Sustainability
Experience a Unique Eco-Friendly Resort in Costa Rica
Discover Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, an eco-friendly retreat on a 165-acre preserve in Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Nestled within Piedras Blancas National Park, our lodge offers a sustainable experience, blending luxury with nature. Enjoy educational adventures, intimate wildlife encounters, and mindful service in harmony with the rainforest and ocean. The lodge also offers a daily complimentary sustainability tour, showing guests how the lodge operates in a sustainable way with the natural environment. We sometimes host experts from various conservation organizations to present their extensive knowledge about the ecosystem and how we live in harmony with this beautiful, untouched region.
Elite Rating Certification for Sustainable Tourism Certification Award
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge has been awarded the highest rating - Elite - for sustainability by the Costa Rica government's Tourism Board. This sustainable tourism program recognizes businesses that comply with a sustainable natural, cultural, and social resource management model.
Platinum Level Certification on TripAdvisor GreenLeaders programme
Nicuesa Lodge has additionally been awarded Platinum level GreenLeader into the TripAdvisor® GreenLeaders™ programme, which helps travellers around the world plan greener trips by highlighting hotels engaging in environmentally-friendly practices. The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program was developed in consultation with the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Tourism Partnership, Carbon Trust, and the UK Green Building Council, among other leading environmental organizations.
Awarded Costa Rican Blue Flag
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is proud to announce that we have recently been awarded the prestigious Costa Rican Blue Flag by the Tourism Board, a recognition of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and the preservation of our coastal and beachfront property. This esteemed award highlights our efforts to maintain the highest standards in protecting the natural beauty and ecosystems that surround the lodge. The Blue Flag is a testament to our dedication to preserving the pristine environment of the Golfo Dulce, where we operate in harmony with nature.
Construction
- Construction was performed by local labor from the coast and the towns of Puerto Jimenez and Golfito
- Lodge buildings are located on less than 2% of property - 98% is a Private Protected
- Use of recycled construction materials such as: roof tiles on the lodge and cabins are made of recycled plastics including banana bags
- Wood used throughout Playa Nicuesa is either naturally fallen and permitted by the government to be pulled out of the forest by oxen or farmed
- Environmentally friendly design features: design of the cabins and lodge is unique and in context with the natural environment and, the orientation of the cabins and lodge maximizes natural ventilation of air from the mountains and the beach through the structures
- Separation of gray water and black water and use of organic micro-organisms to clean septic system of toxins and diseases
- Little to no disturbance to the natural landscaping to protect the natural habitat
- Worked with Costa Rican architect to design all lodge structures
Operations
- Electricity throughout Nicuesa is provided by a hydro electric turbine and solar panels. Back-up generator runs of recycled vegetable oil
- Passive solar drying room used to dry all of the wash
- Hot water is provided by on-demand propane which means that the propane is used only when the hot water faucet is turned on
- Fuel efficient four stroke engines are used on all of our boats
- Trash separation for the purpose of recycling glass, plastics, paper, aluminum and tetrapaks
- Composting organics to be used later as fertilizers in gardens
- Rainwater management: use of trenches to channel heavy amounts of rainfall thereby reducing soil erosion
- Gardens and landscaping maintained without use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides
- Use of homemade natural solution to combat certain insects (garlic, onion, chili pepper)
- Use of organic-biodegradable cleaning products as well as organic-biodegradable shampoos and soaps in guest rooms and for employees
- Energy efficient light bulbs, refrigerators, and freezers
- Use of solar lanterns for pathway lighting
- Tours and activities are conducted in the most environmentally friendly manner possible in order to preserve the natural habitat and the wildlife that thrive here, while always educating guests about the importance of environmental conservation
- Offer daily Sustainability Tour of lodge environmental operations (recycling area, composting area, Reforestation Center, passive solar drying room, solar system, and construction efforts)
- Lodge meals focused on national and regional cuisine, utilizing food from the property or grown as locally as possible
Community Outreach
- Employ local/Costa Rican staff (98% of employees); primarily from the immediate coastline and two area villages
- Sponsor a local Costa Rican student annually to attend a local bilingual school - Nueva Hoja
- Assist in creation of a local recycling collection center in Puerto Jimenez in collaboration with Women of the Osa
- Support local campaign to clean up and beautify Golfito by creating welcoming public spaces & improving infrastructure
- Employ reformed hunters as guides
- Plan environmental education events in collaboration with the Environmental Coalition of Puerto Jimenez
- Sponsored building of local library in Puerto Jimenez
- Support of local coral regeneration project
- Provide opportunities for employees to learn English through free classes at Lodge and fully sponsored one employee to live in San Jose and attend a one month intensive English language program
- Sponsor Troop 150 Guias y Scouts of Puerto Jimenez
- Display decorations and sell to guests locally produced artwork and handicrafts
- Support local economy by purchasing food, hardware, and other supplies from nearby towns
- Support local tour operations by regularly promoting to guests
- Provide opportunity for career advancement for employees via training course sponsorship
- Provide educational materials and presentations to Las Animas, the only local school in the Golfo Dulce
- Sponsor folkloric dance group composed of adolescents from Puerto Jimenez