1. Swim with turtles in Molokini
Molokini is an islet on Hawaii’s Maui island, famed for its crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life. Get up close and personal with green sea turtles and schools of vibrant fish on this snorkeling tour. Professional naturalists will guide you around Molokini’s breathtaking reef. Best of all? This tour is run by the Pacific Whale Foundation, with all proceeds going to marine conservation.
2. Lose yourself in turquoise waters
A cenote is a natural sinkhole that boasts jewel-bright turquoise waters. Mexico’s Quintana Roo has cenotes in abundance. Tour the cenotes in an action-packed day that includes rafting, rappelling, and snorkeling. While this tour is active, it’s also ESR-certified, meaning that it’s low-impact and eco-friendly.
3. See the Barrier Reef, sustainably
The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is one of the world’s most beautiful yet fragile ecosystems. That’s why traveling responsibly in this area is so important. Passions of Paradise is one company offering carbon-neutral and eco-friendly reef cruises, with proceeds going towards reef conservation. You’ll learn about the reef from the marine biologists on board your boat and see it up close on a guided snorkel.
4. Hop on over to Kangaroo Island
No visit to Australia is complete without a kangaroo-sighting. Pristine Kangaroo Island is one of the best places in Australia to see native animals like roos, wallabies, and echidnas in their unspoiled natural habitat. And an eco-certified tour will ensure their habitat stays that way long after you’ve returned home.
5. Go plastic-free in Costa Rica
If you’re a sea-lover then you’re probably already aware of the danger plastic waste poses to our oceans and the creatures that live there. If you want to take a stand against plastic. this plastic-free catamaran tour in Costa Rica is just the ticket. You’ll cruise the azure waters around Tortuga Island with marine-biologist-trained tour guides, and leave the sea just as clean as you found it.
6. Chill out with polar bears in Finland
You’ll love meeting arctic animals from polar bears to wolverines at Ranua Wildlife Park in Rovaniemi, Finland. What’s more, the animals will love it, too. Animal welfare is a top priority at this very special wildlife conservation park. When you’re not marveling at the local wildlife, learn about the park’s work to protect endangered species.
7. Meet Icelandic puffins in their natural habitat
In between dipping in hot springs and trekking through fjords, make some time on your Iceland trip to get up close and personal with the local birdlife. An eco-certified cruise can take you out to islands where you’ll spot arctic terns, cormorants, and delightfully cute colonies of puffins. Sit back and relax in the knowledge that, while you’ll have a great view of these birds, your tour won’t disturb their fragile breeding grounds.
8. Go carbon-free in stunning rainforest
What’s better a day spent scaling peaks, exploring grottos, and showering in waterfalls in Brazil’s stunning Tijuca rainforest? Doing all those things without leaving a hefty carbon footprint behind. Opt for a carbon-neutral, eco-certified rainforest tour and you won’t just enjoy this beautiful natural setting, you’ll be helping to conserve it, too.
9. Cage dive with Cape Town’s sharks
Adrenaline junkies, look no further for your next eco-friendly thrill! Dyer Island, off the coast of Cape Town, is a favorite haunt for the area’s great white sharks. Daredevil cage divers can come face to face with these majestic creatures, all under the expert supervision of professional marine biologists. Cap off the tour with a visit to a seabird sanctuary before you head back to Cape Town.
