• Rio Caliente (800-200-2927, www.riocaliente.com), about 45 minutes from Mexico's Guadalajara, pairs rejuvenating activities (i.e., nature hikes, hot springs, yoga) with gourmet vegetarian meals. Nightly rates from $128 per person double include three veggie meals a day, lectures, exercises, etc.
• The Regency House Natural Health Spa, near Fort Lauderdale. Fla., stresses fitness and healthy (meat-less) eating; a five-day package ($799 per person double until April 23), for one, includes room, three vegetarian meals daily, vegetarian cooking demos, etc. Info: 800- 454-0003, www.regencyhealthspa.com.
ACTIVE/CULTURAL VACATIONS:
• WanderbirdCruises (866-SEA-BIRD, www.wanderbirdcruises.com) is a 90-foot Dutch fishing vessel that sails along the Maine and Canadian coastline. Besides catering to vegetarian sailors, its captains (one is vegetarian) also plan a handful of vegetarian cruises, such as the Sept. 5-9 "Sail With Whales Featuring Vegetarian Fare" for $1,150 per person.
• Bicycle Beano Cycling Holidays (011-44-1982-560-471, www.bicycle-beano.co.uk) organizes cycling holidays in Wales and England with vegetarian meals. The three-day Wye Valley trip on July 1, for example, starts at $453 per person for camping and veggie meals.
• Mama Margaret and Friends Cooking Adventures in Italy (800-557-0370, www.italycookingtours.com) has a vegetarian tour of Umbria, Italy, that includes cooking lessons and tours of foodie sites, such as an olive oil mill. The April 17-23 trip is $3,165 per person double, land only.
TRAVEL AGENCIES:
• Green Earth Travel, of Cabin John, specializes in vegetarian vacations. Vegan owner Donna Zeigfinger can also supply a list of meat-free restaurants in various destinations (free for clients who book with her agency; otherwise $10 per city). Info: 301-229-5666, www.vegtravel.com.
• On the International Ecotourism Society's Web site (www.ecotourism.org), click on Travel Choice to find travel operators worldwide who specialize in environmentally aware trips and organic and/or vegetarian cuisine.
• The Specialty Travel Index has a vegetarian tours category, such as a retreat in Hawaii. Info: 888-624-4030, specialtytravel.com.
• Vegan Tours (877-233-0146, vegantours.com) offers trips to some of Costa Rica's top natural attractions. Cost: $350 per person double, for lodging, three meals a day and tours.
• Club VEG (Vegetarian Education Group), which has a number of East Coast chapters, organizes an annual trip. This summer it's the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce national parks. Info: 631-286-1343, www.clubveg.org.
-- Andrea Sachs
