Know about the local customs and traditions of the destination you will visit (celebrations, holidays, among others) so that you can participate and integrate with the community in the best way.
Learn some words in the native language to establish a more meaningful contact with the local community.
Respect and protect everything that makes a destination unique and different: from its history, architecture, and cultural and natural values such as: spirituality, music, art, cuisine, among others. For example, ask permission to take photographs and be informed of protocol for bargaining, giving tips, donations, and gifts.
Support Local Economy
Give preference to local handicrafts and products made in the destination, this will allow you to contribute to the development of small-scale family economies.
Treat local sellers and artisans with respect and kindness and promote a voluntary and fair business relationship between producers and consumers.
Do not buy products that are evidently falsified, or prohibited by national or international regulations.
When acquiring tourist services, always choose established business to avoid scams or deceptions, and give preference to those operated by residents of the community or destination.
Inquire about products that are legally restricted to exit from or enter the visited country.
Respect the Environment
Buy products that do not require the use of plants or animals in danger of extinction.
Prefer group outings that allow savings of resources, money, fuel and a decrease in your carbon footprint. Look for the most efficient and least polluting way to travel.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle solid waste during your trip. Bring your own bottle of water to refill, avoid buying products with unnecessary packaging and packaging, and do not accept plastic bags to receive product purchases that you can transport in another medium.
Reduce your consumption of water and electricity (ask to use your towels and sheets for more than one day and when you leave a room remember to turn off lights, heating and air conditioning).
Care for Cultural and Natural Heritage
Be careful when visiting wild, heritage, archaeological or other areas that are fragile and valuable.
Return garbage generated on your visit to these areas (including organic waste) to avoid altering the diet of native wildlife, polluting the landscape and affecting other visitors.
Choose routes that have the least impact on the landscape, preferring existing paths. Prefer guided tours to avoid accidents and decrease soil erosion and compaction in protected areas, while strengthening local work.
Do not incur environmental offenses. If you visit a protected area remember that there is a regulation created to preserve places and species of great ecological value and in many cases in danger of extinction.
Do not feed the wildlife.
Do not let stray dogs follow you when you walk down the street or on paths. Dogs can chase wild animals causing damage to the ecosystem. Alert the staff of the establishments to help you control these pets. This will allow a safer visit for you, your family and the environment.
Respect the signs and indications of existing communities in the area you visit. This will allow a safer visit for you, your family and the environment.
Do not remove natural resources, for example stones, fossils, snails, plants, flowers or others, from their original environment.
Contribute to the maintenance of the infrastructure and equipment present in the protected areas by paying the requested rate and using the facilities properly.
Be an informed and respectful traveler
Comply with local and national laws and regulations.
Respect human rights and protect children from exploitation in any form, especially sexual and labor.
Find out how you can receive medical assistance or contact your embassy (for foreign tourists) in case of emergency.
Tourists and visitors have the responsibility to gather information about the characteristics of the country they are prepared to visit prior to their departure. They will also be aware of the health and safety risks inherent in any movement within and outside their normal environment and will behave in a way that minimizes those risks.
Find out the weather and be prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment.
Be discreet in expressing your personal point of view about your beliefs and other cultural issues.
Refrain from any type of trafficking in drugs, weapons, antiquities, protected species and products and substances dangerous or prohibited by national regulations.
Use tourist information offices that have official public or private institutional support, in order to obtain objective, updated information and tourist services and activities that comply with the legal provisions of the places of visit.