Central America is a true paradise for backpackers. The region is characterized by its extraordinary biodiversity, vibrant cultures and impressive historical sites. Parts of the world like this are probably the reason why backpacking has been a popular way of traveling in the last year.
In fact, about 45 million backpacking trips are taken every year. And don’t be fooled by people’s perception of security. As 84% of solo backpackers are women. Which shows that traveling this way in places like Central America is generally safe, also for female solo travelers.
But as travelers we can’t just enjoy the natural beauty of our planet and different cultures. In order to preserve the unique treasure of countries like Costa Rica, Nicaragua or Guatemala, environmentally friendly travel practices are essential. This is why we will show you how to participate in eco-friendly backpacking in Central America and around the world. To further get to know different countries and save our planet.
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Planning Your Eco-Friendly Backpacking Trip
Sustainable backpacking not only helps to protect the natural beauty and cultural diversity of the region, but also supports the local economy and ensures that future generations can enjoy these experiences too. When planning your Central America trip, we recommend you start with the following aspects:
Choosing a sustainable means of transport
Environmentally friendly transport is the key to a sustainable travel experience. Depending on your home base you might need to take a plane to get to your first stop in Central America. But apart from that, you can minimize your carbon footprint by preferring one of the following options:
- Local buses
In Central America, buses are a common means of transport. Companies such as Tica Bus and TransNica offer comfortable and affordable connections between countries. These buses are not only inexpensive, but also much more environmentally friendly than domestic or international flights and also a safe option to get from one country to another or also from one place to another within a country.
- Shuttle services
For shorter distances or areas that are difficult to access, shuttle services such as Interbus in Costa Rica are a good choice. Also in Guatemala you can get shuttles in basically every travel agency for a good price. They offer direct transport to many tourist destinations and are often less environmentally damaging than rental cars.
- Trains
While train services are limited in Central America, Panama has the historic Panama Canal Railway, which offers a scenic and environmentally friendly way to explore the region.
- Ferries
In countries like Honduras and Panama, ferries offer an eco-friendly alternative to planes to get to islands like Roatán or the San Blas Islands.
Packing basics
Efficient and sustainable packing is crucial for an environmentally friendly trip. So here is what I usually pack and where I buy my eco friendly travel gear:
- Sustainable clothing
Go for clothing made from natural materials such as organic cotton, hemp, Lyocell or other recycled fabrics. Brands such as Patagonia and Prana offer environmentally friendly outdoor clothing. If that is a little too expensive for you you can always look for recycled clothes. There are a lot of physical second hand stores but also pages like Vinted or Etsy to buy recycled goods online.
- Reusable products
Pack a reusable water bottle to avoid plastic waste. Products like LifeStraw even offer in-built filters that ensure you can drink clean water wherever you go. Besides this portable water filter you can also buy other utilities like reusable toothbrushes or cutlery.
- Ecological toiletries
Choose biodegradable soaps, shampoos and sun creams. Brands like Dr Bronner’s offer versatile and eco-friendly products. You can usually buy biodegradable toiletries in a normal drugstore. Just read the label for any bad ingredients or ask personnel to help you with this issue.
- Minimalism
I know some of us tend to overpack. I recommend you only pack the essentials to keep your luggage light and transportable. Think twice before packing too much and in case you feel the need of more goods you can still buy them when traveling. This practice not only reduces your ecological footprint, but also makes traveling easier as you don’t have to carry so much weight on your back and shoulders.
Sustainable Accommodations for Eco-Friendly Backpacking
As for sustainable accommodations you could stay with local families. This is first of all one of the cheapest ways to travel and also has numerous other benefits. You can economically support local communities. Because the revenues go directly to the host families, which strengthens the local economy and promotes sustainable tourism.
And also you gain a deep insight into the local culture and way of life. Programs such as homestay.com offer safe and authentic accommodation with host families all along your Central America backpacking route.
If that’s not for you you can obviously also stay in green hostels and eco lodges. Many don’t know this but countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala or Panama are known for their ideal backpacking experience and impressive eco-lodges or sustainable hostels. Here are some of my personal favorites:
Costa Rica: the Lapa Rios Lodge on the Osa Peninsula is a pioneer in the field of sustainable tourism. The lodge uses solar energy, rainwater utilization and supports local nature conservation projects.
Guatemala: The Earth Lodge near Antigua not only offers spectacular views, but also sustainable practices such as solar energy and organic farming.
Nicaragua: Morgan’s Rock near San Juan del Sur combines luxury accommodation with sustainable practices, including reforestation projects and wildlife conservation.
What to do when on a Eco-Friendly Backpacking Trip
One of the most popular activities for backpackers in general is volunteer work. It feels good to get involved in local projects and make a positive contribution. Additionally, you get to meet new people from all over the world and sometimes even get free accommodation or free meals for volunteering. Some projects we find worth supporting in Central America include:
Osa Conservation, Costa Rica: Here you can help with rainforest and wildlife conservation projects and gain valuable experience.
Maya Pedal, Guatemala: This project recycles old bicycles and turns them into useful machines that benefit the communities.
La Esperanza Granada, Nicaragua: This project aims to improve the living conditions and educational opportunities for children in the poorest neighborhoods of Granada.
If you don’t feel like volunteering there are a lot of other eco-friendly activities when backpacking Central America. You could visit one of the many nature reserves and national parks, hike a volcano in El Salvador, Guatemala or Nicaragua or visit the many beautiful beaches and rainforests.
Tips for Minimizing Your Environmental Footprint
Here are a few extra travel tips to combine backpacking with ecotourism and a more sustainable way to travel or even live a more sustainable lifestyle.
- Leave no trace
This is a well known principle you should always stick to. Leave no trace e.g. means to avoid waste. Take your trash with you and don’t leave any behind. Many national parks in Central America offer recycling facilities and if not, there is always the possibility to just take your waste with you and throw it away in your hostel.
You should also stay on marked trails to protect the natural environment and avoid erosion. Or even worse, destroy any plants or the natural habitat of certain animals. You should literally leave no trace.
- Reduce the use of plastic
Avoid plastic wherever possible. Just as we already discussed before this can be done by using reusable utilities like water bottles or shopping bags. Many hostels and lodges have refill stations for water, so you don’t need to buy water in plastic bottles in the supermarket.
Also when going shopping for food you should rather go to local markets as goods are usually not in disposable plastic packaging. You can normally buy your fresh fruits and vegetables just as they are and put them in your reusable shopping bag.
- Carbon offsetting
CO2 is probably the hardest to avoid. THis is why we recommend you offset your CO2 footprint. Support projects like myclimate or atmosfair that fund carbon offset projects and offset your travel footprint. Some airlines and tour operators also offer the option of offsetting CO2 directly when booking.
- Environmentally friendly souvenirs
Of course you want to bring some souvenirs for your loved ones or even for yourself. There is nothing wrong with doing so. One of our backpacking tips is to buy handicrafts.
Buy handmade products directly from local artisans. For example, the handicraft market in Masaya, Nicaragua, offers a variety of sustainable and handmade products.
You can also look out for products made from environmentally friendly materials such as recycled wood or organic fabrics. Many markets and shops in Central America offer such eco-friendly options.
As always we hope that these informations and tips will help you on your way to travel Central America in an environmentally friendly way. If you have any questions or further tips let us know in the comments.
