Natural Areas and Conservation

Travel Excellence is totally engaged on the promotion of responsible tourism. Our policies reinforce our commitment to:

- Have well-trained tour guides and drivers.
- Provide high-quality sustainable service.
- Be founder and sponsor of “Friends of National Parks”, a project of Pro – Parques.
- Encourage our clients to walk on paths when visiting a forest.
- Remind our clients that the only thing that can be left behind is their footprint.
- Encourage tourist not to extract any samples of flora and fauna, such as, flowers, seeds, and rocks, among others.
- Avoid disturbing animals especially if they are wooing, spawning, or eating. We do not let our clients feed any species of animals.
- Recommend our clients to observe turtles with the assistance of a qualified guide.
- Suggest our clients to hire local guides, buy local crafts, visit hotels and restaurants in the local areas, and support projects that benefit local communities.
- Persuade our clients not to buy any plants or wild animals.
- Recommend tourists to buy only those crafts made with natural products that were processed specifically for commercialization, or those products manufactured with renewable resources such as wood.
- Be sensitive about local culture and traditions.
- Interact with people of the local communities. This is the best way to get a nice touristic experience for all people involved.
- Support conservation programs.

Environment

Fortunately, Costa Rica is the place where ecotourism was born, and it is also the place where this activity has reached the maximum level of achievement and success. This natural paradise has extensive experience on showing its wonderful natural wealth to thousands of visitors every year.

Costa Rica is a small country with an extension of 51,100 square kilometers; it has a great scenic beauty and natural wealth. In this piece of land that represents only 0.3% of the planet's surface, lives the 5% of the global biodiversity. It has more varieties of bird species than the United States, and a greater variety of butterflies than the entire African continent. These facts have made this country of 4 million inhabitants internationally recognized.

In the various habitats and ecosystems there are 12000 plant species, 2000 nocturnal butterfly species and 12000 diurnal species, 192 species of amphibious, 226 species of reptiles, 1,600 species of freshwater and saltwater fish, at least 875 species of birds, and 239 of species of mammals.

In this extensive natural landscape, Costa Rica also has several types of forest such as deciduous, rain forests, cloud forests, paramo, oak riparian forests, herbaceous lagoons, mangrove swamps, yolillales and swamp forests.

The natural scenery goes beyond; there are many other amazing areas such as volcanoes, active hot springs, and caves. Also the pre-Colombian sites are very important for the Mesoamerica archeology study, as well as the system of protected areas that covers the 25% of the national territory: national parks (22), wildlife refuges (12), forest reserves (8), biological reserves (12), forest reserves, and protected zones (26).

Water

This is the most present substance on Earth, and it constitutes an ideal mean for living. Water is necessary for all living things, if we don’t have this natural resource the planet would not exist. Although we can live with only 5 liters or less water every day, we need much more than that to be healthy.

Responsible Practices concerning the use of water:

- Know, register, and monitor water consumption.
- Develop programs to rationalize and reduce water consumption.
- Use mechanisms and systems for the effective use of the water.
- Educate about the importance of saving water.
- Ensure quality of water.
- Purify water in an eco-friendly way. (control chlorine consumption).

Our practices

We encourage our collaborators to develop good practices to save water. Through training and based on our “Policy for Saving Water”, we promote awareness and ask our staff to put in practice actions that reflect their concern on this issue.

Energy

Renewable energy is characterized because the transformation and exploitation processes take long periods of time. Some examples of this kind of energy are hydraulic, solar, and wind power, among others. The production of this vital input in Costa Rica is based on hydraulic mechanisms, in which water is used but the water spring is not affected at all. Illumination, air conditioning, and general services for the entire population are the main consumption sources of this kind of energy.

Some responsible practices concerning the use of energy are:

- Monitoring of energy consumption.
- Complementation with systems of efficient energy use.
- Active participation in preventive maintenance programs.
- Awareness of having all computer equipment turned off when it is not in use.
- Consciousness of unplugging electrical appliances when not in use to reduce the consumption of energy.
- Promotion of the use of natural ventilation instead of using air conditioning systems.

Our Contribution

Organizations that We Sponsor

MINAET

It contributes to the sustainable development of Costa Rica through the conservation and rational use of natural resources to improve the quality of life and the development of the country.

FONAFIFO

The National Fund for Forest Finance (FONAFIFO, for its acronyms in Spanish) executes the Program of Environmental Services Payment (PPSA, in Spanish) to benefit landlords of small and big terrains with forests or forestry potential, in order to promote maintenance and recover the country's forest coverage.

Flora and Fauna

Flora and fauna have to be in perfect balance. They are based on the natural laws that rule structure and functions of association among all living things. Based on this, humans play an important role in the conservation of flora and fauna.

Recommendations for Wildlife Conservation

- Under any circumstance, consume, sell, traffic or exhibit products made from endangered species or articles that come from non-sustainable practices.
- Artificial animal feeding is not allowed except feeding animals with their natural diet.
- Do not keep wild animals in captivity, except for a zoo-shelter or reintroduction programs according to the law and good practices.
- Do not commercialize any endangered species.
- During your stay in Costa Rica, try to visit wildlife refuges, national parks, or other protected areas.
- While visiting our national parks, follow the rules for the conservation of the flora and fauna.