Best All Inclusive Surrounded by nature/eco setting
 

Hello!

My Girlfriend and I are looking to go away the week of Christmas-New Years. We are considering Jamaica, St Kitts, Mayan Riviera/Play Del Carmen or Anywhere we can get a good All Inclusive iwth lots of activities, but one with a backdrop that is not to built up, i.e. highrises and development, we are looking for lush surrounding/ Mountains in the background perhaps and some Nature/Eco Activities nearby. Any help would be much apprcieated. Thanks!

Damian

St. Kitts and Nevis would make a good destination for what you are looking for.

Paradisus Playa Conchal in Costa Rica.

Guana Island, a private island resort in the British Virgin Islands, is about as close one could get to an eco/nature AI. Most of the island has been left in its natural state and it serves as a nature preserve for various animals. There are lots of hiking trails throughout the island, many of which lead to deserted beaches or snorkeling sites.

AS for eco friendly, the resort purifies its own water, generates its own electricity, and grows most of the produce that is served in the restaurant. Included in the price are snorkeling gear, tennis courts, croquet, windsurfers, floating mats.

Rates include all meals, and when I was there last June also included wine with meals, iced tea, and lemonade. Looking at the website these days, it looks as if the rates might include all beverages now, both soft and hard.

It's not your typical AI by any means, but Guana Island is a place that is as close to nature as I've ever visited and could well suit your needs if they're not already booked for the holiday week. check out www.guana.com or go to www.scubamom.com or www.scubatreks.com to read some indepth reviews with lots of photos.

The resorts in the Mayan Riviera are limited. You cannot build higher than the local vegetation unless the building is made of natural materials. So almost all of the resorts are a collection of 3 story buildings. The exceptions are the main buildings which have a natural palapa type roof that might be higher.

All of the resorts I've seen there have very lush vegetation. If you go outside of the playacar community this is even more pronounced as the resorts are surrounded by jungle and the ocean.

These resorts have lots of opportunities for activities both on and off the resorts. The local mayan ruins and nearby towns provide a nice opportunity to see some of the culture.

The majority of the resorts in the area are all-inclusive so there is a wide range of price and amenities and other characteristics.

We've been to Barcelo Maya a couple of times, but you'd be hard pressed to find a 'bad' resort in the area.

Good luck...

Ken

You might consider the island of Nevis at the Mount Nevis Hotel & Beach Club situated at Round Hill Estates which was once a plantation. The views are spectacular and they offer several packages including a "Let's Get Physical" pkg which includes horseback riding, catamaran snorkle sail, several dinners plus a lot more. This property has received very good reviews from trip advisor and others.

We stayed at the Xpu-Ha Palace in the Mayan Riviera (south of Playa Del Carmen).It is an all-inclusive located in a beautiful undeveloped area, looked like a jungle. You stay in thatched roof huts with cathedral ceilings on the top floor rooms.The food was really good.This is a huge resort. They do drive you around in trams. Lots of activities. It is located close to Xcaret and Xel-Ha which are ecological parks.

Please don't consider Xpu Ha. I have seen Xpu Ha, and the whole complex is very large, garish and the beach is a very long walk from many of the buildings there.

More importantly, it was built on a turtle nesting grounds, and there are sometimes environmental demonstrators and signs, but I don't know how frequent that is.

It is in the middle of a lush area because it is SUPPOSED to be a nature preserve that is protected by the government, but the corrupt (now in jail) former Gov. of Q Roo sold it to some developers for chump change and a bribe, and the owners promptly dynamited the cliff to create a man-made cove.

So many much nicer places to stay...

Here's an idea that might be a little different for ya: Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Panama. Their eco tours were developed in conjunction with the Smithsonian and it is DEFINITELY a lush setting.

Their web site is: http://www.gamboaresort.com/principal2.htm

Buen viaje!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

Try Tiamo resort in South Andros its an eco system resort.

St. Lucia in the south part of the island.