Our Story: Exploring the World Responsibly
A Tokyo-born team of eco-travelers, writers, and conservationists dedicated to inspiring mindful adventures.
A Tokyo-born team of eco-travelers, writers, and conservationists dedicated to inspiring mindful adventures.
EcoTravel was founded in 2019 in the heart of Tokyo by a group of passionate travelers who had grown frustrated by the tourism industry's disconnect from environmental reality. We had all witnessed firsthand the degradation of ecosystems we loved — coral reefs bleached by warming oceans, forests fragmented by thoughtless development, wildlife displaced by unregulated tourism.
We believed that travel, done right, could actually be a force for good. That travelers who deeply connect with nature become its most vocal advocates. That the income from responsible tourism can fund conservation, support local communities, and preserve culture for generations.
So we started writing. First as a small blog, sharing guides for the destinations we knew best. Then as a growing community of like-minded explorers who wanted their adventures to leave the world better than they found it.
Today, EcoTravel Insight is read by over 20,000 travelers every month, spanning every continent. Our team of writers, researchers, and photographers work tirelessly to bring you honest, research-backed, and genuinely sustainable travel content.
Everything we publish is guided by three core principles that shape how we think about travel, destinations, and our impact on the planet.
We highlight travel experiences that actively contribute to the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems. Every destination we feature is vetted for genuine environmental commitment — not greenwashing.
Responsible travel means ensuring that the communities who steward wild places benefit from tourism. We prioritize locally-owned accommodations, indigenous-led tours, and experiences that funnel money directly to residents.
Knowledge transforms tourists into advocates. We provide in-depth guides, expert interviews, and practical tips that help travelers understand the places they visit and make choices that reduce their environmental footprint.
Our small but mighty team brings together expertise in ecology, journalism, photography, and community development.
A former environmental journalist who has reported from 35 countries, Sarah brings rigorous research standards and a gift for storytelling that makes complex ecological issues accessible to everyday travelers.
James holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Tokyo. He spends his time deep-diving into carbon data, certification standards, and sustainability metrics to make sure every claim we publish is evidence-based.
Maya's patient, ethical approach to wildlife photography has earned her recognition from the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year. She also writes our wildlife photography ethics guides and teaches responsible field practices.
Originally from Costa Rica, Carlos has spent a decade building relationships with indigenous communities across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. He ensures our content genuinely represents local voices and perspectives.
We started EcoTravel because we were tired of travel media that treated the planet as a backdrop for adventure rather than a living system that deserves our respect and care.
We had all experienced the transformative power of time in wild places — how a week in the Amazon rainforest or a morning watching elephants on the savanna can permanently change how you see the world. We wanted to share that, but share it responsibly.
Our promise to you: every article we write, every destination we recommend, every tip we offer is rooted in genuine concern for the places and people involved. We will never endorse a destination or operator just because they paid for it. We travel light, spend local, and leave landscapes better than we find them.
Join Our CommunitySix principles guide every decision we make — from the destinations we feature to the partnerships we form.
We never accept payment for positive coverage. Every recommendation is honest, independent, and based on genuine experience or rigorous research. Our readers trust us, and we take that seriously.
Respect for wildlife, local culture, sacred spaces, and the natural world underpins everything we do. We believe travel should deepen our understanding of others, not diminish it.
We believe in going deep — off the beaten path, into wild terrain, beyond the tourist trail. The most memorable journeys are often the hardest to reach and the most important to protect.
Protecting biodiversity is not just a preference — it is an urgent necessity. We partner with conservation organizations and dedicate a portion of our revenue to habitat protection projects worldwide.
We build bridges between travelers and the communities they visit. Authentic cultural exchange, fair trade, and local economic empowerment are central to the travel philosophy we promote.
An informed traveler is a responsible traveler. We invest in creating deep, nuanced content that helps people understand ecological systems, cultural context, and the long-term impacts of their choices.
We collaborate with world-leading conservation and sustainability organizations to ensure our content meets the highest standards.
World Wildlife Fund — leading global conservation organization working to protect nature and reduce threats to biodiversity.
Certifying sustainable agriculture and forestry, and promoting responsible business practices worldwide.
The global authority on responsible outdoor ethics, providing science-based guidelines for minimal-impact travel.
Setting and managing global standards for sustainable travel and responsible tourism practices.
From a small Tokyo blog to a global community of conscious travelers — here's how we got here.
Sarah Chen and James Okafor launch EcoTravel Insight from a small apartment in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, with a mission to make responsible travel accessible and compelling for everyday adventurers.
We publish our first comprehensive eco-destination guides covering Costa Rica and Iceland — two countries at the forefront of sustainable tourism. The response from readers exceeds all expectations.
Maya and Carlos join the team and we launch our Community Voices program, amplifying stories from local guides, indigenous community leaders, and on-the-ground conservationists worldwide.
EcoTravel reaches 10,000 monthly readers — a community of passionate, conscious travelers from over 60 countries. We form partnerships with WWF and the Rainforest Alliance to expand our conservation work.
With 20,000+ monthly readers and growing, we expand our coverage to over 50 eco-destinations globally. We launch a photo submission program and partner with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to set new content standards.
Our team doesn't just write about eco-travel from a desk. We're in the field — tracking jaguar corridors in the Amazon, following elephant migration routes in Borneo, and documenting coral bleaching events in the Pacific.
This firsthand experience shapes everything we publish. When we say a lodge is truly sustainable, it's because we've stayed there. When we say a community guide is excellent, it's because we've walked with them. When we warn of overtourism at a fragile site, it's because we've seen the damage ourselves.
We also collaborate with local photographers and scientists who know their ecosystems far better than any outsider could. Their insights — and their images — appear throughout EcoTravel Insight.
