Since the late 1980s, ecotourism has become a growing field of interest for travellers, especially those to and in Canada. The country's vast wilderness reserves, national parks and diverse ecosystems make it a popular destination for ecotourists. One of the regions that has been especially involved in developing ecotourism is Atlantic Canada.

	Atlantic Canada's waters and land form an amazing ecotourist destination.

Situated in the far east of Canada, and consisting of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, this area is also known as the Maritimes, or the Atlantic. The region is blessed with a combination of diverse ecosystems, ranging from heavy woodlands, to rocky coastal areas, to rolling sand dunes and the waters of the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean. Long known both for its natural beauty and for its economic dependence on natural resources, Atlantic Canada has recently developed its interrelation with the environment to become an ecotourist's dream.

As defined by UNESCO, ecotourism involves nature-based tourism where the goal of both tourists and the operator is the observation, appreciation and preservation of nature and traditional cultures. Ecotourism ideally helps protect natural areas by bringing economic benefits and new jobs to local communities through preservation efforts. Ecotourism includes many outdoor activities, attractions and wildlife-sighting that Atlantic Canada is famed for.

TOP ECOTOURISM DESTINATIONS

Eco-friendly adventures and activities are found throughout the Maritimes' provincial parks, beaches, water, or even by the roadside. However, the region also has several spots where an abundance of nature, activities and sights come together to create a perfect ecotourism holiday destination. The Bay of Fundy, Prince Edward Island National Park, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia's southern coast have had their praises sung far and wide by locals, travel associations and visitors from around the world.

	Hopewell Cape's rocks have been erroded by the Bay of Fundy's powerful waves. Photo Courtesy: New Brunswick Tourism Board

Bay of Fundy
Perhaps the best known of all Atlantic Canada's outdoor playgrounds is the Bay of Fundy. Stretching between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, this section of the Atlantic Ocean is famous for its high tides, massive waves and diverse marine life. Many visitors come to the area to see the popular Tidal Bore, an enormous tidal wave, which reverses the flow of the Petitcodiac River and suddenly raises its height twice a day, or to visit the Hopewell Rocks at Hopewell Cape, a series of soft rock 'sea stacks' carved by the ocean's power. Also of interest are the Reversing Falls of the St. John River, and the Shubenacadie River, where high tides cause wild rapids and large waves to move inland, much to the delight of rafters and tubers. The Bay of Fundy boasts one of the world's largest and most significant whirlpools, Old Sow Whirlpool, located near Deer Island.

The Bay of Fundy is also known for its many activities. With beaches, mudflats and dramatic water-carved cliffs, hiking is a popular activity in the area. Birders can also get their fill through watching the over 300 species that regularly use the mudflats as a resting place during migrations. Sea-kayaking is also popular, but the treacherous waves and tides make taking to the waters only advisable for those highly skilled or accompanied by experienced guides.

Every year, visitors arrive in the Bay of Fundy to see the whales which migrate there during the summer. Considered one of Canada's best whale-viewing areas, the outer bay is home to many fin, minke, humpback and sei whales. The area is also a breeding and nursery ground of the endangered right whale.

Newfoundland Coast
Surrounded by water, Newfoundland's recently developed popularity as a tourist destination has almost everything to do with the amazing ecotourism opportunities the rugged and starkly beautiful island holds.

This windswept and wave pummeled land, with its many isolated spots, has an abundance of opportunities both for watching sea birds and hiking. Especially notable for hikers is the 520-km (323-mi) long East Coast Trail. Winding its way around Newfoundland, this trail mostly keeps to the scenic coastal areas, providing hikers with astounding ocean views and challenging cliff-edge walks. The trail winds past many active and abandoned towns and communities, across a suspension bridge and pays a visit to The Spout, a wave-powered geyser.

Baccalieu Island and Witless Bay ecological reserves off the Newfoundland coast are especially worth a closer look by boat. Both reserves, although not accessible to humans, are home to hundreds of thousands of sea birds, especially puffins and storm petrels. There are several tours in the area which can take visitors for a closer look at these seabirds, and a chance to marvel at just how much noise up to a million avians can make.

	Massive icebergs float off the coast of Newfoundland during the summer months.

A more unique activity, which has recently become a Newfoundland specialty, is iceberg watching. Visible from many shores, these mammoth floating ice formations visit Iceberg Alley each spring and summer, and are best viewed on the east and north coasts, and especially from Twillingate Island. There are also many tours offered, which allow visitors to get closer to both the giant icebergs and their smaller counterparts, bergy bits. The waters of Newfoundland are also the haunt of many whales, and it is likely that one or two of the playful animals will be sighted either on an iceberg or whale-watching tour.

Prince Edward Island National Park
Almost 40 km (24.8 mi) in length, narrow Prince Edward Island National Park contains the central portion of Prince Edward Island's north shore. Between July and August of each year, the park is overrun by visitors to Cavendish, home to the famous writer Lucy Maud Montgomery and the house which became known as Green Gables. The tiny community is now a popular beach resort that plays host to almost a million visitors each year.

Despite this less than auspicious circumstance, outside of Cavendish and outside of the peak tourist season, P.E.I. National Park is full of wonderful opportunities for the ecotourist. Its length means it includes a variety of different habitats where visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, hike and climb sand dunes and red soil cliffs, or relax on isolated sand beaches.

One of the best places to appreciate this abundance of natural beauty is at Greenwich, Prince Edward Island National Park. Located on its own peninsula in east-central P.E.I. and separate from the rest of the park, Greenwich encompasses a rare and extremely fragile ecosystem of moving sand dunes and wetlands. Visitors to this area can view the dunes and the unique plants they nurture from a boardwalk path, and learn about its importance as an ecosystem at the interpretative centre.

Because the park is such a popular tourist destination, there are plenty of outdoor activities. Especially popular in this area are kayak and canoe tours, many of which explore the interior bays and rivers of the area. For the more adventurous, Rustico Bay and Tracadie Bay provide excellent sea kayaking conditions for those with experience or under the leadership of local guides. The area also has an abundance of birds to spot, including the endangered piping plover, while seals can be watched by boat, canoe or kayak tours in the waterways within and surrounding the park.

Nova Scotia's South Coast

	Nova Scotia's clear and powerful waters are excellent for surfing and scuba diving.

One interesting wreck for advanced divers to explore is the HMCS Saguenay, a battleship built in the 1950s and scuttled near Lunenburg in 1994. Still in excellent condition, the ship's superstructure remains intact and the interior is easily accessible. Those less experienced at diving will possibly wish to stick with open water diving, or contact groups such as Skipper Dave's Charters or Torpedo Rays, which offers charters to explore dozens of Nova Scotia's coves and wrecks.

Those hoping to ride the waves should visit the area between August and November, when the coast experiences the ripple effects of southernly hurricanes. Until mid-October, the waters average around 20°C (68°F), which combined with impressive rollers, clear waters and a lack of crowds makes for terrific surfing. There are several shops and surfing schools in the area which can both introduce first-time surfers to the sport and loan wetsuits and boards. Some of the best places to surf from include White Point Beach, Cherry Hill/Broad Cove and Lawrencetown Beach.

For those who like to try extremes, winter surfing is also popular in Nova Scotia. Although a 5/6 wetsuit at least 5 mms (0.197 in) thick, gloves, boots and a hood is necessary to deal with the frigid temperatures, enthusiasts claim that the high waves and tricky currents make for some of the best and least crowded winter surfing available in the world.

TOURS

While ecotourism activities are available to explore on one's own, tours are recommended, which allow ecotourists either greater access to animal populations, a better understanding of the area, or a chance to participate firsthand in conservation projects. A variety of tours are available, ranging from week-long whale migration-tracking ship experiences to quick animal watching jaunts. There are several groups that offer Ecotours and environmentally-friendly outdoor activities in the Maritimes. These groups are dedicated to non-invasive practices, often intertwining educational aspects into their activities, and are either locally-owned or provide employment for locals. Such tours embrace animal watching, kayaking, hiking and camping adventures.

	Humpback whales are often sighted in the waters of Atlantic Canada.

Because of this variety, it is important for tourists to examine the tours available both to determine exactly what best suits their needs and desires, and also to determine their true eco-awareness. Unfortunately, there are companies which bill themselves eco-sensitive or environmentally friendly but actually endanger or encroach on animals and protected areas, or use equipment (such as some motorized boats) which cannot be considered environmentally sound. Therefore, it is a good idea to look for organizations that not only bill themselves as environmentally-friendly, but actually practice ecological principles. Such tours leave no environmental footprint or impact behind by not venturing into restricted areas, and ensuring wildlife's safety and contentment.

Several of the best environmentally-friendly tours are offered by sea-kayaking outfits. Ranging from hourly to multi-day excursions, eco kayaking tours are usually lead by local guides who provide exceptional knowledge of the water and area and its history, folklore and traditions. Mi'Kmaq Kayak Adventures of Lennox Island, Prince Edward Island, offers short and multi-day sea-kayaking to remote locations. This environmentally friendly company has rigorous self-imposed environmental standards and gives clients the chance to learn the Mi'Kmaq legends of the ocean from their First Nations guides while paddling the waves.

Educational Ecotours and Working Vacations
Two types of ecotours that are becoming increasingly popular are working ecotours and educational tours. On educational tours, participants can develop a deeper understanding and knowledge of Atlantic Canada's ecosystems, often helping out with firsthand research. One organization which provides this type of tour is Surge Whale Watching, where groups of six join a research team to track and record the sounds of whales.

Working ecotours often involve voluntary employment on farms, or conducting environmental field studies. Longer in length but similar to the educational tours, many of these working holidays in Atlantic Canada involve tracking whale migratory paths or bird-banding projects.

ACCOMMODATIONS

For the environmentally conscious visitor to Atlantic Canada, there are also several different accommodations that are designated as eco-friendly for their use of natural materials, alternative energy sources (wind, sun, water), employment of locals and dedication to environmental preservation and a low environmental impact. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these accommodations are most frequently found either in isolated areas, or nearby ecological reserves, often consisting of cabins or lodges. The Atlantic provinces are also well-populated with camp grounds, some of which are isolated or have a low environmental impact. Occasionally accommodations offer the chance to sleep in teepees, while several vacation homes that use alternative energy sources are also available for rent throughout the Maritimes.

THE SEASON

	Atlantic Canada's autumns are world-famous. Photo Courtesy: New Brunswick Tourism Board

When in the Maritimes, visitors should be aware that both the weather and temperatures can change abruptly. During the summer, spring and fall it's as essential to pack rain gear and a sweater, especially for when on the water, as it is to pack a sunhat and warm-weather clothing. The cold of winter makes a warm coat, gloves, scarf and hat necessary.

Ecotourists to Atlantic Canada should also be aware that there is a specific season for the industry. Due to the regular tourist trade, and nature's own patterns, there is very little ecotourism in the region between September and April. Perhaps the best time to visit is mid to late May, early June or early September; while the majority of most eco activities and places are accessible or operational, and wildlife can be found in their summer grounds, the annual invasion of vacationers to the area is at a minimum. This is especially important for those planning to visit such popular destinations as the Bay of Fundy or Prince Edward Island National Park, as visiting at these times allows for an uncrowded opportunity to see nature and explore the region.