Panama Canal and Costa Rica vacation

Planet

As an in depth specialist tour operator to Costa Rica and Panama, we take a considered approach to the social, environmental and economic impacts of the vacations we design. To us, this means much more than a simple donation to a charity for each client. We try to build long and constructive involvements with local guides, wildlife lodges and hotels, in the course of which we, and our clients, can make lasting wide-ranging contributions to the wonderful places and people we engage with. In this itinerary we have selected several hotels and lodges whose documented practices align with this approach.

In the mid-range category:

Hotel Silencio del Campo (days 4 to 6) is a family-run property that has introduced a range of measures relating to energy use, food production and waste management. The hotel uses a 243-panel solar system to generate electricity. Its on-site Mandala Organic Garden produces fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants for use in the restaurant, which serves local dishes. Food preparation residues, agricultural by-products and garden waste are composted to produce organic material for use on the property, while non-organic waste is separated for recycling. Guests can also visit the property's Pavo Real Farm and take part in activities such as milking cows and collecting eggs.

Hotel Tropico Latino, Santa Teresa (days 9 to 12), gives preference to recruiting staff from the local community and operates a recycling programme covering guest rooms, offices, restaurant and kitchen areas and public spaces. Organic waste is composted for use as fertiliser in the hotel's gardens, and the property uses biodegradable soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents and cleaning products. The hotel also promotes its Five Dollar Check Out Program, through which guests can make an optional contribution at the end of their stay towards community and environmental initiatives in Santa Teresa, including local beach-cleaning activities.

In the upper-range category:

Amarla Boutique Hotel, Panama City (days 1 to 3), has introduced measures relating to energy efficiency, the use of biodegradable products and the reduction of single-use plastics. Its furniture and décor include certified timber and handmade crafts produced by Indigenous communities. The hotel also works with local education and employment programmes and purchases from local artists and suppliers where possible. Its Kaandela restaurant uses seasonal and locally sourced ingredients where available.

Nantipa Hotel Santa Teresa (days 9 to 12) has introduced a number of measures relating to water, energy, waste and local procurement. During construction, six trees were reportedly removed and the timber was subsequently reused to make furniture for the guest rooms. The hotel provides drinking water in glass pitchers and avoids using straws where possible, with biodegradable or stainless-steel alternatives available when required. Wastewater is treated on site and, according to the hotel, reused for irrigation of the gardens. Energy sensors are used to manage lighting and air conditioning, while solar water heaters are installed in the guest rooms. The hotel gives preference to local residents when recruiting and, where possible, purchases goods from local producers and small businesses. Examples include purchasing seafood from local fishermen and bread from a local baker. Nantipa is also a founding member of Catuza, the local Chamber of Tourism.

We were the first tour operator in the UK to form a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance to work towards implementing improved management practices in tourism. This involved working with hotels and other tourism businesses on practices relating to environmental management, social responsibility and engagement with local communities.

People

We use local guides in all of our destinations. It is our experience that, with the right approach, local guides' detailed knowledge of their destinations makes them particularly well placed to guide our tours, while their local connections enable them to share their knowledge of the communities and places we visit. We also see employing local guides as a way of creating opportunities for people to build careers in their own communities rather than having to move elsewhere to find work.

In Costa Rica & Panama we work with local ground handlers, helping to retain a significant proportion of our operational expenditure within the Costa Rican and Panamanian economies and supporting employment, including in more remote regions. By incorporating locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, we aim to keep as much tourism expenditure as possible within the local economy, allowing local businesses and communities to benefit from tourism.