Activity & nature vacation in Costa Rica

Planet

As an in depth specialist tour operator to Costa Rica responsible tourism is at the very heart of what we do. 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 use several hotels and lodges that fit with this philosophy perfectly:

In the mid-range hotel category:

Hacienda Guachipelin (days 6 and 7 of the itinerary) has achieved the highest 'elite' level Tourism Sustainability Certification (CST) from the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT). Listed below are just some of the ways in which they have achieved this:
Sustainable Food Production: they grow fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs in their own greenhouse reducing their environmental footprint. They have over 350 free-range chickens onsite that provides them with fresh eggs, and their cows provide milk used for making cheese and homemade desserts. They serve tilapia and shrimp from local farms.
Water Management: they a natural spring onsite that provides high-quality drinking water year-round. They have systems to treat 100% of their wastewater which is then reused for irrigation.
Conservation and reforestation programs: they actively participate in ecosystem restoration and the Las Morocochas Biological Corridor. They have a specialized team in forest fire prevention and control.

Hotel Tropico Latino in Santa Teresa (days 10 to 13 of the itinerary) is committed to operating as sustainably as possible. It focuses on hiring staff from the local community. It promotes the “Five Dollar Check Out Program” that allows guests to add an optional charge on their bill at the end of their stay to fund community and environmental initiatives in Santa Teresa – for the price of a smoothie guests can help keep local beaches clean and assist with other community initiatives. The hotel operates an intensive recycling program, collecting and separating waste from special bins in the guest rooms, offices, restaurant and kitchen and public areas. All organic waste is composted into fertiliser for the hotel’s gardens. They use biodegradable soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents, and cleaning products.

And in the upper-range category:

Cloud Forest Lodge Monteverde (days 8 and 9 of the itinerary) is fully committed to responsible and sustainable tourism practices. Some of the ways in which it achieves this are as follows: 100% of lodge staff are from the local area. It purchases produce such as cheese, coffee, eggs, meat, office supplies, and other food products from local growers and providers whenever possible. It also gives preference to local service providers for the repairs and upkeep of the lodge. The lodge restaurant, Endemica, offers a plant-based vegetarian and vegan menu. It has dedicated a sizable portion of its 23-hectare property as a private nature reserve included in the Bellbird Biological Corridor that extends between the provinces of Puntarenas and Guanacaste on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
A one-time $10 per guest Cloud Forest Lodge Conservation Fee is put towards programs which help to protect and preserve the surrounding natural environment and support local communities e.g the non-profit organization Escape Monteverde who provide mental health services and activity camps, youth meetings, and employment training for teenagers. The lodge is also part of the Haciendo Comunidad Group of Monteverde leaders who work to develop solutions that address environmental and social challenges during biweekly meetings and resource investments.

Xandari Resort in Alajuela in San Jose’s central valley (days 14 and 15 of the itinerary) is a pioneer in sustainable tourism and has achieved the highest 'elite' level Tourism Sustainability Certification (CST) from the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT). Listed below are just some of the ways in which they have achieved this:
They offer an onsite Plant-a-Tree Program to all guests, employees and neighbours so that they can contribute to reforestation.
Organic compost is created from food and garden waste and used onsite - it is mixed with local soil, dry grass, leaves and branches to create a rich organic soil that enriches Xandari's extensive gardens.
Biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning products are used throughout hotel; swimming pool water is purified with a system of natural chlorination using salt.
Organic bacteria EM (efficient microorganism) is used in the cleaning of rooms, reducing the use of chemicals.
They prioritise employing staff from the local Tacacori and Alajuela area, many of whom have been with Xandari since its inception.
Costa Rican crafts and products are used and featured in all aspects of our hotel, from the carved wooden bowls in their gift shop, to the locally made furniture in villas, from the lotions and oils used at the spa, to the granola they serve at breakfast. This emphasis on authenticity to the local culture supports the artists, craftsmen and companies around them.

On this trip you will visit National Parks at the Arenal volcano reserve, Rincon de la Vieja and Monteverde. The entrance fee goes toward the conservation of these protected areas.

We were the first tour operator in the UK to form a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance to work towards the implementation of best management practices in sustainable tourism. In real terms this means that we are working with hotels who are making a positive impact on their local community – socially, environmentally and economically.

People

We use local guides in all of our destinations. It is our experience that with the right approach, local guides with their superior local knowledge are best qualified for the job, and are the best champions of their local communities. It is also a fantastic way of helping communities to survive and flourish when gifted people are able to work locally instead of having to leave for the cities to find work.

In Costa Rica we use local ground handlers - this means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy and helps to improve employment opportunities in remote regions. By incorporating locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of guides and drivers into our itineraries, we ensure that money you spend on your trip goes directly into the local economy and local communities benefit from tourism.