There is a new breed of tourism that links science, conservation, and public involvement. These journeys of discovery not only give you a chance to explore some truly untrammeled places but also help protect those places and the wildlife that depends on them. Trip leaders provide on-site training, and the volunteer groups are generally limited to 15 participants, so you're on intimate terms with both the people and the environment around you. And although there are daily research tasks to be accomplished, free time is included. Accommodations range from tent villages in Uganda to beachside condominiums in Maui.
Prices are per person and usually include everything except for airfare to the country.
Here is a sampling. Your mission is to study the elusive Amazon dolphin. At nine feet in length, it's the largest river dolphin in the world. But it's color, not size, that makes this creature so memorable. Most of your time will be spent in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, which has large stretches of virtually untouched rainforest.