Costa Rica conservation and activity holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
1. Reduce flying – The itinerary is designed around overland travel between regions, avoiding unnecessary internal flights wherever possible. This allows guests to experience more of Costa Rica while reducing additional flight emissions.
2. Accommodations – We select responsible accommodation partners that demonstrate awareness of resource use, waste reduction and environmental responsibility. At the sustainable farm, guests learn how a local family is working towards greater self-sufficiency through conscious use of soil, water and energy.
3. Shared local transport – Shared transfers and local transportation are used between destinations and for activities where possible, reducing emissions per traveler compared with individual private transport.
4. Human-powered transport – The itinerary includes hiking, walking, cycling and rafting, allowing guests to explore Costa Rica through low-carbon activities. These experiences are incorporated across several days of the trip.
5. Customer advice – Guests receive guidance on responsible travel, including reducing waste, conserving water and electricity, avoiding unnecessary transportation, respecting nature and choosing local products and services.
6. Vegetarian and vegan food – Vegetarian and vegan meals can be accommodated throughout the trip according to guests' dietary requirements.
7. Local and seasonal food – We prioritize local food and traditional Costa Rican cuisine wherever possible. The sustainable farm visit also demonstrates how local food production can reduce resource use and support greater self-sufficiency.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
1. Accommodation environmental policies – We select accommodation and activity partners that demonstrate responsible practices, including waste reduction and conscious use of water and energy. Guests also visit a sustainable farm where they learn about reducing waste and using soil, water and electricity responsibly.
2. Nature restoration and protected areas – The itinerary includes visits to Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Talamanca mountain range, Arenal Volcano and other important natural areas. Guests are encouraged to visit these areas respectfully and follow local conservation guidelines.
3. Nature recovery and conservation projects – The trip directly supports conservation initiatives, including a sea turtle conservation project and a wildlife rescue center. Guests can participate in hands-on activities while learning about species protection and ecosystem conservation.
4. Environmental and wildlife NGOs – We work with selected local conservation and wildlife organizations and support their work through visits, activities and tourism spending. Where appropriate, we aim to develop longer-term partnerships with projects focused on threatened species and habitat protection.
5. Reducing impacts on nature – Before and during the trip, guests are encouraged to reduce waste, avoid single-use plastics, conserve water and energy, stay on designated trails, respect wildlife and maintain appropriate distances from animals.
6. Expert nature guides – Nature and wildlife activities are operated with certified and experienced local guides. Their knowledge helps guests understand the ecosystems they are visiting and the importance of protecting them.
7. Invasive species – Guests are advised to follow local guidelines designed to prevent the spread of invasive species, including staying on designated trails, keeping natural areas free from introduced plants or animals and cleaning footwear or equipment when requested by local conservation partners.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
1. Locally owned accommodation – The itinerary includes several homestay accommodations and locally owned properties. Staying with local families provides direct income to the community and allows travelers to experience Costa Rican hospitality, culture and traditional food.
2. Local economic opportunities – The tour is built around long-standing relationships with local providers and community projects. Visits to the sustainable farm and Indigenous community directly benefit local families while creating additional income opportunities through accommodation, food, guiding, tours and crafts.
In Boruca, guests can visit local workshops and purchase crafts directly from the artists. This ensures that money from tourism goes directly to the people who create the products and helps preserve traditional skills and culture.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
1. Local employment – We prioritize working with local staff, guides, families and project partners. Many of the experiences are operated directly by members of the communities we visit, helping keep tourism income within the local economy.
2. Indigenous communities – The itinerary includes a visit to the Boruca Indigenous community. Guests meet local artists, visit workshops and learn about their traditions and culture. Purchasing crafts directly from the artists provides a direct economic benefit to the community.
3. Community-based income – Our homestays, sustainable farm visit and local projects create income for families and other community members through accommodation, food, guiding, crafts and tourism services.
4. Conservation and volunteering – Guests have the opportunity to volunteer with projects such as the sea turtle conservation initiative and wildlife rescue centre. They work alongside local staff, helping with practical daily tasks such as food preparation while learning about conservation and local life.
5. Cultural exchange – The experiences are designed to create genuine connections between travelers and local people. Through homestays, shared meals, cooking, volunteering and community visits, guests learn about Costa Rican culture, traditions and everyday life directly from local people.
6. LGBTQ+ friendly – We welcome travelers regardless of gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or background and aim to provide an inclusive and respectful travel environment.
7. Accessibility – Some activities involve physical work, uneven terrain and outdoor environments. We are happy to discuss individual accessibility requirements in advance and adapt activities where possible.