Have you ever decided to slow down when travelling and found that you enjoyed the experience more?
The truth is, there is a way of travelling that begins long before you pack your suitcase.
It starts when we decide to travel without rushing, when we choose to stay a little longer, or when we replace “How many places can we see?” with “What can we discover here?”
That is, in part, what Slow Tourism is all about: enjoying the journey more and connecting with the destination. And yes, it can also be a very Ecocentric way to travel. Perhaps sustainable travel is not about doing more, but about looking more closely. Here are some tips to make your summer a little more Ecocentric:
1. Choose the journey, not just the destination
The journey is part of the experience too.
Whenever possible, travel the Ecocentric way. Choosing the train, public transport, walking or cycling allows us to get around more sustainably while also discovering the destination at a different pace.
Because sometimes the most interesting part is not at the end of the journey, but everything that happens along the way and the memories you create with your loved ones.
2. Stay a little longer
We know that arriving at a new destination is exciting and that you want to see everything. And yes, visiting five places in four days may sound like you have made the most of your time. But staying a little longer has its own charm.
Walk without a map. Get lost among narrow streets and along beaches. Go back to the restaurant you loved. Discover the local market. Sit in a square without looking at the clock. Take the time to observe and appreciate your surroundings.
Slow Tourism invites us to get to know a destination rather than simply visit it.
3. Eat and shop locally
Travel is also about tasting.
Choosing local restaurants, markets, artisans and small independent businesses is a simple way to connect with the culture of a place and support the people who are part of it.
And perhaps the best souvenir is not something we pack in our suitcase, but a story we bring home. A flavour to remember. An aroma that makes you want to return.
4. Leave room for the unexpected
Not everything needs to be booked, photographed or saved on Google Maps. Stop!
Leave a morning free. Take a street that was not on the itinerary. Talk to someone from the area. Take it slow — life is already moving fast enough.
5. Be a guest, not just a tourist
When we travel, we become guests in a place for a few days.
That is why taking care of natural spaces, respecting local customs, reducing waste, using water responsibly and leaving places as we found them are small gestures that reflect the way we want to travel.
It is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about leaving a positive footprint without leaving too much of a footprint.
6. Travel light, including in your habits
At We are ecocentric, we believe that big changes start with small decisions.
The same applies when we travel.
A reusable water bottle. A cloth bag. Buying only what we need. Walking a little further. Choosing local businesses. Reducing waste.
They are simple gestures, but together they can make our holidays a little more conscious.
If you would like to discover more ways to incorporate small sustainable habits into your everyday life, you can start with our selection of 4 books to inspire you to live a more Ecocentric life.
This summer, slow down
Because being Ecoista can also mean this:
arriving somewhere without trying to conquer it, enjoying it while we are there, and returning home leaving as little behind as possible.
This summer, travel slowly.
Be an Ecocentric tourist.
