Nature-based
Travel Guide

What is nature-based travel?

Table of Contents

1 Nature-based Travel Guide

We hope you find our nature-based travel guide useful! First, let’s have a look at what is nature-based travel. As its name suggests, nature-based travel is any kind of activity you do while travelling that happens in nature.

Although this nature-based travel guide refers to these activities as nature-based travel, many people refer to them as nature-based recreation.

Nature-based recreation includes activities that are:

✦ Dependent on the natural environment.
✦ Do not require substantial modification to the natural environment.
✦ Have an appreciation of nature as a key motivational factor.
✦ Are environmentally sustainable.

The world is full of destinations that provide many opportunities for nature-based recreation. Generally, the nature of these activities contributes to preserving the natural environment so people enjoy it long-term.

For the purpose of this nature-based travel guide, we consider national parks, protected areas, nature reserves, community conserved areas, wilderness areas, etc. as prime examples of areas where you can engage in nature-based travel.

Further, this nature-based travel guide also includes 15 activities considered nature-based recreation. They are all listed below:

Why is nature-based travel important?

Here at Intego Travel, we believe nature-based travel is important. For the purpose of this nature-based travel guide, we have listed three main reasons below.

✦ By choosing nature-based recreation while travelling, you are ‘voting’ for those natural areas to be preserved. Indeed, frolicking in nature was what inspired John Muir to campaign for land preservation.

Known as the ‘Father of National Parks’, Muir became a central figure in establishing Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park. Through his campaigning, he led the creation of the National Park System in the USA. He also inspired the environmental movement throughout the world.

Collectively, nature-based travel in protected areas is responsible for $600 billion in visitor spending. This revenue signals the importance of continuing to safeguard our protected areas worldwide.

✦ Engaging in nature-based travel will improve your wellbeing. In fact, there is a whole field studying the relationship between nature and human wellbeing. It is called Ecopsychology.

Ecopsychology strives to understand and harmonise our relationship with Earth. Ecopsychologists foster contact with nature for psychotherapeutic purposes, personal growth and individual healing.

The effects of nature on human wellbeing were well documented in a study by Nature. Researchers found that spending 2 hours in nature every week contributes to people’s general health and wellbeing.

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, I recommend reading the books Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Fix.

✦ Nature-based travel helps improve the value people place on nature. This point ties in with the two points above. Natural areas provide us with what ecologists call ‘ecosystem services’. Essentially, they are services nature gifts to humans. For example, providing food, water, raw materials and recreational and spiritual benefits.

Further, by creating revenue through protected areas and activities, nature-based travel leads people and communities to place a higher value on nature. Doing so means that we can continue to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits these areas provide.

The connection between nature-based travel and sustainability

While the points above also reflect the relationship between nature-based travel and sustainability to some extent, I wanted to include more information about this relationship. Mainly, because engaging in nature-based recreation can change people’s behaviours, cultural norms, beliefs and even values in relation to nature and conservation.

For the purpose of this nature-based travel guide, we include four main ways nature-based recreation drives this behavioural change.

✦ Nature-based recreation helps foster knowledge and education on natural ecosystems and the importance of conservation.

Visiting any protected area or reserve, you will see many signs with information about the flora and fauna of the area.

Many parks go even further by providing information about species decline, glacier retreats, and how to behave in ways that minimise your impact on these fragile areas.

✦ Nature-based recreation exposes people to the beauty of nature, which may lead them to fight for its protection.

You cannot protect something you don’t love. You can’t love that which you do not know. And you can’t know something that you do not experience, touch, hear or see. In the words of Claire Thompson, author of Mindfulness & the Natural World:

“Only a genuine love for the natural world will give us the desire to care for and protect it.”

Go spend time in nature. Discover the rainbowed beauty of a coral reef. Watch a sunrise from the summit of a mountain top. In summary, connect to the natural world.

✦ Nature-based recreation creates place-based attachment.

Place-based attachment refers to the connection between people and the places that hold meaning to them. This attachment leads to people valuing a place, usually because it is the best location for a particular activity.

For example, divers place more value on places with high marine biodiversity because it offers them the best diving experience. Therefore, divers would be more inclined to campaign for the protection of say, the Great Barrier Reef.

This same concept can and does apply to other nature-based recreation. For example, in Australia, both mountain bikers and rock climbers volunteer to maintain the natural areas where they engage in these activities. If people didn’t partake in nature-based recreation, the connection necessary to develop place-based attachment wouldn’t happen.

✦ By choosing nature-based travel experiences, you are incentivising communities to conserve those natural areas.

In some instances, communities deriving tangible economic benefits from nature-based recreation are more inclined to protect the natural areas where these activities occur.

For example, in Nusa Penida, Bali, locals have recently started earning income for taking visitors to swim with manta rays. As a result, they have recognised that manta rays bring in more money by observing than by fishing them.

7 Important points to consider when engaging in nature-based travel

So far, this natured-based travel guide has provided useful information about the benefits of engaging in social impact travel.

In addition to this information, there are also some important points to consider when engaging in nature-based travel. Having these considerations in mind will help you be a more responsible traveller.

✦ Plan and prepare properly

This is particularly important if you will be engaging in challenging activities.

For example, rock climbing, multi-day treks, canyoning, alpine climbing or mountaineering are all activities that need a high level of skills. Without the proper skills and preparation, tragedy can strike!

We’ve all heard stories of people needing to be rescued or dying by exposing themselves to natural environments they were not prepared for. Don’t be that person.

✦ Respect mother nature

Hiking and spotting wildlife is a great pastime. But there is a reason why it’s called wildlife!

Wild animals should be left alone for all to enjoy. Please never remove natural objects from the wilderness areas you visit. This includes flowers, shells, rocks, antlers, etc. Many of these objects have a purpose.

For example, flowers help grow new plants and are also food for birds and insects. Empty shells are also used by other crustaceans as homes, especially hermit crabs. Rocks help prevent land erosion.

Think about it. Globally, protected areas receive an estimated 8 billion visitors each year. If everyone took just ‘one’ rock, just ‘one’ shell, ‘one’ flower, eventually protected areas would be emptied of these.

Another key point is to stay away from wildlife. Do not approach them to a point where it displaces or disturbs the animal.

And above all, please do not feed or touch animals. Doing so can lead to multiple health problems, including diseases.

Also, avoid using flash photography when photographing wildlife.

✦ Follow national park rules

All national parks and protected areas have a set of rules to guide our behaviour while visiting. Make sure you familiarise yourself with them.

Generally, these rules relate to:

✦ Staying on designated trails

✦ Camping in designated areas.

✦ Taking your rubbish with you.

✦ Not starting open fires. If they are permitted, ensuring you clean up the area and be sure to completely extinguish your fire before leaving.

Not using drones in wilderness sensitive areas. Their use in natural parks usually requires the consent of the park managers.

Not only are drones disruptive to wildlife but also to other people enjoying these natural areas.

In fact, frustrated hikers crash-landed a drone after its owner ignored signs prohibiting their use in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. Well deserved, if you ask me.

✦ Don’t be a social media jerk

In the era of social media, I also think it’s important to touch base on the below point:

Please do not behave in ways that impact the environment for the sake of social media likes.

We live in an age where everyone wants to be an ‘influencer (#cringe) and they will do anything to boost their engagement online.

Time after time there’s been reports of ‘influencers’ ruining public natural areas all for Instagram photo ops.

Don’t be that asshole.

✦ Follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles

✦ Plan Ahead and Prepare
✦ Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
✦ Dispose of Waste Properly
✦ Leave What You Find
✦ Minimize Campfire Impacts
✦ Respect Wildlife
✦ Be Considerate of Other Visitors

✦ Be mindful and respectful of cultural and historical values of the natural areas you visit.

In particular, respect local Indigenous values.

Many natural areas are of high cultural significance to Indigenous people. Some are even considered sacred sites.

A sacred site is a place within the landscape that has deep, special meaning or significance under Indigenous tradition. They are associated with particular aspects of Indigenous cultural and social tradition.

Please do your research on the land in which you are partaking in your nature-based travel. Learn about the history or culture of the historical owners.

And refrain from engaging in activities that go against their values. Don’t be the kind of asshole that flocks to Uluru to climb the rock before it was closed down at the request of the local Anangu People.

✦ Travel during the low season or to places that do not receive too many visitors.

Time after time we hear in the news how the impact of over-tourism is damaging natural areas. Increasing tourism visitation and recreation can and does bring lasting changes to the social and natural environment.

You can help prevent this by travelling to places with low visitation rates or travelling during the low seasons.

Nature-based travel guide: 9 destinations for the nature lover

To wrap up this nature-based travel guide, below I’ve included 7 amazing destinations to consider if you love being out in nature.

✦ Australia

With so many varied natural habitats, Australia is the ideal destination for the nature lover.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has some of the most amazing scuba diving in the world.

In the south, the Snowy Mountains offer great skiing conditions during winter.

If you’re into rock climbing, the Blue Mountains, the Grampians and Mount Arapiles are world-known rock-climbing destinations.

Other popular nature-based recreation includes scenic hiking, mountain biking, tropical rain forest hikes, outback desert safaris, and more.

Whatever your interest in nature-based travel, Australia is sure to deliver!

✦ New Zealand

New Zealand is considered one big natural playground. You will find all kinds of opportunities to get outdoors.

My favourite nature-based recreation in New Zealand is going hiking. The country is like a postcard!

Other popular nature-based recreation includes mountaineering, surfing, skiing, and visiting the many national parks (Piopiotahi/Milford Sound is my favourite!).

✦ Chile

The land of Patagonia, Chile is absolutely breathtaking. It offers plenty of opportunities for nature-based travel.

From the north, you can take in the beauty of the remote Atacama Desert. Here, low light pollution and clear skies allow you to enjoy unobstructed views of the cosmos.

As you travel South, the landscape morphs into lush, green forests and snowy mountains. The Torres del Paine National Park is the ideal setting of several multi-day treks.

✦ Costa Rica

Costa Rica is not only a nature lover’s paradise but also a tree hugger’s!

The country is mostly dependent on renewable energy and works tirelessly to protect its natural resources. As a result, it offers a myriad of opportunities for nature-based travel.

Among the popular nature-based activities, they offer zip-lining, scuba diving with sharks, surfing, wildlife watching safaris in Tortuguero National Park, white water rafting, and volcano hikes.

✦ Canada

Canada’s natural landscape is not only undoubtedly beautiful, but it also offers all kinds of activities for the nature lover.

Among these, they have skiing and snowboarding, scenic hikes like the ones in Banff National Park, kayaking and white-water rafting, mountain biking and of course, rock and alpine climbing.

✦ Ecuador

Although Ecuador is a small country, it has enormous biodiversity. As a result, there are countless opportunities for nature-based travel.

Some of the most popular experiences include hiking extinct volcanoes, chasing waterfalls, camping in the crater of an extinct volcano, which is now Lake Quilotoa, surfing, canyoning and of course, visiting the Galápagos Islands.

With their impressive wildlife, it is no surprise that Darwin developed his theory of evolution while visiting the islands.

✦ Hawaii

Hawaii is a destination where you can enjoy a ton of nature-based activities in some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. In its 8 islands, you will a range of outdoor recreations.

For example, trekking, whale watching during the winter months, volcano hikes, snorkelling in submerged craters, kayaking, and more.

Nature-based Travel Guide