The tiny country of Costa Rica occupies less than 1% of the world's surface
but is home to more than 5% of the world's biodiversity.
Often considered a pioneer in ecotourism,
Costa Rica draws in over 3 million visitors annually
to its lush national parks, rainforests, beautiful beaches,
and rumbling volcanoes.
For sustainable travelers like us Costa Rica has been an ideal destination
to learn more about the successful model of ecotourism in Costa Rica
Ecotourism in Costa Rica emerged back in the 90s
well before the term ecotourism
became the buzzword in the industry
and today the country is seen
as a leader in sustainable development.
Ecotourism practices in Costa Rica
have helped minimize adverse effects of mass tourism
on the natural resources and provided financial
benefits to the local communities across the country.
Over 25 percent of land in Costa Rica
is protected through national parks, wildlife sanctuaries,
and private reserves
and the country boasts incredible diversity of bird, mammal,
reptile and amphibian species.
The Certification for Sustainable Tourism program
encourages hotels and tour operators
to use sustainable practices in their operations
Today thousands of operators across the country
are proudly displaying their Green Leaf Certification.
The Blue Flag ecological program
is another great government initiative
that aims to keep coastal
beaches and waterways clean.
Costa Rica is one of the few countries in the world
that is well on the way to achieving the ambitious goal
of being the first carbon-neutral destination.
Today, it generates over 90%
of its electricity through renewable resources.
Having experienced ecotourism in Costa Rica first hand, we now understand
that the environmental and economic benefits of ecotourism in this country
can not be denied.
But not every visit to Costa Rica is guaranteed
to be a sustainable experience.
True ecotourism is found away from popular tourist destinations in
places where one needs to give up some luxuries, get off the beaten path,
connect with nature, appreciate the wildlife and the raw beauty of Costa Rica
in "Pura Vida" style!