By Editorial Staff

updated 3:47 p.m. ET April 20, 2006

Ecotourism has seen a tremendous surge in popularity in recent years and, in honor of Earth Day (April 22), our editors have rounded up our top ecotourist hotspots to get you thinking green. Two on our list pack substantial environmental pedigree (the Amazon and Galapagos), but you'll also find some up-and-comers here you may not have heard of, like the Caribbean island of Dominica, which is doing good work of turning itself into the region's primo environmental destination; Australia's Blue Mountains, recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Botswana, a model of ecotourism in Africa.

Since hiking (and staying at eco-friendly lodges in the midst of the rainforest) are quite possibly the finest aspects of an ecotourist holiday, you'll be able to do just that at several of our favorites, including Borneo and Costa Rica. Of course, being able to get up close to penguins and glaciers is also an extremely popular eco-activity – Alaska and Antarctica offer intrepid travelers the chance experience both from the deck of a ship or an inflatable zodiac. Finally, if sleeping in the great outdoors and trekking to some of the world's highest plateaus are your recipe for ecotourist nirvana, plan a camping trek in the Himalayas – and be sure to take your trash back to base camp with you. For a list of environmentally friendly tour operators, hotels, and more, visit the International Ecotourism Society website (www.ecotourism.org).

Alaska
Referred to as “The Great Land”, Alaska is home to soaring snow-capped mountains, sprawling tundra, and a remote Arctic north – all of which shelter a wide range of wildlife that is otherwise threatened or endangered in the continental United States. Humpback whales, brown bears, lynx, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and blue whales are just some of the vulnerable species protected here; in many parts, caribou and moose outnumber people and the echo of a grizzly’s roar can be heard in the distance.

The Amazon
Often described as the “Lungs of our Planet” – as it alone produces 20% of the earth’s oxygen – the remarkable Amazon rainforest surrounds the world’s largest river system and supports thousands of plant, bird, mammal, and aquatic species in the 1.2 billion acres it occupies. While it stretches across several South American countries, the Amazon's densest section (60%) is found in Brazil, where eco-lovers can explore a terrific mosaic of ecosystems: You can literally walk among the treetops in Bahia’s Atlantic forest, along a 66-foot-high suspension bridge surrounded by scores of wildlife, sights, and sounds; it’s the ultimate canopy tour for those who want to really understand how the rainforest works.

Antarctica
With the seasons flipped, wintertime in the Northern Hemisphere is as close to summer as it will ever be on the White Continent, and also the only time of year when voyaging to this last great frontier is possible, as the warmer weather melts the ice barriers that otherwise block access to Antarctica’s savage landscapes and exotic wildlife. More than 20,000 tourists now head to the South Pole each year to witness its monumental glaciers and icebergs, comical penguins, and majestic whales. Cruising is the most popular way to get there, with most lines members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, a voluntary organization that aims to limit the impact of tourism on the continent by adhering to strict environmental guidelines. 

Blue Mountains
A mere 90-minute car ride from Sydney, Australia’s Greater Blue Mountains Area covers some 550 square miles of valleys, swamps, rocky outcroppings, and narrow canyons – topped off with stellar vantage points from which to ogle the country’s superlative beauty. Dozens of trails wend through breathtaking terrain loaded with unique flora (don’t miss the ancient Wollemi pine, one of the world’s rarest species) and fauna (some 400 species, including koalas, call the Blue Mountains home). Rock climbing, rappelling, and canoeing are just a few of the activities – aside from bushwalking – to enjoy in this UNESCO World Heritage, though the prospect of relaxing and breathing in the fresh mountain air at one of the area’s many eco-friendly lodges and cabins can be equally enticing.

Borneo
You may remember this eco hotspot from the first ever Survivor series, when it hosted winner Richard Hatch, host Jeff Probst, and crew. More recently, this Malaysian island made headlines after a mysterious never-before-seen catlike animal was discovered here in late 2005. Whichever accolade piques your interest, Borneo has plenty to captivate eco-travelers: The slopes of Mount Kinabalu (South East Asia’s tallest mountain) and the dense forest trails of the Bario Loop offer prime hiking terrain; mangroves and wetlands provide lush aquatic vistas; and the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre will make anyone go ape. For an all-out eco-friendly getaway, it’s hard to beat a stay at the award-winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge, a completely self-sufficient hotel subsisting on rainwater and solar energy.

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