Top 10 World's Ecotourism Destinations

When it comes to traveling, people differ in their travel preferences. In recent years, ecotourism is being preferred by many. As the popularity of ecotourism soars, you too can plan your next ecotourism destination from the top ten listed here:

Let us start with Alaska. Alaska, known as “The Great Land”, is reputed for its snow-capped mountains, the tundra region, and the Arctic zone in the north. Alaska is home to a fascinating wildlife population – some being endangered. Humpback whales, brown bears, sea lions, eagles are prominent inhabitants of the region.

Let’s move on to the Amazon, which is often described as the lungs of earth. The Amazon belt alone produces world’s 20% oxygen. The Amazon rainforest is home to hordes of floral and faunal wealth. The densest part of the Amazon belt can be found in Brazil. The most attractive travel can be in the Bahia’s Atlantic forest where you can undertake a canopy tour along a 66-ft high suspension bridge. While on the tour, you can feel the essence of rainforest and be fascinated with the sight of scores of wildlife.

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Let us head towards the South Pole next. The only time where you can head towards the White Continent is during summer when the ice melts to make way for eco-tourists. Can you imagine that about 20,000 tourists head towards Antarctica every year to witness gigantic glaciers, icebergs, whales and of course penguins?

Our fourth stop will be the Blue Mountains, Australia. The area has roughly 550 square miles of valleys, swamps and rocky terrains. The region has ample floral wealth. The faunal wealth too comprises of some 400 species. Rock climbing, canoeing, and bushwalking are some of the interesting activities that you can take up here.

Our fifth spot is the Malaysian island of Borneo. The place was recently in the news in 2005 when a catlike animal was discovered first. The slopes of Mount Kinabalu and the dense forest trails of the Bario Loop are great hiking terrains. The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is excellent to spot the primates. For those who relish staying in eco-friendly places, the Sukau Rainforest Lodge will be a great place to live in.

Let us travel next to Botswana, the “jewel of Africa”. Botswana is rich in natural wealth. The Savannah plains, the extensive desert regions, the riverside forest and captivating wildlife are real beauties of Botswana. You can stay in several eco-friendly resorts in the Savannah region and treat your eyes to a visual feast of unspoiled wildlife comprising of leopards, lions, zebras and rhinos.

Our seventh spot will be Costa Rica. The country is symbolic to ecotourism. The name Costa Rica was given by Christopher Columbus, meaning “Rich Coast”. The country has four active (but not harmful) volcanoes, lush rainforests and hot springs. Costa Rica has jungle lodges where you can stay. Wildlife is plentiful here - ranging from monkeys to tortoises. You can take active part in rafting, hiking, and scuba diving.

Our eighth spot is Dominica, the Ecotourism Island of the Caribbean archipelago. Dominica is considered to be the whale-watching island among the archipelago. The island is quite often frequented by 40-ton whales that mingle freely on the shores. Dominica also boasts of waterfalls, rainforests, and hot springs. You can halt at rainforest lodges, being inundated with the natural music from the jungles.

Our last but one spot is the Galapagos Islands. Galapagos is famous since the Darwinian times, when the famous naturalist visited these Virgin Islands about 620 miles off the Ecuadorian coasts. The Galapagos Island and its diverse biological wealth stimulated Darwin’s thoughts to come out with his famed theory on evolution. The archipelago still remains home to world’s most unique creatures and was declared the first World Heritage site in 1978.

Lastly, let us place our footprints on the mighty Himalayas. The Himalayas are the world’s largest mountainous range. Nepal and Northern India provides an excellent access route to the Himalayas. Here the landscape is as diverse as sub-tropical valleys to alpine forests. For hikers, the rustic Himalayan lodges are a source of retreat. Mountain camps, comprising of guides, cooks, and porters are highly popular.

From: HRI