Eco-tours aren’t just for environmentalists—they can be an eye-opening experience for any traveler. Taking the road less traveled deep into Florida’s Everglades at Babcock Ranch is a travel experience that can make a lasting impression on the most experienced travelers. Eco-tours are a fun way to learn about ecosystems brimming with wildlife, and how you can protect them for your kids and grandkids.
As an eco-tour operator, we are always looking for ways to connect with nature, no matter where we visit. This list is our 10 must-see destinations for eco adventures around the world!
10. Galapagos Islands
Approximately 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean sits one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in the world—the Galapagos Islands. Home to an incredible 9,000 species, this is a destination for scientists, students, and casual visitors to explore biodiversity where renowned scientist Charles Darwin once studied evolution.
Visitors can sail, hike, and take conservation-based eco-tours in one of the most unique wildlife destinations in the world.
9. Kinabatangan River
On the northeastern tip of Borneo, in Sabah, Malaysia, is the Kinabatangan River. Stretching nearly 350 miles, it’s one of the most popular places for an eco tour thanks to its rainforests teeming with wildlife, including orangutans, crocodiles, and hornbills. Many local businesses offer lodging and tours, allowing you to see different parts of the river while learning about local customs, food, and nature.
8. Amazon Rainforest
The most biodiverse place anywhere in the world, eco tours in the Amazon Rainforest offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for visitors who want to explore South America. You can enter the rainforest from 9 different countries and see 10% of the world’s biodiversity on a guided trek, while kayaking down the river, or on a wildlife safari. While an incredible place to view wildlife, it requires careful planning and accounting for safety issues like weather, disease, and wildlife encounters.
7. Big Island
While any of the Hawaiian Islands are contenders for the best eco tour destination, the Big Island has the largest variety of tours. From stargazing at Mauna Kea to snorkeling with massive rays at night—the Big Island has no shortage of options. Brave visitors can even walk along lava trails at the acclaimed Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
6. Golden Circle
In the Western part of Iceland, starting at Reykjavik, the Golden Circle is home to many of the best eco tours in Europe. From snorkeling between tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park to taking in the sheer beauty of Gullfoss Falls, this is an eco tour destination you won’t want to miss.
5. Okavango Delta
Deep in the marshland of northern Botswana is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Okavango Delta—known as the biggest freshwater delta anywhere in the world. Depending on when you visit, you may be lucky enough to see elephants, cheetahs, and rhinoceroses. It’s home to luxury safari lodges, helicopter excursions, and canoe tours.
4. Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve
The Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve, on the coast of Quinta Roo in Mexico, is a unique place for an eco-tour, thanks to a unique combination of terrain, including mangrove forests and coral reefs. It’s home to wildlife on land and in the sea, including jaguars, sea turtles, and tapirs. Ancient Mayan ruins offer a unique experience for visitors who want to learn more about history and culture.
3. Sahara Desert
The largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara, is an exciting place for an eco-tour in Northern Africa. Spanning 9 countries, many tour operators offer unique experiences, like guided camel rides and stargazing in the desert skies.
2. Banff
Visit this popular Canadian destination in the summer and you can kayak, canoe, hike, or ride an e-bike through the picturesque Banff National Park. In the winter, the Rocky Mountains offer an especially unique backdrop for an eco-tour, with activities like skiing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and searching for the Northern Lights.
1. Babcock Ranch
Deep in the heart of Southwest Florida, Babcock Ranch offers visitors a chance to explore a vast stretch of protected wilderness home to some of the state’s most exotic wildlife. Whether you’re looking for alligators in the cypress swamps or birdwatching in the meadows and prairies, you’ll be overwhelmed by nature sightings on an eco-tour with our experienced tour guides. Highlights include wildlife walks under the moonlight, family-friendly swamp buggy tours, and self-guided walks where you may see frogs, snakes, or even a Florida panther! It’s an exhilarating experience where visitors can see the untamed wilderness that many tourists haven’t discovered.
