Costa Rica

Costa Rica, Spanish for “rich coast”, is the jewel of Central America.  Located between Panama and Nicaragua, it is home to 500,000 species of flora and fauna (of which 155 are endangered).  With a strong commitment to environmental protection (it ranks 3rd. in the world in environmental protection) it is a nature-lover’s dream—the ultimate paradise!  Indeed its natural beauty is captivating.

Vietnam

Magnificent landscapes with an abundance of coastlines, forests, and mountainous regions .  A diverse wildlife includesleopard, rhinoceros, tigers, bears, elephants,monkeys, crocodiles, and turtles but the population of many of these is in decline because of habitat destruction, illegal hunting and pollution.  Educational programs and reforestation initiatives have had a positive effect.  The country now has 10 national parks, interesting and accessible, and is adding nature reserves.

Philippines

Consisting of more than 7000 islands—the Philippineshas a mountainous with narrow to large coastal lowlandsgeography. Tropical rain forests, savannahs, mangrove swamps, and game refugees and bird sanctuaries contain a biological diversity that includes more than 6,000 species of plants, birds and animals. Unique to the Philippines is Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park with a limestone karst mountain and an 8 kilometer navigable underground river that winds its way through a cave and exits to the sea.

Thailand

Beautiful Thailand is a paradise of smiling peoples, gilded temples, paddy fields, exotic foods, white sand beaches, trekking, and more. It is home to more than 1000 bird species and 300 mammal species including clouded leopard, Malayan tapir, tiger, Irrawaddy dolphin, goral, jungle cat, dusky langur and pileated gibbon(all which are endangered) as well as Asiatic black bear, elephants, and many more species.. Thailand has 102 national parks (including 21 marine national parks and four UNESCO biospheres) and great effort is placed on conservation and on the protection of endangered species.

Nepal

Breathtaking Nepal—a nation of extremes ranging from lowlands with sub-tropical jungles to arctic conditions and from near sea level to over 8000 meters. Sixteen national parks and reserves are home to: over 30 species of large wild animals including the elusive Royal Bengal tiger, the endangered one-horned rhino, and the raresnow leopard; 180 other mammals; more than 8.5% of the world’s total bird species; 4.2% of the world’s butterfly species ; and 2.4% of the world's species of flowering plants. An incredible place to visit and volunteer.