There are lush, tropical inland areas, isolated coastal lands, abundant wildlife and unusual geographic features that make some areas of the Caribbean ideal for eco-tourist, nature-lovers and adventure travelers.

Ecotourism is a growing sector of the travel industry. In some places, such as Dominica and Suriname (see below), the economy of the country is based on its natural attractions. These are well-known nature-themed tourism spots, but any destination that offers easy access to nature and allows travelers a chance to travel without undue harm to the environment can be considered an ecotourism destination.

In the past, China used the lush tropical island of Hainan as a place to exile political dissidents and other citizens that the government labeled as troublemakers. But the Hainan of today is nothing like the backwater penal colony that it once was. As the only real tropical beach destination in the Middle Kingdom, Hainan’s fortunes began to rise along with China’s.

It has been a difficult year for the travel industry in the Caribbean. The poor state of the world economy means that few visitors have money to come to the islands. Resorts have …

Ecotourism and adventure travel have been a windfall for some nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The island of Dominica and the Central American nation of Costa Rica have promoted their natural landscapes …