Costa Rica wildlife explorer holiday

Environment

Wherever possible we use locally run and managed accommodation; we use a combination of eco-lodges and locally run hotels. As a result of this we minimise the impact on the local environment at the same time as providing the traveller with a high level of comfort. This is a private safari which means that your impact on the environment and wildlife is kept to a minimum at all times resulting in you also being likely to see more!

At Mawamba Park in the grounds of the Mawamba Lodge there are frog, iguana and butterfly gardens. There is also a Bio digester in which is the only one in Tortuguero that treats the sewage waters to convert them into a natural source of gas to heat up the stoves. Trogon Lodge is sanctuary for more than 175 of identified bird species, including the famous and beautiful resplendent Quetzal and they are highly committed to the conservation of the wildlife in the area. Arenas del Mar uses solar power to heat water that is used within the hotel. It also has a state of the art treatment plant so water leaving our properties will not affect the surrounding water sources.There is also a complimentary Easy Being Green Tour that you can take during your stay. All the lodges and hotels have recycling programs in place to reduce their carbon footprint.

Our UK operations reflect our standards abroad in that we aim to minimise our impact on the environment as much in the UK as we would do in any of our destination countries. We attempt to do this through recycling of any office waste including, paper, plastic, cans, glass, refuse, in partnership with the Borough of Brighton & Hove.

Community

Through the employment of our local ground operators who use local guides and drivers, money is fed directly back into individual families and villages that would otherwise not benefit from tourism. We give our travellers advice on how to interact with the local population, flora and fauna in order to minimise any negative impact. We encourage the use of local guides in every destination and with every local agent. Even on our specialist led safaris we try to ensure that a local guide is also used. We do not believe in taking jobs from local populations in order to provide for western needs.

Where possible we will always use local suppliers in preference to others whether this is in the purchase of provisions, accommodation, transport or equipment. We believe the best way to learn about and enjoy the experience of being on safari with us is to make the effort to mingle with the local people, taste new foods and try new experiences.

Mawamba which owns both Mawamba Lodge and Trogon Lodge is a family run business that employs people from the local areas. Arenas del Mar also employs people from the local communities, but also support and help the local communities through two principal programs: Building for the Future and Natural Curiosity. Building for the Future focuses on providing schools with needed infrastructure and supplies. Natural Curiosity supports the environmental education efforts of the Titi Conservation Alliance, a local organization working on the protection and conservation of the Titi (squirrel) monkey.

We make sure tourists have the opportunity to buy local souvenirs and handicrafts, assisting further to contribute to their community, and always give support to local communities and conservation agencies. We advise people not to bargain just for the sake of it and because it is the ‘thing to do’; you should pay what you feel the object is worth to yourself and the vendor, bearing in mind local cultures.