Costa Rica jungle lodge

The design principles of the jungle lodge are built upon a dedication to minimal environmental impact. The lodge site is inaccessible by road, and all building materials were brought in on rafts via the Pacuare River. Though we could have cut and used trees from the property, we chose to purchase wood from a sustainable reforestation project operated by small farmers and transport it to the construction site. We can proudly say that no trees from the rainforest were cut to build the bungalows or main lodge.

Roofs are made from palm leaves and were constructed by Cabecar Indians living in the area, using their traditional building style. These organic materials blend in with the natural colored wood materials that have been used. We are currently studying the possibility of using the cattail plant in our roofs as a substitute for the overused and relatively scarce palm leaves.

Water needs and usage were also carefully planned in the design. Water comes from a spring located on the mountain above the lodge, and is transported using hidden pipes buried in the forest. In order to avoid wastage, the lodge uses the most efficient toilet systems available, which minimize the amount of water stored in the tanks and discharged from them. Wastewater is treated in septic tanks without adding any synthetic chemicals—an absolutely state of the art system. We are in the process of installing solar panels in the bungalows in order to make hot water available.

Liquid soap and shampoo is available from dispensers in each shower, to avoid unnecessary waste, and all cleaning products, including those that we provide for personal hygiene are biodegradable. Paper products purchased are from recycled paper. Organic waste is used for creating organic fertilizer in a controlled environment. The small amount of inorganic waste produced is accumulated and transported to the town of Siquirres, where it goes into the municipal garbage system. There is a program for separating plastic, metal, and glass waste, in which guests are invited to participate. Aluminum and glass are transported to San Jose to be recycled at institutions dedicated to doing so. We minimize waste from the very moment of purchasing groceries by acquiring goods in large recyclable containers.

Our Costa Rica jungle lodge has no electricity—lanterns and candles provide light for guests and staff. We utilize a 1 KW Honda generator (4 stroke power plant) for small kitchen needs (like a blender to produce juice for the guests), for emergencies, and for back-up in the event that the solar panels we use to recharge communications equipment experience problems. This generator plant is the most efficient available on the market, and was selected especially because of this after we carried out careful research.

Our Community Support Program works directly with people and institutions in the Pacuare area by providing economic assistance, improving and maintaining roads, and by coordinating the donation of economic resources and equipment.

We donate a percentage of each Internet reservation directly to the three primary schools located along the Pacuare River between Tres Equis and Siquirres. We also accept gifts and donations for these schools, which are transferred in their entirety to the school boards (no administrative or other fees are deducted), who use the funds for much-needed materials and student services.

For larger donations by people going on one of our overnight Pacuare trips, we will arrange personal visits on horseback to community School to meet the teacher and schoolchildren. Aware that many nationals and students do not posses the same resources that many foreign tourists do, we provide a 50% discount to students and residents of Costa Rica who would like to participate in one of our tours.