Costa Rica and Panama vacation

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This is an overland small group tour, traveling across two countries with buses and a boat, without the need for any internal flights.

Many of the accommodations used on this tour include sustainable practices including solar power. For example:

Sibu Lodge in Monteverde: Use of energy-saving light bulbs, Solar Panels installed to offset their use of grid-connected energy usage, Water saving program and treatment plan

Villas Rio Mar in Dominical: use of solar energy on the property to provide electricity for the AC’s and other hotel appliances to run. They also use Solar Heaters for providing the warm water in the rooms. All the cleaning products are biodegradable, such as hand soap, dishwasher soap, washing machine soap, floor cleaner

Monteverde Lodge: Much of our energy consumption is supplied through the lodge’s 47 solar panels. We use biodegradable and environmentally friendly soaps, detergents, and cleaning products.

Human power! On Day 4 we have a guided hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and on Day 8 we offer Hiking in Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

Meals throughout the trip feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients, reflecting Costa Rica’s emphasis on sustainable food practices. For example, visits to local coffee farms on Day 3 highlight the importance of supporting local producers.


ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Many of the hotels we use on this trip make conscious efforts to reduce their environmental impact. Examples from the hotels include:

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens: We separate our waste and encourage our guests to do the same. Recyclable materials are taken to the town recycling center (Acopio de Monteverde). We provide monthly support with our staff to help organize and clean the local recycling center. We process compostable waste from our restaurant, transforming organic material into compost for our gardens.

Villas Rio Mar: the only hotel in Dominical, Costa Rica that has the highest possible Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). In our waste collection center we separate the trash and compost that we use in the resort. The separated trash will be picked up by a variety of companies for recycling. A good example is the old oil from our fryers; this waste product is subsequently used for the production of things like body creams and bio fuel (and more).

Sibu Boutique Hotel: Water saving program and treatment plan. Use of energy-saving light bulbs. We minimize using single-use plastics and packaging throughout the property, kitchen, restaurant, and rooms. Use of biodegradable cleaning supplies.

Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge: The lodge itself is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment, utilizing renewable energy sources and employing eco-friendly practices.

Many of the hotels also make a conscious effort in restoring nature. Examples from the hotels include:

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens: Our small onsite organic farm is an interactive space where guests can learn about Costa Rican agriculture and taste some of the fresh edible produce commonly grown in the region. In 2023, we added Monteverde Lodge to the Jaguar Research Program. We’ve also formed internal sustainability committees among our staff to implement the periodic clean-ups of nearby creeks and the reforestation of our hotel grounds and the surrounding area.

Villas Rio Mar: In partnership with other area hotels, Villas Rio Mar helps to plant trees every year. These trees are usually planted in Marino Ballena National Park. Villas Rio Mar is ‘Elite’ certified with CST and the only hotel in the area that has this highest possible certification. Each month a different group of employees cleans the beach of Dominical. Throughout the year, each employee of Villas Rio Mar helps collecting trash from the beach we all love so much.

Sibu Boutique Hotel: community organic fertilizer production programs.

Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge: With a deep commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable tourism, this refuge strives to provide an experience that is not only educational but also respectful towards the natural habitat of its inhabitants

Poas Volcano Lodge: initiated the process for the ‘Programa Bandera Azul Ecologica’ in the local area. As a result, and with the support of the Lodge, Varablanca has been awarded the ‘Blue Flag’ Certificate for sustainability for the last 13 years.

La Quinta Sarapiqui Lodge: approximately 5 acres were devoted them to the regeneration of the humid tropical forest. In this sector, native species of the area have been planted only, thus generating a secondary forest. The Lodge has established wild gardens as a habitat to attract butterflies, frogs, small mammals and lots of birds

This trip also contributes to nature recovery/rewilding projects Entry Fees to Parks/Protected Areas:

Day 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – entrance fees support its conservation programs and the Children's Eternal Forest is managed by a not for profit
Day 6: Arenal Volcano National Park – a portion of entry fees funds park management and ecological preservation.
Day 8: Corcovado National Park – entry fees help protect one of the planet’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
Day 9/10: Cahuita National Park was set up with a community tourism development scheme

Expert nature guides are also employed:
Day 4, a naturalist leads a hike through Monteverde, providing insights into the region's unique biodiversity.
Day 8, expert guides in Corcovado share their understanding of the park’s fragile ecosystems and wildlife.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

The following accommodate on this tour are family-owned:

Riande Urban has been family owned by same family for 50 years

Arenal Oasis Eco-Lodge was originally a family-owned cattle ranch, then turned agro-sustainable farm and then eventually grew to be the Ecolodge and Wildlife refuge that it is today.

La Quinta Sarapiqui Lodge is a family owned and operated business that originally started as a cattle ranch. The couple that originally opened it still live on the property today. 'Everyone in our staff is from the area of Sarapiqui and some of them have been with La Quinta since we first opened our doors.'

We maximize other local economic opportunities through various experiences including:
Dinning at locally owned and run restaurants.

Day 4: We offer a cultural tour in Chitre, with workshops in artisans' homes, directly benefiting the artisans.

Day 5: Boquete Coffee Tour - Guests visit a local coffee plantation, directly supporting farmers by learning about sustainable production and purchasing products.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Local hosts, guides, and drivers are employed throughout the trip, offering not only employment opportunities, but a wealth of knowledge of Costa Rica and Panama's different regions and the country as a whole.

A donation of £10 is made on behalf of every traveler to our foundation, which helps supports education and community empowerment projects worldwide.