Costa Rica highlights vacation

Environment

We work with a local partner in Costa Rica who is committed to sustainability and protecting the flora and fauna. They have achieved the highest sustainability accreditation possible in country as part of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program , this is based on complying with a sustainable model of natural, cultural and social resource management. This program combines sustainable tourism, good management practices, the environmental and social impacts of services. Our partner provides documentation to our customers in a welcome pack when they arrive in Costa Rica detailing how best to treat the flora and fauna, tips on social norms like dress codes and photography.

Our accommodation in this trip offers great benefits to the local environment too. Our small lodge accommodation in Samara included in this itinerary has this accreditation with Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program and they are 100% carbon neutral. They have a sustainability manual which details their aim to follow the guidelines of good practices when it comes to the environment. Their objective is to reduce the negative effects on the environment and use these guidelines to choose external suppliers also for maintenance work or laundry facilities.

The eco-lodge we use in La Fortuna are committed to protecting local wildlife, recycling, environmental education for the local community, energy saving and the use of biodegradable products at the eco-lodge.

Community

Throughout our trips we use local guides and drivers so you can take advantage of their local knowledge of the areas you are visiting. This allows a more authentic experience for our customers and helps put money directly into the pockets of the local people. We encourage our customers to eat at small restaurants and buy souvenirs from local stalls.

We use locally-owned accommodation throughout Costa Rica. During this itinerary your accommodation in Samara on the Pacific coast is one such place. There are no large hotels in this area and instead you'll stay in a small family lodge, bringing money from tourism into the local area and providing jobs in the hotels for local people.

During our trip to Tortuguero you will have a local guides who know all about the people, day-to-day life and the flora and fauna. They will be able to tell you all about the turtles and how best to respect them during your visit, e.g. not overcrowding the beach and wearing dark clothing. We feel this knowledge and expertise really helps our customers gain a better insight into the wildlife. These excursions are run by local guides, for the forest walk we use a local villager (often with his son who is learning from him) which help the community benefit from tourism. The lodge used during this trip also runs educational programs for locals on the turtles and how to protect them from being hunted and how tourism can benefit them.