Green Earth Travel Newsletter
Green Earth Travel Acquisition (October 2003)
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Recently Manaca Travel and Tours aquired Green Earth Travel. In this newsletter we will talk about the merger and how it will affect you the client.
We believe that this is a natural fit and one which will give us, the vegetarian traveling community, a higher profile and an easier way to travel


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in this issue
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* Manaca-Green Earth Travel Merger
* Win a trip to Costa Rica
* Divine Dolphin tours-Delphin Amor Lodge-Costa Rica
* Inn & Hacienda at Cerro Coyote-Costa Rica
* EV Hybrid Car Rentals


Manaca-Green Earth Travel Merger
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Manaca Travel and Tours has acquired a new company to serve yet another category of environment- conscious consumers. The alliance combines the power of Green Earth Travel, which set the gold standard for vegetarian travel, with Manaca's unique expertise in ecotourism, conservation and community development.

"Green Earth Travel's expertise in serving vegetarian and vegan travelers is a natural fit for Manaca's focus on the environment," said Manaca founder Andreas Kristinus.

Kristinus announced that Green Earth Travel became a subdivision of Manaca Travel and Tours on September 15th, 2003. Donna Zeigfinger, founderand CEO of Green Earth Travel will head up this new function.

"Manaca's management are among the world's most
experienced in ecotourism, and I am delighted to join forces with them," added Zeigfinger.

Manaca and Green Earth specialize in finding ecolodge owners and tour operators who are committed to protecting the environment and serving their communities. The properties often use alternative power, various types of recycling, and environmentally friendly forms of transportation.

Whenever possible, they serve foods grown locally in a responsible manner and provide leftovers to community- service groups. All properties used by Green Earth have agreed to serve the vegetarian and vegan community whenever possible.

Eco-Assessment Ratings

Manaca has developed unique eco-assessment ratings that evaluate properties based on power, water disposal/use, construction, environment, food, education and outreach, community involvement, and special projects. Companies meeting Manaca's standards are asked to sign a responsible tourism pledge.

Ratings are based on each property's individual
circumstances. A lodge in the rainforest is not
expected to be solar powered, while one located on a Caribbean beach might be expected to use solar power. A small family-run lodge would not be expected to employ many local people, while a large resort might be expected to do so. Although properties vary in how rustic they are, each property listed by Manaca has been thoroughly checked out by a staff member to ensure it is clean and comfortable.

"People committed to travel that honors the
environment instead of exploiting it have always come to Manaca. Now, we can serve the needs of the vegetarian traveler as well" said Manaca co-founder Vinod Negi.

Find out more…. >>

Win a trip to Costa Rica
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Red Jellyfish, Mambo Sprouts, Manaca Eco Travel, and Green Mountain Coffee are giving away a trip for two for 7 days to Costa Rica! There are 25 other prizes as well (including Red Jellyfish DSL service for one year)!

Read on…

Divine Dolphin tours-Delphin Amor Lodge-Costa Rica
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So you don't want to wait to see if you win the trip, or you know you have bad luck and won't win. Why not go anyway?

Called the most biologically intense place in the world by National Geographic, Drake Bay has everything the true eco-adventurer could ask for. Our beautiful lodge, Delfin Amor ("Dolphin Love" in Spanish), sits on a point, giving panoramic ocean views of Drake Bay and Caño Island with waves crashing on two sides for stereophonic ocean sounds. Whether you are into dolphin and whale interactions, SCUBA, bird watching,
hiking, horseback riding, fishing or just hanging out in a hammock, Delfin Amor Eco Lodge has something for everyone. On our property you will see plants and animals you have only dreamed about. A large group of white faced monkeys live here with us. Macaws and Toucans fly through the air. AT DELFIN AMOR ECO LODGE, WE OFFER THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL LIVE!!!

We are honored to be offering Wild Dolphin and Whale Encounters combined with Rainforest tours in Drake Bay, Costa Rica. Drake Bay is located on the Osa Peninsula, which is on the Pacific (west) side of Costa Rica, on the southern most tip. In this very remote area (accessible only by boat), we find Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins and Common Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Orcas, Pilot Whales, Sperm Whales, Sei Whales, Psuedorcas (False Killer Whales), giant manta rays, sea turtles and much, much more. It
is a virtual marine playground! We often find ourselves surrounded by hundreds and even thousands of dolphins in our warm, clear, blue waters.

Full Story >>
Inn & Hacienda at Cerro Coyote-Costa Rica
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Costa Rica luxury country inn, ecolodge, cooking
school, & nature retreat offering unique Costa Rica culinary vacations. Located in the same mountain chain as famed Monteverde, Coyote Mountain offers customized Costa Rica tours, superlative guest rooms with ocean views, gourmet Creole vegetarian dining, and plenty of superb relaxation amidst the splendors of nature.

Savor tropical luxury amidst the Costa Rican mountains overlooking 50 miles of Pacific Ocean and the Nicoya Penninsula. Stay in the secluded Hacienda's individually-appointed guest rooms at the entrance to a 65-acre, mountaintop nature preserve. Cerro Coyote offers spa services, trails, gardens, abundant bird- and wildlife,
orchids, and tropical forest amidst surrounding coffee fields. Simply relax and enjoy the Mediterranean climate and gourmet Creole dining. . . Or take advantage of a
customized Food Learning Vacation, where you'll
explore the abundance of tropical foods under the
personal guidance of our instructors. Using the
Hacienda as a base, we will also customize travel
throughout the country for small groups. A true eco-lodge, Coyote Mountain uses wind power for electricity, maintains its own organic vegetable and fruit tree plantings, and supports local reforestation and nature preservation.

The Inn at Coyote Mountain offers all-inclusive
vacations including access to our nature preserve, culinary instruction, all gourmet meals, & drinks. A true eco lodge, we follow a variety of sustainable tourism practices and policies



EV Hybrid Car Rentals
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EV Rental Cars is the only environmental vehicle rental company in the United States. Co-located at Budget Rent a Car facilities, the company rents electric, natural gas, and hybrid electric vehicles to travelers.
The success of EV Rental Cars is pioneering a new
market for environmental vehicles and proving to
consumers that the cars are a practical solution for personal use.

More than two-thirds of urban air pollution in the US is created by vehicle emissions. Many regions in the US are recognizing this problem and fostering the introduction of cleaner vehicles to the marketplace. Changing consumer behavior, however, and overcoming misperceptions about the performance of alternative fuel vehicles has been a significant challenge. EV Rental Cars addresses these issues by directly substituting miles traveled in conventional vehicles for miles traveled in clean fuel vehicles and by providing a simple opportunity for travelers to experience the vehicles in
everyday driving conditions.

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