Ecoturismolatino.com / EcoTravellers / Travel Guide / Plan an EcoTravel

I. Decide where to go >>
II. Decide why you are travelling >>
III. Decide how you are travelling >>
IV. Know when is the best time to go >>
V. Tips for a Responsible Tourism >>

Planning an EcoTravel is the starting point future discovery. From the moment you decide to travel, that is where all the fun starts, when the travel determines what we are looking for. The planning stage is as important as the actual travel. Planning your EcoTravel opens up your eyes to different trails you can take on our route. It will not be any longer a typical holiday or a destination someone suggested. When you plan an EcoTravel you get involved with the destination you will visit. You learn about it when you read the newspaper, watch TV, or search the Internet for a EcoTravel Directory. We know that the more we know about a destination the more we will enjoy the destination.

So do not believe that an adventurer does not plan, planning ahead will always be enoyable and fulfulling. Read about the natural environment, cultures, society and history, which will be part of you during a short period of time.
Another great thing about planning ahead is that you can choose activities, ecotour operators and destinations that are social and environmentally friendly. You become a Responsible Traveller ready to respect the host's environment and cultures.

Start your adventures and good luck! We hope that you have great experiences and get in contact with us if you need us.

This is the moment to decide on your interests. What are you seeking for and want to achieve. What would you like to learn? Maybe you want to share your experiences and knowledge through a volunteering programme. Where do you imagine yourself waking up? On a hammock with the sound of roosters and children palying outside, our maybe witht rythmn of the waves.

It is the moment to be alone or discuss with a friend your needs and wants. Maybe the stress has built up and you need peace and quiet.
There are no set questions that can solve this personal decision. It is your time to decide what to want. When you know exactly this then you can go to the next step.

Decide if you are travelling alone or with a friend, and if you want to travel independently or in an organized tour. Every options has its pros and cons.

* Travelling alone will give you the possibility of doing what you want, without having to share your decision. If you want to through yourself with a parachute to an endless crater, its your life. You will always meet more travellers on the road and you increase the possibilities of mixing with locals. Travelling alone is something very relative.

* It you are going to travel with someone else, make sure you are in the same frequency, searching for the same things. It is very tiring and stressing to travel with someone who does not want to follow a similar road as you. There should be a lot of trust and openess. It is important to have moments alone.

· Travelling independently gives you freedom, but you will need more time to enjoy the slowness of a n independent travel. When you travel independently ask yourself the following questions:

a) Have you learnt something about the histoy and environment to are going to visit?
b) How much do you know about the local culturel? (customs, religion, food, etc.)
c) Are you ready to respect and follow the local customs? This may mean no walking in bikini top or short in rural communities. Even though this can be debatable, we would suggest following the local custom.
d) Are you ready to support local commerce and handcraft? Before you start to offer less money for a local craft as how long they took to make the piece, and then divide the price by the time and you get how much the person is earning an hour. How much do you earn an hour at your work? Think: "fair trade".

If you are thinking about an organized tour you must make several key questions so the tour operators know you are interested in really doing alternative tourism. You are this way promoting responsible tourism. Make the following questions:

a) Are the hotels owned by local residents?
b) Can you assure that the water used at the hotel does not decrease the local supply?
c) Do the hotels reuse or recycle the wastes produced?
d) Have the hotels displaced local inhabitants?
e) Do hotels employ security guards to keep locals away?
f) Are guides locals?
g) What other actions can an EcoTour Operator take to offer environmental and socially friendly services?

Any time of the year is a good time to visit Latin America. If you are keen to observe certain fauna it is then recommended to check when are the best times to visit the destination. For that purpose we have included a calendar into our online database that you can find in our Travel Guide. Also visit the Travel Guide and conuslt the different countries we provide information for and check the biodiversity section.

If you are looking for local festivities also search our Travel Guide. Sign up to our monthly eBulletin to receive coming festivities.

Ecoturismolatino.com wants to be a promoter of suppliers and destinations which are socially and environmentally fiendly. To assure this please share with us your experiences.

We have created a webpage dedicated to Responsible Tourism so that any EcoTraveller or EcoTour Operator receives information on how to achieve this important and necessary goal.