Sustainability practices at
At Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, we are fully committed to sustainable tourism and strive to limit any negative impacts generated by our operations. This commitment is by no means limited to Monteverde Lodge – it extends to all our Böëna Wilderness Lodges and the communities that support us.
We strive to be agents of positive change for our children and future generations. By developing strong programs and practices hand in hand with our providers and neighboring communities, we support the conservation and restoration of our country’s natural areas and resources.
And through our years of experience, we’ve realized that sustainable operations and, in turn, sustainable communities, are not only possible but practical.
Here are a few examples of our sustainability practices at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens.
CONSERVATION SUPPORT:
We want our guests to know that their visit to Monteverde Lodge helps protect and preserve the natural environment & support our community. Our local sustainability programs reach fruition through a one-time $8 per person Monteverde Lodge & Gardens Conservation Support. We share regular progress reports and updates with our guests to demonstrate how important their contributions are. Many guests are even inspired to give more to the fund.
COMMUNITY:
At Monteverde Lodge, we believe responsible tourism should benefit and respect local communities, and we consistently work toward this goal. Monteverde and the surrounding communities depend on tourism. In fact, 100% of our staff are from local areas. The hospitality and warmth they provide are second to none and make the difference between an unremarkable stay and a stay that’s remembered for a lifetime. Experience for yourself what it means to meet the friendly locals in what’s often called the happiest country on the planet.
Our Staff: As we said above, all of our staff are local, and their love for their home is reflected in the genuinely friendly and personalized service they provide. To support their career development, we offer regular training opportunities so they can acquire new skills and grow professionally. We also offer cross-training with colleagues from sister Böëna Lodges, which encourage our employees to build leadership potential and expand their professional horizons.
Community Outreach: We support the local recycling initiative through funding as well as provide the center with administration and organizational assistance as part of our staff’s regular work responsibilities.
Buying local: We buy our produce, dairy products, eggs, berries, and other food products from local growers and providers whenever possible.
CONSERVATION:
At Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, we invite our guests to join us as we embrace sustainability practices such as responsible water use, electricity conservation, and waste disposal. Through our efforts, we demonstrate how sustainable living is fully achievable.
Applied environmental conservation is at the foundation of everything we do. And like our sister Böëna lodges, we’ve dedicated a significant portion of our 3.8-hectare property as a private nature reserve.
In total, our Böëna Wilderness Lodges –Lapa Rios Rainforest Lodge, Pacuare Lodge, Tortuga Lodge, and Monteverde Lodge & Gardens – own and protect more than 800 hectares (1,977 acres) of primary and secondary forest in vulnerable areas near national parks and along vital biological corridors.
We’ve also formed internal sustainability committees among our staff and collaborators to implement the periodic clean-ups of nearby creeks and the reforestation of our hotel grounds and the surrounding area.
The following list details a few more of our conservation efforts:
Energy:
- Much of our energy consumption is supplied through the lodge’s 47 solar panels.
Water:
- We use biodegradable and environmentally friendly soaps, detergents, and cleaning products.
- Our swimming pool is purified with salt and stabilizers instead of chlorine. Salt systems are much kinder to the environment – and our skin.
- We’ve installed only high-tech toilets for the most efficient water use.
- By installing water, gas, and electricity meters, we analyze the lodge’s consumption patterns and implement preventative actions for improved water and energy management and the responsible use of our resources.
Waste:
- We separate our trash and encourage our guests to do the same. Recyclable materials are taken to the town recycling center (Acopio de Monteverde).
- We are currently developing a Monteverde Lodge Compost Center for organic waste.
- We strive to eliminate all single-use plastics from our property and our sister Boena Wilderness Lodges.
- Tap water in Costa Rica is potable. We encourage our guests to choose reusable bottles over bottled water. Plastic bottles take vast quantities of fossil fuels to produce and are non-biodegradable, exacerbating the country’s carbon footprint.
CULTURE:
Supporting local talent and artists: We regularly invite local musicians to perform live at our El Jardin Restaurant. Guests enjoy our delicious Costa Rican and International cuisine and experience authentic music played by artists while comingling with the area’s residents and fellow travelers.
At Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, we offer farm-to-table fusion cuisine at El Jardin Restaurant. In addition to using fresh ingredients in each dish, we offer traditional Costa Rican dishes—such as the classic Casado—and side dishes with a Costa Rican “touch.” The result is a gastronomic experience that features a surprising combination of flavors crafted with innovative recipes and a masterful flair.
COMMERCE:
We encourage our guests to explore outside of the lodge as well as in. Our concierge can arrange eye-opening tours of nearby attractions such as the Monteverde, Santa Elena, and Curi-Cancha reserves. The founders of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, for example, are the pioneers of Costa Rican conservation and ecotourism. They established the park in 1972 to protect a pristine tract of Central America’s cloud forests from logging and development.
To further support the Monteverde community, we buy most of our produce from local sources. We also give preference to local service providers for the repairs and upkeep of the lodge.
Monteverde Lodge & Gardens is member of Monteverde Chamber of Tourism, a non-profit organization that works promoting Monteverde as a local and international destination, also supports community projects through the sustainability principles, and facilitates training to provide quality services to Monteverde visitors.
The Böëna collection of wilderness lodges forms part of the National Chamber of Sustainable Tourism (CANAECO). A non-profit organization, CANAECO provides stimulus to develop responsible and sustainable practices across the tourism industry.