The incredible biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands is a draw for nature enthusiasts of all ages. If you are looking for a family-friendly vacation to the Galapagos that adheres to your green ideals, check out Ecoventura, a cruise company that operates out of Ecuador and who offers itineraries, in a child-friendly environment, that will appeal to the child in all of us. Throughout the year Ecoventura sprinkles departures exclusively for families into its schedule.

By Ronit Epstein

The sprawling Amazon rainforest is alive with sights, sounds and movement that cannot be seen anywhere else on our beautiful planet. Bolivian Amazon covers 59.6 million hectares, and more than 11 percent of Bolivia is officially protected. Anyone visiting this beautiful region will experience some of the world’s most stunning, strange and wonderful wildlife, leaving memories that are difficult to beat.

Diane Valenti, owner and founder of Llama Expeditions, says their trips “are a chance for culturally curious travelers to make a meaningful connection with the people and the land of Peru”. Llama Expeditions tours offer full cultural immersion giving guests the opportunity to see how Peruvians live – to talk with them about their dreams and accomplishments, and to learn about the challenges they face.

By Annika S. Hipple

Purchasing a plastic bottle of water or two while traveling may not seem like a huge deal on an individual level, but multiply that by the number of travelers crisscrossing the globe every day and the impact is massive. On a global scale, 2.7 million tons of plastic are used annually for water bottles. Of the billions of single-use water bottles consumed in the United States every year, 86 percent end up as litter or in landfills; in many countries this number is even higher.

As the most southerly of the Greek Islands, Crete enjoys a long, hot summer and an even longer tourist season, thanks to its classic Mediterranean blend of sun-baked beaches, inland flora and the bright blue of the Cretan Sea. But this island has a distinct history and its people retain a deep sense of heritage that goes far beyond the resorts of the eastern shores or cheap flights to Heraklion. Look elsewhere and you can help sustain the Crete of ancient civilisations, culinary traditions and warm hospitality.

By Brad Nahill

When many people hear the words “shark” and “tourism” in the same sentence, the first thing they think of is how to avoid them. Unfortunately these people are missing the opportunity to witness and learn about one of nature’s truly astounding creatures. While shark attacks are real and many movies and media outlets capitalize on this fear there are common sense ways to avoid danger and have a great experience while contributing to shark conservation efforts.

By Jessica Frei

Bandhavgarh National Park, nestled in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh in Central India, is a popular destination whose assortment of wildlife and scenic beauty lures sightseers to the park. A wildlife viewing trip to Bandhavgarh National Park is surely a stress buster for folks bored with frenzied daily routines, providing the chance to uncover the real, energetic side of life.

“Raw.” The simple, but evocative word Susan Fanning chooses to describe Africa. After spending a good chunk of her life on the continent (11 years), native Irishwoman Susan decided to return once again and continue her love affair with the country and its people. This time, she spent it within the Maasai community through a Maasai Warrior Training program put together by Laura Alessandrini and Silas Kitonga. Silas is a Maasai from Il ‘Ngwesi, the area where Maasai Warrior Training takes place.

By Michael Soncina

Sustainable tourism design in Jordan and other Middle Eastern locations, especially in the realm of architecture, is creating sustainable tourism potential in the Middle East. Interestingly, hotels are built with sustainable materials, such as LED lights and solar panels and are made to co-exist with the dangerous sand dunes affecting the region so negatively.

Manu is one of the most remote parts of the Peruvian Amazon that is still accessible to travellers. It takes 6 hours from the closest town by car and boat to reach our lodge. It is this remoteness that makes Manu such an attractive place to visit as unlike the more accessible regions of the forest, Manu is still a pristine wilderness that has been barely touched by human development and is teeming with wildlife.