How to Do Ecotourism in Belize

The small Central American country of Belize has a large proportion of its land designated as parks and reserves to preserve the locale's natural beauty. If you're looking for ecotourism in Belize, stick with local operations and make a commitment to conserve resources.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Stay in local eco-lodges rather than in large commercial establishments. Eco-lodges don't demand as much resource usage or cause as much pollution as larger establishments and cruise liners.
2. Enjoy the landscape. Choose activities that allow you to experience the natural beauty of Belize, like hiking and scuba diving, rather than activities that exploit the resources, like fishing.
3. Leave no trace. When you are hiking, stay on the trail. When you are scuba diving or snorkeling, don't touch the reef or fish. Refrain from taking anything from the wilderness and don't leave any waste behind you.
4. Visit cultural heritage sites. Belize has Mayan ruins, historic churches and many other cultural sites to see that can increase your knowledge of another culture. Be respectful of the local people.
5. In your eco-lodge, try to conserve water and electricity. Water is obtained from rainfall and electricity is expensive for lodge owners, so help national conservation efforts by limiting your use of these resources. Recycle and refrain from using disposable materials to avoid adding to Belize's landfills.
6. Don't purchase animal products if you think they are made from an endangered species. Some people in Belize will sell products that look exotic, but products made from sea turtles, reptile skin, birds and spotted wildcats are illegal and should be reported.

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