Mexico offers plenty of options for travelers looking for adventure or eager to experience nature. You can be surrounded by monarch butterflies in Michoacan, swim with dolphins in Cancun or whale watch in Baja California, but these experiences may not necessarily qualify as ecotourism.

Though definitions vary, ecotourism is generally understood to be responsible and sustainable travel to natural areas. Ecotourism is about conserving the environment and improving the well-being of local people. While many experiences offered to tourists may be touted as "eco-tours" because they offer contact with nature, they may not meet the other criteria necessary to be considered ecotourism. If you are concerned with the conservation of natural landscapes, you should consider the impact your activities will have on them.

The Lonely Planet offers some tips for responsible travel, and before you book that vacation, read these tips from Lois Friedland, About's Guide to Adventure Travel on planning your ecotourism trip.

_{Photo of the Montebello Lagoon in Chiapas by Guillermo Aldana, courtesy of the Mexican Tourism Board}