Costa Rica classic self drive holiday

Planet

As an in depth specialist tour operator to Costa Rica, we take a considered approach to the social, environmental and economic impacts of the holidays we design. To us, this means much more than a simple donation to a charity for each client. We try to build long and constructive involvements with local guides, wildlife lodges and hotels, in the course of which we, and our clients, can make lasting wide-ranging contributions to the wonderful places and people we engage with. In this itinerary we have selected several hotels and lodges whose documented practices align with this approach:

Studio Boutique Hotel, San José, has achieved the highest 'elite' level of Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST), administered by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). The hotel has introduced measures relating to water and energy use, including a water-conservation programme that uses treated wastewater to irrigate the property during the dry season. It also uses solar power and LED lighting, together with a waste-management programme that includes the separation and recycling of recyclable materials.

Lomas del Volcán, Arenal, has introduced measures relating to water and energy efficiency and the management of solid waste within its daily operations. The hotel is also part of the Ruta Eléctrica La Fortuna (La Fortuna Electric Route), an initiative promoting the use of electric vehicles in the area. Lomas del Volcán provides electric-vehicle charging facilities for guests.

Trapp Family Lodge, Monteverde, has introduced a range of measures relating to resource and waste management, including water-saving devices in showers and taps, solar power, LED lighting, vermicomposting and biodegradable cleaning products. The lodge also supports local initiatives relating to areas such as health, sport, the environment and culture. It is a member of the Monteverde Environmental Education Commission (CEAM) and the Monteverde Accessible Tourism Commission, and participates in the Monteverde Sustainable Alliance (H4).

The itinerary includes visits to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Manuel Antonio National Park, as well as smaller private nature reserves. Entrance fees to these National Parks and reserves contributes to the protection and management of these sites.

We were the first tour operator in the UK to form a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance to work towards implementing improved management practices in tourism. This involved working with hotels and other tourism businesses on practices relating to environmental management, social responsibility and engagement with local communities.

People

We use local guides in all of our destinations. It is our experience that, with the right approach, local guides' detailed knowledge of their destinations makes them particularly well placed to guide our tours, while their local connections enable them to share their knowledge of the communities and places we visit. We also see employing local guides as a way of creating opportunities for people to build careers in their own communities rather than having to move elsewhere to find work.

In Costa Rica we work with local ground handlers, helping to retain a significant proportion of our operational expenditure within the Costa Rican economy and supporting employment, including in more remote regions. By incorporating locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, we aim to keep as much tourism expenditure as possible within the local economy, allowing local businesses and communities to benefit from tourism.