Ecotourism became a popular buzzword in the 1990s as more and more travelers decided to seek out vacation destinations off the beaten path into some of the last wildernesses on the planet. These places are often rural, secluded from the outside world, and may not be as popular as travel destinations with major cosmopolitan centers or famous cities.
Below you’ll get a breakdown of the top ten best ecotourism destinations to seek out in 2021. From hanging out with the gorillas in Rwanda to swimming with great white sharks on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, there’s a dream destination on this list for every ecotourist.
What Is an Ecotourism Destination?
Ecotourism is a different type of tourism than the sort of sightseeing that many world travelers indulge in. Rather than focusing on famous landmarks and cities, ecotourism destinations are about visiting exotic wilderness areas threatened by habitat encroachment and other issues.
There are multiple ecotourism benefits to visiting an ecotourism destination, and not all of the benefits are just for the tourists themselves. The ecotourist gets to visit a gorgeous country that is often less crowded and expensive than more popular tourist destinations.
The other major benefit for the ecotourism destination is that the money injected into the local economy by the ecotourism industry helps sustain continued efforts at conservation. This money can be spent to stabilize local governments, reinforce native infrastructure, and protect wildlife from poachers.
One of the ways you can be sure you’re at a location that’s legit is if they’re following the principles of eco-tourism.
What Are Examples of Ecotourism?
There are many different types of ecotourism activities available for tourists to participate in, depending on which countries they decide to visit. Some activities are more geared towards sightseeing, while others are a hands-on experience that allows visitors to participate in local culture and traditions.
Here are just a few examples of ecotourism activities you might participate in (Source: Wakeful Travel):
- Visit an eco-resort. Eco-resorts are like regular vacation resorts, but these resorts are built to conserve the natural environment. Many are also built with eco-friendly materials and practice green sustainability. These resorts often feature sweeping views of the local foliage and landscape.
- Go on an agro-tour. Another popular example of ecotourism is agro-tours. These tours allow visitors to visit local communities in remote parts of the world and witness their participation in fair trade agriculture practices. These fair trade farms help promote local prosperity and prevent labor exploitation.
- Take an eco-tour. Eco-tours are excursions into remote or protected wilderness areas that help raise awareness about natural conservation efforts and the vulnerability of local wildlife or habitat. Eco-tour activities include hiking, water sports like kayaking, and wildlife observation.
The ecotourism activities available in each ecotourism destination depend on the surrounding landscape and the habitats that are available to visit. Some areas are very remote and require a lot of hiking, while others are more accessible.
The Top Ten Ecotourism Destinations Around the World
No matter what you’re looking for in an ecotourism destination, there is an eco-tour somewhere in the world with your name on it. Whether you’re looking to get up close and personal with wildlife or you just want to see a slice of the local indigenous culture, there are plenty of ways to engage when you choose ecotourism.
Rwanda, Africa
While Rwanda may be associated with a tragic past due to the effects of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, but thirty years of relative peace in the aftermath has given the country’s local ecotourism industry room to grow and thrive.
This African nation is one of the last great places in the world to see African gorillas in their natural habitat, and the ecotours that bring tourists in contact with these magnificent animals are among some of the rarest and most prized in the world.
Here are a few ecotourism locations you can visit on your next trip to Rwanda:
- Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park: While this park hasn’t been completed yet and is still in the process of design and construction, it plans to include 134 hectares of habitat and will include a series of manmade lakes for recreation.
- Volcanoes National Park: Volcanoes National Park is one of the only places in the world you can see mountain gorillas. This national park is also Africa’s oldest national park. (Source: Africa Outlook Magazine)
Investing in Rwanda’s ecotourism industry helps to revitalize the African forests that keep the country stable and prosperous. For example, the profits collected from ecotourism like gorilla watching permits are used by the government to plant native trees and reinforce local wildlife conservation.
Malaysia
Romantic and jungle-choked Malaysia has long tempted world travelers, but it’s only in the past few decades that it really came into its own as an ecotourism destination. Among the most popular attractions of Malaysia are its native orangutan populations and its vast rainforests.
Malaysia is full of beautiful jungles, but it’s also well-known for its marine parks. Through ecotourism programs, the tourism money brought in by excursions is used to help protect the diverse ocean species that live in the gulf between Malaysia’s two main halves.
Here are a few of the other ecotourism opportunities you can find in Malaysia:
- Ecoteer Volunteer Programs: Ecoteer is a company in Malaysia that has three separate conservation projects among Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands. Volunteers can engage in a variety of activities from teaching English to native children to setting camera traps for poachers and tracking native wildlife. (Source: Clean Malaysia)
- Malaysian National Park System: Malaysia is home to twenty-five separate national parks, many of which have clearly marked paths through the rainforest. These protected forests are home to millions of different species of animals, birds, plants, and insects. (Source: The Crazy Tourist)
If you’re interested in checking out some of the most beautiful flora and fauna in the world on your vacation, then Malaysia is the destination for you. Between its colorful orchids and its glassy blue oceans, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful place.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica was one of the original ecotourism spots, and no wonder – it’s easily one of the most gorgeous travel locations in the world. With a robust local cuisine and some of the most pristine rainforests you’ll find, you can’t go wrong with choosing this tiny nation as your ecotourism destination.
Costa Rica was one of the first countries to develop an entire national industry around the ecotourism trade, and they’ve spent decades building up their infrastructure to support a range of well-kept national parks across the country. They’ve even developed some eco lodges in Costa Rica!
Here are some of the other ecotourism activities you can undertake in Costa Rica:
- El Toledo Coffee Tour: Costa Rica grows some of the most famous coffee in the world, and this nation is one of the few places where you can see exactly how the most popular drink in the world is created using sustainability, organic farming methods, and fair trade. Check out a real working coffee plantation by signing up for the El Toledo Coffee Tour.
- Go on an aerial tour: Some of the best views in all of Costa Rica are from the canopies of its lush rainforests, and this is also where the majority of the country’s wildlife resides. Take advantage of Costa Rica’s aerial trams and ziplines to get up close and personal with the jungle’s birds and animals. (org)
- Go snorkeling in Tortuga: Costa Rica has more than wildlife in its jungle alone. There are also tons of animals and fish to be seen beneath the waves of this tropical nation, too. Make a day trip to go snorkeling in Tortuga to check out Costa Rica’s tropical fish and other marine treasures. (Source: Adventure Tours Costa Rica)
The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands have captured the imagination of the globe ever since Charles Darwin first documented them, and this surprisingly diverse ecosystem is drawing new attention in the 21st century as an ecotourism destination. It is also known for the giant Galapagos tortoise, which can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Ecotourism was undertaken in the Galapagos Islands as a way to allow visitors to come to the island and encourage tourism, but also protect the delicate local ecosystem at the same time. One major tenet of ecotourism in the Galapagos Islands is that tourists are not allowed to explore this region unattended without an official guide.
All ecotourism of The Galapagos Islands is run through Galapagos National Park.
Jamaica
Jamaica may not be as associated with ecotourism as some of the other destinations on this list, but there are plenty of beautiful natural habitats on this island nation to see. Jamaica is full of ecotourism gems such as glistening waterfalls, quiet beaches, and towering peaks.
One of the most popular eco-lodges in Jamaica is Hotel Mockingbird Hill. This grand ecotourism resort is the greenest eco-lodge in all of Jamaica. It features all kinds of sightseeing activities from rafting on the Blue Lagoon to hiking through Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountains.
The Phillipines
If you’re more interested in the oceanic side of ecotourism than the jungle, then you’ll want to look into taking your next ecotour in the Phillipines. The Phillipines contains over seven thousand islands, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to go scuba diving or beach combing.
Here are a few of the key ecotourism attractions in the Phillipines:
- Tubbataha Reefs National Park: Tubbataha has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 due to the pristine nature of its marine habitats.This makes it one of the most popular diving spots in the world.
- Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: This Filipino national park is unique as a geographical formation and was recognized as one of the seven modern natural wonders of the world in 2012. Visitors have the opportunity to participate in a tour of the underground river via paddle boat.
The United States
The United States may not be the first destination most people think of when they think of ecotourism, but they’d be wrong not to consider it. With some of the grandest national parks in the world and vast swathes of wilderness protected by the Bureau of Land Management, the United States shouldn’t be left out when you’re considering ecotourism trips.
Here are some of the most popular states for ecotourism in the United States:
- Alaska: One of America’s last pristine wildernesses, Alaska is full of opportunities for outdoor adventures whether you like to hunt and fish or you just want to see some of the world’s most beautiful vistas.
- Hawaii: Hawaii is one of the most biologically diverse states in the United States, and this state furiously protects its beautiful native island habitats. Hawaii is also one of the few places in the world where you can visit active volcanoes.
- Virginia: The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for birdwatchers to witness some of the most beautiful avian wildlife in America. This trail is marked for some of the best areas to see local wildlife, and there is also plenty of access to outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and water sports. (Source: Virginia DWR)
(With plenty of nature and parks around it, you may want to check out some cheap hotels in downtown Nashville to help you visit all the wonderful parks around Tennessee!)
Finland
If you’re interested in keeping your ecotourism trip environmentally friendly, you should think about taking a trip to Finland. This Nordic country has over seventy percent of its landmass covered by forest wilderness, and it contains over 180,000 lakes. Finland makes up more national park land in Europe than any other European nation.
Finnish ecotourism goes out of its way to respect native populations and cultural traditions while also mininizing any ecological impact on Finland’s natural habitat. Finnish ecotourism emphasizes slow travel and farm-to-table fare that takes advantage of local agriculture while reducing the emissions associated with foreign exports. (Source: Visit Finland)
Singapore
Singapore may be a little more developed than some other regions in this ecotourism list, but it’s still a destination to keep in mind if you’re interested in seeing some of the most exotic wildlife and plants you’ll ever find.
Here are a few of the highlights of an ecotourism trip in Singapore:
- The Garden City: Singapore is home to the largest indoor terrarium in the world, the Gardens by the Bay. Featuring hundreds of different kinds of plants and flowers, this massive greenhouse has to be seen to be believed.
- Tampines Eco Green: Tampines Eco Green is an ecofriendly park where there are no vehicles allowed, so it’s perfect for tourists who want to slow down and take it all in. Available for both hiking and biking, it’s small enough to be explored in a single day.
Along with these special attractions, Singapore also has plenty of national parks so you can see all the pristine habitat that this nation has to show off.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Known as the diver’s mecca, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the largest coral reefs in the world, though it has been decimated greatly by ecological damage over the past several decades. Thankfully, ecotourism activities directly contribute to the reef’s conservation and to protecting this UNESCO World Heritage Site for centuries to come.
These are a few of the best ecotourism opportunities at the Great Barrier Reef:
- Lady Eliot Island Eco Resort: If you’re looking for luxury and sustainability in the same vacation, look no further than the Lady Eliot. This island lodge is the perfect place to set out on excursions to see some of the reef’s most photogenic wildlife, from sea turtles to manta rays.
- Pumpkin Island Eco Retreat: This privately-owned island is small, with only five beach cottages. However, the emphasis it puts on environmentally friendly practices such as the use of solar power and filtered rainwater makes it one of the most eco-conscious stops you can make on the Great Barrier Reef.
Ecotourism Helps Make Travel Responsible
If you’re interested in seeing some of the most beautiful natural places in the world while also helping to sustain the infrastructure that supports them, the ecotourism destinations above are the best way to get started. No matter what kind of activities you’re interested in doing on your ecotour, you’re sure to find an environmentally-friendly vacation spot you’ll never forget.