I read an article on one of our partner organization’s blog (Tropical Adventures).  It talked about being a more responsible tourist in every sense from being more environmentally conscious to really supporting the local communities where you travel.  I thought it was really appropriate and sound advice, and good travellers should consider these ideas when they travel.

A different sight for most locals was a group of locals who came to a beach on Lake Nicaragua and played soccer with local kids and hung out like everyone else does on a Sunday afternoon.

Traditionally tourism has been a really excessive waste-creating activity in every way from the costly energy consumption to cool your hotel room while you are at the pool soaking in the sun’s heat to the excess use of water and soap to wash bath towels every day–something I doubt most people do at home.  Environmentally we can start doing a lot better.

As far as participating in a more local tourism, really, organizations like VIDA and Tropical Adventures, offer a unique and much more enriching experience in a new country.  When you join volunteer organizations like ours, you are going to become more familiar with the local people and their customs; furthermore, you will leave a much more accurate idea of who you are and of the culture and country you represent. Also the idea of being nonprofit creates a responsible and fulfilling way to travel because there are program-specific goals, such as helping people with our different services (eg: dentistry, medicine, and veterinary care) and others, like making a difference by the exchange of culture, language, ideas and a deeper understanding between people of different nations.

Student volunteer who helped give dental cleanings to many people in Nicaragua

Honestly, I don’t suppose everyone will jump at the idea of volunteering in other countries in place of a more traditional vacation, but I think you can at least make your trip more worthwhile by staying at those smaller hotels and hostels (now easily found thanks to local networks with lodging information like those for Bocas del Toro, Panama), eating at local restaurants instead of chains, and hanging out at local joints.  Also, I highly recommend staying with a local family as a part of a nonworking vacation.  There are many communities that have come together to offer their services, such as EntreAmigos in Tres Rios, Costa Rica.  Although there may be some difficulties due to language barriers, if you learn basic “polite” vocabulary and combine it with body language, you will be amazed at how much you can learn in a short visit with a local family.  Of course, you will make long-lasting friendships with people around the world.

Taking dance classes in Costa Rica is a great idea for something new to do.

Personally, I don’t see how I could keep going to big resort hotels and stopping at all those tourist traps (not to say there can’t be one that is interesting–if not entertaining every now and then), when I have learned so much more about Central America by staying with families and meeting local people.  Perhaps you won’t hit the usual “must see’s” but I can assure you that you will see things that most others haven’t.  Besides, it’s nice and can still be relaxing to have a purpose to your trip, whether it be taking cooking classes in Mexico, Portuguese classes in Brazil, or volunteering in Central America.

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