Pack the following Mindful Traveler strategies in your back pocket and enjoy your travels with the added rewards that come from supporting sustainable tourism.

1.       Solicit the services of tour operators and local businesses that actively participate in sustainable tourism, supported by formal ecotourism operator standards and certification. 

2.       Pick up a phrase book and spend some time looking through it before arriving. Language is the key to a heightened travel experience because the more you know, the more you can access the culture and people.  By learning some keywords, verbs and phrases, you will have a basic understanding of the language and this will put you at ease when it comes to satisfying your basic needs as well as open yourself up to many delightful and interesting opportunities to communicate with others. 

3.       Learn as much as you can about the place you are visiting, it´s culture and customs.  As an informed traveler, you will demonstrate your respect and genuine interest in the place that you are visiting and this will help you to generate conversation with locals and quickly add to your knowledge base. Connecting with people and establishing relationships, no matter how brief is the key to a rewarding and authentic experience.

4.       Support local travel services, artisan markets, restaurants, and other small businesses.  A little extra effort to avoid pre-packaged touristy venues and options will result in a more insightful, pleasurable experience for you and at the same time, inject valuable revenue into the local economy.

5.       Mind your step.  Whether you are participating in one of our many adventure holidays or enjoying a little R&R at one our eco-friendly resorts, be sure to respect the environment at all times and aim to leave it in better condition than when you arrived.  Stay on the path, enjoy nature from a respectable distance and set an example to fellow adventurers and locals alike by disposing of waste appropriately.  Recycling can be difficult to come by in South America so avoid buying products with excessive packaging wherever possible. 

6.       Respect the personal space and wishes of others when taking photographs.  Always ask for permission before taking pictures of others and if they ask for a copy, be sure to follow through with your promise.  In many cases, these photographs are the only ones that locals will have of themselves and their families. It is a great opportunity to share a friendly moment with a perfect stranger and perhaps provide a small but enriching experience in their lives.