Of course, many of us love to travel — but for those of us who are especially eco-conscious, are there sustainable ways to do so? The good news is that you could give ecotourism a go.

The term ‘ecotourism’ basically refers to a type of travel where ecological responsibility and appreciation of the natural world are both at the forefront.

There are many different green moves you can make while travelling. You can take energy-efficient modes of transport, visit national parks, support local communities, and stay in accommodation close to the attractions you most want to check out.

Here are just a few ecotourism activities you could pursue in the US state of Florida alone…

Embark on a Guided Tour

There’s so much to see and do in Florida that you could understandably be flummoxed about where to start first. For this reason, it would be wise to book yourself a spot on a guided tour.

Joining one of the many guided tours run in Florida would enable you to be introduced to a string of enticing rural attractions within a conveniently short space of time.

Along the way, a guide who has already been there and done that will be able to teach you about various aspects of rural Florida — including its scenery and wildlife. Especially crucially, you can garner insights into how to navigate much of the state through eco-conscious means.

Explore National and State Parks

Did you know that every year sees more than 29 million people visiting a Florida park? The Sunshine State is resplendent with green open spaces — including 11 national parks and 158 state parks. Florida’s three major national parks are (in order of geographical size):

• Everglades National Park (1.5 million acres)
• Biscayne National Park (172,971 acres)
• Dry Tortugas National Park (47,125 acres)

Key to the appeal of these parks is being able to not only see their diverse ecosystems — such as woodlands, wetlands, and beaches — up close, but also navigate them by foot, bike or even boat.

Visit Wildlife Refuges

While on the subject of boat trips, one of the best Floridan places to enjoy those is Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge — a labyrinth of lagoons and swamps in Southwest Florida.

Several boat tours cover this area, and come with expert guides who can help you to spot a stunning array of wildlife — like loggerhead sea turtles, mangrove cuckoos, manatees and even that enduring icon of the United States itself, the bald eagle.

If you can’t get no cat-isfaction, rest assured that lions and jaguars await at St. Augustine Wild Reserve. Meanwhile, Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve is home to hundreds of bird species.

Hike and Cycle Through Nature

One major principle of ecotourism is minimising the environmental impact of the travel itself. It’s fortunate, then, that many of Florida’s greenest areas are easy to get around in ways that rein in the traveller’s carbon footprint.

Just look at the example of Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary — where, near the city of Naples, you can hike for more than two miles along a boardwalk while seeing otters, alligators, white-tailed deer, and other animals.

You can also get some great exercise in peninsular Florida by cycling the 16-mile Pine Island Bike Path from St James City to Bokeelia, taking in sights of forests and marshes along the way.

Soak Up the Soothing Atmosphere of the Natural World

Spending time in nature has been credited with a range of mental health benefits — such as helping to provide people with:

• Better protection against anxiety and depression
• Meaningful human relationships
• A sense of place
• Spiritual fulfilment

Even when returning to manmade accommodation on every night of your Florida stay, you can expect the feel-good vibes to keep coming. One reason why is that, in advance, you could reserve a Gulf Coast villa — such as through Ocean Florida, which is currently offering packages for Florida villa holidays in 2024.

That way, you would be able to enjoy not only a ‘home from home’ feel, but also the convenience of having an abundance of sumptuous natural scenery within easy travelling distance.

Take Part in Volunteering  

Admittedly, when you think of tourism, you probably don’t immediately think of volunteering. However, this could largely just be because volunteering opportunities in eco-friendly lines of work are often poorly publicised.

Many green organisations appreciate people providing extra pairs of hands from time to time. Such establishments include Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, where an aquarium and a butterfly garden are among the facilities welcoming volunteers.

Featured image credit: Pixabay