What is ecotourism? To most people, it’s a confusing and only vaguely familiar term. Some ask “Does ecotourism mean staying in ecolodges?” Yes, it does, but that’s not all. Ecotourism is an approach to travel that embraces all the principles of responsible tourism, not just choice of accommodation. Still, if you’re new to eco-travel, ecolodges are a great place to start.

Visiting a rainforest is a unique nature experience. During the day, these unique biomes burst with a busy buzz and bright flashes of colour, while at night, the air comes alive with the shrieks and calls of the forest’s many nocturnal creatures. Amidst all this natural beauty, it’s important to tread lightly. Rainforests are home to an estimated 40 to 75 percent of all the world’s plants and animals, including many still just being discovered.

Today, Tayrona proudly displays its true nature as a safe environment for tourists. Since its elevation in status to a national park in 1969, this biodiversity area covering 12,000 hectares of land and 3,000 of sea has been growing in popularity. Within its territory are sandy beaches, dazzling blue/azure ocean waters, tropical dry jungle and a rainforest up to 900 metres in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

The alluring city of Santa Marta is located on Colombia’s northeastern coast. Affectionately named ‘the pearl of the Colombian Caribbean,’ Santa Marta’s backdrop is blessed by gorgeous natural scenery, a powerful draw to travellers. Key to preserving the area’s beauty for future generations is a strong environmental conscience, like the one exhibited by Las Pleyades, a local tourism company setting green trends with its eco-conscious transfer and ground transportation services.