For a weekend of rainforest activities in Ecuador, fill your bag with laid-back basics that can handle long jungle hikes.

When packing for a weekend stay at the gorgeous Mashpi Lodge, a rainforest biodiversity reserve in Ecuador, bring laid-back eco-friendly basics that can stand a good day-long hike through the jungle. Functional fabrics that can breathe are crucial, and whatever you do, don’t forget the natural bug repellent.

Light Gives Heat Classic Bracelet
This chunky cuff bracelet is made from a random assortment of colored SUUBI beads, made from recycled paper. It wraps around the wrist 4-5 times and is the perfect way to dress up a casual outfit. Each bracelet is 100% unique and hand-crafted by the Suubi women in Uganda.
$18, Light Gives Heat

Degree Six Her Bamboo Razorback
This bamboo razorback tank is easy enough to wear on long hikes through the jungle, but cute enough to wear out and about too. Green-hued burnout fabric treatment and contrast stitching make this tank a great wardrobe staple. Made in Los Angeles, from 100% bamboo.
$25, Degree Six

Patagonia Women’s Torrentshell Jacket
One thing you need to be prepared for when you’re in the rainforest is, well, rain. Pared-down and packable, this Torrentshell jacket by Patagonia is a no-frills, 2.5-layer hard shell with a waterproof and breathable barrier made for seriously wet weather.
$129, Patagonia

Eco Swim Eco Covers Shorts
A good pair of shorts is a must-have when you’re out and about in nature. These recycled poly-textured woven cargo shorts by Eco Swim have pockets to fit all your essentials and can stand to get wet.
$64, Everything But Water

Blissoma Backyard Bliss Sprayable Lotion
Whenever you’re in tropical climates, it’s a good idea to bring insect repellent. Backyard Bliss summer sprayable lotion by Blissoma is 100% vegan and 100% natural and has a pleasant, essential oil scent that feels more like a perfume than a bug spray. It also contains organic aloe vera, which keeps your skin cool and protects it from sun stress.
$13.25, Blissoma

Mountainsmith Alder 30 Women’s
Traveling to unusual places usually requires a good backpack. With a capacity of up to 32L, this one, by classic outdoor goods purveyor Mountainsmith, is made especially for women. It’s big enough to hold all your stuff, even for a more extended trip, but also small enough to take as a carry-on for flights. Made with 450d recycled PET fabric, the Alder 30 utilizes 17 recycled 16-ounce plastic bottles.
$124.95, Mountainsmith

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In his Chronicles of Peru, Spanish conquistador Pedro Cieza de León marveled,” And to think that God should have permitted something so great to remain hidden from the world for so long in history, unknown to men, and then let it be found, discovered and won all in our own time!”

Latin America continues to inspire shock and awe in voyagers, though now they’re more of the backpacking than the stake-in-the-ground variety. Whether it’s rocky mountains, brilliant beaches, charming colonial towns, or rugged cowboys you’re after, you’re likely to find it in the countries of Central and South America.

(above) Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica

Valles Calchaquíes, Argentina

Soriano, Uruguay

Cartagena, Colombia

Salvador de Bahía, Brazil

Goff’s Caye, Belize

Pacific Coast, Costa Rica

Volcán Mombacho, Nicaragua

Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Ruta 40, Chile

Armero, Colombia

Machu Picchu, Peru

Lago Suchitlan, El Salvador

Antigua, Guatemala

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Cordillera Province, Chile

Camino al Monte Roraima, Venezuela

Rio de la Plata, Argentina

Montevideo, Uruguay

Ica, Peru

La Paz, Bolivia

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Los Altares, Chubut, Argentina

Perito Moreno, El Calafate, Argentina

Laguna Hedionda, Bolivia

Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Mt. Humboldt, Venezuela

Concón, Chile

Amazonas, Brazil

Tenorio National Park, Costa Rica

Gamboa, Panama

La Colmena, Paraguay

Caye Caulker, Belize

Canchis, Peru

Montevideo, Uruguay

Curitiba, Brazil

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Roatan, Honduras

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

SEE ALSO:

40 Gorgeous Photos of Europe

40 Gorgeous Photos of North America

25 Photos of Islands Threatened By Climate Change

40 Gorgeous Photos of Asia

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Travel is one of the best ways to open your perspective. Seeing and experiencing new places can be a strong catalyst for making us aware and more conscious, but those experiences can also come at an environmental cost.

With a rise in eco-tourism, it’s tempting to think that sustainable travel is easily achievable, but in some places, exploring and voyaging have a higher impact than the supposed benefits. In fact, many organizations around the world are constantly working to develop stricter regulations that will protect local environments, cultures and populations. Thinking about our travel impact is essential.

When it comes down to it, no matter how badly we want to visit, there are some places that we just shouldn’t go, and if we do travel to them we need to be very conscious of our impact. We’ve pulled together a list of places that we hope travelers will pass on, be it for environment, social or cultural reasons. But since we do believe in the power of seeing the world, we’ve also provided some great alternatives.

1. Galapagos Islands

Although a popular destination for seeing biodiversity at its purest, the Galapagos is under threat. In 2007 UNESCO deemed increasing human immigration and uncontrolled development of tourism as threatening the “outstanding value and physical integrity” of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ecuadorian government sees the same problem, and last year raised the entrance fee to the park.

So where to go if you still want to see some of South America’s island biodiversity? The Islas Bellestas. Often called the Galapagos of Peru, Islas Ballestas is a natural reserve comprised of over 700,000 acres. In order to protect the wildlife, visitors are not allowed to land on the island, but you’re sure to spot sea lions, penguins, pelicans and a diverse array of bird species from the comfort of the boat. You’ll have much less of an impact but still get to see some amazing wildlife.

2. Antarctica

A pristine environment threatened by climate change, many travelers are flocking to Antarctica to see the continent up close before it’s too late. But the increase in tourists has not been beneficial for Antarctica. Over 45,000 people visited Antarctica in the s2008, up from 10,000 a decade ago.

An increased number of tourists has meant increased methods of travel, and cruise ships pose a significant concern to the continent and its surroundings. After the MS Explorer cruise ship sank in 2007, leaving a diesel stain five kilometers in diameter, the countries of the Antarctic Treaty came together and decided to limit tourism to the region by controlling the size of cruise ships and the number of tourists taken ashore in order to prevent environmental damage.

If you’re looking for a southern adventure, leave Antarctica to the scientists who are doing ground-breaking research on the continent and opt for a chilly experience with less of an impact instead. How about Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina? You’ll find snowy mountains and icy glaciers as well as plenty of penguins in this beautiful region of Argentina.

3. Angkor

Once the seat of the Khmer Empire, Angkor is a stunning area of ornate temples and structures that is one of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia. But such a reputation draws a crowd. Bus loads of tourists fill the area everyday, most opting for a walk around the most well-known of the structures, the Temple of Angkor Wat. Thousands of feet pass across the stone buildings, not always with a delicate impact.

If you do travel to Angkor, make time to see the less visited temples. Exploring the temples in the east and northeast parts of the park will be quieter and more enjoyable; watch the sunrise at Srah Srang and you might be just one of a few tourists. Angkor isn’t the only place for temples in Cambodia. You can also visit Preah Vihear, another UNESCO site but far away from the hustle and bustle of Angkor.

4. Dubai

The epicenter of luxury, development Dubai has turned into an environmental catastrophe and financial boondoggle. Rich investors hoped to build a series of islands shaped like a map of earth. Now a pile of rocks, the area is the world’s most expensive shipping hazard and has been referred to as a “pile of muck.” That’s only the beginning of a long laundry list of environmentally unfriendly aspects of the city, including a proposed three billion square foot “Waterworld” type structure in an area where water scarcity is already a problem, caged endangered species, a refrigerated swimming pool and artificially cooled beach and, of course, the world’s tallest building.

If you’re on the lookout for sand and palm trees with a sane focus, check out Abu Dhabi. The average per capita worth here is around $17 million, but the oil rich locale does have environmental aspirations. The city recently installed 60,000 water saving devices in offices and homes and it’s the host of the World Future Energy Summit, the world’s platform for future sustainable energy developments.

5. Slums

In recent years, slums tourism has become fairly popular. From Kenya to Indonesia, travelers are paying tour operators to take them into impoverished areas, in the hopes of an “authentic” view that might open up their eyes to global inequalities. Going after an authentic experience is great, and it’s important to not turn a blind eye to the economic problems that Westerner-friendly tourism often leaves out. Slum tourism doesn’t have to be slum voyeurism, but make sure that you are doing for the right reasons and that your tour operator is not taking advantage of the local population and culture.

No matter where you go, it’s important to travel with the environment in mind. The Rainforest Alliance has a great list of 10 questions to ask before you book your next trip.

1. What is your environmental policy?
2. What percentage of your employees are local citizens?
3. Do you support any projects to benefit the local community?
4. Do you support conservation? How?
5. Is your business certified?
6. Have you won any eco-awards?
7. Are you recommended by any reputable NGOs or conservation groups?
8. What sorts of policies have you implemented to reduce water consumption, conserve energy or recycle wastes?
9. How do you educate visitors about local natural areas, wildlife, energy conservation, and local culture?
10. How do you monitor these practices?

Happy travels!

Images: pfala, alh1, 23am.com, tyler durden, Britrob, markhillary,

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