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Travel Trends


Amazing ecotourism destinations


Take a trip on the wild side By Mary Wilson


6 Costa Rica has become quite successful in it’s ecotourism marketing. I


n this fast-paced world, more and more people are look- ing for an escape that has some meaning. Tey want experiences that take them outside of the rat-race we all live in, and they want to do this while respecting our


natural world. Enter ecotourism, a way of getting away from it all in an eco-conscious way. According to the International Ecotour- ism Society, this new brand of travel experience can be de- fined as “environmentally responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of lo- cal people, and involves interpretation and education.” Churchill


Ecotourism is the reason Churchill and the exploration of


natural life in the region have become such a success story. Even though Churchill’s local tour operators have been pro- moting it as a destination for at least 50 years, it is still only at the edge of its potential; there is so much more possibility, so much more to see and do. It’s not just about the polar bears, the harbour seals or the beluga whales, either. Churchill is a


26 • Winter 2016


region filled with exotic flowers and other plant life, massive numbers of birds and spectacular terrain. Te northern lights, a breath-taking natural phenomenon, are often active here, too. Local tour operators also conduct wilderness tours that will


take you into places where, it seems, no man has gone before. Costa Rica


Some entire countries have made ecotourism a priority, and


therefore are a big draw. Costa Rica is a prime example. Right now, it’s at the top of everyone’s ecotourism list, even though there are many troubling issues with this emerging economy. People are willing to put up with the inconvenience of last minute changes to their car rental fees, high fines for exceed- ing the speed limit, and a tradition of bland food. What visitors get in return is the chance to get up close and personal with some wildlife, including the scarlet macaw, exotic butterflies, the little red-eyed tree frog and crocodiles. You can go swimming under gorgeous waterfalls and get to view some pretty spectacular scenery.


The Hub


Photos by Dorothy Dobbie unless otherwise noted.


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