Sustainable Travel Tips
Sustainable travel tips are more important than ever in a world where tourism can both uplift and strain our planet. Luckily, by making conscious choices, you can reduce your carbon footprint and give back to the places you visit. Whether you’re staying close to home or exploring far-flung tropical destinations, every small step counts.
Get inspired and discover how travel can be enriching, not only for you, but also for the planet and its inhabitants. Together, we’re making a difference—one step at a time, one trip at a time. We’ll explore practical and inspiring sustainable travel tips. The below sustainable travel tips can help you reduce your environmental footprint and support local communities. It will be easy to enjoy your adventures while protecting the places you love to visit. Check also the region or country page of your destination. There might be specific sustainable tips for that area.
Sustainable Travel tips: Choose Eco-friendly Transportation
- Reduce your carbon footprint by using public transportation like buses, trains, boats, (shared) shuttles or shared taxis. By traveling with local transport, you support the economy and reduce emissions.
- If possible, avoid domestic flights or private cars.
- When you can, use direct airline flights. Fewer stops mean fewer carbon emissions. If you can, avoid flights altogether.
- If you need to rent a car, check if hybrid or electric rental cars are available. If you drive yourself, choose a low-emission vehicle.
- Sometimes local transportation like ferries or bicycles are great alternatives.
Stay in Eco Lodges and Sustainable Accommodations
- Choose certified eco lodges, for example:
+CST (Certification for Sustainable Tourism)-certified accommodations in Costa Rica
+Global Sustainable Tourism Council members
+Fair Trade Tourism certified accommodations in Africa
+Online Eco Rating for Lodging-Offered online on our site. An inexpensive way for lodges to show they practice sustainability. Lodges that have taken the online Eco Rating. - Find accommodations that take water and energy-saving measures; look for accommodations that use solar or renewable power, collect rainwater, manage waste and hire local staff.
- Ask about sustainability initiatives – for example, whether they recycle waste, reuse water, or have their own vegetable garden or compost system.
- Choose small-scale properties: this helps local entrepreneurs and avoids mass tourism impacts. Smaller hotels don’t affect the ecology as much.
- Choose eco lodges that support local communities.
Once you are at the lodge
- Minimize water and energy consumption: re-use towels and turn off lights and fans when you leave.
- Ask if they separate garbage and where you can deposit your organic garbage like fruit waste and/or recycling.
Eat Local, Organic, and Plant-based Whenever Possible
- Eat locally and seasonally: avoid imported foods and support local farmers and markets. Try “national” dishes, often locally produced.
- Choose small, local and often family-run restaurants rather than big, international chains.
- Do some research and try to find out if there are seasons during which you are not supposed to eat certain dishes. Perhaps the staff of the eco lodge where you are staying can also advise on this. To give you an idea: think about the reproduction period for endangered fish species. Even if it is on the menu, do not order it. Don’t think “the damage has already been done”. Because if the customers don’t eat it, the restaurant doesn’t sell it, and hence they won’t buy more fish from the fishermen.
Sustainable travel tips to support local ecotourism and local communities
- Choose socially responsible tour operators that support and work with local communities.
- Book excursions with community projects, indigenous guides, or NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations).
- Avoid tours that involve captive animals or disrupt wildlife.
- Choose eco-friendly activities: Hike, bike, and take tours that support conservation.
Sustainable Travel Tips to Respect Nature and Wildlife
- Don’t take anything from nature: no shells, plants or rare seeds. Don’t remove plants. This can disturb the ecosystem.
- Don’t touch, disturb or feed wild animals.
- Respect the coral reef; protect marine life from harmful chemicals. For this reason, don’t touch coral. Use reef-friendly biodegradable sunscreen when you go snorkeling or swimming. To find a reef-safe sunscreen. Look for products that explicitly state they are oxybenzone-free and octinoxate-free.
- Respect natural areas: stay on trails, take your trash with you and respect wildlife. Follow the rules in protected areas.
- Visit protected natural areas such as national parks and reserves with strict ecological guidelines.
Shop Consciously and Respect Local Communities
- Support local communities by buying handmade souvenirs/crafts.
- Support indigenous communities: buy artisan products directly from the artists, rather than mass-produced souvenirs. Buy Fair Trade products.
- Avoid coral or shell jewelry – instead, choose handmade souvenirs from local artisans.
- Respect local traditions – especially in villages or during religious festivities.
- Buy sustainable souvenirs; no products made from rare wood or animal skins.
- Respect local cultures: ask permission for photos. Don’t use drones without permission.
Avoid Waste and Plastic
• Limit your plastic use. For example, you might bring your own cutlery to avoid disposable plastic.
• Don’t litter: bring a reusable bag and a refillable water bottle. In lots of countries tap water is not drinkable. Its best to bring a reusable water bottle with a filter to avoid plastic waste.
• Donate or work with local sustainable projects.
Before you go on holiday to another country, it is always wise to do some research on safety. Are there places that you can only visit with an official tour operator? Or perhaps places that are completely discouraged?
Of course, first-hand information is very valuable. But keep in mind that not everything that is said on social media is true.
US citizens can go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html
We also recommend you check our Travel resources for the Eco Tourist . The more research you do, the more relaxed you will be while on vacation.