Philadelphia, PA
- Is your next flight headed to the Caribbean islands to enjoy the sea winds and lush green landscape? Well, we have to applaud your choice. Vacations are a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones and relax your mind and body. However, this relaxation should not come at the cost of the environment. As you travel, you must ensure that you travel sustainably. Therefore, we have listed nine ways you can sustainably travel to the Caribbean islands.
Stay At Local Hotels, Community-run Guest Houses, Etc
The Caribbean is an island country with spectacular views and hotels. There are hotels with swimming pools inside the rooms; private slides that enter into the ocean; sea-facing rooms, etc.
However, these hotels and resorts operate at the cost of the environment. Your exquisite rooms and services exploit the local resources and produce a lot of waste.
The energy consumption is also very high, which produces pollution.
As a result, the most sustainable way to stay in the Caribbean is to seek accommodation in small local hotels and community-owned guest houses. It offers multiple benefits over five-star resorts and hotels through these best hotel booking apps.
You can experience the local culture and hospitality better. They do not exhaust resources and go for eco-friendly ways. They do so to cut extra costs, but it also saves the environment.
The best part is that you make a difference with your stay. Choosing local hotels and guest houses helps you support the local economy and generate employment for the people. As a result, they can run their businesses with dignity and do not have to be at the mercy of big hotel brands for jobs.
Opt For Eco-friendly Travel Options
We like to have a nice, comfortable trip where we can enjoy every element. As a result, we mostly go by private taxis, private cars, etc.
However, it is not the most sustainable option. If every tourist opts for private transport, imagine how crowded the roads will get. Calculate the carbon footprint of each vehicle. Our comfort should never be at the cost of the environment or nature.
Therefore, the best way to travel is to opt for a bike or go for public transport. Traveling by bike in places like the Caribbean is a dream. There is nothing better than the cold breeze passing through your hair and touching your face. Secondly, it is never a bad idea to burn some calories after enjoying the amazing Caribbean cuisine.
Appreciate The Local Culture
There are several activities you can enjoy at coastal destinations. However, how may be a better option than appreciating and immersing oneself in the local culture?
We can enjoy jet skiing, scuba diving, water biking, etc., almost everywhere on any island and coastal town. However, what is unique about the Capericans is their cultural heritage.
So, appreciating the culture and enjoying their dance, music, and festivals is a great way to be sustainable.
You can visit the local museums, learn about their famous folklore, explore history, and visit monuments.
Visited Sanctuaries and Wildlife Parks
Instead of engaging in activities that may frighten and endanger wildlife and aquatic life, why not do something that includes appreciating it?
Therefore, you can opt for a visit to the wild sanctuaries and other protected parks. You can see indigenous animals that do not exist anywhere else.
You can even ask the locals to take you around. The local guides know the best spots, and no one can help you experience the culture and daily life as they can.
You can see their farms and gardens. The Caribbean people are friendly, so they would happily offer you some harvest to taste from their fields.
Nothing, in my opinion, can top this warm and enlightening experience.
Engaging in Environmental Projects
Visiting environmentally rich places like the Caribbean creates many opportunities for forest protection and wildlife and nature conservation.
You can also participate in these initiatives and make a difference as a tourist. It does not have to be a formal initiative by an NGO or government. It can be a regular practice followed by the locals.
You can join hands in such activities and initiatives and make a difference. It is also a great way to interact with the locals, make friends, and learn more about your travel destination.
Shop Local
If you're going on a trip, there's no way you can miss the local goods. Every country in Southern America has its distinctive culture, clothes, artifacts, and items. Most of these items are locally crafted by artisans and crafters.
Therefore, instead of going for fancy and expensive machine-built things, it is better to go out and buy local crafts.
These crafts are made of wood and leaves. As a result, they are eco-friendly, and it is a great way to support the local economy.
Say No to Plastic
Plastics are the biggest threat to nature. It is why most countries around the globe have banned plastic. I do not need to educate you on the hazards of plastic and why it must be discarded.
Therefore, the most fundamental step of going sustainable is saying "no" to practice. Instead of plastic bags and packets, opt for cloth bags and reusable bamboo utensils.
When visiting bazaars and local food stalls, bring your flask instead of using plastic ones. Similarly, do not opt for plastic bags and replace them with tote bags. The best part about cloth tote bags is that they are currently trending. As a result, it is a great addition to your style statement.
Another crucial tip about avoiding the use of plastic is water bottles. Instead of buying water bottles, you should carry your water bottle.
Eat Local
You can find pasta, pizza, wine, etc., everywhere and in almost any part of the world. However, you can never enjoy authentic local food everywhere.
Some readers might argue that we can have authentic Caribbean food in a hotel as well, but we know how refined these flavors are and that they end up losing the sense of the dish. Local eateries and cafes, in my opinion, are the best places to eat local food.
Only the local people can serve you their autistic delicacies filled with traditional flavors and aromas. It is also a great way to help the local people and boost the local economy.
Please Do Not Litter
It is for every travel destination. Whether it is a coastal city or a metropolis, mountains or desert, you must not litter.
If you have chips, leftover juice, etc., you can put it all in a bag and responsibly dispose of it in a dustbin. Littering your surroundings as a tourist is embarrassing and shameful. You represent your country and culture with your manners.
Apart from that, it is disrespectful towards your travel destination too. Therefore, you must not litter your surroundings.
Conclusions
It is always a responsible choice to be sustainable while traveling, especially to island countries like the Caribbean Islands. These island nations have been warned that rising sea levels will be the first victims of global warming.
As a result, it becomes our responsibility to do as much as we can to make a difference.
