and (where available) lifeguard cover,
facilities, activities, parking and transport from the Marine
Conservation Society.
- Europa
-bathing water quality around the EU.
Destinations further afield:
- Australia:
- Thala
Beach Lodge -located
on a secluded beach at Port Douglas, the lodge has been awarded
the highest level of Australian Eco Tourism accreditation. They
works with elders of the idigenous KuKu Yalanji community
to take their guests through the journey of their culture.
- Bali:
-
- Costa Rica
- Golfo Dulce Lodge
-Swiss owned lodge Lodge three hundred yards from the beach that
has been rated with 3 green leaves within the Costa Rican Certification
of Sustainable Tourism -they work towards the protection of the
local primary lowland rainforest.
- Ecuador:
- Finca Punta Ayampe -beach
and surf ecolodge on the Pacific coast of Ecuador -they offer
whale watching, trips to the Machalilla National Park and a solitary
white-sand beach.
- Ghana
- Green
Turtle Lodge -a traditionally-styled
guesthouse, constructed of local materials, situated on a stunning,
palm-lined beach in the tropical western region of Ghana. The
lodge is powered by solar energy, has self-composting toilets
and re-cycles shower water to feed plants.
- India: Goa Beach
- India: Andeman and Nicobar Islands
- Silversand
-swaying palms, clear blue sky and the gurgle of the sea, in
the heart of Havelock Island.
- Mozambique
- Guludo -fair trade lodges in Mozambique at
Guludo Beach Lodge and Mipande Bush Lodge. Their philosophy is
based around giving back to the local community, with a strong
emphasis on supporting women.
- Nicaragua
- Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Playa Coactal -http://www.morgansrock.com
Luxury natural haven offering beautiful beaches,
tropical wildlife and a project of nature conservation, community
development and reforestation as well as using extensive recycling
of materials in its construction.
- Mexico
- Eco
Paraiso Xixim http://ecoparaiso.com
Small hotel designed and constructed with care to
meet ecological standards, Situated directly on a pristine natural
beach, embedded in a vast plantation of malayan dwarf coconut
palm trees at Celestun in the Yucatan Peninsula.
- Seychelles:
- Tahiti: Bora Bora
- Tanzania:
- Fumba Beach Lodge -http://www.fumbabeachlodge.com
Wilderness
accommodation on the pristine Fumba beach in the Menai Bay
Conservation Area in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Activities include
scuba diving and snorkelling over a pristine coral reef.
- Chumbe
Island Coral Park, Zanzibar,
Tanzania -http://www.chumbeisland.com
Explore
the Chumbe Island Nature Reserve with their park rangers or snorkel
in the pristine shallow water Reef Sanctuary. Further afield
you can scuba dive Alternatively relax in one of their eco-bungalows
watching dhows and outrigger boats go by. They have their own
complete eco-system -rainwater is collected from the roofs and
heated by solar power for the showers; used water is filter through
plant beds to avoid contaminating the environment and toilets
are of the composting type, along with many other features forming
part of their eco operation to protect the local environment.
- If you are interested in Scuba
Diving, then see our page on sub aqua
holidays.
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