There is a lot to learn and explore in Riviera Maya, if one chooses to go beyond the tourist areas. Having lived in this region for six years, I have personally gained valuable insights in terms of downsizing my life. Simplifying our lives does not mean that we have to let go of quality. Downsizing can be liberating, and can help us become more at ease with our lives during the current times of economical and ecological “cleansing.” We have to ask ourselves, what do we really need? Knowledge and experience gained through travel lasts for a whole life and beyond; material gains are subject to the law of impermanence.

Insider Tips on Traveling in the Yucatan Peninsula

Probably the most outstanding feature of this part of the globe is the Caribbean Sea with its turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. If you are into snorkeling or scuba diving, you will love this place: the world’s second largest barrier reefs runs right in front of our noses. You can also snorkel and dive in regional cenotes, sweet water sinkholes that are typical for the Yucatan peninsula. They are openings in the limestone and are connected to a giant subterranean river system that flows into the ocean. Guided cave dives are offered in various cenotes.

Sunset view from a roof at the beach in Tulum

If you feel like escaping to an island, visit Cozumel, which is among the five best places in the world for diving, or enjoy the Caribbean charm of Isla Mujeres. On the more peaceful islands of Contoy and Holbox, you can swim with whale sharks.

There is an abundant offer of things that you can do to reconnect with nature: ocean or lagoon kayaking, snorkeling, kite surfing, catamaran cruising, horseback riding, exploring jungles and mangroves, or just enjoying an endless beach walk. The Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve was declared UNESCO world heritage in 1987, and is a bird watcher’s paradise. The Bacalar lagoon is said to be of seven different shades of blue.

El Castillo, Muyil archaeological site

Considered one of the Seven World Wonders, Chichen Itza is the most popular archaeological site of the Yucatan peninsula. Overlooking the ocean, the Tulum temple served as a calendar to indicate important dates. Ek Balam’s ruins are not as well known, but you will be surprised in what excellent condition the wall paintings are.

Mexican Riviera Maya Today

The Riviera Maya has evolved tremendously in the past six years. Playa del Carmen has made it into the Guiness Book of World Records as fastest-growing city in Latin America. Today, the Tulum ‘hotel zone’ is an outstanding example of solar and wind-powered small lodges and beach cabanas, appealing to backpackers as well as high-end travelers.

New living communities are designed to comply with green building criteria, and workshops are offered in a range of sustainability practices from composting and recycling to bio-architecture, to alternative energies. Locals offer many natural, organic, and biodegradable products. Eco park staff does not allow regular sun block in the water, and will send tourists to the shower. Beach cleaning and turtle conservation initiatives are strongly supported.

In recent years, several eco-conscious, annual expos (such as Think Green Expo and Green Expo Tulum) have been launched, attracting exhibitors and attendees from across the nation, and from beyond the  national borders.

Project Mayan Encounter

As one of the supporters of ecotourism in this region, I have launched Project Mayan Encounter in 2008, to offer group tours and escorted trips to Riviera Maya, with the primary goals of promoting ecotourism and making available the unique experience of the rich Mayan culture and nature reserves to active seniors, students and special needs groups. Our trips can be adapted to wheelchair users and travelers with other physical needs.

Due to our individualized service, we see travelers from all walks of life. Our tours always include healthy food, and sufficient time left to enjoy some of the world’s top-rated beaches. We work with guides certified by INAH (Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History), for tours inside the archaeological sites, and with Mayan natives and biologists in the nature reserves. We offer small group tours (no larger than 20 travelers) to ensure each participant can follow the guide’s presentation inside the archaeological sites, and that our impact on the local Mayan communities is kept as low as possible.

In January 2010, we launched a new small-group 8-day Study Trip, which is primarily geared to school classes, but equally fitting for active seniors or any adults who love to learn. The focus of this trip is to learn about the unique ecosystems of the Yucatan peninsula with its underground river network and cenotes, rich marine life and the world’s second largest barrier reef, as well as Mayan history, culture, and archaeology.

Large caterpillar on a guide’s hands

Our goal is to help students interpret Mayan history and sharpen their analysis skills and chronological and spatial thinking. Depending on the age group, tours are designed to match school curriculum requirements, and we set the focus accordingly.

The following is an example based on California’s state curriculum:

History & Social Science:

• 5th grade: The entrepreneurial characteristics and aims of the early explorers of the Americas, technical development of navigation instruments, caste war, and epidemics.
• 6th grade: World history and geography, ancient civilizations and archaeological studies; geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures during the development of Mayan civilization.
• 7th grade: The geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Mayan civilization; landforms and climates of the Yucatan peninsula, and their effects on economies and development of urban societies; Mayan class structures, family life, warfare, religious beliefs and practices; and Mayan achievements in astronomy and mathematics.
• 8th grade: The relationship between neighboring nations Mexico and the US.
• 10th grade: World history, culture, and geography; Mexico’s roles in the modern world and patterns of global change in the era of New Imperialism in Latin America.
• 11th grade: The origins and geopolitical consequences of the Cold War and the Latin American Policy.

Geography and Earth Science:

• 5th grade: The underground river system (cenotes) and water conservation, the barrier reef, hurricanes and their effects, and Mayan astronomy.
• 6th grade: Ecosystems and cenotes.
• 7th grade: The solar system and Mayan astronomy, and the importance of Venus.
• 9th-12th grades: Astronomy, ecology and the geographical uniqueness of the Yucatan peninsula.

>> Learn more about & sign up for the study tour.

Stefanie Baeker, Founder, Project Mayan Encounter

I grew up on the North Sea coast in Germany, where green tourism prevails. Visitors find peace on the islands and in the wet lands along the coast, hearty locals and honest food. My understanding of tourism, coupled with my passion for the outdoors and nature, and my knowledge of wellness and the teachings of ancient high-cultures, as well as the experience gained through my work in the special needs field, have led me to launching Project Mayan Encounter in 2008. I have lived and worked in the Riviera Maya for several years, and have found that there was not much offered for mature or physically impaired travelers, who want to spend some quality leisure time. In collaboration with some environmentally passionate, multilingual nature guides, I decided to fill the need and designed eco-cultural tours, with an emphasis on learning.

Part 1 – Ecotourism 20 Years Ago

Part 2 – Ecotourism Now

Twenty years later in 2010, the funding crisis for protected areas remains. The hard work of getting funding mechanisms into place via government policies has advanced slowly.

Recent news is not encouraging. Parks and protected areas around the world face a growing crisis to cover the costs of their operation and management. It is estimated that at least $ 12-13 billion will be needed in the next decade to mange protected areas in developing countries according to IUCN World Congress documents in 2005. Parks have long been one of the main attractions for the tourism industry, and this trend continues to increase. But most decision makers remain woefully unaware of the economic importance of parks.

IUCN’s 2008 World Congress focused on creating market viable ecotourism products. In this exact same time period, the international adventure and related ecotourism industry was having one of its greatest boom periods in history. Businesses were bringing record numbers of visitors to parks, and yes entrance fees were being raised around the world. But few efforts to finance yawning budget gaps with tourism were implemented on the scale required. While park budgets reach crisis proportions, the tourism marketplace is kept at arm’s length by park administrators.

Nevertheless, real progress has been made. The national parks of South Africa launched a concession program that has been economically, socially, and environmentally successful, according to Gigu Varghese, the head of business development for South African National parks (SANParks) as reported in the book Responsible Tourism. SANParks manages over 4 million hectares of pristine wilderness in a system of 23 national parks. After the democratization of South Africa in 1994, the government became answerable to a much larger population and their economic needs.

In 1998, SANParks was told to prepare to become less dependent on government funding. In 2000, private operators were given the legal right to operate in 11 sites with 20-year contracts, a public-private approach known as concessions, which yielded over $14 million to SANParks in 5 years. Stringent environmental standards were applied and local employment was generated, all carefully monitored and scored to ensure that black populations were a prime beneficiary of the effort.

Concessions are a government contracting instrument with a solid history. The first concession arrangements for parks in the world were authorized by the US National Park Service after its founding in 1916. But only recently has it been fully demonstrated that this type of contract can also include environmental and social goals. According to IUCN author, Derek de La Harpe, in his chapter for the IUCN book Parks in Transition; park agencies, often with strong qualifications in biological issues, frequently lack the managerial, financial and commercial skills, resources and mindsets needed to oversee businesses. Most park agencies still resist working with the private sector.

Oliver Hillel, of the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, states, “The vast majority of national park agencies still are unprepared to partner productively with the tourism industry. Building the capacity of park agencies and local authorities to engage with tourism industry representatives could easily result in doubling current economic benefits from tourism to protected areas.”

Tourism concessions worth billions of dollars in new revenues for conservation could help to bridge the funding gap for parks around the world. Businesses are willing to pay governments for the opportunity to operate in parks and protected areas; and concession contracts that require strong environmental and social standards are entirely feasible.

The time has come to truly finance parks through tourism concessions. Hard work to create the legal mechanisms and management capacity is required, but the vision is clear. After 20 years, it appears that tourism is still the prime candidate to help pay for parks around the world.

More about the Author

Megan Epler Wood founded The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, the oldest and largest non-profit organization in the world dedicated to making ecotourism a tool for sustainable tourism development worldwide. She was its President & CEO from 1991-2002. Since 2003, Megan’s firm EplerWood International has devoted itself to aiding some of the poorest countries in the world with sustainable tourism development, including the nations of Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, and Honduras.

Her published works includes; Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability for UNEP in 2002. She has lectured at Columbia Business School, Harvard University, Wellesley, Duke University, University of Vermont, and The George Washington University. She was named a Senior Fellow at the Institute at the Golden Gate in 2010 where she is developing next generation thinking on the development of tourism as a sustainable economic development tool in collaboration with leading universities, NGOs, and business professionals.

Part 1 – Ecotourism 20 Years Ago

In 1989, hundreds of thousands of acres were being added to park systems to conserve ecosystems around the world. International conservation was going into high gear, driven by the rude fact that development was accelerating in the most vulnerable and biodiverse regions of the planet. Conservationists were talking more about preserving the Amazonian rain forest, and less about “saving the panda.”

As conservation objectives were being ramped up, parks had jumped from being places for family recreation to becoming a global tool to preserve the last “great” endangered places. Costa Rica was winning awards for conserving the highest percentage of park land in the world. But, the large majority of new protected areas worldwide were simply lines delineated on maps. These under protected areas and fledgling parks became known as paper parks.

While conservationists were thinking big, there was, unfortunately, little funding on the ground. There was vision, and conservationists were quick to start raising funds to make these fledgling parks real. But national budgets were short and economic resources within park agencies exceedingly tight. Economic activity in these biodiverse zones was usually ranching, forestry and mining, or subsistence agriculture; none of which were park friendly.

But despite these economic and social realities at the time, parks were already attracting substantial economic activity and foreign exchange in developing countries, because of tourism. The idea of using tourism as a means to finance parks began take off in the mid-1980s.

The nature tourism market was vibrant and growing rapidly. Latin American countries in the tropics are home to about 1000 species of birds, most of which cannot be observed in North America. Word spread from scientific stations to expatriate families, to friends in Europe and North America, to global tourism markets. The story was exciting. Rainforests are teeming with birds and wildlife, and visitors could experience some of the last great preserved sanctuaries on earth. They were no longer just uncomfortable, mosquito-ridden “jungles.”

In Africa, tourists were starting to swarm into wildlife parks. For many years, the preserves there had been the refuge only of the wealthy who could afford the luxury of a private safari. But by the 1980s, safaris had gone mass market. Thousands of tourists were visiting Kenya and paying relatively little for the opportunity. Tour buses were filling Amboseli National Park and Masai Mara Reserve, and lions and cheetah were being surrounded routinely.

The Founding of TIES

In 1989, I was working as an independent filmmaker with my own company, Ecoventures, specializing in environmental documentaries. I convinced the National Audubon Society to produce an hour-long documentary on ecotourism for television. The funding covered production in Kenya, Belize and Montana.

With a serious budget, I researched every aspect of how tourism was providing income to parks and quickly discovered the most articulate advocate for using tourism to finance parks was Dr. David Western. Known as Jonah by all his friends and colleagues, Western was the head of the Wildlife Conservation Center program of the New York Zoological Society (NYZS) in East Africa.

The son of a game warden, he was field seasoned from birth, had a wickedly smart ability to sum up key points, and had long been a strong advocate community-based conservation. This led him to be one of the earliest advocates for ecotourism. We met twice, once for an audio tape interview at the Central Park Zoo in New York City, and once in Amboseli National Park with a whole film crew. After the shoot, I asked if I could make a private visit to discuss an idea with him, and he invited me to his home.

The idea I presented was the founding of The Ecotourism Society (later to become The International Ecotourism Society). Sitting in front of an African water hole, having tea at Western’s house overlooking Nairobi National Park, I made my pitch. I would be the point person, and he would be my chairman. He agreed and TIES was born.

Back in Washington, books were being written about the potential for tourism to fund parks. Elizabeth Boo of WWF-US wrote, Ecotourism: Potentials and Pitfalls, which caught the eye of conservationists around the world. Karen Ziffer, a Stanford MBA who was snatched up by Conservation International, wrote the second work Ecotourism, The Uneasy Alliance; laying out the challenge for ecotourism to both fund local conservation and fuel economic development.

During the production of the Audubon film, I held meetings on the potential of an international organization dedicated to ecotourism. Boo, Ziffer and I were the core working group. World Resources Institute economist Kreg Lindberg soon joined us, and Ecoventures’ marketing director Frances Gatz worked on outreach. When Western joined forces with us, funds were raised and in 1990 the new organization was founded.

The idea of an international organization dedicated to making ecotourism a tool for conservation and sustainable development was new. It was the first organization in the world to dedicate all of its resources to tourism as a sustainable development mechanism.

Funding to launch came with two grants (which Western and I raised together) from the Liz Claiborne Art Ortenberg Foundation and the Merck Family Fund. The organization’s goals were set out by its first board of directors in its first meeting in May of 1990. And the first definition for the concept of ecotourism that incorporated sustainable development ideas was coined: “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and sustain the well being of local people.”

With a definition in hand we went to work. But ecotourism had few organizing principles and could not be called a professional discipline. It was merely a very interesting, and ever controversial idea. With every year, we brought more expertise together, attracted thousands of members in countries across the planet, and slowly but surely laid out a set of professional methodologies and guidelines. Lessons have been learned, and the market for ecotourism has grown. But its role as a financing engine for parks remains nascent.

Read more: Ecotourism Society Launched in 1990 to Assist Parks Part 2 – Ecotourism Now

If you want to explore the mountains and valleys of the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas, 3 of the 5 local travel operators who form India’s groundbreaking Green Circuit initiative offer the perfect opportunity to do so. This 3 part blog will explore the northern Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh with Spiti Ecosphere (Part 1), the North Eastern regions and the Neora Valley National Park with Help Tourism (Part 2), and Nepal’s Tamang heritage trail with Social Tours (Part 3).

Part 3: Discovering Nepal with Social Tours and Treks

Nepal is regarded as one of the adventure capitals of the world, and Social Tours are local trekking and adventure specialists who are leading by example. They are fast gaining a reputation as an expert group absolutely dedicated to their principles of respect, honesty, social inclusion and environmental protection.

Social Tours also played an instrumental role in developing the green circuit responsible tourism initiative, coordinate volunteer programs in the area, and dedicate 10% of profits every year to charities like the Joy Foundation Nepal, who conduct free cataract eye camps in rural areas of Nepal, and Antardristi Nepal, helping Nepalese youth and children achieve sound mental health.

One of their latest itineraries, set in the Langtang region of Nepal, one of Nepal’s most famous trekking destinations, gives you a flavour of what is on offer. Developed by the Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program (TRPAP), the “Tamang Heritage Trail” is a newly created tourism route which escapes the beaten tracks of Langtang. It helps visitors discover the ancient lifestyle and customs of the Tamang people, whilst also enjoying a 7 day trek through this stunning region.

Tamang Heritage Trail (Photo: Social Tours)

Staying in a variety of tea houses and community run lodges, and experiencing Tamang rituals, culture, festivals, traditional architecture, costumes, and local Syabru dances en-route, this trail is a unique cultural experience and provides maximum involvement and benefits to the local communities.

One of the highlights of the trek is the view from Goljung Pass, from where views of Langtang and Kerung (Tibet) can be awe inspiring. To ease those trekking aches, you can also enjoy a hot bath in the healing hot-water spring at Tatopani (Surkhet District) before reaching Nagthali, where the accommodation is a unique experience. The ancient monasteries and houses adorned with rich wood engravings at Thuman are also unforgettable.

Trekking in the Langtang Region (Photo: Social Tours)

At Briddim one gets to experience the famous Tamang hospitality, where there is a home stay facility in 24 houses. The visitor enjoys an evening with the host family, living with them, eating traditional foods and sleeping in a clean bed. Plain rice, Tibetan bread, Syakpa (Sherpa Stew), Potato, Tibetan tea, Briddim wine are the indigenous food offered. The visitor can also go on village walks, guided by the host family, to see the lifestyle, traditions and customs of the people.

>> Learn more about Social Tours on MuchBetterAdventures.com.

More about Much Better Adventures

MuchBetterAdventures.com is a travel directory of independant tour operators and eco-travel adventure companies, making it easier for travelers to find friendly local adventure choices that also support the local communities and destinations.

More about Social Tours

Socialtours.com travels (and Socialtreks.com adventures, a specialist trekking company, also under the same management) is a Nepalese company based in Thamel, Kathmandu offering tailor-made trips that promote and preserve Nepal’s rich cultural and ecological diversity.

If you want to explore the mountains and valleys of the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas, 3 of the 5 local travel operators who form India’s groundbreaking Green Circuit initiative offer the perfect opportunity to do so. This 3 part blog will explore the northern Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh with Spiti Ecosphere (Part 1), the North Eastern regions and the Neora Valley National Park with Help Tourism (Part 2), and Nepal’s Tamang heritage trail with Social Tours (Part 3).

Part 2 – Adventures in North East Himalayas with Help Tourism

Help Tourism have been at the vanguard of sustainable tourism initiatives in North East India for well over a decade. They have developed a wide variety of adventure and activity programs, including trekking in the Himalayas, tiger, rhino and bird spotting in the National Parks and Reserves networks, elephant safaris, jungle lodges, heritage and cultural tours in this fascinating and diverse region of India.

Uniquely, all these programs are designed with specific sustainable development and conservation goals in mind. The organization has single-handedly implemented 26 community-based tourism projects in the remote forest and mountain villages of this region.

Take for example the Neora Jungle Camp in Neora Valley National Park. This is one of the last remaining pristine ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas, and is home to many rare and endangered plants, animals and birds. These include the Red Panda, a variety of Leopards, the Himalayan Black Bear, and Royal Bengal Tiger, 106 species of birds and a variety of colourful Wild Orchids.

Neora Valley Jungle Camp (Photo: Help Tourism)

The park is totally uninhabited, but easily explored from the community run jungle camp in Kolakham, which adjoins the national park, and has inspiring views overlooking Mount Kanchenjunga. From the camp, which blends local atmosphere and modern amenities, visitors can head out birding, on nature walks, jungle treks and to explore the local villages and traditions.

Neora Valley Jungle Camp was established with the aim of involving the fringe villagers in creating a community buffer for the Neora Valley National Park. The general population of the village lives below the ‘poverty level’ as per the Indian standards. Set in the snow-capped mountains, the scope of good agriculture is low, and due to the lack of pastures, cattle rearing are negligible.

Infrastructure work was started in February 2006 after receiving the offer of land from a local community leader, who had the farsightedness to see the benefit of the initiative for the local population. The camp has since developed as a place where the unemployed youths of the village can learn the art of tourist handling and develop themselves as service providers.

Help Tourism Adventure Camp (Photo: Help Tourism)

The global tourist attention has motivated villagers to pride in the conservation of the local nature. The process also help to maintain age-old traditions, fast being lost in the world of consumerism.

>> Learn more about Help Tourism on MuchBetterAdventures.com.

More about Much Better Adventures

MuchBetterAdventures.com is a travel directory of independant tour operators and eco-travel adventure companies, making it easier for travelers to find friendly local adventure choices that also support the local communities and destinations.

More about Help Tourism

Help Tourism is a tour operator and destination management consultant specialising in East- and North East India, promoting tourism as a tool for conservation and sustainable development. Help Tourism provides purposeful travel to natural areas to understand and connect with the local Heritage, Environment, Livelihood and People.

If you want to explore the mountains and valleys of the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas, 3 of the 5 local travel operators who form India’s groundbreaking Green Circuit initiative offer the perfect opportunity to do so. This 3 part blog will explore the northern Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh with Spiti Ecosphere (Part 1), the North Eastern regions and the Neora Valley National Park with Help Tourism (Part 2), and Nepal’s Tamang heritage trail with Social Tours (Part 3).

Part 1 – Exploring the Spiti Valley with Ecosphere

Spiti Ecosphere is an endeavour to promote community-based ecotourism in the Spiti valley, a stunning high altitude desert region tucked away in the Trans-Himalayan belt of Himachal Pradesh. A passion for conservation, mountain travel and adventure brought together a collaboration of local community members and professionals from diverse backgrounds to offer a range of trekking, mountaineering, biking, rafting, cultural and spiritual adventures in this beautiful and remote corner of the Himalayas.

Spiti Ecosphere guides Tsering and Angrup looking over the Spiti river.
(Photo: Spiti Ecosphere Facebook Group)

Spiti – “the middle land” – between India and Tibet is one of the least populated regions of India. Breathtaking mountain scenery and a fascinating history and culture make this relatively unknown destination very appealing to the adventure traveller. Described by Rudyard Kipling as ‘a world within a world’, Spiti is home to a Buddhist Society of just over 10,000, who bear stark cultural similarities with their neighbours in Tibet and Ladakh.

Ecosphere offer visitors the opportunity to experience the true essence of trekking by traversing through remote, pristine and forgotten trails. Passes in and out of Spiti provide a strategic access to neighbouring areas of Ladakh, Kinnaur, Kullu and Lahaul. Some well-known treks are the Pin-Parbati, Parang-La and the Pin-Bhaba. You can also head out on multi-day mountain biking excursions deep into the Himalayan backcountry.

Their trademark trip for the less active traveller is the Spiti Kaleidescope, a jeep safari which takes you up and over the majestic Rohtang and Kunzum passes and through the stunning and graphic valleys of the Chandra, Spiti, Pin rivers. The safari then climbs up to the highest villages in the world to experience Spitian culture through traditional homestays and visits to ancient monasteries that are the cultural and spiritual hubs of the Spitian way of life.

Tabo seen from one of the old meditation caves above the village.
(Photo: Spiti Ecosphere Facebook Group)

The aim of the not-for-profit initiative is to develop unique, authentic and reliable tourism products and activities and link them to community livelihoods. This not only provides the residents of the Spiti Valley with a sustainable source of income but also serves as an incentive to conserve their unique natural & cultural heritage and environment. 90% of permanent staff are local to the Spiti Valley, and the revenues are all ploughed back towards the local Spiti community, either to service providers, or for conservation activities, welfare and development of the region.

All trips are also carbon neutral thanks to their investments in in-house renewable energy projects such as solar passive housing, green houses, setting up of solar cookers and solar lighting. Ecosphere has also been conducting volunteer travel in the region with an attempt to directly link travel development and conservation, and volunteers can contribute to the construction of these renewable energy projects. As well as tourism, Ecosphere are also turning to the indigenous production of organic and health products to stimulate the sustainable development of the entire region.

>> Learn more about Ecosphere on MuchBetterAdventures.com.

More about Much Better Adventures

MuchBetterAdventures.com is a travel directory of independant tour operators and eco-travel adventure companies, making it easier for travelers to find friendly local adventure choices that also support the local communities and destinations.

More about Ecosphere Spiti

Ecosphere Spiti is a collaborative effort of the local community of Spiti and professionals from diverse backgrounds with a wide spectrum of skills and experience, focusing on re-establishing the critical link between the consumers and the custodians of Spiti’s natural and cultural resources. Through travel, organics and health products, Ecosphere Spiti aims to create sustainable livelihoods that are linked to conservation.

Rios Tropicales has historically kept a low profile about its sustainable tourism practices and philosophy within its company operations and across its local Costa Rican communities. Winning a large international rural development grant in 2008 enabled Rios Tropicales to expand its sustainable tourism practices to include a focus on international knowledge-sharing and best practices training for other emerging rural tourism destinations.

Rios Tropicales believes that it is critical to support replicable, community co-created sustainability initiatives in today’s world. Small, authentic projects with low barriers to entry (in terms of cost, design and resources) offer the best chances for best practice examples to be replicated internationally and achieve long-term success across unlimited numbers of communities worldwide. This, furthermore, helps tourism remain authentic and affordable to a larger percentage of the population.

From the early days of its Pacuare River rafting operations, Rios Tropicales has supported the El Tigre community near its ecolodge by providing school supplies like computers and offering a handful of jobs at its rainforest reserve and sustainable farming operations. Limitations in funding restricted El Tigre’s ability to build the infrastructure necessary to support the development of sustainable businesses and proper waste management within the rural community.

Bajo del Tigre is a small community of 25 families located above
the Pacuare Gorge in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Central Valley.

Rios Tropicales led the grant process to secure funding for an international collaboration between the rural tourism destinations of The Kingdom of Bhutan and Costa Rica. The Costa Rican part of the project targeted sustainable development in the El Tigre community. The resulting South-South grant from Fundecooperacion is funding the infrastructure development of seven sustainable tourism attractions within the community.

These include: a serpentarium, an orchid garden, a butterfly garden, an internet café, environmentally sustainable bathrooms at El Tigre’s elementary school, expansion of the Tilapia sustainable fish farming project, and a new hydroponic nursery for organic farming. Environmentally responsible waste management practices are a key part of the El Tigre – Bhutan projects. Both projects are implementing recycling, composting, and proper solid waste disposal schemes.

Serpentarium and Orchid Garden at Bajo del Tigre

The school at El Tigre got new, environmentally sustainable bathrooms
as part of the South-South community development grant.

Rios Tropicales provides the community with advice on best practices and business viability, and is overseeing project construction*. The tourism market for these attractions is ready-made from the existing rafting industry on the Pacuare River. Development to date has enabled El Tigre to apply and get approved for the Blue Flag for Educational Centers award. They will also be able to apply for the Blue Flag for Climate Neutral Community award in 2010, thanks to this project. The community project provides income, jobs, education and international collaboration opportunities, as well as confidence and economic independence for the community members. Construction has been completed to date on all initiatives except the internet café, which is now half finished.

*Rios Tropicales has no ownership or financial investment in the El Tigre community attractions.

The rainforest attractions in the community, designed by community members, are run and fully owned by community members. Rios Tropicales has shared its expertise in geotourism to help successfully finance and develop the project. The Bhutanese-Costa Rican community collaboration as part of this El Tigre project is a model example of sharing best practices across cultures and countries in sustainable adventure tourism.

The Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) is partnering with Rios Tropicales to replicate lessons learned from adventure recreation operations within a sustainable community development framework. As lead agency partner for the development of rural tourism, specifically rafting adventure tourism in Bhutan, Rios Tropicales team will teach, train, share, and collaborate with Bhutan’s teams about Rios’ best practices developed over 25 years of successful rafting adventure operations. In addition, Rios will support Bhutan’s early development of sustainable communities via sharing lessons learned from its ongoing work with El Tigre.

Learn more about the Costa Rica-Bhutan Community Project

Rios Tropicales, in partnership with Fundecooperacion, ABTO and EARTH University, is leading a sustainable community development project in Bajo del Tigre, Costa Rica, to provide income, jobs, education, and international exposure & collaboration for the community members, and sharing knowledge and lessons learned with rural communities in Bhutan through South-South collaboration initiatives.

>> Download project summary (pdf, 100 kb)

Learn more about Rios Tropicales

Rios Tropicales is an eco-adventure company that operates throughout Costa Rica – on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, in the mountainous central rainforest, and in the western regions – offering adventure activities that take advantage of Costa Rica’s unique variety of environments: whitewater rafting on eight rivers, multisport activities that feature kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and cycling, family adventures, cultural encounters, nature and wildlife tours, and voluntourism.

>> Find Rios Tropicales on Ecotourism Explorer
>> Related article: “Rios Tropicales Story – Planting Seeds of Awareness”

By Ethan Gelber

Until not that long ago – only about 100 years – the whole of Montenegro was still a tribal society with groups of families united by clan and living in regions called nahijas. The oldest historical part of Montenegro, today referred to as Old Royal Montenegro, which was independent for centuries, was split into four such nahijas: Crmnička, Katunska, Riječka and Lješanska nahija.

From the top of Mt. Lovćen, a symbol of Montenegrin freedom
since the villages on its slopes were never been conquered by either
Austrians or Turks, the whole of Old Royal Montenegro is visible.

Sadly, today, despite its incredible cultural and historical importance, its proximity to other major attraction (like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor and its famous bay, Skadar Lake National Park and the Ostrog Monastery) and its beautifully preserved environment, the Old Royal Monetenegro district is disused, neglected and its local population is in serious decline.

But that may all be about to change thanks to a contract signed between the Delegation of the European Commission in Montenegro and the Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives (CSTI).

A Heritage Treasure Trove

Old Royal Montenegro covers the broad area between the Zeta River, Skadar Lake and the Bay of Kotor and consists principally of rural communities and the old historic capital of Cetinje. Apart from in Cetinje and the Mt. Lovćen area, which are historic highlights of Montenegro, the infrastructure of traditional buildings and historical sites in the district is however in terrible disrepair and the local populations, which have retained a distinct culture, one based on age-old traditional values and lifestyles, are diminishing in number. All this is now the focus of an effort to inspire new life and opportunity through travel and tourism.

For the next 18 months, CSTI will be leading a project to identify the district’s traditional and cultural tourism products, stimulate and upgrade tourism services, develop concepts for new tourism products that take advantage of the unique local attributes, and work to improve knowledge and raise awareness of the cultural heritage opportunities in Old Royal Montenegro (as well as throughout the country).

At the centre of the Riječka nahija is Riječka Crnojevića, a tiny settlement
on a river of the same name leading to Skadar Lake. Many Old Royal
Montenegro villages like this are deserted or reduced to one or two families.
The project will visit all of these villages to identify anybody with any
products that can be made market ready.

The project’s target groups are local producers of traditional products (wine, honey, cheese, ham, souvenirs, handicrafts etc.), owners of the old authentic stone buildings, traditional restaurants and more. Where possible, particular heed will be given to the needs of young people and women within the target groups with an eye toward increasing their involvement.

“[Signing the contract] was a huge event for both organizations,” said Slavica Vukcevic, Executive Director of Montenegro Adventures, the commercial subsidiary of the CSTI and the whl.travel local connection in Montenegro. “We are extremely interested in developing new tourism products in this rural area, which, while quite underdeveloped, is full of tangible and intangible heritage of great importance to the future of tourism in Montenegro.”

Really Going Local

Foremost in many project partners’ minds is the preservation of cultural heritage as a crucial component of identity and self-understanding, qualities that help anchor a community in its past and give it meaning in the present.

Svetlana Vujicic (left), Executive Director of CSTI signs the
contract with Mr. Leopold Maurer (centre), Ambassador of the
European Union to Montenegro, and representatives from the
Monetenegro Ministry for European Integration.

This was reflected in a comment made by Mr Leopold Maurer, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, in his speech at the contract signing: “The European Union attaches great significance to the activities carried out by civil society organisations and acknowledges the important role that a well-organized, functioning and strong civil society can play in strengthening pluralism, democracy, human rights, social inclusion, rural development, cultural dialogue and creativity, not only in the EU but also in all those countries striving to join EU.”

Given that, the CSTI project aspires to improve cooperation and cultural exchange between constituencies in the region at all levels; share best practices, especially those constructive in recognising and attaining ethno-cultural diversity through environmentally and culturally sustainable development; and showcase the unique culture of the region as one of its main attractions and an opportunity for economic advancement.

The ultimate goal for the region is to give it a new sense of vitality as a living cultural area, thus triggering positive change and creating a platform for future development.

Abandoned structures like this are all too common along small
village roads throughout Old Montenegro. Some have been sold
to foreign investors, who turn them into summer houses.

Not yet catalogued but certainly well known are the district’s unique cultural practices and arts that, on a small scale, already attract the curiosity of tourists and provide opportunities for tourism and economic development. The challenge to CSTI will be to further invigorate these qualities without destroying the existing feeling or violating the interests of the locals.

“For that reason, learning exchange and improving the knowledge from EU stakeholders and especially on sustainable development approach is the core value of this proposal,” says a concept note describing project.

That same concept note identifies the expected results as including the following:

• a tourism/cultural heritage inventory of at least 100 assets that will be shared among the participants, local and national authorities and international organizations working in the region;
• a core group of 15 motivated stakeholders who will gain and later share the experience of how to revive traditional ways of life/customs/cultural heritage in the community;
• proposed thematic routes that connect the district’s highlights and involve the assisted stakeholders.
• an awareness-raising campaign that will include a documentary, press releases, workshops/trainings.

Ooh.com – Search for Things to Do

As the climate change row has escalated in recent years, there’s been a steadily growing demand for activities, courses and experiences which help people reconnect with the natural world and escape the consumerism and commercialism of modernity.

The emergence of websites such as this one is testament to the swelling ranks that care enough about their relationship with their environment to actually take action. Whether information gathering, or physically participating, there has never been a time when we’ve been so widely involved in a collective awakening about our impact on the environment.

There’s also never been so much fun to be had from it. There are now more courses, classes, tours, and travel opportunities for the eco-conscious than ever. Have you always wanted to get some practical experience with sustainable living? Or considered building your own yurt? We’ll here’s how!

Yurt Making Workshop at the Workhouse

“Build your own Yurt, a traditionally low impact dwelling, and work with experienced crafts people, in a stunning setting as part of a ground breaking new project!”

When it comes to hands-on ecotourism, it doesn’t get more practical than learning how to build a yurt. This course includes building and taking away your own “central wheel” the most complex, but crucial central support for the roof of the yurt. You can take this life-skill anywhere you go in the future, so it’s a great course to start re-learning your connection with natural materials and crafts. more…

Green Living Weekend – Blue Rock Station, Ohio, USA

“If you have ever wondered what it might be like to chuck it all, build a straw bale (or Earthship) out in the woods, milk the goats, do a bit of gardening – here is your chance to experience it for a fraction of the cost of telling your boss you’re off in a moment of frustration and walking out the door.”

Our team loves this listing – so much in fact, that we made it one of our $100 winning listings featured on the homepage. Blue Rock Station is a sustainable living homestead that centers around Ohio’s first Earthship – a comfortable home built from tires, cans, bottles, strawbales and other re-used materials. Folks from around the world can attend workshops on topics including natural building, solar cooking, natural gardening, wild foods, and more. more…

Cross-Cultural Earthen Building Project – Dogon Country, Mali, Africa

“An opportunity of a lifetime! Take part in this workshop building a one-room schoolhouse using earthbag construction, working alongside the Dogon villagers who will share with us their languages, music, cuisine, farming, and building techniques.”

Getting involved in volunteering projects can be a genuinely rewarding way to make the most of your annual travel time. Ooh.com’s aim with voluntary ecotourism is to unearth unique, great value trips abroad. On this African village stay, you’ll learn traditional Dogon building techniques by assisting local builders with their work. Tour the country by foot and bus to see Dogon Permaculture in action; visit the spectacular ruins of old Dogon towns and experience the daily life of the Terelli people, an off-grid traditional tribe. more…

Bison and Wildlife Internship Week, Montana, USA

“For the adventurous who would like to explore life as a wildlife biologist on a private wildlife and bison reserve in the Montana wilderness”

If working with animals is something you’ve always wanted to do, this practical wildlife internship at the Wild Echo Bison Reserve in Montana could be just your thing. Projects include building exclosures around important wildlife habitat, habitat manipulation, breeding bird censuses, mammal and bird behavioral studies (bison, yellow bellied marmot/golden eagle interactions, cavity nesting bird feeding studies) and bird and mammal population studies on and near the Reserve. more…

If you share our passion for ecotourism, sustainable living and volunteering, then search the site for something you’d love to do!

Because anyone can list any activity on the site, we’re hoping to see huge diversity and increasing activity in the eco-tourism and volunteering categories. If you offer an ecotourism activity, we’d love you to take a few minutes to list your trips, courses or activities on the site for others to find.

More about Ooh.com

Ooh.com is a free listings and bookings noticeboard. The site allows people anywhere in the world to list and sell any kind of time bookable activity. It takes about 10 minutes to create a great looking listing and start selling an activity. Buyers can pay for activities they want to do using Paypal, Google checkout and all the other normal payment methods like check, transfer and credit card.

Vision for Sustainable Adventure

In 1985 Jimmy, Fernando and I started Rios Tropicales because we loved running rivers, we knew our small country of Costa Rica had some of the world’s best paddling in the world, and we wanted to share these rivers with others. It was natural to us to protect the rivers we were running, help the communities we were visiting and train fellow Costa Ricans to do what we were doing.

Whitewater Action on the World-Famous Pacuare

From our years of international paddling experience we knew guide school best practices and started our own guide school right away. Our first two Costa Rican guides were local inner tubers from Turrialba, a small town that is now the whitewater guide mecca of Costa Rica. We continued to grow our company organically, adding more Costa Rican guides, hiring the first Indigenous guides to lead our hikes into the jungle and to build our rainforest lodge huts.

We started to protect the rainforest by buying land and reforesting with native seeds collected from the rainforest, building up to over 2000 acres one acre at a time over 25 years, because we saw the deforestation damage and wanted to reverse it.

Recently, we were pleased that National Geographic recognized Rios Tropicales as an international geotourism leader because of the things we have been quietly doing since 1985. Thirty-three years later, we remain dedicated to sustainable adventure and sustainable communities because we believe it is right for us all.

Rios Tropicales Ecolodge

Partnerships for a Sustainable Future

In addition to supporting the work of international organizations like TIES, Rio Tropicales partners with local, national and international NGOs that are working in sustainable tourism, nature conservation and environmental education, such as – Red Costarricense de Reservas Naturales Privadas, which promotes the private reserves in Costa Rica and the rest of Central America; Fondo Nacional de Financiamiento Forestal (FONAFIFO), which works with local landowners and organizations to fund their reforestation of natural areas to offset pollution generated by tour activities; the International Rafting Federation (IRF), whose primary purpose is to promote the Rafting World Championship and international Guide Training and Certification Programs, while encouraging cross-cultural experiences and education for local guides; and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)’s Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.

While government organizations and NGOs are certainly important to help Costa Rica protect its natural resources, it was gaining the partnership of local and indigenous communities to truly support and self-monitor wildlife and forest protection, including those who were the very people who had been poaching and deforesting the land, that is the biggest achievement of Rios Tropicales’ efforts. Without such grassroots ownership and involvement, many valuable and well-meaning efforts at environmental protection ultimately fail.

The Rios Tropicales Foundation

Fundacion Rios Tropicales (FRT) is a non-profit environmental organization established by Rios Tropicales in 1994 in order to assist in the preservation, protection and restoration of the rivers, streams and watersheds of Costa Rica. FRT’s main rivers of focus are the leading recreational rivers of the national ecotourism industry – particularly the Rio Pacuare, Rio Reventazon, Rio Sarapiqui, and Rio General.

These four rivers, like many others, are threatened by massive hydroelectric projects, as well as water contamination and pollution. The FRT is now focusing on the purchase of rainforest that is threatened and/or can be placed into permanent conservation through private purchase.

FRT Forest Reserve Sign

Most locals are unaware of their direct impacts on the rivers and the benefits of keeping them clean, clear and free flowing. Many international adventurers and professional boaters frequently visiting these rivers are also unaware of the threatened status of these rivers and the likelihood that they will no longer be navigable in the very near future.

As part of FRT’s initiative to address these challenges and help raise awareness of the environmental problems facing our rivers, the Regional River Environmental Education Pilot Project was created. Historically, environmental education programs had only been offered at some schools in San Jose. This program brought education and awareness to rural schoolchildren to get them involved in protecting their uniquely diverse Costa Rican environment.

Through direct participation and hands-on learning activities, and with the assistance of volunteers, FRT’s River Education Program has organized art projects, physical activities, field trips, and outings to raise awareness on the following issues: water quality monitoring, river ecology, watershed management, river pollution/contamination and solutions, land use practices, and hydroelectric projects.

Mariposas del Pacuare Butterfly Garden

Thanks in part to nationally recognized efforts like FRT’s, the Costa Rican government started promoting environmental education programs for schools. FRT’s original program remains a significant contributor to the government’s involvement.

The foundation has since focused on primarily rainforest restoration, land conservation through purchases of protected areas, and more recently, sustainable community development.

>> Find Rios Tropicales on Ecotourism Explorer
>> Rios Tropicales ecoAuction Package Pacuare River Rafting Adventure Trip, 4 day/3 nights for 2

Photos by Rios Tropicales