You might seek out a tour operator who specializes in ecotourism. TIES provides an international directory of ecotourism resources including tour operators. For example, if you wish to go boating in Ecuador, you might select one of TIES' listed tour operators who operate small catamaran cruises. Unlike a typical tour operator, this company uses only local suppliers and opts for family-run and locally-managed independent hotels when making reservations for clients. Such companies pay fair wages to their employees and to the local guides they hire. They recycle all non-organic waste and use only biodegradable soaps and cleansers. Their catamarans are designed for minimum fuel consumption. Finally, on tours they lead to the Galapagos Islands, the $100 park fee goes directly to conservation.
TIES' ecotourism directory also lists worldwide lodging facilities that follow ecotourism practices. If, for example, you're looking to camp in the Virgin Islands, you can patronize one of their listed campgrounds. You don't need to live rustically to be an "ecotourist," either. One ecotourism campground offers wood-frame and canvas cottages with beds, linens and electrical outlets, plus a view of the ocean. The campground follows responsible practices such as using composting toilets, solar heaters for showers and hot tubs, gray water to flush toilets and water-saving faucets.
Ecotourism agencies can also place you in internships or volunteer positions in countries around the world. The placements are thoroughly researched to allow you to experience another place while helping to sustain it culturally and economically. One of the agencies listed through TIES offers placement in a variety of industries, including environmental conservation, medicine and veterinary medicine, media and journalism, human rights law and nongovernmental organization management. The agency facilitates the connection, offering e-mail support and discount on travel expenses. To provide full transparency, they put the ecotourist directly in contact with the organization or company.
Besides engaging the services of ecotourism providers, you can make your travels dramatically more eco-sensitive by researching all the factors of your trip. Consider the "carbon footprint" of your chosen means of transportation. Learn about the culture and the environmental concerns of the place you will visit. Investigate news stories of local exploitation. On arriving, respect local customs in dress and behavior. Give your business to locally-owned restaurants, hotels and transportation instead of larger chains. Do not purchase products made from endangered animals.
