Volunteer Vacations
More and more hotels are helping guests plug into charitable projects during their stays.
By Alexis Swerdloff
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the June 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine 
Photo: Raeford Dwyer
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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 ) |
