Costa Rica honeymoons

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.

We were the first tour operator in the UK to form a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance to work towards the implementation of best management practices in tourism. In practical terms, this has involved working with hotels that have introduced specific social, environmental and economic initiatives within their businesses and local communities

In this itinerary we have selected several hotels and lodges whose documented practices align with this approach:

Chayote Lodge offers guests opportunities to learn about local rural life and culture in Costa Rica's Central Valley. The guest bungalows are designed to resemble traditional coffee receiving stations, or recibidores, and feature artwork and furniture made by local artisans. The lodge employs staff from the surrounding communities and prioritises local producers and suppliers. Its on-site restaurant and bar, Quelites, serves seasonal produce sourced locally where available, including ingredients such as palmito cheese, coffee and squash. The lodge also offers guided experiences focused on local culture and agriculture, including visits to a coffee plantation, cooking experiences in a local home and visits to the towns of Zarcero, Naranjo and Sarchí.

Arenal Kioro operates an on-site sewage treatment plant and has systems for energy conservation and recycling. The hotel occupies approximately 27 acres, including tropical gardens and streams that provide habitat for local wildlife. Arenal Kioro is a member of Pack for a Purpose, a non-profit initiative that enables travellers to carry requested supplies for community projects in their destination using available space in their luggage.

During the construction of Nantipa Hotel Santa Teresa, just six trees were reportedly removed, with the timber subsequently reused to make furniture for the hotel's rooms. The hotel has introduced measures to reduce its use of single-use plastics, including providing drinking water in glass pitchers in guest rooms and avoiding straws where possible, with biodegradable or stainless-steel alternatives available where required. Wastewater is treated on site and, according to the hotel, reused for irrigation of the gardens. Energy sensors are used to manage lighting and air-conditioning, and solar water heaters are installed in the rooms. The hotel gives preference to local residents when recruiting and, where possible, purchases goods from local producers and small businesses. Examples include purchasing seafood from local fishermen and sourcing bread from a local baker. Nantipa is also a founding member of Catuza, the local Chamber of Tourism.

People

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.

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.