Some of the best sights and sounds on the planet are provided by Mother Nature. Pristine beaches, virgin forests and mountains unblemished by urban development are all resources we need to preserve for our progenies. That is why, when you start your yearly ritual of making a list of resolutions, let Green Living be at the top and keep this promise to yourself in the New Year by taking Eco-friendly tours to places rich with biodiversity and natural attractions. Ecotourism simply means sustainable tourism that allows us to witness the gifts of nature with minimal interference. So go green and pick an ecotourism hotspot to welcome 2013.
Kerala
Think of Kerala and unspoiled hilly terrains, coconut groves and tranquility are what come to mind. With its rich flora and fauna along with unique attractions, Kerala is one the fastest growing ecotourism destinations in the country. Go to Kerala to get away from it all and rejuvenate before a new, busy year kicks off. Spend languid days on a boat in the backwaters of Kerala or take an Elephant safari through one of its many wildlife sanctuaries like Parambikulam. Spend a weekend trekking among gorgeous Rhodendrons in the Rhodovalley or Mountain Biking in Thenmala – India’s first planned ecotourism destination.
Get In: Trivandrum
Belize
Fancy swimming with the Whale Shark, kayaking through exotic coral islands and visiting ancient Mayan ruins? If you answered yes, then Belize is the place for you to go to this New Year. Bordered on one side by the 320 km long Belize Barrier Reef, this beautiful Central American country is one of the hottest ecotourism destinations in the world. Belize offers an exciting and adventurous New Year vacation with its amazingly diverse biological ecosystems, tropical rainforests and an interesting terrain. Visit its famous caves, once used by the Mayans as burial grounds, for their incredibly beautiful stalagmite and stalactite formations hanging from the ceilings. Also make a trip to Placencia and snorkel with Whale Sharks and the endangered Nassau Grouper. Belize offers exciting opportunities for swimming, and snorkeling and in the Caribbean Sea and one popular dive spot is the spectacular Blue Hole.
Get In: Belize City
Borneo
For an ultimate adventure trip this New Year, head straight to Borneo and experience the really real wild. Borneo, located in Indonesia and celebrated as the third largest island in the world, is home to one of the oldest rainforests on the planet and holds within its deep recesses hundreds of species of flora and fauna with new ones being discovered even now. A dedicated ecotourism destination, Borneo offer limitless choices to the adventure traveler willing to do her share for the planet’s health. Right from exploring underground rivers in one of its intricate cave systems to following the trail of the severely endangered Bornean Orangutan or hiking up Mount Kinabalu, Borneo packs a big punch for just one island.
Get In: Kuala Lumpur
So, be a good Ecotourist in the New Year and remember the ‘no interference’ bit especially when you visit a fragile ecosystem like in Ecuador, Palau or Alaska.
Have a Super Green Year!