Costa Rica for
Eco-Travelers
An early pioneer of eco-friendly, sustainable travel, Costa Rica continues to be a world leader in environmental conservation and education. An abundance of choice awaits eco-travelers, from innovative, low-impact nature experiences to local sustainability projects. Travel wide, think local!
t A humpback whale breaching in Parque Nacional Marino Ballena
Thar She Blows!
In the warm, delft-blue waters off Costa Rica’s Pacific shores, whales and dolphins gather to breed, offering unparalled chances to see these magnificent creatures in the wild. Head to Parque Nacional Marino Ballena where tour operators, such as Uvita-based Bahía Adventures (www.bahiaaventuras.com), must employ 64 practices for sustainable marine tourism in order to maintain their license, and launch into the ocean to marvel at whales blowing spray into the sky and leaping from the water.
Chocolate Indulgence
Cacao is integral to Caribbean communities, where artisanal chocolate makers use organic cacao sourced from indigenous farmers. Join a guided tour of sustainable cacao farm Caribeans Coffee and Chocolate (www.caribeanschocolate.com), then sample the tangy flesh of the cacao fruit – and pieces of delicious artisan-finished chocolates – right at the source.
Give or Take
From hiring local guides to assisting wildlife conservation projects, Costa Rica has countless ways to pitch in. Team up with Dream Volunteers (www.dreamvolunteers.org) to turn your vacation into something that gives back, by helping to develop local environmental projects that will last a lifetime.
Stay at an Ecolodge
Rustic or deluxe, there’s eco-sensitive accommodation to suit all tastes. Look for the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) “leafs”, which rate eco-friendliness and sustainability. Stay in Lapa Ríos or Selva Verde Lodge, and sleep well in the knowledge that you’re supporting the local environment and the local economy in one.
Reforestation
By 1985, Guanacaste’s tropical dry forest had been destroyed by 250 years of cattle farming. That year, a project was initiated in Parque Nacional Santa Rosa to recoup the lost forest and retain farmers within the ecotourism industry. Today, with more than 50 percent regrowth, the restoration of the region’s dry forest is Costa Rica’s biggest turn-a-leaf eco-success story.
DISCOVER Costa Rica Your Way
Eco-friendly canopy tours
Rainforest Aerial Tram
Get eye-level with the monkeys (Rainforest Aerial Tram).
Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure
Soar through the trees from the renowned eco-lab.
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
Discover the forest from floor to canopy.
Sky Walk/SkyTrek
Walk or whizz through Arenal’s treetops.