Curitiba, the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná, is the biggest city in Southern Brazil. Despite its size, it is considered by some people to be an ‘unknown’ destination. Most travellers also do not even imagine the exuberant flora and fauna found in the city and its surrounding areas, especially the wonderful islands on Paraná’s coastline, a land of amazing landscapes, rich animal and vegetation biodiversity, spectacular bends, canyons, gorges, waterfalls and a lot more.

Less than one month remains before winners are drawn for Wild Asia’s 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards, a competition that celebrates the noble efforts of small- and medium-sized hotels and tour operators in Asia for their focus upon responsible tourism practices. The fourth of six finalists to be visited by the Wild Asia team is the Sarinbuana Ecolodge, a small accommodation located in a rainforest village in the northwest of Bali, Indonesia.

With the finalists of Wild Asia’s 2010 Responsible Tourism Award now announced, the honourable endeavours of six small- and medium-sized hotels and tour operators that champion responsible practices in the travel industry are being celebrated. The second of the finalists to have received a visit from the Wild Asia team was the Soneva Gili resort, the first all-over-water lodge of the Republic of Maldives.

As summer takes its final bow (or winter, depending on which end of the planet you’re standing), it’s easy to think of the months ahead as a bit of a barren travel wasteland. Please don’t! Not only are off-season holidays far from the madding crowd more relaxed and easier on the wallet, but they take advantage of milder temperatures for outdoor pursuits that can be not all that fun when it’s just too darn hot… or cold! Here we put the ‘off’ season myth to bed with a selection of what to do and where after summer’s curtain call.

With the finalists of Wild Asia’s 2010 Responsible Tourism Award now announced, the honourable endeavours of six small- and medium-sized hotels and tour operators that champion responsible practices in the travel industry are being celebrated. The first of the finalists to have received a visit from the Wild Asia team was the Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa in Malaysia.

Modelled after the world-renowned elegance of some of France’s foremost gardens, the Botanical Garden of Curitiba (Jardim Botânico de Curitiba) is one of the top landmarks of the city. The greenhouse, pictured here, is a two-storey metal structure that resembles the famous Crystal Palace of London.