By Natasha Robinson

Aivar Ruukel has made quite a name for himself in ecotourism, particularly in his native Estonia, where he grew up in the midst of the country’s largest pristine wilderness: Soomaa. Roughly translated as ‘Land of Bogs,’ the area is, in Ruukel’s words, “a vast complex of raised bogs, wet alluvial forests with fens, transition mires and unregulated rivers with flood-plain and wooded meadows.”

Although not widely discovered yet, Estonia is ideal country for observing one of the most spectacular natural shows – massive bird migration. This smallest and northernmost Baltic country lies on the crossroad of the Eastern Atlantic migratory flyway: Estonia is locked between the Finnish Gulf, eastern coast of Baltic Sea and Lake Peipsi near the Russian border. In this respect, geographically the Estonian waters and coastline are the natural stepping-stones, the most natural flyway between breeding and wintering areas for millions of Arctic waterbirds.

Estonia is a small country bordering Russia. Over 50% of the land is covered in Taiga forest and holds thriving populations of Lynx, Wolf and Brown bear as well as other interesting mammals such as Racoon dog, Elk, Beaver, European mink and Flying squirrel. The brown bear population in Estonia is 600 and rising. Their primary “home” is in Alutaguse, the large forested region that includes a national park and a bog in Northeastern Estonia, close to the Russian border.

By Mart Reimann
Estonia is a diverse country with short distances. A short one-hour drive from Tallinn, and you can get a glimpse Estonian countryside and experience the coastal region and forest areas. Travelling east from Tallinn, your trip will start in some of the oldest fields in Estonia and you’ll see fishermen villages on Northern Estonia’s islands, beautiful coastal landscapes, and large forests and protected areas.

By Alex Narracott, Managing Director, Much Better Adventures

It is no secret among the surf community that the Pacific coast of Peru is something of a surfers paradise, with consistent off shore winds and few crowds. With a few exceptions, many waves can be found still breaking clean and empty for the more intrepid surfers to discover and enjoy. Word spreads and things are changing fast though; every year brings new surf businesses, foreign investments, more accessible waves.

The principal attraction of the small Baltic republic of Estonia is its UNESCO World Heritage Site capital city of Tallinn. Beyond the city limits and off the beaten track, however, lie several less-well-known pleasant surprises, like Estonia’s Summer Capital, better known as Pärnu, and the surrounding Soomaa National Park. The best time of year to visit Soomaa (meaning ‘land of bogs’ in Estonian) is during what locals call the ‘fifth season’, a springtime phenomenon during which water levels can rise up to five meters higher than normal and flood an area of 175 square kilometres.

Millions of people travel all over the world every year. Some have the hopes in spending their vacations relaxing by white sandy beaches, while others have high hopes in doing things like helping a tiny turtle hatchling find its way to the sea and become familiar with a variety of yoga practices. This is where Destination:PEACE comes in. As a brainchild to PEACE Mexico, Destination:PEACE combines a cultural and adventure experience with the chance to practice different types of yoga.

One of the most important protected areas in the Mexican Caribbean, the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an (Mayan for “Gift from the Sky”) is a place with an incomparable natural beauty and immense richness in flora and fauna. For these unique characteristics in biodiversity and its cultural treasures Sian Ka’an was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and has gained significant importance as a destination for ecotourism and sustainable livelihood development projects for local communities.

In the middle of the Sonoran Desert lie an enormous dormant volcano and the largest “sea” of sand dunes found in North America. Welcome to El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, the fourth largest land reserve in Mexico, where you will find some of the most diverse and fascinating ecosystems in the Sonoran desert.

By Michelle Rodrigues – Tourism in Mexico has seen a drastic drop since the swine flu fright and the recent economic downturn experienced throughout the world, but this doesn’t stop everyone. Mexico is still optimistic and thriving with the continuation of its beautiful colors, traditions and cultures. Initiatives like La Ruta del Tequila and the public awareness of World Heritage Sites in Mexico have been able to release knowledge and understanding of the deep history Mexico holds.