South America is a continent rich with geographical and cultural diversity.  Home to approximately 370 million individuals and countless animal species and ecosystems, it offers the responsible traveler, a world of adventure and personal discovery.  Travel South America, and one has the opportunity to visit the world´s highest waterfall, largest river, longest mountain range, largest rainforest, and enjoy countless other unique experiences. 

To travel South America, one also comes face to face with poverty, environmental deterioration and cultural pressures.  These are not qualities inherent to South America, nor are they fixed in place.  Ecotourism can play an important role in their reversal.  In fact, ecotourism is central to the preservation and support of local communities and their environments.  By definition, ecotourism is ¨responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people¨ (International Ecotourism Society)

Mindful Traveler will help you travel South America backed by the Ecotourism Philosophy, so that you can experience all that this amazing continent has to offer while helping to protect it for future generations.

Mindful Traveler adopts the following ecotourism principles provided by the International Ecotourism Society.  Our aim is to inspire others to do the same:

• minimize impact
• build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
• provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
• provide direct financial benefits for conservation
• provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
• raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate

We at Mindful Traveler want to help you get more out of your vacation.  We want you to have authentic cultural experiences, connect with people, and learn about yourself in the broader context.  We want to help you create richer, more rewarding experiences while you travel south america, and as a result, be inspired to find a way to give back to the people and places you visit.

Travel South America with one of our ecotourism packages or volunteer vacations, and take advantage of our large selection of responsible travel tools and resources.  If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, we would love to hear from you.