Discovering Costa Rica Sustainable Ecotourism

Each year, more than 1.7 million travelers visit Costa Rica to experience the country’s incredible wildlife and diverse ecosystems. This amazing Central American country is home to numerous biological reserves and protected parks, all of which contain some of the most extraordinary biodiversity on Earth. The government’s decision to protect these natural areas has helped ecotourism activities in Costa Rica flourish. Today, Costa Rica and ecotourism are almost synonymous! Stay tuned to learn more about sustainable tourism opportunities in this incredible country.

What Is Ecotourism?

Ecotourism is simply a form of tourism focusing on sustainable, responsible travel to natural areas. This type of travel aims to conserve the natural environment and improve the well-being of local communities. In short, ecotourism aims to minimize ecological impact and promote sustainable practices. Costa Rica sustainable tourism has a long history. From the time the government began to promote this initiative in 1983, the country’s forest cover went from 26 percent to more than 52 percent in 2021. More than a quarter of Costa Rica’s land is now zoned as protected territory. Today, ecotourism activities in Costa Rica are some of the most popular activities – no matter what part of the country you visit!

Five Key Principles of Ecotourism

Ecotourism benefits bucket-list destinations like Costa Rica, helping provide much-needed revenue for local communities. In 2019, ecotourism produced 92.2 billion worldwide, and forecasters expect the industry to generate $103.8 billion by 2027. While ecotourism provides a steady stream of revenue for impoverished communities, Costa Rica sustainable tourism focuses on educating tourists about the country’s conservation efforts and offering them the chance to explore natural areas.

Here are five key guiding principles that the ecotourism industry has pioneered:

• Ecotourism minimizes physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts.
• Ecotourism builds environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Ecotourism provides positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Ecotourism provides direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Ecotourism offers visitors memorable experiences that help raise sensitivity to a country’s political, environmental, and social climates.

The History of Costa Rica And Ecotourism

Costa Rica was one of the first countries to embrace ecotourism. In fact, by the early 1990s, ecotourism activities in Costa Rica had become a driving force behind the country’s economy. Many people credit the field biologists who came to study the diversity of Costa Rica’s many habitats with promoting Costa Rica’s sustainable tourism boom. Their discoveries sparked the imagination of tourists who wanted to visit the country and see the tropical rainforests, marine areas, and wetlands for themselves!

As Costa Rica and ecotourism continued to boom, more and more jobs were created. And, as the job market grew, local people had more employment opportunities. As opportunities increased, so did income. Local schools and community programs began to thrive, which helped improve local economies and living conditions. This demonstrated how ecotourism could benefit everyone, making it even more popular with tourists and local communities alike.

The Benefits Of Ecotourism

Costa Rica is the perfect example of how ecotourism activities can benefit local communities as well as the overall wealth of a nation. But the benefits go far beyond dollars – ecotourism is also a powerful ally for environmentalists and an impactful way to teach people about a country’s natural areas.

Key Benefits of Ecotourism	How Ecotourism Impacts A Community
Sustainable Income	Ecotourism activities in Costa Rica have proven that sustainably managed ecotourism can alleviate poverty by employing local people. Ecotourism offers sustainable employment and protects natural resources at the same time.
Preserves Ecosystems	Costa Rica sustainable tourism focuses on nature and education. By combining conservation with sustainable travel, ecotourism minimizes negative impacts while still exposing visitors to unique ecosystems. The money raised from this endeavor can be used to protect natural areas visited by ecotourists.
Exposure to Nature	Ecotourism allows visitors to get a better understanding of nature and wildlife. This understanding allows tourists to see new sights and experience new settings, while learning about issues facing the wildlife or the natural areas they visit.

One of the most incredible things about ecotourism is that it can have a lasting impact on children. Bringing your children along to experience ecotourism activities in Costa Rica offers them early exposure to an incredible array of experiences, which can potentially create a new generation of ecologically savvy conservationists.

Planning A Sustainable Adventure In Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s lush countryside is the perfect place for an adventure, thanks to its extraordinary biodiversity. Many ecotourism activities in Costa Rica are on offer for visitors, including bird watching, observing flora and fauna, visiting volcanoes, hiking, or searching for wildlife in the country’s many national parks. Costa Rica has 29 parks and 19 wildlife refuges, where visitors can hike mountain trails, wander through forests, explore areas on horseback, or take guided tours to learn more about the country’s incredible biodiversity.

One of the best ways to experience Costa Rica through sustainable tourism is with a guided tour. Travel guides like Gondwana Ecotour specialize in small-group, guided tours to Costa Rica, where you can enjoy exploring the country’s biodiversity with a qualified, professional guide. As a bonus, Gondwana crafts all its itineraries to include unique and fun activities that are grounded in meaningful encounters with nature, wildlife, and local cultures.

With Gondwana, you will spend 8 days and 7 nights in beautiful Costa Rica, exploring the best the country has to offer.

• Explore Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity on foot, by boat, and even while snorkeling!
• Take a guided tour of the Osa Peninsula to discover toucans and macaws as well as monkeys and sloths.
• Visit the Corcovado National Park, which is home to one of the last remaining patches of lowland tropical rainforest in Central America. The park also boasts 23 miles of beaches and encompasses 13 different ecosystems. This national park is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and holds over 50 percent of the species found in all of Costa Rica.
• Learn all about Costa Rica’s philosophy of “Pura Vida” as you enjoy an adventure of a lifetime with your guide!
• Meet local Ticos and learn about their experiences with conservation and sustainability in this beautiful country.

Explore The Land of Pura Vida

Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity has enabled it to become one of the leading destinations for sustainable travel in the world. There are so many options for ecotourism activities in Costa Rica that it’s almost overwhelming to plan a trip by yourself. Instead, let a professional travel operator like Gondwana Ecotours help. With a guided tour, you don’t have to worry about the logistics. Instead, you can sit back, relax, and experience pura vida for yourself – just like a local Tico!