The Future of Sustainable Travel and the Need for Accessibility

The idea of traveling well beyond your home and into a completely new and exciting culture is a tantalizing one. Travel has the power to show people things they never imagined and open up new ideas. Likewise, it has the power to alter how they see the world; new thoughts and perspectives can change how people look at even the simplest of things.

Though many people are eager to travel and gain these experiences, only a small portion are actually able to. In many countries, whole populations barely have the means to get by, let alone leave the country on some sort of adventure. Even within developed countries where more people are likely to be financially capable of traveling, numerous factors such as age or physical disabilities might limit the ability to realize travel goals.

Our world is also changing profoundly; climate change and human development have taken us down an uncertain path. Today, many travelers are well aware of the significant climate impact of traveling. Many strive to take advantage of sustainable travel options, but often these alternatives come at a higher price, further limiting accessibility.

Addressing Sustainability

Today, sustainable travel is an option for most people that are willing to consider it. In many of the most popular travel destinations, eco-friendly lodges are popping up. Typically, these lodges are operated by locals who share a belief in providing good jobs that also help conserve and promote native landscapes. However, in many areas, these remain a niche market and tend to be more expensive than many travelers can afford.

Undoubtedly, the largest carbon footprint associated with travel is linked to flights taken to go to and from travel destinations. Only a small percentage of the global population flies at all; however, the portion that does has a significant carbon footprint. This has led many sustainability-minded travelers to opt for other travel options such as taking a train or choosing a more locally accessible vacation destination.

Even if you are flying to a destination and not staying in an eco-friendly lodge, there are ways to make your trip more sustainable. Simple things like preparing your home for travel by lowering the thermostat, unplugging electronics, and packing minimalistically can make a big difference. Likewise, while traveling, doing your best to support local businesses that focus on sustainable initiatives can go a long way towards promoting a more sustainable travel experience.

Addressing Accessibility

Of course, issues of travel sustainability are not a concern for many people because their ability to travel at all is limited in the first place. For instance, only about 11% of the global population flew in 2018 and the majority of the annual air travel emissions stemmed from only 1% of the population. Making travel more accessible for the majority of the global population would require a massive redistribution of wealth and significant strides in global sustainability efforts.

For many, even the financial ability to travel isn’t enough to lower the barrier to doing so. Hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities struggle to travel regularly. Things that many take for granted such as getting on and off airplanes, booking a hotel room to our specifications, or traveling around a town can be a significant challenge.

Beyond even the difficulty of traveling in general, finding quality information on travel accessibility can be a major deterrent for those who would want to travel to a certain destination. Many disabled persons find it difficult to find travel agents or other knowledgeable people in the system that can help with planning a trip. Even in rich countries such as the United States, there are significant barriers to accessibility, traveling to a developing country where accessibility status is unknown can be extremely disheartening.

Getting Involved

Fortunately, there are things that interested people can do to help both with travel sustainability and accessibility. For example, sharing information on different forums related to both causes can help spread the word. Documenting how a travel attraction addresses accessibility and sustainability concerns can help those considering travel make more informed decisions about what is going to be right for them.

Another option might be to share ways to make a trip more sustainable using your own experiences. Are you striving to reduce your carbon footprint while still seeing the world? How? Sharing your story can help inspire others to make similar changes to the way they travel. All and all, small changes can add up to make real substantial differences.

Finally, you might consider starting a non-profit or a company that is dedicated to helping people reach their travel goals. The goals of the company can be to serve people looking to travel in areas where accessibility might be a concern. It could also have a focus on doing so in a sustainable manner.

Travel is a profound experience that everyone deserves to have. Unfortunately, traveling can be a challenge for many people and can take a significant toll on our fragile environment. Creating awareness and helping people is perhaps the best way to begin addressing both of these issues.

Hiking as Meditation: Walking Meditation to Increase Mindfulness

Meditation has been tagged with some interesting stereotypes over the years. Many people think you have to be in a dark, quiet room with your legs crossed and eyes closed, doing some kind of “ohm” chant to meditate properly.

That’s just not true.

Meditation can take many forms – including hiking and backpacking. If those are hobbies you already love, it’s time to consider how they can help you feel re-centered and reduce your stress levels while you’re on the trail.

Many spiritual leaders have touted the effectiveness of walking meditation, and you can apply those principles to your hikes by being more mindful on each journey. If you’ve never meditated before, it can take some practice to connect physical activity to a clearing of the mind. But, hiking is already a great way to improve your mental and physical health. Adding meditation to your walks can help you feel more connected with the earth, and yourself.

Let’s cover some of the benefits of hiking as meditation and how you can set clear intentions for your treks.

The Benefits of a Mindful Hike

There’s no question that simply spending time in nature is good for your health. It reduces stress and anxiety and can offer a boost of energy. Taking things one step further (no pun intended) through walking meditation can offer even greater benefits to your physical and mental well-being. Some of the “perks” you can expect from being more mindful on your hikes include:

  • Increased blood flow
  • Improved digestion
  • Reduced anxiety
  • Improved circulation
  • Better sleep quality
  • Enhanced balance

Walking meditation also helps with symptoms of depression and anxiety and can boost your creativity levels if it feels like you’ve been in a slump lately. Combining mindfulness with regular outdoor exercise, like hiking, is also a fantastic way to naturally boost testosterone levels (which can decrease with age). That will lead to a clearer mind and greater physical awareness while also promoting strength and vitality.

How to Meditate On the Trail

Ready to give hiking as meditation a try for yourself?

Again, you don’t have to worry about specific chants or keeping your eyes closed while you walk – that would probably do more harm than good with trees around! Walking meditation is easier than you might think. Try the following steps to break down the process until it becomes more familiar.

  1. Find a spot on the trail or a clearing in a wooded area that will allow you to freely walk back and forth about 10 to 15 feet.
  2. Stroll throughout that area slowly as you breathe deeply and take in your surroundings.
  3. Take slow, intentional, mindful steps, and focus on sensations that you usually don’t notice. That could include how your feet and legs feel while moving, or the rhythm of your breathing. It could even include the gentle “thud” your feet make with each step. The more you focus on yourself and the world around you at that moment, the more mindful and present you’ll be.

You may have other thoughts come to mind. That’s out of your control, and you don’t have to work to “block” those thoughts out. There’s nothing you can do to prevent both positive and negative ideas from entering your mind, but think of them like clouds passing by. Don’t hold onto them, and do your best to refocus on the present.

You can continue to be mindful throughout your hike, paying attention to how your body feels with each step forward while also observing the sights, sounds, and smells of your surroundings. It’s a wonderful way to manage your anxiety while hiking and to feel more relaxed by the time you’re finished.

Staying Safe

While meditating on a hike is a wonderful way to feel more connected with the earth and your natural surroundings, it’s important not to bite off more than you can chew. If you’re new to hiking, familiarize yourself with certain trails and build up your strength and stamina before you try to meditate on your journey. You’ll still enjoy wonderful mental and physical health benefits, simply by exercising in nature.

Additionally, if you deal with chronic pain or you’re trying to recover from an injury, use a pain scale to determine if you’re ready to be active again. Pushing through the pain or trying to force yourself to get back on the trail can end up hindering your performance. You’ll also be so focused on that pain that it will be nearly impossible to be mindful and present.

Whether you’re just getting into hiking or you’ve been hitting the trail for years, there are more benefits than we could ever think to list here. Using hiking as meditation, however, adds to that list and can help you feel more in tune with the world around you while reducing your stress levels. If you’re ready for that step, try to introduce walking meditation into your next hike.

7 Tips When Planning A Road Trip With Your Dog

Every dog owner knows that their dog is their go-to companion for everyday life. Are you one such dog lover? If so, then we are sure that you’ll be excited about the adventure of a road trip with your dog by your side. And why shouldn’t you be? As long as you travel safely, having your favorite travel buddy by your side can make your road trip even more fun. Here are seven tips for you to know when planning a road trip with your dog for a smooth and safe experience.

1.   Keep Them Warm

Oftentimes, we forget to keep our dogs warm in cooler temperatures. If you plan a trip somewhere cold, you should take some Dog Jackets for Winter. These will help keep your dog warm to prevent any health issues caused by the cold. Naturally, you will enjoy the trip much more, knowing that your dog is entirely safe and sound in the pullover you bought for them.

Apart from caring for your pup by taking along warm clothes, you should also make sure that your vehicle’s heater is working correctly to make your dog’s ride more comfortable.

2.   Keep Important Pet Documents Handy

If you’re planning a road trip with your dog, be sure to carry all the pet-related documents with you in your car. Here’s a quick checklist:

  • State-issued dog or pet license.
  • Anti-rabies and vaccine record.
  • Medical check-up files in case of a visit to an out-of-town vet.

The medical files and records can come in handy if your dog gets sick during the vacation leading to a trip to a vet during your road trip. The new vet will be able to go through their medical history to conclude what treatment to begin with.

To be on the safe side, you can also use mobile apps that let you digitally store all the documents in one place. Most of these applications are cloud-based, so you can access them from any device you want, given you remember your account’s password.

3.   Practice Responsible Behavior in Public Places

Be a responsible pet owner during your road trip

Be a responsible dog owner during your road trip

We know your dog means the whole world to you, but the world as a whole might not always feel the sane way. Whenever you take a pit stop on your road trip with your dog, make sure to keep them on their leash.

If you don’t leash your dog in public places, they could chase people, or other animals, creating unrest in the surroundings, which we don’t want.

If not taken care of, this act might even land you and your dog in trouble, and you may be fined by local law enforcement. That would be a quick way to spoil your holiday mood.

Apart from this, you should also teach your dog to refrain from sticking their heads out from the windows of your car. This could cause them serious injury and can cost you a fortune in medical expenses.

4.   Carry The Essentials During a Road Trip with Your Dog

While you are planning a road trip with dogs, it’s natural that you’ll be excited about the experience. But with all the excitement, you shouldn’t forget to carry essential items that will come in handy later on your trip.

Make a list of things that you might need in different situations and carry those things with you. To start with, here is a generic list of items that you might need:

  • An extra blanket for your dog.
  • Extra tough and durable mats for seats so that your dog doesn’t ruin your car seat covers.
  • Some packets of your dog’s favorite biscuits and snacks to ease the journey a bit.
  • Some medicines to help soothe any nausea that your dog might experience during the ride.
  • Life safety tubes if you are headed to the poolside or a beach. This will let your dogs enjoy the water safely.
  • A leash to keep your dog’s excitement under control.

5.   Give Your Dog Their Own Space During the Road Trip

To make their ride more comfortable, your dog shouldn’t ride shotgun. Instead, it would be best for your dog to ride in the backseat of the car. This way, it will be comfortable for both of you. You and your dog will get optimum space for yourself and will enjoy the ride a lot more comfortably. If possible, you can also have a barrier between the driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat. This will make your dog even more comfortable and will keep them safe in the event of an accident. The barrier will also prevent your dog from distracting you throughout the ride.

6.   Don’t Plan A Road Trip When Your Dog is… Grumpy

Plan your road trip with your pet's condition in mind

Plan your road trip with your dog’s condition in mind

Dogs are lovely, but they can be grumpy too. During their heat, female dogs can also be pretty much in a mood to wreak havoc here and there. They might feel sick and nauseous also. An excellent way to avoid this is to keep track of their cycle and plan your road trip accordingly.

7.   Keep Track of Your Dog using GPS

Your road trip might include some time to camp in the countryside or somewhere remote. In that case, it’s natural that your dog would want to roam in the wilderness, and you can’t run everywhere behind them.

Naturally, they might lose their way in the woods, or a wild animal might try to prey on them. For emergencies, you can tie a GPS tracker on their collar or ankle. This will ensure that you will be able to locate your dog if they happen to wander off.

As you can see, you need to be extra careful while planning a road trip with dogs. In addition to items in your own suitcase, you’ll need to do some extra planning to ensure that your dog has a comfortable experience. In addition to the eight items discussed, a few essential things to consider adding to the list are the dog’s full photograph, extra food, odor eliminator, pet wipes, bells and a whistle, an extra leash, and portable water and food bowls. With these items and the proper preparation, you can have a memorable road trip out with your dog.

Volunteer While Backpacking South America

If you are someone who loves to travel as much as I do, you’ll be familiar with the traditional advice on how to travel inexpensively. Hostels, couch surfing, camping… and eating nothing but buttered pasta for weeks on end. What if I told you that there is an easier way to travel the world, save money, and have a memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience? Imagine summiting Machu Picchu, getting a tan on the beaches of Lima, or dancing in Rio. Worldpackers makes finding volunteer work while backpacking South America more accessible than ever!

Volunteer in South America via a Reputable Agency

If volunteer work in South America sounds like something you want to do, it’s best to do it via a reputable agency. An agency will help screen volunteer programs and hosts in South America to make sure you have support every step of the way.

Finding a Host on Worldpackers

Worldpackers is a service that connects travellers with volunteer work in South America and around the world. Travellers and hosts use the service to find each other, and each provides an integral part of the exchange.

The hosts will offer a place to stay. Perhaps a hostel, camp, family home, farm, or NGO to a traveller in exchange for hours worked or volunteered on the property. A traveller works on the property a set number of hours per week in exchange for free accommodation, and sometimes other perks such as free food, free bike rentals, free tours… the list is endless!

How to build your Worldpackers profile

To begin on Worldpackers as a traveller, all you need to do is sign up, pay a yearly membership, USD $49.99 and begin searching for your dream volunteer program in South America. You can apply to as many experiences you like. If a host thinks that you’ll be a good fit, you’ll be pre-approved. All that’s left to do is book your flight and pack!

The Worldpackers interface is extremely intuitive and easy to use. You can search experiences by destination, purpose of the trip, availability, skills you offer, style of travel, hours of collaboration, trip length, additional benefits and more. That makes searching through their thousands of experiences easy and manageable. You can also read all reviews from other Worldpackers who have lived that experience, so you have the peace of mind that you’re making the right choice in applying. 

The site also offers hundreds of articles, videos and courses about how to stand out as a volunteer. You can earn badges and certificates for your profile which will make you a more desirable candidate and can increase your chances of being selected by the hosts you want! 

Long Term Volunteer Work in South America

Most Worldpackers volunteer trips in South America require the volunteers to stay between 2-4 weeks. However, you will find a huge variety of minimum time commitments on the site. 

The benefits of long-term travel are plenty. Connecting to a location, immersing yourself in a different culture, contributing to a local community and making lifelong connections are just a few of the highlights past Worldpackers shared in their reviews. 

There is also value in establishing a home base with a volunteer program when you are backpacking South America. When travelling and living out of a backpack for long periods of time, it can be a great reset to feel at home for a while. 

Your hosts and fellow travellers can become a family away from home and they can be a great resource for planning for your next destinations. 

Volunteer Trips In South America

Let’s look at some current volunteer opportunities for those backpacking South America. 

There are over 1500 volunteer positions available in South America at the time of writing this article. Some require as short of a time commitment of only one week! I’m happy to highlight just a few opportunities available this spring & summer.

Volunteer at the reception of a hostel in Bogotá, Colombia

This position is looking for a warm and friendly individual to work behind the counter greeting guests at their hostel. As a volunteer, you’d work 32 hours a week. You would also be asked to give a hand in the kitchen. 

Aside from a free bed, this experience also offers you free breakfast each morning, use of their kitchen, bikes at your disposal and discounts on drinks. This hostel has achieved top host status, meaning that they have consistently received great reviews from travellers who have lived this experience. 

Past Worldpackers have said this experience excels in helping them immerse themselves in the culture, meet locals, develop social awareness, and meet other international travellers. 

Explore more volunteer work in Colombia

Share your knowledge in Catuama, Brazil

“Share your knowledge and experience on skills that you have developed or learned.”

Do you have a special skill or talent? Why not bring yourself to Brazil to teach in a hostel! Whether it be teaching a sport, organizing events, or running a craft workshop – this experience may be for you!

This host is asking Worldpackers to stay at least 15 days. In exchange you get 3 days off per week, pickup, and transport to the hostel when you arrive, access to the kitchen and discounts on accommodation for your stay in other hostels as you continue with your travels.   

Other Worldpackers recommend this experience for getting in touch with nature, learning about sustainability and developing greater environmental awareness. 

Explore more volunteer work in Brazil

Volunteer at our Zoo in the Peruvian Andes Valley, Lima Peru

“Join us as a Zoo volunteer! Work alongside skilled veterinarians and staff, at our local Zoo in the Peruvian Andes. As a volunteer, you will learn about each species and support by feeding animals, spending time/sharing loving energy with animals, helping veterinarians administer medications, cleaning, gardening, and maintaining the atmosphere for the animals.”

If cost isn’t a limiting factor during your travel, there are even more opportunities available to you. This experience, and a select few others, may charge an additional fee. For instance, are you an animal lover? While backpacking South America, you could volunteer at a local zoo, helping to care for animals. 

This position only requires 3 hours of work each weekday, which frees up the rest of your time to explore this beautiful country! This position also provides breakfast and lunch each day. 

They accept couples as well as single volunteers, so if you are travelling with a partner or friend, they are welcome too. 

Those who have volunteered here say this experience was great for meeting locals, immersing in the local culture, and getting in touch with nature. 

Explore more volunteer work in Peru

Community Manager & Web Programmer in Cordoba, Argentina

If you’re looking for volunteer work in South America that would also look great on your resume, why not consider helping out as a community manager and web programmer during your backpacking trip?

 “We are looking for a creative person who has knowledge in digital marketing, social networks and can also help us advertise the hostel organically and using digital ads.”

For anyone with tech skills to spare, this position could be not only fun, but also a great career opportunity to bolster your resume. 

This stunning hostel in Argentina is seeking a talented person to run their social media accounts, and the minimum time requirement is only one week.

You would work 32 hours a week which leaves plenty of time for exploring and spending time with your new friends from around the world.

Explore more volunteer work in Argentina

Multiply and cultivate ornamental plants in Chile

“We reproduce and research ornamental plants, especially the native ones… We’re 5 km away from the touristic city of Valdivia, close to national parks and other attractions. Come help us with different activities in our vivero.”

If you’ve got a green thumb and would love to be surrounded by nature while backpacking South America, why not volunteer in beautiful Chile on a working farm? You’d work farming, gardening, and helping with general labour around the property. 

This experience includes all meals, free laundry, and 2 days off a week. You can also use the on-site bicycles to get into town on your days off.

Explore more volunteer work in Chile

In conclusion, you don’t have to pay a ton of money to travel around the world or have unique experiences. Worldpackers is an incredible resource for backpackers, budget travellers, or those searching for enriching volunteer programs in South America. 

Their site’s search functions make it so easy to find the best volunteer work when backpacking South America. Regardless of your unique travel itinerary, I cannot recommend Worldpackers enough.

How to Work Remotely While Camping

As an entrepreneur and outdoor enthusiast, you’re probably wondering if working remotely is possible when you’re backpacking, camping, or otherwise engaged in outdoor activities. The answer: yes. However, it takes a bit of preparation. Here’s some advice:

Choose your adventures wisely when you have to work remotely

Let’s get this out of the way: it is not always possible to work remotely when you’re out camping. If you’re rock climbing, for example, you can’t stop and pick up the phone. The same goes for if you’re hiking a treacherous path. Make sure that you are fully acquainted with the area in which you plan to travel if you’re going to be outdoors and away from a regular office (or the business center of a hotel).

If you’re going to be working remotely while you’re traveling, choose activities that allow you to take a break of at least an hour at a time. This way, you have time to focus on both your work and the time you’ll spend with your family.

Know what equipment you need to work remotely while camping

You already know that you will need to invest in equipment that will keep you safe if you’re hiking or camping. This might include a camping backpack – which is especially important on multi-day trips – and a standalone GPS unit.

For working remotely while camping, you also need some basic office equipment. This might include a small tablet or laptop computer, a mobile hotspot, and a small folding table for writing. A special note here: make sure that you will have access to power while you are away. The Trekers blog notes that you may need a generator or portable battery.

Set yourself up for success if you run your own business

Believe it or not, it’s possible to run your own business while experiencing the great outdoors. Preparation goes beyond simply knowing your outdoor location and having the right equipment. You will also want to make sure that your work can continue without you should you be unavailable. Start by registering your business as an LLC. This makes it a standalone entity and gives you some financial protection. LLC regulations vary from state to state, so do your research first so that you know what you need before you get started.

You should also appoint an individual to act on your behalf when you can’t be reached. Even though your goal is running a business from the outdoors, you must be realistic: you won’t always be available. Create a company organizational chart so that your employees know who to get in touch with when you’re off the proverbial grid.

Software that enables working remotely while camping

You should also have digital tools and software that allow you to work remotely, whether you are camping or on the road. A few examples here are workflow/project management system and document sharing service.

There are several workflow management programs to choose from, including Asana and HubSpot. Most will integrate with Google Docs, which marketing agency PaperStreet asserts is a secure way to collaborate with your employees and team in real-time.

While there are many hobbies that won’t interfere with working remotely, those of us that spend more time outdoors than in understand that the things we love pose challenges if we want to run our business without being there. But, if you take the time to prepare ahead, you can circumvent many of the greatest hurdles and keep things moving no matter where you are in the world.