Sustainable & Responsible Tourism

• WAVE Expeditions is LOCALLY OWNED and operated tour company. We support the local community by offering employment opportunities and training to community members. We also have local high school students work with us as interns with the possibility of employment after in order to help train future generations.


• CARBON OFSETTING - Through a small donation we have set up a program with the local high school to reforest an area near their facilities. You can help by donating a small amount to buy a tree.


• RECYCLING – We are very committed to reducing our waste as well as recycling whenever possible. Our team is very involved in the local recycling program and has aided the program for the past 2 years by helping to fundraise and purchase recycling machines to help streamline the process.


• MEMBERS OF BANDERA AZUL The Blue Flag Ecology Program is a joint venture of several Costa Rican authorities, including the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, MINAE (Ministry of Environment), National Water Service, Ministry of Public Health and CANATUR (National Tourism Chamber) along with the member community striving to achieve the Blue Flag. Administered by the National Blue Flag Commission, the continued efforts of these organizations have resulted in a long list of beaches and communities being awarded the Ecological Blue Flag.
  
  The Blue Flag Ecology Program was founded with the purpose of improving education and information regarding the environment. Since then it has been helping to promote the protection of the natural surroundings and increasing public knowledge in this regard. The proof of this is that every year more and more beach communities of Costa Rica are competing for the Blue Flag and working for the purpose of the Blue Flag Ecology Program.


• HELPING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS through projects such as river clean ups, donations to local families in need, community event and project involvement such as “ Huellas para una Costa Rica Unica” and SPonsers of the WOMANS RAFTING TEAM in Brazil .
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• SPONSER of LOCAL “ BALSA COMMUNITY RVIER CLEAN UP AND INTERTUBE CHALLENGE."

Costa Rica is generally considered to be a very safe country and Costa Ricans on the whole are honest and friendly people. However crime does exist. Here are some travel tips that can help ensure you have a fantastic hassle free vacation while here in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Travel Tips: #1. Never leave your bags inside you vehicle unattended, particularly at tourist spots.

Costa Rica Travel Tips: #2. The second most common occurrence of theft occurs while using the public bus system. Particularly when traveling to and from San Jose, groups of thieves will look for tourists on the bus and attempt to pick-pocket them while they’re loading or unloading their bags. You can prevent this by being aware, watching out for your friends, and not letting anyone invade your personal space. In addition, it is a good idea to keep your passports, money, and credit cards in a travel belt that you can put around your waist and tuck away; or the shoulder belts that you can hide under your shirt.

Costa Rica Travel Tips: #3. Always keep a backup source of money. Keep a bank card or credit card in a separate location. You should always have some sort of alternative means to get money if you’re the unfortunate victim of a theft. I always keep my most valuable cards and money with my passport in my travel belt. However, I also keep one bank card or credit card stashed away somewhere hidden in my bag along with a little petty cash. This way, if your wallet or purse gets snatched, you will have something to really on. It is a good idea to make copies and bring them with you of your cards you are carrying so if theft does occur you can easily and quickly cancel cards.

Costa Rica Travel Tips: #4. Get to know the Ocean by asking questions about the right locations for swimming and surfing. The rip currents and hidden rocks can end your vacation in a hurry; so ask for information before you dive in. Its always a good idea to follow the crowd when in doubt: if you don’t see anybody in the water at a certain location, then there is probably a reason for it.

Costa Rica Travel Tips: #5. Ask, ask, and ask; and always use your common sense. The people working at the hotels and restaurants are your best source of information. So just ask; ask what to do, and what not to do, this will help your trip will be a safe one.

Costa Rica Travel Tips # 6 - Before you go, organice a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards.

Costa Rica Travel Tips: #7. Treat locals with respect.

Costa Rica Travel Tips # 8 We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Many adventure tours although ahve insurance to cover liability do not cover accidents that occur due to your participation in the high risk activity such as canopy tours , Canyoning and Rafting. If an accident occurs on a tour you will be required to cover your own medical costs.

Costa Rica Travel Tips: #9. Make a local friend. The people of Costa Rica are a beautiful people; they consider themselves to be one of the friendliest and happiest people in the world. From being lost to having a flat tire, the locals want to help and show tourists their pleasant and charming nature, as well as the beauty of their country. These are precautionary rules and guide lines to follow while travelling to Costa Rica or any country in Central America. Pura Vida and safe travels!

The Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program - CST is a product of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT). The CST was designed to differentiate businesses of the tourism sector, based on the degree to which they comply with a sustainable model of natural, cultural and social resource management. CST is regulated by the Costa Rican National Accreditation Commission and consists of a scale of 5 "levels" of sustainable tourism achievement.

Costa Rica 2021: Costa Rica Aims to be the first Carbon-Neutral Country

1. Who promoted the idea of a Carbon Nuestral Costa Rica initially ?

In 2007 President Oscar Arias stated “Our objective is that the name Costa Rica become sinonamous with the fundamental values for humanity: LOVE, PEACE and CARE for our Natural Environment “

2. What does it mean to be Carbon Nuetral ?

The quest for carbon neutrality seeks to balance the amount of carbon dioxide a country releases by burning fossil fuels with the amount that it captures or offsets by, for example, planting trees.

3. Why does Costa Rica want to become a Carbon Nuestral country by the year 2021.

Officials say the country will clean up its fossil fuel-fired power plants, promote hybrid vehicles and increase tree planting to balance its emissions by the year 2021 to celebrate Costa Ricas 200th birthday

4. What is Costa Rica doing to become a Carbon Nuetral country ?

Costa Rica is an international leader on green issues, with protected areas like national parks and biological reserves covering more than a quarter of its territory. The country generates 78 percent of its energy with hydroelectric power and another 18 percent by wind or geothermal power. It now plans to cut emissions from transport, farming and industry. Government programs have helped Costa Rica reforest. Trees now cover 51 percent of the country, a 10 percent increase over the last decade. Costa Rica aims to reach this goal using budgeting, laws, and incentives, including measures to promote biofuels, hybrid vehicles, and clean energy. Another key component of the national strategy will be a “C-Neutral” label to certify that tourism and certain industrial practices mitigate all of the carbon dioxide they emit.

Since 2007, the The Costa Rican National Strategy on Climate Change integrated into the Sustainable has Development maintained the goal of reducing emission to reach its goal of a Carbon Nuestral country by 2021 The climate change strategy, with a clear orientation towards action, was defined around six strategic axes or components, the main of which are Mitigation and Adaptation; the other four transversal components are: Metrics, Capacity Building and Technology Transfer, Education, culture and public awareness, and Financing. The National Agenda is represented by the following graph:

5. Who is evaluating the effect of greenhouse gases ont he environment ?

The Ministry of the Environment and Energy, MINAE is charged with the task of protecting the environment along with the National Meterology Insitute ( IMN) they will evaluate peridodically the greenhouse gas effects on the environment.

WAVE Expeditions asks all of our guests to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations. Please DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS no matter what the person next to you is doing.

Many people enjoy feeding wildlife because it allows them to have close contact with the animals, or because they believe they are helping the animals survive. While seeing wild animals up close can be enjoyable, providing wild animals with a steady, human-supplied food source nearly always leads to problems for both the animals and humans. Costa Rica is a natural paradise for wildlife and we want to preserve its natural state for generations to come!

1. Use locally owned Hotels and Tour Operators that support local communities. Book an ECO- Friendly Hotel such as SI COMO NO in Manuel Antonio or FINCA ROSA BLANCA in the Central Valley .

2. Offset your Carbon footprint - Many companies such as WAVE Expeditions have set up programs to plant and reforest local areas. Through small donations you can plant a tree and help reforest local areas. Donate to Projects with your visit, money or time. A great example is WAVE Expeditions “ High School Reforestation Project” With the donation of 1000 colones ( $2) you can plant a tree in a local area that the high school is managing for reforestation.

3. Connect with locals - make a friend . Your experience will be that much more meaningful if you get to know the locals.

4. Be cautious and respectful of nature. Stay on trails in parks, if you don't, you may get lost. Pay attention to warning signs, recently a tourist decided to ignore a "No swimming. Crocodiles inhabit this pond" warning with tragic consequences. If the trail looks too dangerous, turn back, even if there are no warning signs, this applies specially around volcanoes and mountains. Also, beware of dramatic changes in temperature atop mountains. Do not cross rivers or estuaries that flow into the sea. Rivers can turn into huge torrents in matters of minutes from upstream rain so be cautions while bathing. DONT LEAVE YOUR TRASH FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PICK UP!

5. Inquire about local sustainable and environmental projects and tours such as RANCHO MARGOT Sustainable farm , or the BIODEISAL tour. Learn about what locals are doing to better their communities.

6. Buy local goods

7. Conserve in-room energy - Don’t leave your lights on or your air conditioning running while you are out of the room just because you want a cool room when you return - please remember to follow the same practices at home by shutting off lights, TV and air conditioning when you leave the room.