Watch Gringo Trails

Gringo Trails is a documentary film directed by Pegi Vail and released in 2013. The movie explores the impact of tourism on the cultures and environments of the places that tourists visit. The film features interviews with travelers, locals, and experts such as Costas Christ, Yossi Ghinsberg, Pico Iyer, and others. The title of the film refers to the term "gringo trail," which is used to describe the routes traveled by backpackers in Latin America. The term is derived from the word "gringo," which is a slang term used to refer to American or European tourists. The film shows how the development of these travel routes has led to changes in local cultures and environments.

The film covers a range of destinations and issues related to tourism. The documentary includes footage of backpackers in places such as Thailand, Bolivia, and Mali. The movie also discusses the effects of tourism on the environment, such as the damage caused by hikers on the Inca Trail in Peru or the trash left behind at the Full Moon Party in Thailand.

One of the key themes of the movie is the tension between the benefits and drawbacks of tourism. On the one hand, tourism can bring economic benefits to local communities by creating jobs and increasing revenue. On the other hand, tourism can also result in overcrowding, cultural commodification, and environmental degradation. The film explores this tension through interviews with locals who have seen the negative effects of tourism, as well as travelers who have had transformative experiences through their travels.

The movie also looks at the rise of "voluntourism," in which travelers engage in volunteer work to assist local communities or conservation projects. While the intentions of volunteers may be good, the film argues that such practices can have negative side effects, such as the displacement of local labor or the creation of artificial demand for volunteering opportunities.

One of the most compelling aspects of Gringo Trails is the way in which the documentary uses the stories of individual travelers to illustrate broader issues related to tourism. For example, the film profiles a backpacker who sees herself as an ambassador for her culture but is confronted with the reality that her presence is changing the very thing she came to experience. The film also highlights the ways in which travelers can have a positive impact on the places they visit, such as by engaging with locals and taking steps to minimize their environmental impact.

Overall, Gringo Trails is a thoughtful and eye-opening exploration of the complexities of tourism. The documentary does not shy away from the negative consequences of travel but also acknowledges the transformative power that travel can have on individuals and communities. The film raises important questions about how to create sustainable and responsible tourism practices that benefit everyone involved.

Gringo Trails is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.