Vacations are all about rest and relaxation, but what if you crave a deeper level of rejuvenation? If you’ve ever considered using your free time to make the world a better place, delve into the world of eco-tourism with these five vacations that make a difference to our planet and global society.
Save Turtles in Parismina, Costa Rica
March through September is sea turtle nesting season and throngs of leatherback, green, and hawksbill turtles make their way onto the beaches of Parismina to lay their eggs. Sadly, this also attracts poachers. Volunteers can join the Asociación Salvemos las Tortugas de Parismina (Save the Turtles Association or ASTOP) in their nightly beach patrols that act as both a deterrent to thieves and a data collection effort. You can even get lodging with a local family for about $25 per night.
Gardening in Israel
Join the folks at Kibbutz Lotan to learn all about organic gardening and help with the group’s recycling projects. You’ll spend your two weeks building and growing this low-impact community, sleeping in a mud and straw geodesic hut built by previous volunteers.
Siyafunda Bush Experience
Not your typical African safari, this week-long adventure teaches you survival skills, animal tracking, and plant identification. You’ll camp out in the wilderness while working to gather valuable data on the local wildlife of the South African bush country.
Research Climate Change in Canada
Help gather data in the battle against global warming with the Edge of the Arctic program. Volunteers measure snowpack and evaluate plant life in both the tundra and the surrounding forest. You’ll even learn how to build an igloo!
Repair Trails in Montana
You can spend as little as a Saturday afternoon or as long as a full week working to clear and maintain hiking trails in Western Montana. A great bonding experience for the entire family, volunteers of all ages are welcome. Gather round the campfire at the end of the workday to meet your fellow backpackers, or join them for one of the free classes covering useful topics like wildflower identification or animal tracking.
Images via flickingerbrad, mypubliclands
