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If you want to feast on the flavors of Puerto Rico first hand, you'll be glad to know that Puerto Rico is a premiere destination for eco-travel. The International Ecotourism Society, the world?s oldest and largest eco-tourism organization, defines eco-tourism as:
"Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."
And Puerto Rico offers rare delights to the earth-conscious eco-tourist. Obvious attractions include the miles and miles of pristine beaches and the two remote islands of Culebra and Vieques (off of which you can experience the surreal beauty of a phosphorescent bay and also off of which my family spotted a magnificent trio of whales during the course of a two-dollar commuter ferry ride).
Lesser-known may be the fact that Puerto Rico is home to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in North America. Budget Travel cited Puerto Rico as one of the top eco-friendly destinations in the world specifically for El Yunque, with its 28,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness. The preserve is actually made up of four distinct types of forest and some 240 species of trees, plus 50 orchid varieties and 150 different kinds of ferns. The endangered Puerto Rican parrot shares the reserve with many other unusual and threatened species. As an added bonus, a beautiful and misty walk along the well-groomed paths of El Yunque leads to a gorgeous waterfall and (very cold) swimming hole. El Yunque is 45 minutes from San Juan, and admission is free.
Serious eco-travelers can sign up for eco-trips to El Yunque with Earth Watch, the world?s largest environmental volunteer nonprofit. On an Earth Watch expedition to El Yunque, volunteers can "save the rainforest" on site. Participants on Earth Watch expeditions will hike through El Yunque?s ancient forests and "measure and record the progress of mahogany and mahoe trees; monitor the impact of recently planted sites on the coqui (tiny tree frogs); participate in a new method of harvesting trees by cutting long slots through the forest and planting seedlings in the lines." All of this is tax deductible, too!
