Yellow Hooded Oriole at the La Damiana Inn
Loreto and Baja California Sur, with the pristine waters of the Sea of Cortez, the rugged Sierra Giganta Mountains and it’s relatively remote desert location is an unsurpassed playground for Ecotourist activities. La Damiana Inn actively promotes and supports Ecotourism and Conservation in Loreto and this area. Whether it be kayaking, whale watching, sports fishing, hiking or scuba diving we can facilitate you being hooked up with an eco tour company that will meet your individual needs as well as supports the concepts of ecotourism. Please visit the sub-pages for descriptions of individual activities and links to various ecotour companies.
- Scuba Diving in Loreto
- Whale Watching in Loreto
- Kayaking in Loreto
- Birdwatching Loreto
- Cave Paintings BCS
- Hiking In Loreto
- Loreto Island Tours
- Ranchero & Mule Tours
Cave Paintings Loreto Baja
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial (mass) tourism. Its purpose may be to educate the traveller, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic and political development of local communities. If you would like to learn more about ecotourism, continue with our article below to find out more about the requirements and impact of ecotourism on our planet. Loreto has many ecotourist opportunities, read more about them below. There are some really great people in Loreto BCS offering a wide variety of ecotours designed to maximize your Baja experience. Click the links below to find out more about what Loreto has to offer in the way of ecotours Baja.
Baja California Sea Turtle Adventure Loreto BCS Mexico
Ecotourism is also meant to foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Since the 1980s ecotourism has been considered a critical endeavour by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively untouched by human intervention. Several university programs use this description as the working definition of ecotourism. Generally, ecotourism focuses on socially responsible travel, personal growth, and environmental sustainability. Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists insight into the impact of human beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities. For these reasons, ecotourism often appeals to advocates of environmental and social responsibility.
Sea Kayaking Baja
Ecotourism Criteria
Ecotourism is a form of tourism that involves visiting natural areas—in the remote wilderness or rural environments. According to the definition and principles of ecotourism established by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, ecotourism is “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” (TIES, 1990). Martha Honey, expands on the TIES definition by describing the seven characteristics of ecotourism, which are:
- Involves travel to natural destinations
- Minimizes impact
- Builds environmental awareness
- Provides direct financial benefits for conservation
- Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people
- Respects local culture
Ecotourism supports human rights and democratic movements such as:
- conservation of biological diversity and cultural diversity with ecosystem protection
- promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local populations
- sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous peoples by having their informed consent and participation in the management of ecotourism
- tourism to unspoiled natural resources, minimal environmental impact
- minimization of tourism’s own environmental impact
- affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury
- local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions
- local people benefit from ecotourism economically, often more than mass tourism
