At one time, choosing a holiday was a no-brainer. The only question anybody asked was: “Where are you off to?” Now, of course, other concerns whisper in our ears. How green is the holiday? How ethical?

Is my cash supporting some despotic regime? Will I destroy an area of rainforest the size of Shropshire every time I take a shower? Is the hotel stealing the locals’ drinking water for its golf course? In these days of greenwash and hogwash, it is hard to be certain of the answers.

However, help might be at hand. Every three years, Ethical Traveler (ET), an American grass-roots amalgam of tour operators, travel agents and outfitters, publishes a list of the top 10 ethical destinations, with a focus on developing countries. It analyses more than 70 nations, focusing on each one’s commitment to the environment, social welfare and human-rights record.

ET admits that none of its winners is perfect. Bulgaria, for instance, has huge corruption issues and has suffered a rash of unregulated construction; ET is reconsidering its inclusion. With the value of oil and mineral reserves soaring, some countries, such as Argentina, are aggressively expanding exploration.

As America has found in Alaska, oil and wilderness protection don’t always mix. South Africa has hardly covered itself in glory with its treatment of Zimbabwean immigrants.

Bolivia has social issues because of its historical treatment of indigenous people (although having an Amerindian president has helped). Amnesty International has highlighted indigenous land rights as a source of unrest (and sometimes repression) in Chile.

So, a few of 2008’s inclusions may cause jaws to drop, but that doesn’t mean ET’s effort to highlight excellence isn’t worth making.

Each country also has individual pockets of excellence, where tour operators, hotel owners and the locals are working together to make sure they don’t kill what could be the golden goose of ecotourism. So, here are the 10 finalists, along with some ideas for sampling them yourselves in ways that don’t cost the earth.

Unless stated, packages are per person and include flights

ARGENTINA Ethical Traveler says: “Scores high for its efforts to build an attractive and sustainable travel and tourism infrastructure.”

See for yourself: the Yacutinga Lodge & Wildlife Nature Reserve is set in its own 560-hectare nature reserve in northeast Argentina. It has fantastic jungle right on its doorsteps, day and night excursions through the undergrowth and English-speaking guides to point out ancient trees, medicinal plants, orchids and rare birdlife.

There are also river excursions and treetop observation towers where you can watch parakeets fly at eye level. It uses alternative energy systems and employs a strict recycling policy. A 10-day trip with Journey Latin America (020 8747 8315, www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk ), with nights in Buenos Aires and at the Iguaçu Falls, starts at £1,402pp for land arrangements (some full-board, some B&B), plus about £880pp for flights.

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