What are the Activities Performed by You in Ecotourism Field?
Fourteen years ago we started reforesting 8 hectares of pasture land and build our ecolodge there. We also support two local associations that protect turtle breeding sites and we have trained members of the local communities so that they can provide our guests with high quality ecologically friendly activities and experiences. We also gave (on invitation) inputs to the new management plan of Coiba National Park, a World natural Heritage Site. We also are biologist and inform our clients about the ecosystems.
The Benefit Contribution of the Activity to the World
We contribute 8 hectares of forest with an estimated CO2 sequestration of 150 metric ton to date. Among the trees replanted are globally endangered species such as rosewood and mahogany. The forest is also home to nearly 150 species of birds, among them species that are endemic (Veraguan Mango) or locally threathened (Sapphire-throated hummingbird). We provide direct and indirect employment that is ecologically and economically sustainable and pleasant.
Is the Activity Funded/ Supported?
individual
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Best Eco-Friendly Company
Why Should You be Considered for the Award?
We have a new approach to ecotourism: We planted a forest around our ecolodge rather than building with low impact in or close to a protected area. The lodge also provides examples for best practices in sustainable tourism (we harvest rain water, minmize water use, we have well insulated rooms to minimize power consumption and only install LED lights. Furthermore we support two local associations that protect breeding sites of endangered sea turtles, we only hire or contract people from nearby villages and we have trained local people and provided them with small business loans so they could offer high quality eco-experiences to our guests. We also buy almost all our food locally. We are truly Ecological and Community Oriented.
Future Projects for Ecotourism
We are currently evaluating the installation of solar power (despite having bills lower than $100 per month) and are exploring possibilities to improve recycling plastic waste locally with the techniques from Precious Plastics.
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Will You Personally Receive the Award?
yes
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Since when you are in travel industry?
2010-09-29
Staff Numbers Employed in the Itinerary
We work with 6 to 8 independent people who provide services to us. This way we support their association.
Is the Activity Funded/ Supported?
individual
What is the Most Remarkable Entity of the Itinerary in these Ecotours such as Attractions and Entertainment Options
During our trips to COiba you will swim along hawksbill turtles, green turtles, small whitetip reefsharks and thousands of big-eye jacks. In the forest, you are likely to see the endemic Coiba howler monkey, the endemic Coiba agouti, the endemic Coiba spinetail and scarlet macaws. From late July to mid October, humpback whales visit the waters around Coiba to give birth and in that period you will almost certainly see them. Our trip to Cerro Hoya National Park gives you time to explore the unique cloud forest and to meet its endemic resident hummingbirds, the Azuero mountain gem and the Glow-throated hummingbird. Lower down, you can observe howler monkeys, spider monkeys, great green macaws and the endemic Azuero parrakeet. The fact that a biologist or trained guide comes along assures the best interpretation and quality experience for the clients.
What kind of facilities the Itinerary includes such as Accommodation Venues and/or Food Beverage Places visited
Accommodation is in tented camp or hammocks. And we take all the food, in reusable containers.
What are the Activities Performed by You in these Eco-focused Tours?
We go to Coiba by boat, the trip is part of the fun, we often see dolhins, frigate birds and galapagos shearwaters. Once on Coiba we snorkel at three different reefs to observe sea turtles, reef fish, corals and the occasional shark. During two forest walks we look for monkeys and forest birds. The biologist guides provides information about the ecosystems we visit so people can put their experience in context. We camp in tents in the forest and bathe in a stream. In the evening we go to the beach and gaze at the stars. There is no artificial light at all on Coiba and the night sky is impressive.
The Benefit Contribution of the Program to the World
Coiba National Park is a Unesco World Heritage site and there are only a handful of operators that were able to offer an ecological and sustainable experience both on land and below the water. With our way of collaborating with the institutions and research, we have supplied the clients excellent experiences in both parks. We also have recorded all birds from every tour on e-bird and we are also activily seeking to report the diversity for Coiba on iNaturalist.
Have You Been Involved in Social Responsibility Projects Before?
yes
Project Details
Most of our work before was with NGOs in Africa helping rural communities to improve their social and economic wellbeing. We use this experience in the running of our ECO-tourism trips and Ecolodge and in our relations with local associations and NGOs..
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Why Should You be Considered for the Award?
Our trip is as ecologically sound as can be. We persuaded the local boat owners to buy 4-stroke engines rather than 2 stroke engines and now we/they save 30% on fuel and 90% on oil. All food and drinks we take are packed in reusable containers. We use ecologically safe soap. We implement a strict no touching policy and provide a lot of information about the ecosystem, so that observations are not 'stand alone' experiences. Our guests return with a much better understanding of the intricacies of tropical forest and coral reef ecosystems. Our local collaborators also changed their behaviour and are much more environmentally aware than they were. We also regularly pull ghost nets out of the waters of Coiba National Park. Our trips into Cerro Hoya National Park are organised on the same principles.
Future Projects for Ecotravellers
Post-covid there are new regulations but the principle of small groups and offering individual glamping tents, are still valid. We hope to introduce some optional additions to the itinerary that involve knowledge on the cultural and historical aspects of Coiba, and the option to draw and record in a nature journal the encounters of the trip.
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