Acknowledged annually on April 22^nd, Earth Day is a worldwide celebration in which various events are held to show support for environmental protection. Since Yampu Tours’ founding, the company has had an unwavering commitment to supporting the regions in which we explore in order to provide a long-lasting future for this stunning world we live in. From sourcing eco-friendly accommodations for our travelers to planting trees towards reforestation efforts all over the globe, Yampu takes pride in our mission to give back. In recognition of Earth Day, Yampu’s travel experts hope to inspire you to have a green influence on your travels abroad.

7) Thomas Baines’ Sanctuary Camp, Botswana

Recommended Sample Itinerary; Romantic Botswana

Set in a grove of trees, and surrounded by papyrus beds, Sanctuary Baines’ Camp is built on raised platforms high above the Boro River in a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. Named after the 19th-century explorer and painter Thomas Baines, this five-suite camp is an eco-friendly property built using only commercially grown wood, with over 150,000 recycled aluminum cans incorporated within the walls to provide insulation. To gather the materials, the property encouraged the local community in Maun to collect cans, with a fee paid for every can, which were recycled to form the backbone of the camp’s structures.

The swimming pool and the wide wooden deck that surrounds the main dining and sitting room is the ideal place to relax while observing the varied wildlife present here. Watch hippos wallow at the edge of the lagoon that the camp overlooks, or see one of the many elephants who live in the area.

Baines’ is also one of few camps in the area to offer the opportunity to enjoy a secluded, elephant bush brunch in the company of three gentle, orphaned giants.

6) Chaa Creek Lodge – Belize

Suggested Sample Trip;  Belize for Wildlife Lovers 

General sales manager, Karolina was in Belize a few years back and still goes on about how eco-friendly the small country was during her experience.

“I loved how, in Belize, all hotels I visited used eco-friendly soap and shampoo dispensers instead of individual bottles. NO use of plastic at all! And it was all natural and high-end products.”

It’s safe to say that Belize is on their A-game when it comes to eco-friendly escapes. One of Latin America’s first eco-lodges, Chaa Creek, has earned many awards as the pioneer of ecotourism. Catering to couples and families, Chaa Creek Eco-lodge offers many onsite educational services including a medicinal plant walk and an interactive butterfly farm.

The hotel also features a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, horse stables, and a luxurious spa with a variety of treatments as well as breathtaking panoramic views of the Maya Mountains and Caribbean rainforest.

5) Four Rivers Floating Lodge, Cambodia

Suggested Sample Trip; Urban South East Asia with Countryside Transition 

Located five hours outside of Phnom Penh, an escape into the untouched Cardamom Rainforest in Cambodia is the Four Rivers Floating Camp. Dotted along the Tatai River, twelve African inspired villas float atop the lazy current offering a luxurious eco-friendly glamping experience, decorated in modern, handcrafted furnishing. To avoid forest clearing, this unique lodging experience is built atop secure flotation devices using environmentally-friendly materials, using the minimum amount of wood to further protect the trees of the forest.

“Awesome! But what about the water?” the lodge is also equipped with a wastewater treatment system to avoid any contamination of the river creating a virtually zero impact lodging experience.

With numerous activities available, from complimentary river kayaking to fishing for your own dinner off your private balcony, visitors can capture the amazing sights and sounds of the magnificent forest with its colorful and rare inhabitants. Many species in the region are under threat, including the endangered Indochinese Tigers and Asian Elephants.

4) Feynan Eco Lodge – Jordan

Suggested Sample Trip;  Wonderful Petra 

Regional Sales Manager and Groups Coordinator, Stephanie recently returned from Jordan where she and her mother explored the desert oasis via camel back riding and hot air ballooning. During their adventures, Steph discovered a little gem deep in the heart of the mountainous Dana Biosphere Reserve, Wadi Feynan, set against the magnificent desert landscape.

The solar-powered ecolodge has earned the title as one of the best eco-lodges in the world by National Geographic, offering numerous outdoor excursions to explore the Jordanian countryside and get to know the local communities, all while being environmentally sound. Using the desert sun as its main source of power and heating, limiting water waste consumption, composting all organic material into fertilizer, and eliminating the use of plastic water bottles, Forbes Magazine labels the lodge a “shining star among the green lodges worldwide”

3) Finch Bay Eco Hotel – Galapagos, Ecuador

Suggested Sample Trip; Land-Based Galapagos Island Tour at Finch Bay Eco Hotel

Located in the heart of the Galapagos on Santa Cruz Island, the Finch Bay Eco Hotel offers a secluded escape for those who wish to experience all the islands have to offer but may not have their sea-legs for extended cruise explorations.

The Finch Bay Eco Hotel offers the perfect combination of land and sea exploration, with a number of programs such as kayaking, snorkeling, diving, horseback riding and guided beach outings all while being green and environmentally friendly. Among the numerous environmentally friendly initiatives, the Finch has introduced energy-saving measures such as solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, old-school line drying of fabrics, daily cleaning of the beach and 70% of employees actually bike into work!

2) Patagonia Camp – Torres del Paine, Chile

Suggested Sample Trip; Chilean Patagonia and Unmissable Torres del Paine

Located almost literally on Earth’s end, Patagonia Camp was built using eco-friendly methods based on sustainable principles, all while being the most respectful to the native environment of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. The camp’s specialized and furnished yurts provide guests a unique and intimate, one-on-one experience with nature in view of one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.

Explorers can revel in the incredible Patagonia sights, its changing climate, and take in the unique flora and wild fauna with the benefits of experienced guides who help visitors find the best way to enjoy their days. From Trekking through the mountainous terrain to kayaking the crystalline waters, Patagonia Camp’s unique excursions provide the ultimate Patagonia experience.

With the camp’s prime location surrounded by beautiful rivers, lakes and lagoons the camp is able to be almost fully self-sustainable,

“We have installed a 100% organic water treatment plant on site that uses a natural filtration process to transform the water that we collect into pure water.”

All of the products offered as amenities for guests are biodegradable and the worm-farmed composting initiative of the camp helps transform all organic waste into natural fertilizer that used in the herb and vegetable gardens on the property, all organic.

Tour Consultant Maggie stayed at Patagonia Camp during her last visit to Chile saying

“The stay alone is an incredible experience because it is basically luxury glamping!”

1) Inkatarra Amazonica – Peru

Suggested Sample Trip; Wildlife and Wonders of Peru: The Amazon to Machu Picchu

Adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve on a 42,000-acre private ecological reserve, Inkatarra Amazonica is a short 25-minute flight from Cusco. Inkaterra has pioneered ecotourism in Peru since 1975 and is currently renowned as a world leader in sustainable development. To underscore cultural and natural virtues, the brand works under a holistic approach that generates added value in rural areas: encouraging scientific research, whilst contributing to biodiversity conservation, education and the economic growth of local communities.

Guests are guided on various excursions to learn about the Amazon’s vast biodiversity through numerous hiking trails, informative canopy walks, a remarkable Botanical Garden and first-hand interactions with local farming families.

In 2013, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica was selected by National Geographic Traveler magazine among the world’s 25 best eco-lodges.

The 35 wooden cabanas inspired in the Ese’Eja culture. 540 bird species have been inventoried in hotel grounds, deep in the rainforest.

We know it’s not always easy being green, but staying up to date with our newsletter for eco-friendly tips and tricks is! Our Travel Experts know how to make your travels as environmentally friendly as possible and are ready to roll out the green carpet.

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