Costa Rican Ecotourism

With tourism in Costa Rica reaching 19.7% of export income in 2003 (the latest figure available), gone are the simplistic days of ecotourism. Over the past 10 years this buzzword has been used in so many ways it's almost been diluted beyond usefulness. On the plus side, many tour companies have incorporated a high level of environmental awareness into their business practices; on the minus, crafty marketers are quick to slap an ecotourism label on any place or tour that takes place in nature.

That said, Costa Rica does have many operators and hotels that shine; you just have to do some research to sniff them out. The International Ecotourism Society lists agencies around the world, including Costa Rica, that adhere to its definition of ecotourism.

Eco-Lodges

The official government rating system for eco-lodges is the Costa Rican Tourism Board's Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CSR). It rates tourism companies and lodges in four categories: interaction with the surrounding habitat; policies and steps taken to be more sustainable; actions taken to encourage clients to participate in the company's sustainability policy; and interaction with the local community. At this writing, only two hotels have received five leaves (the highest rating): Lapa Ríos (near Puerto Jiménez) and Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn (near Heredia); four have recieved four leaves. The CSR Web site has a complete list of hotels that have been evaluated, and a detailed list of the grades hotels received. However, many people think that the program is politicized and that certain hotels do not deserve such high ratings. For example, several Barceló hotels were rated highly despite the chain's many past violations of environmental laws.

In our opinion, some of the best eco-lodges in the country are Laguna del Lagarto Lodge (Ciudad Quesada), Lake Coter Eco-Lodge (La Fortuna), La Selva Biological Station, Savegre Hotel de Montaña (San Gerardo de Dota), Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge (Golfito), Tiskita Lodge (Playa Pavones), El Remanso (Cabo Matopalo), Bosque del Cabo (Cabo Matopalo), Lapa Ríos (near Puerto Jiménez), Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp (Carate), Evergreen Lodge (Tortuguero), and Almonds & Corals Tent Lodge Camp (Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge).

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Guidelines for Sustainable Travel

Use local guides or services, eat in local restaurants, and buy local crafts or produce to make your visit beneficial to those who live near protected areas.

Do some research to find out whether or not your prospective tour company actually has "eco-friendly" policies, such as: hiring and training locals as guides, drivers, managers, and office workers; making a serious commitment to educating visitors about plant and animal life, geography, and history; controlling the numbers of people allowed daily onto a given site; restoring watersheds and anything else damaged by trail building, foot traffic, or overuse; and discouraging wildlife feeding or any other disruptive behavior (such as making loud noises that scare birds into flight).

Donate to local conservation groups that aid ecological efforts in Costa Rica.

Buy souvenirs from groups such as ANAI, who raise money by selling beautiful locally made items.

Don't remove plants, rocks, shells, or animals from their natural environment. It's illegal to take anything, alive or dead, out of a national park or any other protected area.

To see turtles nesting, go with a guide. If you go on your own, you will disrupt them.

Pack out your trash when doing backcountry camping.

Do not feed wildlife, even when animals appear tame -- for their health and your safety.

Do not stray from the trails for any reason.