Today's blog entry is a guest post from college student Tyler Satoh, who visited a sustainable hotel in Costa Rica while on a trip with Rainforest Alliance Verified tour operator Horizontes Nature Tours earlier this year.

This past January, I, along with 22 other college students, traveled to Costa Rica through a University of Minnesota study abroad program. Costa Rica is a major supplier of several commodities such as coffee beans, and as a supply chain major, I was interested in learning more about the origins of these products and the people who make it possible for consumers in the United States to enjoy them.

Our primary goal during the trip was to study the Rainforest Alliance's efforts to promote environmental stewardship in agriculture, forestry, and tourism. One of the most valuable things I learned from this experience was the importance of the Rainforest Alliance's verification program for sustainable tourism businesses. Tourism is a large source of income for many developing countries, and the purpose of sustainable tourism is to provide lodging and experiences for travelers that have a minimal impact on the environment and support local communities. Our group went on a tour organized by a Rainforest Alliance Verified tour operator called Horizontes Nature Tours and during our travels, visited a sustainable hotel and ranch called Rancho Margot. This property has received the highest rating of "five leaves" from Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program for their incredible efforts to be environmentally and socially responsible.

These six sustainable practices followed by Rancho Margot are great reasons why you should consider staying at a certified or verified sustainable hotel the next time you travel:

1) Fresh Food
The food here was simply amazing. A typical meal at Rancho Margot consisted of rice, beans, plantains, and a variety of fruits and vegetables that are all grown locally and organically.

2) Renewable Energy
There are two hydroelectric turbines that generate power throughout the entire ranch, providing electricity to all the bunkhouses and bungalows without the need for fuel.

3) Composting for Heat
Organic waste is composted and used to heat water for all of the sinks and showers in each cabin.

4) The Bio-Digester
Manure from the ranch's livestock is processed through a bio-digester, which creates methane gas used for everyday cooking.

5) Low-Impact Recreational Activities
Rancho Margot provides many fun, low-impact activities for visitors such as horseback riding, visits to natural hot springs, yoga classes, cow milking, nature hikes, and more. These activities give each visitor a unique experience, yet leaves a minimal impact on the environment.

6) Nothing Gets Wasted!
Every type of waste is a valuable resource at Rancho Margot. Uneaten food is fed to the farm animals or composted to use as fertilizer. Even the cooking oil is recycled and made into soap!

As one of the largest industries in the world, tourism must continue to focus on environmental stewardship so that future generations may enjoy the same experiences that we do. This trip was a life-changing experience for me because it helped me realize the significance of sustainable tourism and how important it is for people like me to support organizations like the Rainforest Alliance that are working to ensure a sustainable future.

If you are interested in sustainable lodging options for your next trip, check out the businesses listed on SustainableTrip.org!

This entry was posted on March 11, 2014 at 1:27 PM and has received 1978 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Yesterday, the world celebrated the first ever World Wildlife Day! The United Nations established this day to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that environmental conservation provides to people and the planet. At the same time, the UN aims to remind us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, which has wide-ranging economic, environmental, and social impacts.

Wildlife is a key part of the tourism industry, and sustainable tourism actually helps to conserve ecosystems that are important to many species of flora and fauna. To honor this day, we want to share with you some of our favorite wildlife photos from the sustainable business listed on our website:

Skillful monkeys

These spider monkeys owe their name to their ability to move from tree to tree with a speed and agility that makes you imagine they have eight limbs rather than four. Unfortunately, they have become Central America's most threatened primate-especially the Nicaraguan subspecies, which is critically endangered.

The cutest sloths

Isn't this mama sloth and her baby the most adorable pair ever? There are six known species of sloths living in South America, and one of them is critically endangered - the pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus), found only on a tiny five square kilometer island off the coast of Panama.

Strike a pose!

This is a little Legler's stream frog (Hyla legleri), found in Costa Rica and Panama. This species is threatened by habitat loss, which is an sadly common occurence. Amphibians (frogs and toads, newts, caecilians, and salamanders) are the most endangered group of animals on the planet: nearly 1/3 of the world's species are on the brink of extinction.

Hungry hummingbird

Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds don't suck up nectar through their beaks like a straw--they lap it up with their long, pointy tongues! The Hummingbird Society lists 28 species as endangered due to habitat destruction and loss.

Up close with a gray whale

Hundreds of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) arrive every year to Baja California, Mexico, to court, mate, and reproduce. Of the original three gray whale populations, one is extinct in the North Atlantic, one is critically endangered in the Western North Pacific, and one has recovered from very low levels in the Eastern North Pacific and was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1994.

A stunning scarlet macaw

The scarlet macaws (Ara macao) were adored by the Mayas and the Aztecs. This species of macaw is not currently endangered, but their populations have declined in many countries due to the loss of habitat from deforestation and indiscriminate hunting for the illegal pet trade.

The great Galapagos tortoise

The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), native to seven of the famous Galapagos Islands, is the largest living specie of tortoise. There are 15 recognized subspecies of Galapagos tortoises, but only 11 are still alive today. Continued poaching and the presence of invasive animals such as rats, dogs, and goats represent the greatest threat to the survival of these majestic creatures.

This entry was posted on March 4, 2014 at 5:46 PM and has received 1410 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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The first "Making a Difference" award winner in 2014 is Matagalpa Tours, a sustainable tour operator in Nicaragua that is Rainforest Alliance verified and focused on nature, rural, and community tourism.

We spoke with general manager Arjen Roersma, who tells us about the essence of Matagalpa Tours, its work with communities, and the challenges of being a sustainable tourism business.

Question: How did Matagalpa Tours get started?

Roersma: After exploring many beautiful places in the northern zone of Nicaragua (actually, it's in the center of the country, but it's commonly called the "north" because the paved roads don't go any farther), we realized that there was no company offering tours to the destinations here. We recognized an opportunity, knowing that adventurous travelers would love to discover the beautiful jungles, volcanoes, and people of this region.

Q: Why did you decide to focus on rural tourism and cultural experiences?

Roersma:There is very little tourist infrastructure in the Matagalpa region but these communities and their inhabitants have many fascinating stories to tell and interesting activities in which tourists can participate. Our tours are perfect for travelers who are interested in the culture and history of Nicaragua and who do not mind having to spend a night in very basic accommodations in exchange for having a unique and authentic experience.

Q: How do you support the local people with whom you work?

Roersma:We have community initiatives to support indigenous women artisan groups and farmers. We also make a special effort to promote environmental education in the communities. Our Agualí project, which has been particularly successful, is an environmental education initiative executed by Matagalpa Tours with support from the Dutch embassy geared toward local youths. In 2013, we began organizing free tours for groups of students focused on environmental and sociocultural issues. We created the Aguali.net website in order to maintain a connection with the kids and increase the impact of our message. The website offers environmental, educational, and current events information for young people.

Q: How do tourists respond to your combination of entertainment, nature, and contact with communities?

Roersma: Many of our clients say they've had an unforgettable experience. It is essential for us that in addition to having a good time in Nicaragua, they take the message home. For example, we provide a lot of information on consumerism and how their choices at home affect the people here in our country. Some of our tours combine visits to sustainable coffee or cocoa farms so that tourists will think about the origin of what they consume and the power they have to make a change by being more conscious consumers.

Q: What environmental efforts do you make?

Roersma: We believe that best environmental practices should be an integral part of our lives. It cannot be that we save energy at work but do not care in our private lives. We have had a series of workshops and activities where the Matagalpa Tours team itself developed rules for environmental consciousness in all aspects of our lives.

Q: Why is it important for a company like Matagalpa Tours to obtain sustainable tourism verification from Rainforest Alliance?

Roersma: For us, the efforts we make to be a social and environmental business are already a major achievement. The Rainforest Alliance verification seal confirms and reaffirms these efforts. In both the economic and business realms, the verification process has helped us to prove that we are a credible environmental and community-oriented company.

Q: What efforts are you making as a member of Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability (TOPS)?

Roersma: Although organizing ourselves is a challenge, in 2013 we trained the guides and drivers working with our businesses in good sustainability practices. We are also taking steps to promote Nicaragua as a destination with a sustainable profile nationally and internationally.

Q: What does a tour operator need to do in order to be sustainable?

Roersma: Even though other tour operators are competitors, you must be interested in the overall growth of the travel sector. We can achieve a lot more together than alone.

As a company, you must invest in your staff and create a place for their personal and professional development. It is also vital that the company generates revenue for the communities to which it brings visitors and applies its best practices everywhere it operates, not just within the company.

Q: What achievements has Nicaragua made in sustainable tourism and what challenges remain?

Roersma: Tourism development in Nicaragua got started slow and late, but luckily many local initiatives have been able to establish themselves. Most service providers such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation services are family businesses, which has helped Nicaragua be an original and unique country where culture and the hospitality environment continue to be attraction number one.

A challenge for us and the tourism industry is to promote domestic tourism.

This entry was posted on January 28, 2014 at 2:01 PM and has received 1165 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Imagine staying at a hotel surrounded by the most delicious fruit trees and plants--where every trail you explore offers a sweet, natural snack. This is what you'll find at Fond Doux Holiday Plantation, on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, which features a delicious "edible landscape."

Oranges, bananas, starfruit, coconut, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, and giant pods of cocoa grow all over this 19th century colonial plantation. In this picture, you can see their home grown cocoa beans drying in the sun after the fermentation process. These are used as the main ingredient for many delicious recipes, like their famous cocoa tea!

This entry was posted on January 24, 2014 at 1:39 PM and has received 605 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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By Thomas Enderlin

As the Costa Rican tourism industry continues to take off, one of the biggest challenges rural communities face is finding a balance between the conservation of traditional ways of life and the need for economic growth. A visionary new agrotourism project in the Dota region of Costa Rica--developed by a group of community leaders and Vancouver Island University--helps rural communities establish financial security, protect the environment and conserve their traditions.

The project is centered on a multi-day trail, known informally as the Los Santos EcoTrail. Descending through the Dota region before arriving at the Pacific Ocean in the city of Quepos, the trail links a handful of small coffee farming communities and homestays. Currently, five Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms are directly involved in the Los Santos EcoTrail project, with many others indirectly benefiting from the gradual growth of community-based ecotourism in the area.

The Dota region is world famous for its top quality coffee production. Here, Rainforest Alliance certification is helping to improve farming practices while reducing environmental impacts and providing economic and social benefits. But volatile coffee market swings and erratic climate patterns make economic diversification an important attribute in the region--and local communities are achieving this critical diversification through small-scale tourism enterprises connected to the Los Santos EcoTrail.

"We really believe in this project, and we are doing this for the future of our children," one community representative explained. "We love our rural way of life, and don't want to see that disappear."

With increasing demands for adventure and culinary tourism and an upswing of consumers interested in purchasing products featuring the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, projects like the Los Santos EcoTrail will provide opportunities for travelers to take their commitments one step further. These immersive vacations can provide a more direct connection to the origins of certified ingredients while demonstrating how farm and forestry certification benefits local rural communities and biodiversity.

On the trail, visitors also learn how local communities have survived off the land for generations. The people of Providencia still grind their shade grown coffee by hand. The people of Naranjillo let guests test their skills processing sugar cane into juice and crude molasses. Elsewhere along the journey, visitors are invited to make tortillas, learn traditional dances, and make artisanal crafts.

This model of diversified local economics is the future of sustainability. The Rainforest Alliance is currently exploring other agriculture and forestry landscapes that could benefit from small-scale sustainable agrotourism projects so that consumers can have an opportunity to travel to the places where their coffee, tea, and chocolate originate.

For more information on unique agrotourism opportunities, visit the Heart of Gold website.

Thomas Enderlin has a background in conservation, sustainable tourism, commodity trading and agriculture. He is currently based in San José, Costa Rica, where he divides his time as a project consultant, adventure travel guide, photographer, writer and cactus cultivator.

This entry was posted on January 7, 2014 at 1:03 PM and has received 1337 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The island of Ometepe is quite a unique place: formed by two twin volcanoes joined by a low isthmus, giving it the shape of an hourglass, it is the largest volcanic island in a freshwater lake in the world.

There are many activities to enjoy in Ometepe: hiking the steep volcanoes, riding motorbikes, visiting waterfalls and eco-farms, swimming in the massive blue lake, and going kayaking along the Istian River– one of the most popular tourist attractions!

Istian is a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds. The river and the swamp are not large, but there are a few different canals to paddle down where you can enjoy being surrounded by rich vegetation and spotting birds, monkeys, turtles, and caimans. During the relaxing ride, you will also be treated to some of the most amazing views of the Maderas and Concepcion volcanos.

This photo is from Totoco Eco Lodge, which helps guests arrange tours on the Istian River.

This entry was posted on September 20, 2013 at 12:24 PM and has received 676 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Do you want to see the beautiful Mexican Caribbean? Perhaps watch whales in the Pacific near the wonderful Baja California peninsula? Or learn about the rich and varied culture of the country by visiting rural destinations and archaeological sites? Mexico has all this and much more to offer. Better yet, most of these places have sustainable accommodation options to suit the needs of every tourist.

Since 2005, the Rainforest Alliance has been promoting sustainable tourism in Mexico, primarily as an active member of the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI). Also, there are now 81 tourism companies active in the Rainforest Alliance verification program in Mexico, ranging from small hotels to large resorts, mainly in Mexico City and the Mexican Caribbean. These companies recently received the S Distinction awarded by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) to companies committed to sustainability practices.

The Rainforest Alliance has been working with the AMResorts hotel chain to improve the sustainability performance of its hotels in Mexico. AMResorts has six luxury hotel brands with 32 properties in Mexico, Jamaica, Curacao, and the Dominican Republic that cater to all kinds of guests, from young families and newlyweds on honeymoons to adventure travelers.

Thanks to this collaboration, AMResorts has made impressive investments in a number of wildlife conservation programs and enterprises designed to benefit local communities. For example, Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa has released more than 300,000 sea turtle hatchlings through its Dreaming of Freedom habitat protection program. Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa provides space in its gift shop where the neighboring Maya community sells artisanal products such as jellies and honeys. At Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa, staff are motivated to start their own businesses selling services to the resort, such as car washes, barber shops, and convenience stores.

More than 10,000 of AMResort's employees in Mexico are receiving online training in best management practices for sustainable tourism so that they themselves become agents of change in the hotels, as well as in their homes and communities. This training will be extended to other Mexican companies verified by the Rainforest Alliance.

The Rainforest Alliance is also working with the Mexican government's Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) to promote sustainable tourism practices among small and medium-sized ecotourism businesses, mainly in rural communities, which can apply for certification under their national standard. These small businesses are found throughout the country, from the Vizcaino Reserve in Baja California Sur to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve on the Yucatan Peninsula. All offer varied and invaluable natural and cultural wealth and are key to preserving traditional Mexican cultures and valuable ecosystems. Moreover, these small businesses are the main or only source of income for these communities and families.

To date, the Rainforest Alliance has assessed the sustainable performance of nearly 40 tourism businesses in 11 ecotourism circuits in Mexico, and has trained about 94 people from 35 companies on planning and sustainable management of their businesses and ecosystems. As a result, businesses not only improved their practices, but some of them also became Rainforest Alliance Verified^TM , which means that they met the Rainforest Alliance's standards for sustainable tourism businesses.

The next time you visit Mexico be sure to look for businesses – whether small rural inns, medium-size hotels, or luxury resorts – with the seal of the Mexican Ecotourism Standards, the S Distinction, or the Rainforest Alliance Verified^TM mark. We make it easy for you – you can find a list of them on SustainableTrip.org!

This entry was posted on September 18, 2013 at 3:26 PM and has received 1116 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Swiss Travel is one of Costa Rica's leading travel and destination management agencies. For over forty years, Swiss Travel has taken on the task of promoting tourism in Cost Rica and, even more importantly, it has worked to make the industry grow responsibly beside nature and local communities. In recognition of its efforts, this Rainforest Alliance Verified and CST certified company is the recipient of this month's "Making a Difference" award.

Swiss Travel marketing manager José Pablo Salas details the efforts Swiss Travel has made to become a sustainable company and how that has benefited them.

Question: How did Swiss Travel begin?

Salas: Swiss Travel Service began in 1972, focusing on inbound tourism for Costa Rica. We were pioneers in a virtually unknown industry, where the word "tourism" was not common. Nationals traveled to certain destinations that were nearby and popular, but it was difficult to find foreign tourists like we do today. Hotel accommodations in the country were very poor and we didn't have the technology or the marketing tools that are available now, but we believed in Costa Rica's potential.

Q: In those years, the concept of sustainable tourism was very new. What motivated Swiss Travel to be a responsible tour operator?

S: The concept of sustainable tourism was virtually unknown at the time, but it has always been essential for Swiss Travel to develop activities that care for the environment where we invite our customers. These locations are our main asset, and our commitment to conserve it has been a factor that makes us stand out. Ensuring responsible and sustainable tourism is an effort that fills us with pride and satisfaction because this is how we contribute to the country's development and help current and future generations to enjoy the natural beauty of our country.

Q: How would you describe your approach to sustainable tourism?

S: We focus on implementing best business practices based on the three pillars of sustainable tourism: the environment, the economic context, and the sociocultural setting of the organization. These best practices are reflected in every action the company takes, both in its workforce and with all the parties involved in our activities. For our efforts, we obtained the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST), a Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) program, as well as Rainforest Alliance Verification, which have permeated throughout our company.

Q: What are some of your most outstanding sustainability initiatives?

S: We've developed operating manuals, policies, and procedures to ensure respect for the environment. These cover all of the company's activities and involve guides, drivers, plant personnel, and the tourists themselves.

For example, we have reduced paper usage by over 50 percent thanks to policies for saving and efficiently using resources, and our vehicle fleet follows strict maintenance standards to prevent pollution. We have tried to go the extra mile, turning ourselves into one of the few (if not the only) tour operator in the country that has a sewage and gray water treatment plant and submits operational reports to the Ministry of Health, ensuring the proper disposal of our liquid wastes. We also have a fully-equipped collection center at our facilities to ensure strict control of solid waste.

In collaboration with agencies, institutions, and other private businesses, we help promote the conservation of protected areas and assist diverse communities and programs with environmental protection and social development. The initiative we are most proud of is a reforestation program near Palo Verde National Park and the Tenorio Miravalles Biological Corridor in Guanacaste, developed in conjunction with the Allies Against Climate Change Program and the Ministry of Public Education, which has declared the area in the public interest. The program involves local schoolchildren in awareness-raising activities, environmental education, and reforestation with native species.

Q: How do you help communities foster tourism while conserving natural and cultural wealth?

S: Swiss Travel operates throughout the country with different communities that have different needs. Therefore, our strategy is to listen to their needs first and then propose joint projects together. In our experience, the initiatives that arise from this are truly sustainable over time. For example, we have ongoing activities that involve our cruise ship groups and the surrounding communities, where we support fairs that promote their cultural treasures, traditional costumes, art, local food, crafts, and more.

We also make donations to various social and environmental causes and we encourage our customers and intermediary businesses to make donations or collaborate with local communities or NGOs.

Q: Is it difficult for a company as large and diversified as Swiss Travel to maintain its sustainable performance in different areas?

S: It involves a lot of effort and the implementation of management systems for continuing improvement that require us to have ongoing assessments, rigid controls, and readjustment whenever necessary. This requires major documentation, systems for additional information, and constant updates in this area and about the newest options in the markets.

Q: Why is it important for the company to have CST certification and Rainforest Alliance Verification?

S: It's relatively easy to say that a company is "green" or "eco"; the difficult part is proving it. These verifications and certifications provide significant backing for the transparency of the business and the best practices it carries out.

Q: What are the benefits of being a sustainable company and have a "green" image?

S: We receive many benefits, such as higher efficiency in our processes, more orderly documentation, and better economic performance (positive cost-benefit impact) thanks to our optimization of resource use. This has also led to greater engagement and environmental awareness among our collaborators as we establish better relations with the community and create partnerships that, together with a greater understanding of the immediate and national environment, better prepare us to respond to risks and uncertainties of all kinds. In addition, this image allows us to be more competitive because we can offer differentiated products.

This entry was posted on June 25, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 590 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Did you know that chocolate grows on trees? Those green and yellow pods you see in the picture above are hanging from a cocoa tree, and the seeds they contain will be fermented, dried, roasted, and turned into chocolate you can buy at the grocery store! As agritourism rises in popularity, cocoa farms like this one in Nicaragua are welcoming more and more travelers who are curious about where their food comes from--and it doesn't hurt that cocoa is grown in beautiful tropical destinations! On a farm tour, you'll meet local farmers and their families and get a glimpse into authentic rural life.

This photo was taken on a tour with Vapues Tours.

This entry was posted on June 6, 2013 at 4:32 PM and has received 998 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.