Top Eco-Tourism Spots to Visit in 2023
Chosen theme: Top Eco-Tourism Spots to Visit in 2023. Discover destinations where conservation comes first, communities lead the way, and every step leaves a lighter footprint. Explore, learn, and share your favorite green journeys—then subscribe for monthly eco-travel stories and tips.
How We Chose 2023’s Top Eco-Tourism Spots
Community-Led Conservation as a Compass
We prioritized destinations where residents guide tourism policies and share benefits. Think Namibia’s conservancies, Rwanda’s revenue-sharing model for gorilla trekking, and Palau’s visitor pledge signed in passports. Comment if you’ve witnessed community leadership changing how travelers behave for the better.
Science-Backed Biodiversity Hotspots
From the Galápagos to Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula and Borneo’s Danum Valley, we focused on places with documented species richness and strong protections. Seen rare wildlife ethically before? Share your respectful-wildlife tips to help others plan 2023’s most mindful adventures.
Low-Impact Access and Infrastructure
We looked for visitor caps, trail maintenance funds, zero-waste initiatives, electric transport, and certified eco-lodges. Norway’s electric ferries and Slovenia’s Green Scheme exemplify this trend. Ready to back these systems in 2023? Subscribe for our checklist of low-impact travel habits.
Suspension bridges reveal epiphytes, hummingbirds, and the resplendent quetzal’s fleeting shimmer. Guides share stories of farmers-turned-forest-guardians, proving tourism can fund reforestation. Planning 2023? Pledge to stick to marked trails, hire local naturalists, and support cooperatives producing shade-grown coffee.
Islands and Marine Sanctuaries
Strict visitor limits, naturalist-led groups, and designated landings protect evolutionary theater. One traveler recalled returning to the ship rather than crowd a resting sea lion—small choices, big impact. Heading in 2023? Choose licensed operators and keep two meters from wildlife, always.
The Palau Pledge asks arrivals to act as guardians, not consumers. Scuba among protected reefs while community rangers monitor no-take zones. Considering 2023? Opt for reef-safe sunscreen, buoyancy training to avoid coral contact, and local homestays that reinvest in conservation.
Whale-watching here follows strict codes; sightings benefit research teams tracking migratory giants. On São Miguel, geothermal energy warms homes and greenhouses. Planning 2023? Choose small-group boats with scientists aboard and spend in family-run eateries serving sustainably caught fish.
Mountains and Sacred Trails
Bhutan limits mass tourism, channeling fees into free healthcare, education, and conservation. Trekkers find pristine camps and cultural depth. Considering 2023? Travel with licensed guides, learn dzongkha phrases, and support artisans making traditional textiles rather than buying mass-produced souvenirs.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla permits fund rangers, habitat expansion, and community projects. A traveler recalled holding breath as a silverback calmly passed, guides ensuring ample space. In 2023, hire porters to support local incomes and reduce erosion by distributing gear weight responsibly.
Brazil’s Pantanal
Floodplain rhythms reveal jabiru storks, capybaras, and patient jaguars. Ethical operators idle quietly and avoid spotlighting cats. Planning 2023? Choose naturalist-led boats, avoid baiting practices, and submit your sightings to citizen science platforms that aid anti-poaching patrols.
Namibia’s Desert-Adapted Giants
In Damaraland and Kaokoland, community-run conservancies protect elephants and rhinos adapted to arid extremes. Guides recount how tourism dollars financed water points for both wildlife and villages. For 2023, book stays owned by conservancies and keep a generous viewing distance.
Cold, Fragile Frontiers
Expeditions here follow stringent wildlife distances and biosecurity to prevent invasive seeds. A guide once paused our group to let a fox cross in silence. Planning 2023? Favor smaller vessels, reuse gear, and support operators aligned with AECO guidelines.
Green Cities as Gateways
Car-free streets, river restoration, and the Slovenia Green certification network make this an eco-travel springboard. In 2023, bike between farm-to-table spots, refill at public fountains, and ride buses to reach alpine trails without renting a car.
Green Cities as Gateways
Solar roofs, tram-first planning, and the Vauban district’s traffic-calmed living show what sustainable design looks like daily. Planning 2023? Sleep in a passive-house hotel and take regional trains to Black Forest hikes powered by renewable-heavy grids.