What Do I Need to Be Aware Of As an Eco-tourist?

So you’ve packed your No Sweat trainers, your hemp trousers (they itch a little, but you’ll gladly suffer for Mother Earth), bought organic shampoo and conditioner and packed them all into your bio-degradable backpack. Now how are you going to get to rural Darjeeling? You can’t possibly fly, due to the amount of carbon dioxide airplanes produce. So the only other way would be to catch a boat. But that could take months and how much pollution does that expel in the process? Sheesh, it’s difficult being environmentally conscientious. There has got to be an easier way to travel to the most remote locations whilst minimising the environmental footprints which you leave behind.

Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Tourism can have many impacts on an area, such as the conversion of squirrel monkey habitat to tourist infrastructure in Costa Rica. To minimise such environmental impacts, some of the ways in which you can be a better eco-tourist include volunteering for few weeks in local conservation or animal rehabilitation projects, researching your travel options prior to leaving to ensure that they are environmentally sustainable and also trying to be sensitive to the country’s social, political, environmental and religious climate. There are plenty of guidebooks which you can refer to before leaving and while travelling including Lonely Planet and Rough Guides, as well as numerous websites which can help you in being a responsible traveller.

Why not get off the beaten track with i-to-i’s Eco Tours? The tours allow you to satisfy your wanderlust by travelling through some of the most remote locations in world all whilst getting involved in a variety of conservation and community development projects. For example, the Inca and Machu Picchu Experience offers volunteers a unique opportunity to interact with the people of Peru and to engage in a variety of volunteer activities such as reforestation programs. Or you could take the Biking Through Cambodia Eco Tour which will allow you to bike through the breathtaking countryside to visit the temples of Angkor Wat and the infamous killing field. And as you explore the local culture you will have the opportunity to learn about efforts to protect the environment and develop the eco-tourism industry - a truly enlightening experience.

There is also an effort to allow volunteers to combat global warming whilst overseas by reducing their day-to-day carbon emissions. Everyone leaves a carbon footprint, an invisible trail of harmful greenhouse gases created by their day to day activities. Some of i-to-i’s projects will help you reduce your environmental impact by offsetting your carbon emissions and actively working to protect and restore fragile ecosystems. Some of i-to-i’s inspirational Carbon Footprint projects include ecology and sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica, Cloud Forest Conservation with 'Rainforest Concern' in Ecuador and building homes in La Esperanza, Honduras.

So get out there! Make a difference, but please, leave the hemp pants at home.