You're planning a vacation to a remote corner of the world, to see breathtaking scenery and wildlife. You want to take in as much as possible with minimal impact. And you want your money to go toward helping local communities continue to protect their natural resources. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), an international nonprofit, "promotes responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." That's ecotourism in a nutshell - in a protected rainforest in Brazil, for example, or a wildlife reserve in South Africa. So what could be wrong with this? Read on.

Usually, when we seek more balance in our lives, we think first about getting rid of things—clean out the closet, stop working so much, schedule some "do nothing" time. But what if balance instead meant you added something to your busy schedule?

That was the solution for Ashley Fieglein, 34. Five years ago, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist was on vacation in Costa Rica with her expert-surfer brother. A surfing novice, she took lessons with Alvaro Solano, a six-time national champion in the small Central American nation. There, she had an epiphany: she had too much stress and not enough happiness. But rather than cutting back on her busy life, she made it busier. Within months, the San Francisco resident changed jobs, purchased property near Jacó, on Costa Rica's wave-blessed Pacific coast, and broke ground on what became the Vista Guapa surfing and yoga camp. The camp is now in its fourth season, with Solano and his family managing the three-bungalow resort full-time.

Just over twenty-five years ago, the Costa Rican government began taxing its citizens for “unproductive” land – meaning land that wasn't used for growing crops. Privately owned rainforest land was considered unproductive

There would be good reason to keep this tip to myself – to deter tourist traffic to this exquisite little gem of a vacation spot. But how can I resist? Located in a pristine archipelago on the northern coast of Panama, The Jungle Lodge, or “La Loma,” gives you access to lush mangroves, tropical wilderness, white sandy beaches that are untouched (literally), natural Jacuzzis, and fragrant groves of cacao, banana, and coconut. If that’s not romantic enough, La Loma houses a butterfly farm – nectar-filled gardens that attract droves of colorful winged creatures.