Top 10 Ecotourist Hotspots

• Introduction
• 1. Alaska
• 2. The Amazon
• 3. Antarctica
• 4. Blue Mountains
• 5. Borneo
• 6. Botswana
• 7. Costa Rica
• 8. Dominica
• 9. Galapagos Islands
• 10. Himalayas

Ecotourism has seen a tremendous surge in popularity in recent years and, in honor of Earth Day (April 22), our editors have rounded up our top picks for ecotourist hotspots to get you thinking green. Two on our list pack substantial environmental pedigree (the Amazon and Galapagos), but you'll also find some up-and-comers here you may not have heard of, like the Caribbean island of Dominica, which is doing good work of turning itself into the region's primo environmental destination; Australia's Blue Mountains, recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Botswana, a model of ecotourism in Africa. Since hiking and staying at eco-friendly lodges in the midst of the rainforest are quite possibly the finest aspects of an ecotourist holiday, you'll be able to do just that at several of our favorites, including Borneo and Costa Rica. Of course, being able to get up close to wildlife and glaciers is also an extremely popular eco-activity – Alaska and Antarctica offer intrepid travelers the chance to experience both from the deck of a ship or an inflatable zodiac. Finally, if sleeping in the great outdoors and trekking to some of the world's highest plateaus are your recipe for ecotourist nirvana, plan a camping trek in the Himalayas – and be sure to take your trash back to base camp with you. For a list of environmentally friendly tour operators, hotels, and more, visit the International Ecotourism Society website (www.ecotourism.org).

See Alaska Travel Guide | See Amazon Travel Guide | See Australia and Pacific Travel Guide | See China Travel Guide | See Costa Rica Travel Guide | See Dominica Travel Guide | See Ecuador Travel Guide | See Galapagos Islands Travel GuideSee India Travel Guide