4 Hotels With an Edge On "Voluntourism"

COTTON TREE LODGE, SAN FELIPE, BELIZE

What you'll find: Located between two Mayan villages near the Moho River, the Cotton Tree Lodge consists of 11 primarily solar-powered cabanas surrounded by wild fig trees. You can try kayaking, horseback riding, and chocolate-making on the premises, and sample fresh fruits and vegetables from the on-site garden, which is run by the nonprofit Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) ( www.sustainableharvest.org ).

How you can volunteer: If you don't mind a little mud on your boots, join SHI for daylong projects in the surrounding villages, helping families plant vegetable gardens, build chicken coops, or construct eco-friendly wood-burning stoves.

What you'll spend: $109 to $259 per night ( CottonTreeLodge.com )