7days/6 nights with G.A.P Adventures / Planterra Foundation

About the Trip

Explore the wonders of the Galapagos Islands aboard the G.A.P Adventurer- a modern, air-conditioned motor vessel with a capacity of 16 passengers. Spacious cabins feature a window or a porthole, upper and lower berths and private bath. The staff includes a bilingual, level III naturalist guide. You will visit the Charles Darwin Station, see giant tortoises and learn about Charles Darwin’s studies of Galapagos wildlife. You will also sail to Suarez point on Espanola Island, the southernmost island in the Galapagos archipelago. You’ll see close up unusual wildlife species, including masked and blue-footed boobies and prehistoric-looking marine iguanas.

Includes: 6 nights, including 2 nights local hotel, 4 nights motorized yacht.
meals,  airport transfers. Local payment 300.00 is not included.

Awards:

• Ethics in Action Millennium Award Recipient 2000
• Clean Air Commute Award Recipient, 2001 – 2004

Starting bid $ 500

About the Organization

In 1990 Bruce Poon Tip launched G.A.P Adventures with the belief that other travelers would share his desire to experience authentic adventures in the real world. We’ve grown from a one-man show to a company of over 300, and from a handful of trips in Latin America to hundreds of adventures on all 7 continents. Over 40,000 travellers experience the real world with us every year! What hasn’t changed is our passion for making sure you get behind the scenes to experience the real world in an authentic and sustainable manner.

Green Practices

At our Head Office, we use a variety of eco-friendly initiatives including: using biodegradable hand soap & dish soap, use of recycled paper towels, having double sided printers to reduce paper consumption, posting signage to remind staff to turn off lights and taps, providing cloth bags for shopping and recycling cans/bottles, paper and cardboard. Also, annually, G.A.P Adventures head office staff participates in an anti-smog campaign run by Pollution Probe, a local NGO. The organization asks companies in Toronto to use more environmentally friendly methods of transportation to commute to work. G.A.P Adventures has won the Clean Air Commute Award for four consecutive years, for having 100% participation in the event and collectively keeping 2,260,670 kilograms of pollutants from the air. G.A.P Adventures also promote the use of public transportation through paying for a portion of monthly TTC public transportation costs for staff.

Recent Awards

• Ethics in Action Millennium Award Recipient
• Clean Air Commute Award Recipient 2001 - 2004
• LIBERTADOR TAMBOPATA LODGE ~ BEST CLIENT AWARD 2002
• 2002 International Year of Ecotourism: G.A.P Adventures founder and CEO Bruce Poon Tip, was among those involved and was the only tour operator invited to speak at both of these events.

Learn more about G.A.P Adventures / Planterra Foundation

8 days/7 nights with Lindblad Expeditions

About the Trip

The Sea of Cortez harbors over fifty remote Islands, many with plants and animals that have evolved into distinct endemic species. Some in the scientific world refer to this region as “Mexico’s Galapagos”. This unique journey with world renouned Lindblad Expeditions, is designed with no set itinerary, adding a stimulating sense of adventure to each day. The expedition, led by a full team of naturalists and an Expedition Leader, includes swimming, snorkeling, hiking, whale watching, and kayaking.

Every year California gray whales migrate from arctic waters to Baja’s protected lagoons. It’s the longest mammal migration known, and on of nature’s great spectacles. There are few places on the planet that offer the ‘harmonic convergences’ that Baja does - of desert warmth, glorious beaches, sea activities and the endlessly fascinating spectacle of creatures going about the business of their lives, allowing us to freely observe them. Reveal the magic and mystery of Baja!

Includes: 7 nights, meals, airport transfers, local ground transportation, equipment rentals, guided tours.

Awards:

• #1 Small-Ship Cruise Line, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Value Awards, 2006
• #2 Tour Operator, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Value Awards, 2006
• “The Best Ships in the World”, Conde Nast Traveler: Truth in Travel Awards, 2006
• “The Best Itineraries”, Conde Nast Traveler: Truth in Travel Awards, 2006
• “Gold List”, Conde Nast Traveler, 1997-2002, 2005
• Conde Nast Traveler Ecotourism Award, 2002
• U.N. Program Global 500 Award, 2001
• “World’s Best” Award, Travel + Leisure Top Ten Tour Operator, 2000-2005
• “Nature Odysseys Tour Operator Award for Excellence”, National Audubon Society, 1995-1996
• ASTA/Smithsonian Magazine Environmental Award, 1993

Starting bid: 1550

Value: $6180

About the Organization

Founded by Sven-Olof Lindblad in 1979, Lindblad Expeditions (LEX) was originally established as a division of Lindblad Travel, which was launched in 1958. Over the years, LEX has earned a reputation for creating expeditions that are as eye-opening and inspiring as they are comfortable and fun. We take small groups to out-of-the-way places on nimble expedition ships that nose into ports and call on islands where cruise ships simply cannot go. Our distinguished roster of Expedition Leaders (EL) and naturalists are experts in their field with a passion for uncovering - and interpreting - the mysteries of nature and history. At Lindblad, we have faith that adventurous travelers long for an original experience that reveals a destination to them in a way that is unique unto itself. These are not scheduled tours, these are expeditions. Every one is different - every day is different.

Learn more about Lindblad Expeditions

6 days/5 nights with Green Hotels of Costa Rica and Nature Air.

About the Trip

In this special Green Hotel package you’ll have the opportunity to visit Costa Rica’s butterfly gardens, Cano Island, and Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula. Spend 2 nights at the newly upgraded Villablanca Cloud Forest Hotel including a Cloud Forest guided nature tour, a complementary 1/2 hour massage, and a bottle of our house wine. Finally spend 3 nights at Aguila de Osa Inn in Drake Bay to round off the best of Costa Rica’s natural attractions. Internal flight provided by Nature Air.

Includes: 5 nights lodging, most meals, domestic flights, local transfers, and guided excursions.

Certification: Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel: 4 Green Leaves under Costa Rica’s CST program.

Starting bid: $550

About the Organization

Green Hotels of Costa Rica is a group of hotels dedicated to the sustainable development of tourism in Costa Rica. Their brand of sustainable hospitality supports the concept that well cared for employees equates to well cared for customers.

Learn more about Green Hotels of Costa Rica

About Nature Air

Costa Rica’s Premier Airline with 74 Daily Flights to 17 Exciting Destinations in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. In 2005, NatureAir became the world’s first and only zero emissions airline, offsetting it’s carbon emissions of 2004 by supporting reforestation projects in southern Costa Rica.

Learn more about Nature Air.

5 days/4 nights with Roteiros de Charme Hotel Association

About the Trip

Experience the calm mountainous region northeast of Rio de Janeiro.  Enjoy your stay at Hotel Rosa dos Ventos, a Brazilian member of the renowned international Relais & Chateaux, and two nights at Pousada do Riacho. Both hotels are within reach of the Atlantic rain forest and offer a great playground for nature walks and bird-watching. Revel in the comfort of culinary masterpieces created with fresh ingredients from local vegetable gardens. Relax in the pool and sauna, or take advantage of the other options for leisure with a match on their tennis court.

Includes:  accommodation and meals.

Awards: Environmental Prize “Von Martius”, 2003 (Nature Category)

Starting bid $ 275

Both hotels are located in the mountainous region northeast of the city of Rio de Janeiro, where the climate is pleasantly mild. The trip to Rosa dos Ventos, located in Teresópolis, is just over two hours drive from Rio de Janeiro, and with 30 minutes more you reach Pousada do Riacho in Nova Friburgo on good roads.

About the Organization

Roteiros de Charme Hotel Association comprises small charming and romantic hotels and inns, uniting personalized service, gastronomic experiences and priviledged locations, pioneering environmental and social responsibility within the hotel industry.

Green Practices

Roteiros de Charme developed a voluntary Ethics and Environmental Code of Conduct n close consultation with the Tourism Programme of United Nations Environment Programme UNEP (DTIE/Paris), which has been implemented by all its members throughout Brazil since 1999. Areas related to the Environmental Code of Conduct are:

• Energy conservation
• Water conservation
• Wastewater treatment and leaks
• Preservation of local areas of high biodiversity/endemism or of cultural/historical value
• Reduction of noise and atmospheric pollution
• Reduction of environmental impacts of new projects and constructions
• Reuse, reducing and recycling of materials
• Control of adverse and harmful substances to the environment
• Elimination of waste incineration, burning of pastures and deforestation

Recent Awards

Roteiros de Charme Hotel Association is gradually becoming a benchmark for sustainable quality and environmental excellency within the tourism industry in Brazil. The Association was awarded the Environmental Prize “Von Martius” in 2003 (Nature Category), one of the most prestigious in Brazil, by the Brazil-Germany Chamber of Commerce, for its work on sustainable tourism development. In 2003 Roteiros de Charme and UNEP have a Memorandum of Cooperation to promote sustainable tourism, providing a harmonized framework for areas of common interest, such as training and awareness raising, information and reference materials, and monitoring standards and criteria for sustainability. The Memorandum was renewed in 2005 for another two years.
Learn more about Roteiros de Charme Hotel Association