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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.
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UK & Europe -useful
information on beaches
- 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.
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Destinations:
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- 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.
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- Bali:
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- India: Goa Beach
- Goa
Beaches -a guide to the
beaches of Goa.
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- India: Andeman and Nicobar Islands
- Silversand
-swaying palms, clear blue sky and the gurgle of the sea, in
the heart of Havelock Island.
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- Mexico
- Amansala, Tulum -http://www.amansala.com
Calls itself an eco chic resort offering six night
bikini boot camps limited to 25 men and women. The aim is to
get in shape -healthy diet and exercise in a beautiful setting.
Beachfront accomodation is simple, but elegant, with rooms made
from stone and wood, under thatched palapa roofs, in a village-like
atmosphere. They offer a natural lifestyle, sleeping in a beach
cabaña, eating fresh grilled fish, and drinking fresh
fruit juices.
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- Mozambique
 Guludo
Beach Lodge, Pemba
- http://www.guludo.com
Beautiful rustic hideaway and fair trade lodge on the beach paradise
of Pemba. Their philosophy is based around giving back to the
local community, with a strong emphasis on supporting women.
The lodge offers guests the chance to relax on beautiful white
beaches lapped by aquamarine sea, observe humback whales in their
natural environment, canoeing or enjoy world class scuba diving.
The lodge can also organise local homestays and cultural trips
or onward travel in Mozambique. They also take their protection
of Pemba's environment very seriously using solar panels, water
reharvesting, recycling and local education programs as part
of this commitment.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- Samoa
 Virgin
Cove Resort, Upolo
- http://www.virgincoveresort.ws
Virgin Cove Resort is hidden away at the most beautiful natural
beach area behind the deep forest of Saanapu village on the south
coast of Upolu island. It could be termed a hostel, a lodge or
a resort with differing prices to suit every budget. The owners
are very knowledgeable about the area and offer guests the chance
to immerse themselves in local culture, through cookery classes,
craftwork and homestays. The diving and snorkeling is also excellent.
The accommodation is all sustainably built, solar powered and
the water reharvested.
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- Seychelles:
- aspureasitgets.com
-the official destination website for the Seychelles.
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- Sri Lanka
- Alankuda
Beach, -http://www.alankuda.com
- An eclectic beach resort, run
by the founders of Ulpotha Retreat, covering two kilometers of
pristine beach three hours north of Colombo. It offers dolphin
and whale watching, snorkelling, sea kayaking and kitesurfing,
with accommodation in open style wattle and daub cabañas.
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- Tahiti: Bora Bora
- Tahiti Tourism
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- Tanzania:
 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. Picture copyright Craig Zendel.
- 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.
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- Venezuela:
 De la Costa Eco
Lodge - http://www.ecovenezuela.com
Henri Pittier National Park
An absolutely beautiful location on Venezuela's Caribbean coastline,
showcasing azure waters and swathes of marine life. Loads of
marine related activities in Venezuela's oldest national park.
All the buildings have energy and water saving features and have
been designed to maximise the habitat space for wildlife.
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If you are interested in Scuba Diving,
then see our page on sub aqua holidays.
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 Sandals and Beaches
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