According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is a type of travel to natural areas that focuses on being responsible towards the environment and taking interest in the well-being of local people. Because of its immense size and variety of indiginious people, the Amazon Jungle is is one of the centers of ecotourism.
Ecotourism in the Amazon is designed to help preserve the natural biodiversity and indiginous cultures. Because a location as diverse as the Amazon is appealing to visit, ecotourism can also bring a great deal of money into local economies. The tourist business, governments, and private sector businesses are all effected by ecotourism.
The Amazon Jungle spreads out over nine countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guyana, Peru, Venezuela and Suriname Natural tours--that are considered ecotourism--can be found in all of these countries. Two of the most popular areas to find ecotourism opportunities are in Manaus, Brazil, or Iquitos, Peru.
There are many types of activities offered on ecotours in the Amazon. You can engage in sporting activities like kayaking and hiking. There is almost endless opportunities to study biodiversity with activities such as birding, botany, herpetology and tropical fish study. Some ecotourism organizations offer student, medical and humanitarian expeditions.
Ecotourism in the Amazon often has very high goals with regard to preserving natural areas and native cultures. Beyond the environmental impact of preserving the biodiversity of the Amazon, a very clear argument exists for the economic benefits of ecotourism. When properly and legally managed, ecotourism offers a sustainable source of economic growth for what can be very impoverished areas. The balance between human activity and preserving nature that is the goal of ecotourism gives hope to areas of the Amazon that have been exploited for their natural resources.
