Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica Sustainable Tourism Case Study

At the Pacuare Lodge, we are dedicated to sustainable tourism, which means limiting
the negative impacts of our operations while supporting conservation and providing
benefits for nearby communities. This policy is by no means limited to the Lodge it
extends through our entire company, from the main office to the warehouses where we
store our rafts. The following are some of the steps weve taken, or are taking to
improve our relationship with the environment:

The Pacuare Lodge was built with a minimum impact on the surrounding forest and
river. No trees were cut to accommodate the bungalows and main lodge, which are built
of lumber from a reforestation project run by small farmers. The thatch roofs were made
by local Cabcar Indians in their traditional style using palm leaves collected in our
forest reserve.

Aventuras Naturales was the first adventure travel company to acquire parcels of
primary forest in this area solely for the purpose of conservation Over the years, weve
purchased 340 hectares (840 acres) of primary rain forest along the Pacuare River for
conservation and in order to offset the atmospheric carbon created by our vehicles,
which makes our tours carbon-neutral. Some of that forest was in danger of being
cleared before we purchased it, but is now strictly protected in order to conserve the
flora and fauna that lives there. Because our goal is preservation of this untouched
virgin rainforest, no visitors are allowed into this area.

The lodges bathrooms are equipped with biodegradable soap and shampoo and the
water for their showers is solar heated. All the lodges wastewater flows into state-of-
the-art septic systems to avoid pollution of the nearby river.

Bungalows are illuminated with lanterns and candles and what little electricity used at
the lodge is clean energy generated by a turbine in a nearby stream.

We use organic products as much as possible in meals served at the lodge and on
rafting tours.

With the help of our guests, we are reforesting former pastures in the Pacuare River
watershed with native tree species to offset carbon emissions by our vehicles and to
improve the areas environmental health. As those trees grow, they will absorb tons of
atmospheric carbon while providing habitat for an array of wildlife.

We are helping biologists to study of jaguars in the forests along the Pacuare River by
providing them with food, lodging, and logistical support, and by the purchasing
digital cameras that researchers place on game trails to photograph those shy animals.

We are reintroducing howler monkeys, which were wiped out in the area by indigenous
hunters years ago, to our forest reserve. We rescued the first troop of 8 monkeys that
we reintroduced from an island in a nearby river where theyd become stranded after a
flood.

Our rigorous recycling program extends from the main office to the lodge. At the lodge,
we compost organic waste and separate recyclable materials for transport to recycling
companies. For lunches served during our Pacuare River trips, we use reusable plates,
cups and cutlery rather than the disposable plates and cups used by other rafting
companies.

We are installing a bio-digester to produce gas from organic waste from the Pacuare
Lodges kitchen. Gas produced will be used for cooking and heating water for
bungalows.

In the companys laundry, we conserve water and use only biodegradable detergents.
All the laundry is rafted out every day to the company`s warehouse, located in the river
take out at the Siquirres town.

We are trying to get the Costa Rican government to award the Pacuare River a Blue
Flag, in recognition of its clean environment and we are in the process of obtaining the
CST ( Certification for Sustainable Tourism).

Socially Responsible Tourism

Sustainable tourism should improve the lives of local people, and weve made donations
and initiated projects in the communities nearest to the Pacuare Lodge. Infrastructure in
our remote area is sparse and poorly maintained, and there are few employment
opportunities, which is why we make a point of hiring local people. Heres what weve
done so far:

All Pacuare Lodge staff is from nearby communities and 95% of our rafting guides are
from Turrialba, the closest city to the lodge.

We donate school supplies and other materials to three primary schools in the
communities nearest to the lodge and we accept donations from our guests, transferring
them to the schools in their entirety (no administrative fees deducted).

We are helping an isolated Cabcar Indian community near the lodge to install a
portable water system.

The lunch spot on the Pacuare River that we use on our tours is rented from a
Cabcar family, who feed the organic waste to pigs.

We provide environmental education and explain our sustainable practices to local

people, our staff and our guests.

We purchase food and other goods from local providers and support organic agriculture.