It seems to me that something is changing in the tourism-psyche. Now you can’t pick up a Lonely Planet travel guide without noticing their eco-tourism tips, and you can’t go to upstanding hotels without noticing their badges bragging about their green efforts. And you know what, it is all so great. The green movement shouldn’t be about pointing fingers and blaming those who aren’t making green efforts; it should be about making green NORMAL, and helping everyong get to that level.
Right now the movement is in its baby stages; the thought of ecotourism is a seedling thought that is just being planted…But it is growing and it is so exciting to see the movement take shape and gain momentum. It makes me really believe that someday, and someday relatively soon if we all help, being environmental will simply be normal.
There are some great links for those who wish to travel in an eco-friendly way. The first that I can recommend is EcoTrotters, an online community that allows users to search for eco-hotels and eco-destinations, and to then add their own input regarding such environmental travel endeavors. It’s a great site, and hopefully in the future it will become second nature to think of logging onto EcoTrotters when one wants to plan a vacation (because going green does not equal more work, and EcoTrotters proves that!).
Another A-MAZING site to check out for ecotravel is Ecovolunteer.org. This site is not for ecotourism, but rather ecovolunteerism, when one is willing to/wants to spend their vacation serving in an eco-way. It is a great site if one is interested in service–it helps you choose your destination either based on the place or the service work. I definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to do some eco-volunteer work while on vacation!
And OF COURSE, you can join Enchanting Challenge and our sponsored service trips to TULUM, MEXICO; ULAA, CHILE; MENDOZA, ARGENTINA; AND PUERTO MADRYN, ARGENTINA. The first-ever Tulum Educational Ecological Service Trip has concluded, but the next one is currently being planned for July 13th-17th. Contact me at sarahannmaxwell@gmail.com if you are interested in taking part!!! And look out for tomorrow’s post with reflections from Tulum service workers!
Tags: carbon footprint, Ecological Service, Ecoservice, ecotourism, Ecotulum, Enchanting Challenge, Enchanting Group, Mexico, reforestation, Spring Break, Summer Break, travelling green, Tulum
