Want to be ready for anything when you’re traveling, no matter what kind of trip you’re on? The best thing you can bring with you is a good head on your shoulders, full of all your previous experience and a mind full of confidence and excitement of all you’ll be seeing and doing … but the next best? The right travel gear.

For many reasons, when people think Indonesia tours, they think Bali. Why? Soaring volcanic peaks, immaculately terraced hillside rice paddies, picture perfect beaches … endless activities and dreamy accommodations welcome every kind of traveler. Indonesia itself is almost unimaginable in its of thousands of islands, spread over an expansive seascape between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

From the humble bird feeder in our yard to the exhilaration of watching a herd of massive elephants from the back of our safari jeep, few feelings compare to those of having a close encounter with wildlife! There is growing evidence - Scottish doctors prescribing time in nature to their patients, the emerging disciplines of wilderness and animal therapy, and more - that landscapes and their biodiversity are good for our wellbeing. The growth of the safari tour, birding tours and nature-oriented travel back this idea up by their growth year by year, but how can we get the most out of the precious time we spend on our trip in these areas of natural splendor? Let’s dig into how we can learn about the natural environment, especially the wildlife, of the country you’ll be visiting on your trip.

When you think of travel, which words come to mind?

Adventure? Inspiration? Exploration?

Visiting another country always brings many new experiences, but at the same time, the experience can vary widely based on our approach to planning our trip. All countries that host travelers have attractions that have become famous, and usually for good reason: they are awesome! Natural or cultural, every country has features and monuments that the masses want to see. The response from the travel industry? Packaged tours that often cater to large groups and leave little decision making power of hands of the traveler.

In intercultural relationship building, there are few hard and fast rules that will apply everywhere. While specifics will vary (sometimes greatly!) region by region, there are some concepts that can be very helpful in learning how to interact well with other cultures. The areas where Global Basecamps’ tours visit are often more traditional and conservative, presenting a more authentic travel experience and calling for cultural sensitivity. Read on for some tips on intercultural relationship building with a focus on Latin America, be they our trips to Costa Rica, Patagonia tours, or a Mexico vacation.