ecotourism Archives - Page 24 of 32

Venice, Italy is one of the most popular and romantic cities in all of Europe. Famously built on a series of small islands along the Venetian Lagoon, just off the Adriatic Sea, travelers flock to the city to stroll its floating walkways and take gondola rides through the watery streets.

This is the typical way that tourists explore the city, which has a rich and varied history dating back 1500 years. But a recent article from the British newspaper The Guardian suggests a different way to see the sights in Venice, namely from the cockpit of a kayak. This alternative approach to exploring the Italian city’s waterways offers more freedom and flexibility for paddling where ever you want to go, and allows you to visit parts of the city that you might not normally see.

Adventurous travelers may take to the water on their own, and kayak throughout the city, but The Guardian recommends that you go with a guide service which can help you navigate the maze of water ways and lead you to the top destinations in Venice. You’ll find tours lasting a few hours or a few days, depending on what you’re looking for, and you’ll be able to do it at a fraction of the cost of a gondola ride. Piloting your own kayak also allows you to linger in the top spots for photo opportunities and to take in more of the flavor of the city, something you can’t do as easily in the traditional approaches to exploring the place.

Obviously kayaking through Venice isn’t for everyone, but for those looking for a different perspective on the historical city, it is a fun, active, and adventurous alternative.

Intrepid Travel wants to know who your ultimate travel buddy is

by Kraig Becker on Sep 21, 2009

Twenty years ago two good friends, Darrell Wade and Geoff Manchester, launched a new adventure travel company with the idea of sending small groups on intimate tours to some of the most unique places on the planet. Their plan was to get travelers to experience their destinations on a grassroots level, interacting with locals and getting off the beaten path when ever possible. They called their new company Intrepid Travel and today they offer more than 500 trips to 100 destinations around the globe.

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the company has launched their Ultimate Travel Buddy contest, in which they are giving away twenty travel packs, each of which will send you and your ultimate travel buddy off on a trip of your choice. To enter the contest, you simply have to go to this website and fill out an online virtual postcard that allows you to select where you want to go and what you want to do while you’re there. You’ll also select which of your buddies you’ll be taking along with you, and then in 25 words or less, explain why you should win.

You options for your adventure are nearly endless. You can go cycling in Tuscany, hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, or ride camels through the Sahara Desert in Egypt. These are just a few of the dozens of trips to choose from. So, head on over to Intrepid’s website and fill out your postcard now. And remember, I make an excellent travel buddy!

Win a 5-night package at Chaa Creek luxury eco-resort in Belize

by Katie Hammel on Aug 30, 2009

Chaa Creek, an eco-resort in the jungle of Belize, is giving away a 5-night stay for two to the winner of their Nature Quest Sweepstakes. To enter, you’ll need to write a 300-word essay on why you want to visit the lodge, and answer a series of questions about the property (the answers to which can all be found on the website). If you score 85% or above, you’ll be eligible to win the 5-night Inland Expedition package.

There are four additional prizes as well, which include a 5-night Inland Expedition package for one, or 50%, 40% and 30% discounts on 5-night Inland Expedition packages for two. The packages include round-trip transfers to the lodge from Belize City, a trip to the Belize zoo, all meals, and several tours and activities including bird-watching, canoeing, a trip to a butterfly farm and more.

The resort is set on a 365-acre nature reserve, has been operating since 1981, and has won numerous awards for its quality service and commitment to the environment. The 5-night Inland Expedition packages normally cost $1625 per person. Entries for the contest are due by October 30.

Nominees for Planeta.com’s Ecotourism Spotlight Award announced

by Katie Hammel on Aug 23, 2009

Planeta.com, a website dedicated to ecotourism and encouraging environmental conservation through tourism, has announced the nominees for its Ecotourism Spotlight Award. The Award honors the tourism boards that promote ecotourism through their websites, both by highlighting their own efforts and by helping travelers connect to independent tour providers who operate using sustainable practices.

The award was created in 2007 to encourage National Tourism Boards to promote ecotourism within their countries and to reward those who were doing so effectively. The winner in both 2007 and 2008 was Ecotourism Laos and the site is nominated again this year, along with Quito Visitors’ Bureau, Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong, and Failte Ireland.

The voting is open to the public on Planeta’s website and will continue through August 31. The winner will be announced on September 27, World Tourism Day. So cast your vote, and check out the sites to see what each is doing to promote ecotourism in its country.

Gadling’s Guide to traveling Green

by Brenda Yun on Aug 21, 2009

Travel as we used to know it is changing for the better, thanks to green initiatives like LEED for building projects, carbon offsetting for flying, and green outfitters like Go Lite. There are so many reasons travelers should travel greener and no reasons not to. But what does traveling green look like, and is it harder to do?

Here are a few tips on how to travel green. Odds are you’re already greener because you have a greener conscience, so instead of thinking of these as preachy steps to make you eco-conscious, take these tips as a green refresher.

Walk or bike, don’t drive: This is a given. Your feet don´t ruin the environment unless you leave a blaze of fire behind you (which you don´t). This is kind of travel, which many call “slow travel,” is often the best way to travel anyway, as you can take your time soaking in the sights and sounds around you.
Take public transportation if you have to: …and I don´t mean a taxi. If you´re traveling far, hop on a ferry, bus, or train. Spare the gas spent solely for you. Limited resources like fossil fuels really will run out one day, so save them when you can.
Travel light — and turn off the lights: The less weight you carry, the easier it will be to get around — and the less burden you have for others. Always remember to save energy when you can by turning off lights you don´t need to use.
Reuse and recycle: Those plastic bottles that you buy abroad can be reused! So can scraps of paper, lines of rope. Be resourceful when you can, use new products only when necessary.
Buy local: Definitely avoid fast food joints when you´re abroad. You´re better off eating street food anyway. Buy fruits and veggies from the local farmers´markets and artisans´goods from small kiosks. Your money to them goes much farther.
Take fewer, longer trips: This is a no-brainer to some, but the hardest thing to do for others. Since I live in Hawaii I´m always trying to consolidate my travels. Whenever I need to make a journey across the ocean I always try to tack on another journey with it. It saves time, and more importantly it saves precious resources.
Offset your carbon footprint if you can: All of the major airlines are encouraging sustainable travel by informing travelers of ways they can calculate their carbon footprint. More importantly, most airlines like Continental are providing innovative ways to give back to the environment exactly what we are taking away by traveling.
Take a “clean break” by staying in green eco-lodges: If you haven´t heard of green resorts and eco-lodges, you will soon enough. There are some really affordable ones popping up all over the world, so being green no longer means you´re spending more money. It just means you´re being more conscious of your effects on the environment — and that´s always a good thing.