travel
close to nature
and culture
Ecotourism is a form of travel that is close to nature and culture, involves exploration and interpretation. It takes the traveler to places rich in natural resources, stunning landscape and unique heritage.
atitlan
Dominika Zaręba
My introduction to ecotourism took place in Central America. I travelled down the trail which is called La Ruta Maya (The Maya Route), and which connects areas of natural importance, ancient Mayan sites hidden in the rainforest, native villages and colorful markets full of locally produced arts & crafts and other local fair trade products. This was a real ecotourist experience, which began my adventure with ecotourism and resulted in my first book „Ecotourism”, which since 2000 has seen four editions (2000, 2008, 2010, 2020).
The name I gave to this website derives from Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, which was a major inspiration for me to travel responsibly and to write and take photos during my travels.
Dominika Zareba: author of Poland’s first book dedicated to ecotourism (“Ekoturystyka”, PWN, 4th ed. 2020). Writer, freelance columnist and traveler, author of tourist guides and books. Co-founder of the Bezdroża Publishing House. She laid the foundations for the greenways program in Poland and initiated creation of greenway networks across Central and Eastern Europe. She is active with many environmental NGOs in Poland and world-wide. Dominika is the Chief of the Board of Trustees of the Partnership Fund and the international expert of the Environmental Partnership Association which brings together six foundations running programs in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria as well as a member of the European/Global Ecotourism Network.
ECOTOURISM BY THE GLOBAL ECOTOURISM NETWORK:
Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved (visitors, staff and the visited).
Ecotourism is exploring the world in a curious way, with eyes wide open.
Rafting on the Niemen River, learning Spanish at an environmental school run by indigenous peoples in the heart of the Guatemalan jungle, hiking or skiing across the Carpathian mountains, trekking in the Himalayas, participating in eco-safari adventures on the African savanna, tracking large predators in the Romanian Carpathians, kayaking on the Bug River or on the Oder River, birding trips to the Biebrza Marshes, horseback rides into the Mongolian steppe, learning the secrets of local dance and cuisine in Indonesia, handcrafts workshops and bread-baking courses in a remote village in the Bieszczady mountains, climbing up volcanoes in Malaysia’s national parks on the island of Borneo, biking trips on the Amber Trail …
What do all these journeys to nearby places or to the most exotic corners of the world have in common? Ecotourism, or an approach to travelling that is sensitive to the natural environment, to local traditions and culture and that is active in its pursuit of knowledge about local places and communities. Today, ecotourism is one of the fastest growing tourist markets in the world, and enjoys a strong position because of its commitment on the one hand to protecting the natural environment, and on the other hand because it supports local jobs, keeps tourist money in the community and boosts the local economy.
Welcome to the website about ecotourism and ecotravel on a local and global scale!
NOTES & SOUNDS
Inspirations from Poland and the world
Planting Our Future – new publication
I am happy to present our new publication: Planting Our Future. Linking communities and...
Culture and Nature – new publication
I am happy to present you the publication that was produced as part of the “Culture and Nature....
Soomaa National Park (Estonia)
Vast marshes and bogs, wet meadows, unregulated rivers and dense forests together form a mosaic -...
CHILDREN TRAVELERS
Small eco-travelers
Kids are natural and grateful travellers. Their needs are small compared to those of grown-ups, they don’t require any special conveniences, they show a natural curiosity for what goes on around them. They also love to be outdoors, like camping, watching animals in the wild, searching for hidden treasures and counting stars…
Children are great at breaking down cultural barriers, they bring us closer to people we meet along the way, oftentimes it’s thanks to them that we get to feel the climate of the place or end up in an engaging and memorable conversation. Children are keenly aware of their surroundings and they pay attention to details which are often invisible to the adult eye. When you’re on a trip with children, you see the world through their lenses, a world that’s more diverse, colorful and unpredictable.
When travelling with your youngsters, you don’t necessarily need to go to far away, exotic places. Even a weekend outing – in the countryside, to a forest, by the lakeside, biking trip, a walk to a museum or to a fair organized close to you – is a great reason to take them with you.
Is it worth taking youngsters along on your travels, getting to know the world and all its tastes?
