"Ecotourism tries not only to minimize the negative impact of travel but to maximize the positive impact," says Ayako Ezaki of The International Ecotourism Society. "We all know travel experiences are rewarding for people who take the trips. At the same time we try to give back to the destinations and the people who make these experiences possible."
Ecotourism is defined by The International Ecotourism Society as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people. It's often tourism that focuses on the outdoors and gets you out of your hotel room.
In Pictures: The World's Best "Green" Vacations
For Forbes' list of the best ecotourism destinations, we chose spots that meet three criteria: All tourism providers or locations respect local wildlife, employ local staff and focus on the outdoors with minimal impact to the natural environment.
These resorts cater to a variety of budgets. On the pricey end, the Misool Eco Resort on a private island near Papua, Indonesia, offers a cabin right on the water for $2,200 per person for seven nights, including meals. That doesn't include fees for diving excursions or the airfare to get to Indonesia. (Even if you can't afford to go, check out the website for some stunning photos and a place to daydream about.) For smaller budgets, a kayaking excursion in one of the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California will set you back just $175.
In general, ecotourists lean toward budget travel. American ecotourists spend $66 per day on travel outside the U.S., compared with $88 for Americans engaging in traditional travel options, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization.
Companies at the forefront of ecotourism are designing trips that introduce visitors to native tribes, donate a portion of trip profits to conservation groups or serve locally sourced organic meals.
Most ecotourism companies offer the same amenities as normal tour operators and often provide a more immersive travel experience. Mountain Sobek Travel will have you floating alongside glaciers in Alaska. Trucker Rolle, who owns an island in the Bahamas, will let you pet, feed or even swim with nurse sharks that hang out around his dock.
There's ecotourism, and then there are a plethora of "green" measures taken by an increasing number of hotels worldwide. These include reusing your towels, bringing your own toiletries and choosing to use transportation provided by the hotel, says Patty Griffin, founder of the Green Hotels Association in Houston, Texas. Griffin helps educate hotel proprietors about ways to save water and energy and to reduce waste.
How do you tell if your tour operator or resort is really abiding by ecotourist principles--or just greenwashing? It's difficult. There is no single global certifying organization that lets travelers know whether their vacation package qualifies as ecotourism. However, there are 37 voluntary standards that make up the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, including employing local residents, minimizing disruption to natural ecosystems and protecting wildlife among other criteria.
These measures were adopted in 2008 by the World Conservation Congress as part of an initiative led by groups including the Rainforest Alliance, the U.N. Environment Program and the U.N. World Tourism Organization.
Travel by its very nature leaves an impact on the environment. But if handled properly, the peace and tranquility of seeing Amazonian birds or Alaskan wildlife can both rejuvenate your soul and go easy on the environmental footprint.
In Pictures: The World's Best "Green" Vacations
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