From pristine beaches and jungle waterfalls to highaltitude coffee farms, costa rica. Biodiverstiy and tourism in costa rica march, 2001 6 1. We help you plan your trip to costa rica with unique maps of costa rica map. Ecotourism costa rica, information about ecology and. For the reasons mentioned above, costa rica was chosen as the first case. Tourism is one of costa rica s most important businesses, and they are blessed to contain all the key ingredients of the perfect tourist destination.
However, costa rica is not immune to the pressures of deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture cia 2003. Conservation strategies, protected areas, and ecotourism in costa. Costa rica itself and the incredible ecosystem with all the birds, flora and other creatures, was the highlight. Costa rica has been the early playground for researchers, a country where theories and practices could be tested, measured, and evaluated. Other exemplary operators include costa rica expeditions, 22570766 and costa rica sun tours tel 8662716263 in the u. The osa peninsula is the last remaining section of costa rica s pacific coast where ecotourism is the dominant economic activity. Costa rica s push towards ecotourism began with the establishment of the cabo blanco national reserve in 1963 and the first national parks in 1971. It is one of the worlds top tropical wet forest research centers. A major portion of the early ecotourism research is based on experiences from costa rica. September 2009 598 john rutter an ecotourism case study. Costa rica is known as one of the premier sites to study and experience highaltitude tropical cloud forests and nature conservation forsyth, 1988. Ecotourism development in costa rica is a concise, clearlywritten, and balanced portrait of ecotourism as a development strategy in costa rica. Costa rica is a central american country with a land area of 51,100 sq km and a population of nearly 3.
Despite of the still present menace of deforestation, costa rica has a fairly good environmental record. The certification of sustainable tourism cst is a costa rican program intended to balance three basic factors within the tourism industry. Costa ricas landscape has fascinated travelers for centuries, establishing costa rica as a popular tourist destination hintzen 2014. Author beatrice blake has 30 years of experience in writing only about costa rica, and was instrumental in the development of the ecotourism movement that has made costa rica famous. But no matter how you define it, costa rica is a beacon for sustainability and environmentally friendly tourism. Costa rica description cost rica is a central american country of 3. With over 300000 national park visits per year, costa rica is among the worlds first eco travel destinations. Ecotourism and sustainable development in costa rica. It therefore offers a unique possibility to ground test the economic, social and environmental impacts of ecotourism compared with other employment.
Which tools and techniques were used in order to develop to one of the most popular destinations for sustainable tourism. Study findings were mixed regarding ecotourisms effectiveness as a conservation and community development tool. Other organizations, such as sustainable tourism international and the international ecotourism society also provide certification, accommodation listings, and information. Ecotourism in costa rica perhaps more than anyone else, it was the two writers of a field guide about tropical birds that were responsible for the ecotourism movement in costa rica. Costa rica maps to help you plan your vacation go visit costa rica. Whether or not ecotourism in costa rica will prove to be sustainable in the longterm remains to be seen. This is a mission close to my costa ricas own philosophy and our costa rica ecotourism nature packages are perfect for the environmentally aware ecotourist. We saw 127 different species of birds alone the food was so delicious and the people were so nice. Ecotourism in costa rica is one of the key activities of the tourism industry in the country. View a large printable pdf of costa rica ecoadventure tour map.
Some critic doubt that countries can receive much economic benefit from international tourism because most major expenses, like travel, are arranged though businesses outside of the country. Forestybased ecotourism in costa rica as a driver for positive social. Heres how to experience the best ecotourism costa rica has to offer. To obtain an understanding of the current state of ecotourism on zapatera island. Ecotourism costa rica the impacts on three guides it is hard to deny that ecotourism has benefited the nation of costa rica in a great number of ways. Ecotourism in costa rica sustainable eco travel vacations. Every year, many thousands of visitors come to costa rica because of one simple fact. It combines low cost and easy accessibility with a stable government and a friendly exchange rate.
The discussions about the management of ecotourism as a resource, including the development of national parks, control over foreign investment, provision of business incentives, and regulation of certification programs are. Rios tropicales has the largest private rainforest reserve on the pacuare river in costa rica. These factors include the companys interaction with natural and cultural resources, the improvement of quality of life within local communities and economic contribution to other programs of national development. Mar 07, 2014 twilas mike danna concludes our central american profile series with ecotourism in costa rica. We enjoyed the ability of the guide to spot and identify so many of the bird species at a glance. The country is among many developing nations that look to ecotourism as a way of cashing in on the growing demand for this popular trend of travel. The osa peninsula is the last remaining section of costa ricas pacific coast where ecotourism is the dominant economic activity. Costa rica is one of the few countries in the wold that has a certification program for sustainable tourism. Conservation strategies, protected areas, and ecotourism. Costa rica boasts over 3,221,000 acres of protected land including 26 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges, 32 protected zones, 15 wetland areas, 11 forest reserves and 8 biological reserves. Its greatest benefits in the social, economic, environmental and cultural areas have helped put the little country of costa rica onto the international map awareness setting costa rica as a worldwide leader and a success story of how ecotourism can positively impact a whole country as long as it is done properly, at an early stage of.
Ecotourism is an alternative for us to practice tourism without causing negative impact in the environment, enjoying the wonderful surroundings that nature offers. Ecotourism is often misinterpreted as any form of tourism that involves nature see jungle tourism. Costa rica national park map, costa rica go visit costa rica. Ecotourism must account for social, economic and environmental implications, in order to succeed. Within the last two decades costa rica has become an extremely popular ecotourism destination and in 1992 was named the number one ecotourism destination by the u. The discussions about the management of ecotourism as a resource, including the development of national parks, control over foreign investment, provision of business incentives, and regulation of certification programs are particularly useful. Challenges and potentials of ecotourism as a form of.
In order to increase the likelihood that ecotourism achieves goals of sustainable development in costa rica, all of the key actors must to begin to take more proactive measures in order to ensure that ecotourism is carefully planned and implemented. Costa rica is considered one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. In costa rica, green travel is more than a buzzword. Prior to the 1980s, costa rica led the world in the highest rates of deforestation sdnp. We help you plan your trip to costa rica with unique maps of costa rica ecoadventure tour map. The new key to costa rica guidebook key to costa rica guidebook. Ecotourism has more promise for achieving sustainability than alternative types of land use such as agriculture, cattle grazing, logging, or mass tourism. Summary of the socioeconomic situation in costa rica1. These studies provide greater context for understanding how ecotourism plays out against other. Ecotourism impacts in the nicoya peninsula, costa rica.
For more than three decades, however, nat hab has been guiding guests through costa ricas natural wonders. View a large printable pdf of costa rica map guanacaste escape adventure. Figure 2 map of the osa peninsula and ecotourism study sites. The lsu agleadership class xiii experienced the rainforests on the arenal hanging bridges and. This paper, based on a comparative study in costa rica, explores some of these issues. And costa rica s ecotourism is made up of not only responsible choices, but bucketlistworthy experiences. Environmental impacts and management emily mckeone, b. By the early 1990s, costa rica became known as the poster child of ecotourism. Costa rica s landscape has fascinated travelers for centuries, establishing costa rica as a.
To assess local communities attitudes towards ecotourism and its ability to influence conservation and sustainable development on the island. Sustainable tourism, ecofriendly travel, green hotels, responsible tourismits a jungle of terminology out there. Costa rica ecoadventure tour map, costa rica go visit. Introducing ecotourism to venado island, costa rica prepared by bjorn g. Centering yourself on a surfboard or yoga mat, descending into batfilled caves or ascending misty volcanic peaks, hiking, biking or ziplining your only limit is your return date. Get to the heart of costa rica with one of lonely planets indepth, awardwinning guidebooks. This is a mission close to my costa rica s own philosophy and our costa rica ecotourism nature packages are perfect for the environmentally aware ecotourist. Ecotourism in costa rica is a robust industry because the country was one of the earliest adopters of connecting naturewildlife conservation with responsible travel costa rica has been ranked among the worlds best ecotourism destinations on more than one occasion, and became the first country in the americas to ban hunting in 2012.
The complete guide puts the best of costa rica at your fingertips. Costa ricas push towards ecotourism began with the establishment of the cabo blanco national reserve in 1963 and the first national parks in 1971. The ecotourism boom began in the mid1980s and really took off in the 1990s with 800,000 foreigners visiting the central american nation in 1995, 1. View a large printable pdf of costa rica national park map. Globally we are witnessing growing environmental destruction, particularly to the natural resource bases of underdeveloped countries. Entrepreneurs and the cocreation of ecotourism in costa rica. Ecotourism activities in costa rica provides a combination of luxury and adventure activities, which includes visits to rich wildlife to experience flora and fauna, visiting volcanoes, hiking, river rafting, bird watching, whale watching, canopy tours, horse riding, bungee jumping, surfing and snorkeling are some of the few mentions. Ensuring excellent ecotourism, costa rica has devoted an estimated 26% of its land to national parks, wildlife reserves and protected lands. It is bordered by nicaragua and panama in the north and south, respectively, and by the caribbean and pacific oceans on the east and west. Nowadays a major ecotourism and adventure hotspot, costa rica also attracts scientists. This project, as well as other statistics garnered from ecotourism endeavors in costa rica, proves to refute what ecotourism critics have warned about. The 495page new key to costa rica gives you all the information you need to plan an ecofriendly costa rican vacation. With 28 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges and scores more protected nature reserves, costa rica offers so much to see and do that planning a trip on your own can be overwhelming.
Avis on the map from the late 1980s until 1994, when perry relocated the system to a more accessible. Ecotourism has a great impact in the economy as a private sector and as part of the touristic activities in general. Along with the cheaper ones, there are some of the worlds most opulent and expensive options. Survey respondents saw legal restrictions as more influential than tourism in prompting declines in deforestation and hunting rates. Opportunities and threats to local sustainable development. Sustainable travel and ecotourism in costa rica frommers. Forestybased ecotourism in costa rica as a driver for positive. Costa rica maps visit costa rica costa rica tourism.
Keywords costa rica development strategy ecotourism impact assessment sustainable tourism 1 ecotourism. The human development index places it as a highlevel country. The strong emphasis on sustainable practices and development of protected areas has boosted ecotourism in costa rica to a large degree. The trend continued and today the costa rican park system includes 70 entities and protects over 3,221,000 acres 1,303,492 ha. For example, in costa rica, ecuador, nepal, kenya, madagascar and territories such as antarctica, ecotourism represents a significant portion of the gross domestic product and economic activity. The new key to costa rica guidebook key to costa rica. Costa rica is one of the worlds most popular ecotourism destinations, with travellers drawn to national parks, reserves and rainforests.