While the rest of the world looks for ways to undo the damage it has done to the environment, this Central American destination is already ten steps ahead. En route to becoming the first carbon-neutral country by , this vibrant destination with a flourishing democracy utilizes eco-tourism to supercharge its economy. Listed here are ten of our favorites. Eco-tours in Costa Rica are not complete without staying at any of the brilliant eco-lodges. Costa Rica awards accommodations that excel in sustainability and eco-friendliness, promoting healthy competition between local businesses.
For the ultimate in sustainable travel, a plethora of eco-lodges are available for anyone looking for a much needed digital detox, from roughing it up to living lux.
Local farms provide a chance to learn about organic farming and make visitors think twice about where their food comes from. Head to Corsa Lecheria, 50 minutes from San Jose, for a tour that will have you walking through cloud forests and vibrant strawberry fields. Many eco-lodges also have their own organic farms where guests can volunteer.
Perfect for adventurers who want to learn more about local farming while tasting their way through it! While the rest of Latin America is suffering from marked deforestation, Costa Rica has been working very hard during recent years to sustain and increase its forest cover.
Fly from platform to platform while spying on birds, waterfalls, and an impressive array of flora. Humpback whales are a popular sight in Costa Rican waters between mid-July to late October and mid-December through late February. Uvita, a small village in Costa Rica, holds a Whale Festival every year to commemorate these mammoth ocean wonders.
Tour operators who host whale watching activities must employ 64 practices for responsible whale watching in order to get awarded stars by the Keto Foundation, a non-profit working for marine conservation in Costa Rica. Most of Costa Rica's spas are powered by their natural resources, offering you picturesque views while you're enjoying a warm dip. With such a prime focus on sustainability, you can expect natural spa ingredients to be the main focus of your pampering experience.
The spa at Tabacon Resorts harnesses the power of the nearby Arenal Volcano, while the Onda Spa at the Andaz Papagayo Resort offers nine spa rooms all tucked away in a forest canopy. Scientists had counted around 1, adult toads each breeding season since the s. In , however, only 10 were seen. The golden toad has now been declared extinct. Some have even argued that the increase in ecotourism during the exact period that the toads ceased to exist is no coincidence.
Whatever the reason, it does prove that, even in this hyper-protected landscape, many challenges still remain, and complacency is not an option. Responsible tourism tips. This ensures the craftspeople benefit directly. We recommend Sarchi, an artisan-filled town near San Jose for a selection of typical crafts, and the village of Guaitil, in Guanacaste, for ceramics made by the Chorotega tribe.
If going to watch dolphins off the Caribbean Coast, take a look at our responsible travel guide to dolphin watching to ensure you choose a responsible operator. In keeping with the ethos of the rest of the country, they have increased efforts to reduce carbon emissions by optimising routes and their ground vehicles use biofuel made from recycled vegetable oils.
They also donate funds to forest conservation and to their own NatureKids Foundation. Costa Rica has some wildlife and adventure heavyweights, and while it is well worth spending time in popular places such as Monteverde, Tortugero and Arenal, we also highly recommend taking a trip or two into more remote regions of the country. As well as getting away from other tourists and expats for a few days, you will discover more genuine Costa Rican culture as well as bringing tourist dollars to the people who need it most.
More about Costa Rica. Best time to visit Costa Rica. You can travel at pretty much any time, but the best time to visit Costa Rica tends to be in the winter and early spring, when the sun is out and rain is rarer.
Read our guide to find out about the best time to visit Costa Rica. Costa Rica travel guide. Tourism is well developed here too, and you'll find lodges, guides, zip-lining, cycling and smooth roads.
Find out more in our Costa Rica travel guide. Costa Rica itineraries. Choosing between the many national parks and wildlife reserves, the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and finding the best places for rafting, zip-lining, driving and hiking is all made easier with our map and highlights of Costa Rica. Costa Rica with kids. Costa Rica family holidays are easy; it's the best place in Central America for kids.
There are activities for adrenaline junkies, beach babies or aspiring zoologists, self driving is simple and safe, and lodges are well equipped. These efforts are made to ensure individuals with a brighter future, so the prosperity of sustainable conservation remains. They also create opportunities for the locals and the tourists to connect with one another through environmentally-based activities, provided by many private, non-profit organizations based in Costa Rica.
Organizations such as the Animal Rescue Centre Supporter marked for its efforts in reaching SDG 15, life on land , and the Turtle Conservation Supporter marked for its efforts in reaching SDG 14, Life below water encourage individuals from all over the world to engage in these inclusive, conservation-based projects, which create host-guest community livelihoods while promoting environmentally sustainable ideals.
Advertised in places such as bus stops, propaganda advocates the importance of sustainable practices. For example, mangroves display the convergence of sustainable practices between life on land and life below water.
Mangroves, which both act as estuaries and regulate land, are critical areas of protection. As Costa Rica continues to play an active role in successful conservation techniques and displays the importance of such, other countries are becoming increasingly aware of the effects. Costa Rica has proven itself to be a world leader not only in conserving its own biodiversity but also in working with other nations to do so and thereby encouraging others to conserve their natural resources.
Using ecotourism as a driver to converge sustainable practices with economic prosperity creates a positive environment for the host community and its visitors while setting a good example for other destinations around the world; and with the financial mechanisms Costa Rica has implemented, both the people and the environment have the ability to thrive simultaneously while, in turn, positively contributing to the economy.
Through its clearly prosperous domestic affairs, the Costa Rican government continues to set an example for countries internationally. Multi-national agreements and policies regarding the increase of protected areas, such as the agreement on the MPA, increase conservational values worldwide and encourage other countries to work together in conserving natural resources. As these topics are continually addressed, and sustainable practices are continually refined, environmental education and passed down and shared with others.
Through educational volunteer work and programs, and by simply setting a good example, Costa Rican values continually remind us all the successfulness of sustainable development.
Cavaliere, Ph. Please contact Dr. These ratings help visitors to Costa Rica make educated purchasing decisions. Video: Costa Rica Sustainable Practices. Still, the question remains: How do you get a genuine ecotourism experience in Costa Rica? And what is it like?
First of all, get outside. Monteverde is another good one, she says, even though the area has become increasingly popular during peak season. Nonetheless, these places offer unfiltered access to the Costa Rican outdoors.
If your goal is to experience nature without being elbow-to-elbow with other visitors, Costa Rica has you covered—just be willing to get your boots dirty and go off the beaten path. Ecotourism activities eco-activities involve visits to protected areas like national parks and private reserves , wildlife rescue centers, and family-run coffee plantations and organic farms. The fees that visitors pay to access these areas often goes towards maintaining, purchasing and conserving land, protecting endangered or threatened species, and educating local students on environmental issues.
The options are as varied as the terrain. The Costa Rican landscape is diverse—think rainforests, volcanoes, beaches, wetlands, and caves. Ecotourism exposes travelers to all this. It gets you outside and gives you perspective on the assorted complexion of life.
By their very nature these activities are educational. On a guided hike through the rainforest, for example, you might learn about the structure of the forest canopy or the medical uses for tropical plants.
A guide may help you distinguish between the calls of a bellbird and toucan or point out the intricate root system of a balsa tree. During oceanic activities, you might learn about the migration patterns of humpback whales or the effect that climate change has on coral reefs. Video: Regenerating Costa Rica Rainforests. The main qualifier for an ecolodge is that they are close to nature and far from towns or other hotels.
Ecolodges are intentionally isolated—this gives travelers direct, uninterrupted access to the outdoors. Hiking trails extend from their property and wind through the surrounding forests, hillsides, and beaches. Guests need only look past the hammock on their porch to be in the midst of nature. These ecolodges operated in remote, off-the-grid locations that required them to optimize their efficiency and minimize their impact. They used solar and wind power because the area lacked electrical lines and grew their own food because there were no accessible supermarkets.
They hired locals, the only workforce available, and became educators within the community, often training guides, receptionists and chefs.
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