Sustainability Tour  

 

 

Arenas Del Mar´s Sustainability Tour allows guests to go behind the scenes to see how the operation has incorporated environmental stewardship and social responsibility into its day-to-day operations. From biodegradable cleaning products to earthworm powered composting, this tour is truly fascinating and inspiring for all guests interested in conservation, sustainable development, ecotourism and green living. 

 

Sustainability Tour Highlights

A few highlights from Arenas del Mar’s sustainability tour include: 

The Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST)

At Arenas Del Mar Beach & Nature Resort, we are 100% committed to Costa Rica’s Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST).  The CST, administered by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, awards hotels “leaves” on a scale of one to five based on their sustainability achievements (much like the Mobile star rating which evaluates hotel services).  The CST bases its judgments on four factors:

  1. Biological-physical:  How does a property impact and/or protect its surrounding environment?
  2. Services and Infrastructure:  How do the property’s operations (including product use and disposal, water and energy management, etc.) affect the environment?
  3. Social-Economic environment: What impact does the property have on nearby communities to promote/provide education to its staff and community and to work with community service providers?
  4. External Client:  How does the property promote and teach responsible tourism with guests who visit?

Currently, the CST is not mandatory for all properties in Costa Rica.  For this reason, it is imperative that the consumer take an active role in looking for properties that are indeed participating in the certification process.  By supporting organizations that are CST certified, you not only know where your money is being spent, but are showing your support for fair, honest and, above all, truly sustainable business practices. 

Water Bottles

 

In an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste that we produce at Arenas Del Mar, we have decided to give every guest a refillable water bottle.  This water bottle can be used both at our hotel and at our guests´ homes, thereby serving as a means of promoting environmental responsibility and stewardship worldwide. 

 


Biodegradable Cleaning Products and Amenities

 

All cleaning products and guest amenities (including soaps, shampoos and conditioners) that we use at Arenas Del Mar Beach & Nature Resort are biodegradable, thereby assuring that no harsh or toxic chemicals will leave our property and affect the surrounding environment. 

 

 


Local Flavors

 

El Mirador and Playitas restaurants both serve an eclectic mix of Manuel Antonio’s finest Costa Rican-fusion dining, featuring a number of traditional dishes and locally grown fruits and vegetables. Both restaurants work to educate guests about typical Costa Rican cuisine; El Mirador, for example, even offers tortilla-making classes for its guests! 

 


Native Plants

 

All plants on the Arenas Del Mar property are native to Costa Rica and can be found growing naturally in this area of the country. Native plant landscaping eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and drastically cuts down on water consumption (as exotic species often tend to consume more water).   

 

 


Recycling and Waste Management

 

At Arenas Del Mar Beach & Nature Resort, we have installed extensive recycling facilities to reduce the amount of waste that we produce on property.  Additionally, all organic waste is reused in our onsite composting station to produce a natural fertilizer that we can use to maintain our native plant garden. 

 

 


Electric Cars

 

All transportation on property is run on clean-burning, electric-fueled golf carts.  These golf carts help us to drastically reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and also help us to maintain a quiet atmosphere so that guests can enjoy the pristine natural areas surrounding the property. 

 

 


Blue Flag Certification

Since 2006, the beach located in front of Arenas Del Mar (known as “Playitas Dulce Vida”) has coveted the prestigious Blue Flag (Bandera Azul Ecológica) award. This program, based on a similar model developed in Europe, works towards the  sustainable development of Costa Rica’s beaches through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services. Whenever you see a Blue Flag located on one of Costa Rica’s beaches, you will know that you are visiting a safe, and clean, public beach.   

Would you like to learn more about how you can support sustainable tourism initiatives on your next vacation?  The following websites are great resources for learning about sustainable tourism programs worldwide:

 

For more detailed information on our sustainability program contact our onsite Sustainability Coordinator at sostenibilidad@arenasdelmar.com.