Eco Travel Tips in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the most ecologically friendly destinations in the world with their focus on sustainable tourism and green hotels. If you’re heading to the land of rainforests, make sure you have these eco travel tips in mind when planning your next vacation.

What Green Leaf Eco-rating does your hotel have?

Costa Rica boasts its own Certificate of Sustainable Tourism (CST, or Five Leaf Program) that sets the bar high for hotels looking to get the coveted 5 leaf rating. More than 100 hotels are currently leaf rated, ranging from budget hotels to 5 star luxury resorts. The program measures how well the accommodation meshes with the nature around it and how it integrates with the local economy and society. Here are our suggestions for hotels in Costa Rica.

Keep it local.

Along with the leaf ratings, much of the charm of Costa Rica is the fact that you can purchase just about anything locally. From locally owned and operated hotels to citizen-run tour agencies, you can make sure your money stays in the pockets of the people of Costa Rica by choosing your hotel and activities carefully. While there are several big chains to eat at while there, take a moment to discover homegrown food at a local restaurant, or “soda”.

Participate in the sustainable food movement.

One of the ways that many businesses are keeping it local and green is to participate in the sustainable farming movement. Whether it be coffee plantations and their mixed-use land or smaller restaurants growing their own produce, people are putting forth the effort into minimizing the effects of bringing in food from an outside source. What you get is an incredibly green, super fresh, local product with a minimal carbon footprint that employs local farmers and agricultural workers.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.