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Ecotourism is one of the major weapons in the fight to save
rainforests all over the world. It is a growing industry that brings
income to local peoples and at the same time both educates visitors and
inspires them into becoming allies to save the rain forests.
This
except from the website
Greenspan presents the argument for ecotourism quite clearly:
"Over 10 million people live in Brazil's Amazon
jungle. The Brazilian government is trying to crack down on
deforestation, but inhabitants of the Amazon say it's a matter of
survival, so the government is trying a different tactic: ecotourism -
spending millions to develop tourism centered on nature. "People can
make money from the rain forest without destroying it," said Aldenir
Paraguassu of Brazil's Environment Ministry. "It's just a matter of
showing them how."
Tourists
hire local guides to learn about the rain forest, and to journey up
river,
where they visit remote villages, and buy handicrafts made by those who
live here. They stay at hotels that range from luxurious to primitive.
The ecotourism boom has created hundreds of new jobs, and put money in
the pockets of local residents. Those involved in ecotourism are now
looking at the rain forest differently. It’s the reason visitors are
here spending money.
Environmentalists hope that as the industry grows - creating more jobs, and bringing in more money - fewer Brazilians will feel compelled to cut, clear, and burn the world's largest rain forest."
There are essentially two kinds of ecotours: guided and volunteer vacations. On the guided tours, you will be staying in relatively simple and clean thatch-roof huts, some with communal bathrooms, usually in a remote rainforest location. Daily excursions by foot and boat into the surrounding rain forest is standard. Volunteer vacations are just that, vacation in which you volunteer your services to help out, typically field research. Accommodations are usually Spartan but you will have time off to take excursions locally and to relax.
DISCLAIMER: Keep in mind that the organizations on this list do not come with the personal endorsement of Lee Pantas and are presented only to help others in their search for a rain forest ecotour. It is highly recommended that you do thorough research and comparison, and get references, before signing on to any one ecotour.
If you have a rainforest ecotour to recommend, please email me.
Greentracks Rain Forest Ecotours
Margarita Tours
Pachamama Alliance
Southern Cross Tours and Expeditions
Pacific Rainforest Adventure Tours
