ecolodge

The Deep Luxury of Simplicity at Hacienda San Lucas in Honduras

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

At luxury hotels, there's something of a formula: the latest electronic gadgets, check. Personalized service, check. Luxurious linens, lovely room design, delicious food, check, check check. Maybe I'm jaded, but doesn't it get a little same-old, same-old after a while?

What's really rare is a place that provides true luxury outside this conventional mold -- a feat which I think is only accomplished by having a person of impeccable taste paying attention to every last detail of a guest experience. And to my mind, the exemplar is Hacienda San Lucas, in Copán Ruinas, Honduras.

Hacienda San Lucas is an eco-lodge has just eight rooms, and no, it doesn't have the latest bells and whistles. There's no flat screen TV, no whirlpool tub, no "in room console" where you can open and close your shades while lying on your bed. There's not even a telephone in the room -- which, come to think of it, is a luxury of its own kind. But owner Flavia Cueva is a person of impeccable taste, and she has rigorously thought through every single detail. The result is a total retreat that's simply and sensually luxurious.

When you arrive through the tropical lush greenery, you'll smell strong scent of burning wood, hear the pat pat pat of fresh tortillas being made, and see commanding valley views: in places, directly into the town's Mayan ruins, with the the wavy-topped mountains as a backdrop. The main building was Cueva's centuries-old family home, some nine years ago, she added guest rooms at a remove from the main building. The rooms feature pitched wide wooden planked ceilings, white plaster walls, adorned with local tapestries and art work and smooth stone floors. At night the entire property is lit by countless candles, in the rooms, along the walkways, and in the dining area.

In a quiet spot, there's Gaia, a dedicated yoga pavilion and meditation space with views into the Mayan ruins. Arrange yoga classes during your stay with excellent local teacher (and ex-pat Canadian) Leah Glatz, who frequently works with Aum Rak, a local Mayan shaman. Or attend an organized retreat: on August 8th-16th, Global Soul Adventures is running one of its acclaimed yoga retreats at San Lucas.

Gallery: Hacienda San Lucas in Copan Ruinas, Honduras

Hacienda San Lucas Day Dining is Simple Elegance in the

Tags: central america, CentralAmerica, ecolodge, honduras, latin america, LatinAmerica, travel

South Long Island Nature Lodge

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The South Long Island Nature Lodge is a private island located off the coast of Australia in the Whitsundays. Guests travel to the island on a private helicopter and stay in waterfront bungalows. One of the ultimate locations for secluded luxury vacationing, not only is it in one of the most scenic spots on earth, but there are a maximum of 14 guests allowed on the island at any given time. No TV, phones, young children or day visitors, just relaxation.

As the Lodge is in the Great Barrier Reef National Park, they offer some of the most extraordinary snorkeling, sailing and kayaking and have a dedicated 34-foot skippered catamaran to take guests on cruises to neighboring islands. The island surrounding the Lodge is tropical rain forest, so the land matches the ocean for beauty. As an added bonus, the resort is one of the most environmentally sustainable in the world, almost completely self sufficient for fresh water, waste disposal and electricity , which comes from a combination of solar power and natural gas. All activities, meals and services are included for approximately $1,725 per person for 5 nights of accommodation. A video about the lodge can be viewed on their website.

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Tags: australia, ecolodge, environment, island, journey, lodge, private island, resort, South Long Island Nature Lodge, travel, tropical, whitsundays

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Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

A former Sandinista training ground in Nicaragua is now a luxury eco-resort. A review in the Miami Herald brought my attention to the Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge which is an enclave of 15 bungalows each with a king size bed, sofa bed and a private deck with a day bed. The eco-friendly resort is run by solar power and has handmade furniture. It's not quite roughing it but there is no air conditioning. The resort has a pool overlooking the bay and offers hikes through the dry tropical forest. Their honeymoon package, which includes five nights of lodging and all meals, costs $2,700 during the high season.

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Tags: eco tourism, ecolodge, morgan's rock hacienda, Morgan'sRockHacienda, nicaragua, resort, solar power, tropical