Have you ever wondered what sort of impact traveling has on the world’s environment, and thus, the beings which inhabit it? While traveling can do wonders for our minds and enrich our lives, it can also have a negative impact on our beautiful earth. That’s why I’ve put together a big fat awesome list of 20 ecotourism tips and eco-friendly practices, so you can be a more green traveler.

Psst, this post on ecotourism tips contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure.
When you’re on a plane, you might not really think about what the jet fuel is doing to the atmosphere (me included!). Or when you’re in the hotel bar and order a drink, you may not give a second thought to where the straw in your glass is going once it’s empty.
All day, everyday, people are traveling and enjoying life.
Whether it be traveling to a new continent for a new adventure or traveling to a nearby city for a business meeting.
While going to new places and experiencing new things can open our minds and expand our horizons, it can also have a negative impact on our beautiful earth.
What is eco-friendly travel, otherwise known as “green” travel?
Green travel is a sort of broad term with two different sections, but according to the this definition…
“[green travel] refers first and foremost to responsible travel practices that pay attention to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. It can also refer to eco-tourism, which involves responsible travel specifically to natural areas.”
(Greatist.com, 2013)
Ultimately, green travel could be labeled as “moral” travel, as it focuses on ensuring that all travel is undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner.
In other words, leaving as little of an impact on the places you visit and protecting the environment — both at home and abroad.

20 EASY WAYS TO PRACTICE ECOTOURISM & BE A MORE GREEN TRAVELER
Say “no” to straws.
If you’re wanting to not contribute to our global plastic problem and reduce your plastic consumption, saying “no” to straws is one of the easiest ways to do it!
Straws are a big no-no if you want to be the ultimate eco-friendly traveler, as they are incredibly disposable and fill up the landfills (and oceans) like crazy.
So, at your next get together or when you’re at the bar ordering a drink, say no to the straw and sip instead.
(Psst, still don’t want to give up straws? I hear you! I spill alllllll the time. That’s why I use reusable stainless steel straws and bamboo straws!)
Take a walk.
If you’re exploring a new city or just exploring your backyard, instead of driving your car or taking a bus, why not walk?
You’ll not only save on unnecessary pollution, it’s also good exercise! And you’ll likely notice more — like a new boutique, hidden statue, or relaxing green space — than if you were cruising by in a car or on a bus.
This is one of the easiest (and completely FREE!) ecotourism practices that many budget backpackers and travelers take up.
Slow travel is the way to go.
This goes along with taking into account the pollution, which is unavoidable with most means of transportation. If you have the available time, why not consider traveling more slower than usual?
It allows you to save money, minimize the amount of pollution from transportation (like flights, buses, cars, etc.), and you’ll get to see more than if you were traveling at the speed of light!
Additionally, if the opportunity is there, take trains over planes. You’ll significantly reduce your CO2 footprint and it’ll most likely be a more memorable journey compared to flying in a plane, as you’ll actually be able to see the surrounding landscape.
Think before you slather.
Before you slather on your sunscreen, have you thought about what’s in it?
Sunscreens with toxic chemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate are extremely harmful to the ocean.
Consider swapping it out for a non-toxic, natural sunscreen, usually made out of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. You’ll not only protect your skin, but reduce your impact on the oceans inhabitants and plants.
Read more about the impacts of harmful sunscreen here (and then switch to a more conscious option to be a better ecotourist!).
Check out this post on chemical-free, reef-safe sunscreens to find out what my favorite brands are!
Car share.
I think we can all agree that less cars on the road equals less pollution. That’s why a great way to be an eco-friendly traveler is to reap the benefits of car-sharing!
Whether you’re in the US, Europe, or Australia, you’ll find companies dedicated to car sharing. Here are car sharing programs in the US, Bla Bla Car in Europe, and for everywhere else, check this.
Minimize your food consumption.
This includes passing on the elaborate breakfasts just to have a more “Instagram-worthy” photo.
I see this all the time on Instagram and it grinds my gears. Social media “influencers” and “Instagram-famous” people ordering up a huge amount of food for breakfast/lunch/dinner just to take a picture.
They’re surrounded by vast amounts of colorful plates and pretty food — though, realistically, one or even two people can’t scarf down what’s in front of them.
Can you imagine how much food is wasted only to get a pretty photo?
It’s not sustainable or eco-friendly travel in any way. Think of all that food going to people who will actually eat it!
Say no to plastic water bottles.
I think we can all agree that plastic water bottles are — amongst other things — destroying this planet. Did you know that 1,500 water bottles are consumed every second? Holy smokes! Y’all, we need to do something about this. I need you right now to make a pledge to say no to every water bottle you see.
Instead, get a reusable water bottle or, if you’re somewhere where you are unable to drink the tap water, check out this water bottle with a filter. (It’s my FAVORITE to travel with around places like Asia and Mexico!)
By getting yourself a reusable water bottle, you’ll be glad to know you’re lessening your plastic impact on the earth and being a more green traveler!
To read more on plastic-free travel, check out this post on 8 plastic-reducing tips and this post on how to implement #PlasticFreeJuly every month!
Support the real local economy.
Wherever you’re traveling, make a point to support the local community, also known as the local economy.
Instead of purchasing your souvenirs at a typical souvenir shop, buy them from a small, local shop in a not-so-well-known neighborhood. You’ll be supporting a local family, as well as putting your money into the local economy.
This is an essential ecotourism practice many travelers forget to implement and use!
Never — ever — buy wildlife products.
Everyday, we’re faced with choices regarding the purchases we may make — what you might not know is that those purchases could have a harmful impact on wildlife.
While in the Caribbean you see shelves full of colorful coral decorations and tortoise shell accessories. Or in antique shop, you find a unique Ivory tusk intricately designed. Or in Australia, you find a surf shop filled with shark teeth necklaces.
The fact is, we all need to refrain from purchasing these sorts of products.
This demand continues to feed wildlife crime and destroys populations of elephants, marine turtles, rhinos, and tigers, amongst other species.
Be a good little green traveler from here on out and skip buying any wildlife products! Not only is this sustainable travel tip easy to do, it also saves you money. Win-win!
In fact, this is something an “animal lover” would never do! You can read more about that on my big fat list of unethical animal encounters to avoid.
Support organizations that encourage sustainability.
Whenever you’re deciding on a tour group, organization, etc., pick one that encourages sustainability. For example, a company which supports the local community by investing in the area, contributing to preservation, hiring local staff, and sources local supplies.
A company which goes out of their way to reduce their negative environmental impact by creating conservation measures, practices RRR (reduce, reuse, recycle), plants trees to offset impact, offers incentives to staff to carpool, etc.
There’s so many ways a company can promote sustainability! So definitely choose one which is doing at least one (or all!) of these things.
Check out this list of the top sustainable tour companies to travel the world with!
Throw out those plastic toothbrushes.
Haven’t you heard?
Considering 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown away every year in the U.S., which is enough to stretch around the world 4 times, and most plastic toothbrushes are made out of polypropylene and nylon, which is non-renewable fossil fuels, the time for plastic toothbrushes is out!
Do what you can for the world and make the switch to a bamboo toothbrush. It’s such an easy swap, you won’t even notice a difference!
Not to mention, I find bamboo toothbrushes to be so much lighter than plastic toothbrushes, which saves you precious bag weight! I call that a major win.
Get yourself a bamboo toothbrush ASAP.
Avoid the plane and take the train.
We all know planes release a good amount of pollution, right?
Well, one way to cut down on your particular impact by plane pollution is to opt for taking the train instead! Trains use remarkably less fuel and have a significantly smaller impact on the environment compared to planes.
In fact, according to this source, you’ll cut carbon dioxide (CO2) by half if you take the train over a plane. Awesome, right?
Not only is adopting this ecotourism practice a money-saver, you’ll also likely get better views, more space, and less hassle!
Want to know where I find my train tickets at the best price? The Trainline.com — always! You can read more about my favorite travel resources and recommendations here.
Donate to local charities.
Remember how eco-travel and green travel is all about environment, social, and economical responsibility?
By donating to local charities, you’re supporting the social and economical parts of that!
You’ll not only be giving back to the community, but also supporting local families, making sure they have what they need, and amplifying local preservation acts.
While this ecotourism practice involves you opening your wallet, when you donate to the right charities, you can know your hard-earned dollars are going to those who need them most and will have a direct impact on their wellbeing.
Check this post out on the 20 best environmental and animal charities for inspiration on where to donate!
Pass on the hotel room maid service.
This is SUCH an underrated eco-friendly practice to reduce one’s environmental impact!
Think about it… By passing on hotel room maid service, you’ll not only save them some time but you’ll also save precious resources (like water) and energy.
So, when you’re at your next destination, do the world a favor and stick that “do not disturb” sign on your door to pass on the maid service!
Or, if you’re at one the popular chain hotels, you’ll find they have you hang up the towels to pass on towel washing. (Which is a must if you’re an eco-tourist who wants to reduce your environmental footprint.)
Book non-stop flights rather than indirect ones.
If you don’t have the option of taking an alternative mode of transportation, like a bus or train, opt for taking a non-stop flight to reduce your environmental impact.
Indirect flights are not only more of a hassle (because who enjoys layovers, right?), they put out more chemicals and fuel pollution than non-stop flights.
It’s completely understandable if you are on a budget and can’t afford non-stop flights, but if you do have the means, booking non-stop flights is a great way to practice green travel!
Don’t forget — a sustainable traveler would never go on a cruise! Here’s why.
Recycle everywhere and anywhere you go.
Recycling isn’t just for families or individuals who live in a set location. Whether you’re traveling across the United States or backpacking around Europe, you have the opportunity to recycle everywhere you go!
Seriously — many cities, towns, and random villages have recycling bins you can take advantage of.
So, the next time you buy a pack of canned beer or get yourself food wrapped in paper, do the earth a favor and recycle the materials once you’re finished. A simple, yet effective ecotourism tip!
Research future accommodations sustainability efforts.
When booking your next trip, consider booking an accommodation which focuses on sustainability efforts.
For example, they use bamboo straws instead of plastic straws, compost leftover produce, recycle all materials (when possible), use plastic-free toilet paper, reduce their water consumption, and more.
At a B&B I recently looked at, they stocked the bathrooms with Who Gives a Crap toilet paper — which is plastic free and they donate 50% of profits to build toilets around the world! LOVE.
Don’t stray from the trail.
When hiking around a national park or natural reservation, take care to stay on the designated trail.
The trails are there for a reason, as some plant species are extremely delicate and won’t grow when trampled on by people.
For example, Bluebonnets first grow underneath the ground and take a good long while to have the strength to sprout. If people continue stepping on the ground their trying to sprout in, they can’t grow — and that’s no fun!
As an eco-friendly traveler, it’s your job to care for the places you explore! So stay on the trail and leave no trace.
Never feed wildlife.
I know, I know — we all love when animals come up to us and make us feel like we’re out of a Disney movie with new, animal friends.
But that just isn’t meant to happen in the real world.
Animals are meant to stay wild and when humans start giving them food, the animals become more accustomed to being fed by humans — which is bad, bad, bad.
Why is it bad, you might ask?
Because when animals start to rely on humans for food, they forget how to take care of themselves. They could easily die due to not being able to actually feed themselves.
For example, in Yosemite National Park, park rangers tell you to throw rocks and yell at bears to scare them away.
This is because if a bear becomes too friendly towards humans (who are usually feeding it), the bear usually ends up being shot and killed, as it’s a danger to park guests. How sad is that?
So, case in point, never — ever — feed the wildlife.
Just keep your distance and admire from afar! Again, this ecotourism practice couldn’t be any easier! As you simply need to do nothing at all. And just leave animals be.
Do not ride or in any way exploit wildlife.
Similar to not feeding or approaching wildlife, you should never exploit it either.
This means no swimming with dolphins in pools, riding elephants in Asia, going to zoos, taking pictures with drugged tigers in Thailand, own any exotic pets, and more.
Animals are meant to live separate lives away from humans, so don’t exploit them in any way. Here’s a peek into the commercial exploitation of animals.
And if you really want to go far in not exploiting wildlife, the best way would be to go vegan! In fact, as an eco-friendly tourist, I consider vegan travel as an essential part of sustainable tourism.
Many vegans do everything in their power to not harm animals — this means buying cruelty-free products, abstaining from any foods containing animal, and not buying any animal products, like fur.
As mentioned earlier, I have a big massive list of unethical animal encounters to avoid if you’re an “animal lover.” You can check out that post here.
With these 20 best ways to practice ecotourism and be a more green traveler, you can effortlessly start to reduce your environmental footprint, support the destinations you visit, and amplify your positive impact!
I love focusing my efforts of sustainable travel, responsible tourism, and doing what I can for this big, beautiful earth — while traveling and at home. So, let me ask you…
What changes are you going to make to take the right steps towards eco-friendly travel and sustainable tourism?
Sophie xx
Not sure what to check out next? Readers love these posts:
- Top sustainable tours for an eco-friendly vacation
- 10 easy swaps to have a more eco-friendly summer (#8 is crazy simple!)
- Plastic-free travel tips: 8 easy ways to ditch plastic whilst wandering
- Overtourism: 10+ destinations saying “wish you weren’t here!”
- Getting down and dirty with elephants in Chiang Rai… the ethical way!
- Why vegan travel is part of sustainable & eco-friendly tourism
Pin these 20 ecotourism tips for later! ↓
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Yay for transparency! This post contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission. This helps keep the site chugging along! Read the full disclosure here.
Jane M
July 19, 2018 8:28 pmHey Sofie,
Loved this post! The food waste thing drives me nuts too. We just got to Bali a few weeks ago and have noticed that so many people order twice as much food as they eat. These are the same people saying “no straw” and sneering at the garbage in the streets – but they don’t even think twice about all that food going to waste. We’ve become very aware of how much food we are ordering and eating and now order less than we think we’ll need. So far, we’ve never had to order something extra because we didn’t have enough, so we’re saving money, too!
J
The Wanderful Me
July 23, 2018 6:00 pmThanks Jane! So glad we connected. Hope you’re having a great time in Bali! And also SO GLAD someone agrees with me on the whole food waste thing. It drives me crazy!
Kris
August 23, 2018 7:00 pmI loved this article! It was so helpful, and I really appreciated how most of these tips were very simple things that you could easily work into any kind of travel. One thing I like to do is try to purchase locally-grown foods, as opposed to food which has been flown in. It uses less resources, is more sustainable, and gives you more of an insight into the local culture!
Fitoru
June 14, 2020 7:53 pmThis is a great list of eco friendly travel tips, nice content, good read and informative.
Tricky Travellers
December 9, 2021 6:02 amIt is a very thorough and informative article about eco-tourism. Everyone should travel eco-friendly keeping the environment as our first priority. Thanks for sharing these valuable tips.
Bea adventurous
February 6, 2022 4:46 amHi Sophie, Thanks for this blog! It’s allowed me to add a few new things to my list of things to do when travelling! A lot of simple things which we can all do to make a difference!
Thanks so much for this great read!
Sophie
February 14, 2022 7:47 amHey Bea! It’s great to hear you liked the blog on ecotourism practices! I couldn’t agree with you more on how many of them are simple things we could all do to make a difference. Which tip is your favorite?
Adreasa
October 12, 2022 5:50 amReally amazing blog, has been really innovative and informative.
Adreasa
October 12, 2022 5:52 amReally innovative and informative blog. Thank you for sharing such a powerful information. Reading it twice a day.
Hilary
March 19, 2023 3:55 amI am so glad I stumbled across this article. Thank you for writing it. I will be taking all 20 tips on my trip this year!! I will also be sharing this other travellers I know. What are your favourite sustainable travel brands? (I.e. clothes, travel product, travel companies, etc.)