Travel wisely

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Banana Boat, beware.\nJust about everyone knows about the current threats to coral reefs worldwide. Cruise ships plow into them and beachcombers grab pieces of reefs to prove to their buddies back home that they were, yes, actually on a beach. But rarely do tourists consider one of the biggest dangers to the future of these fragile ecosystems:\nSunscreen. \nSurprised? Most people are. Here’s a quick rundown of the subject: The oil in sunscreen changes the amount of light that filters through the water, which harms the integrity of the ecosystem.\nSo now that you’ve been enlightened, it should be easy enough to change your behavior, and instead of trading in your regular Coppertone for a case of melanoma, you can buy waterproof sunscreen. Problem solved.\nThat was pretty easy, right? How hard can it be to be an ecologically conscious tourist, anyway? \nIt seems like pretty much everyone has jumped on the ecotourism bandwagon these days. Ecotourism, in general, is used to refer to a more responsible form of vacationing, in which travelers swap their daily Jacuzzi-basking for mountain climbing and safari trekking to observe and learn about wildlife. Sounds like a field day for those crazy tree-huggers, right? \nWell, not exactly. For the most part, tourists are unaware of the effects of the smallest of their actions. Think about the sunscreen issue; it’s not a very widely known problem, although it is definitely destructive. Lack of information is a huge problem. Nobody goes to a pristine cloud forest with the explicit intent of destroying it – with the possible exception of the puppy kickers of the world. Exploring nature is definitely a worthy aim, especially because the revenue it generates gives countries an incentive to protect it. But the “take only pictures, leave only footprints” ideal is not only unrealistic, it’s impossible. No matter how careful tourists are to pick up after themselves or to only follow marked trails, the fact that they were there changes the place. \nConsider the air pollution generated by the bus that takes travelers to the edge of a volcanic crater. Consider the noise produced by eager sightseers pointing out the adorable three-toed sloth sleeping – what else? The slightest impact can make a huge difference. \nIs it better to empower travelers with an appreciation for nature and to use the revenue their patronage generates to further conserve it, or is it too much of a risk for a more or less intact ecosystem to be exposed to Hawaiian shirt-wearing, Polaroid-carrying sightseers? \nFrom what I’ve experienced in Costa Rica, it seems like conscious ecotourism is an OK risk, as long as travelers are careful. If you plan to explore a relatively untouched destination, read up on it. Don’t expect luxury, either – that’s not why you’re there. You might have to deal with a cold shower. You might have to sleep on a tarp. It’s definitely worth it, though.\nSo next time you’re scaling, follow your guide’s instructions and try to minimize your impact. Oh, and while you’re out there, be sure to wear lots of sunscreen, too. Just make sure it’s waterproof.