May 17, 2018

Top Vacation Spots For Animal Lovers

Picture of Nick Cabugos
Nick Cabugos

Creative Director, Montecito Village Travel

Ecotourism is defined as, "Tourism directed towards exotic, often threatened, natural environments, intended to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife."

 Ecotourism, or sustainable travel, began in the 1980s and is a way that travelers can explore the world while being mindful of their environmental impact. If you love animals as much as we do, or simply want to reduce your carbon footprint while exploring the world, you need to add these vacation destinations to your to-do-list!

2 toed sloths

Costa Rica 2 Toed Sloths

Punta Cana's Monkey Sanctuary

From Funjet Vacations

What you may not know about The Dominican Republic is that in addition to it's famous white sand beaches, exquisite resorts, and world renowned golf courses, it hosts a huge variety of ecotourism opportunities.  A trip to Monkeyland in Punta Cana begins with a safari  where you can learn about the lifestyles of local Dominicans and see how they live off organic products such as coconuts, cocoa and exotic fresh fruits.  Make your way to Monkeyland, which is hidden away in the dense forest and sits on five-acres of breathtaking botanical gardens. Interact with the rescued squirrel monkeys that have made this their home. These playful creatures love to interact with humans and might even jump on your shoulders! 


Monkeyland by Runners Adventures 

 Costa Rica's Tortuguero National Park & Sloth Encounters

From G Adventures

An eco-tourist's dream, Costa Rica is an unspoiled tropical paradise teeming with picturesque beaches, volcanoes, rivers, and lush jungles. Visit the nesting grounds of green sea turtles, Tortuguero National Park.  Located in the northeast corner of the country, you can watch the incredible sight of turtles hatching  and racing across the sand to make their way into the sea. Years later, the turtles will return to this same spot to give birth to the next generation.

Sloths in Costa Rica are plentiful but may be hard to spot. A guided tour with a naturist will provide the best opportunities for seeing these unusual animals in the wild. G Adventures will get you up close and personal with the wildlife, while ensuring that their natural habitats are protected. 

Costa Rica with G Adventures

 Gorillas of the Congo

From Zegrahm Expeditions

Zegrahm Expeditions is proud to partner with The Nature Conservancy to support their mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Zegrahm is deeply committed to preserving wildlife and nature, and fostering an appreciation of the people and cultures we encounter throughout the world. The Republic of the Congo has one of the largest populations of western lowland gorillas. On this expedition you'll have the privilege of watching gorilla families interacting with interpretation by local experts. The rooms at Ngaga Camp, where you'll be staying for a part of the excursion, feature wrap-around balconies for a full canopy experience that overlooks ranges of habituated western lowland gorilla families, some with up to 25 individuals. Some other animals you may encounter are chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, gray-cheeked mangabays, putty-nosed monkeys, forest buffalo, and the elusive bongo.   

Zegrahm Expeditions' Gorilla Encounter

Bird Watching at Iguassu Falls National Park

From Belmond 

Brazil is the third richest bird country in the world and has the largest bio diversity. With over 1800 bird species and new ones still being discovered, Brazil is a bird watchers dream. Belmond Hotel das Cataratas in Brazil is situation in the heart of Iguassu National Park and offers private access to the falls, when it's closed to outside visitors. At the break of dawn you'll have the opportunity to join a photographer on a mesmerizing self-guided walk. Using powerful binoculars, spot exotic birds such as the red-ruffed fruitcrow, black-fronted piping-guan, plush-crested jay, 5 species of toucan and 11 species of woodpecker. Minutes away from the falls is a Parque das Aves, a rescue and conservation centre for birds. Here you can feed flamingos and admire more than 160 species in their 12 acre habitat.

Iguassu Falls at First Light

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