How to be a responsible traveler

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Being Sustainable during your Costa Rica Vacation

No matter what your destination is, or your style of travel, you too can become a responsible traveler. When making your vacation plans, you have the opportunity of choosing to make a positive impact on the places you visit. Everyone can be a responsible traveler, no matter what travel style of travel is. From five star luxury in the classic destinations, to a tent camp in the rainforest off the beaten path, your choice will make a difference.

Being a responsible traveler starts when you start to plan your trip, be sure to let your travel specialist know that you are a responsible consumer and request socially and environmentally responsible tour operators, hotels and outfitters.

Here are 13 ways in which you can become responsible traveler:

1. Choose wisely: Are the businesses you are considering environmentally certified?

2. Ask questions: Let tour operators/hotels know that you are a responsible consumer. Before you book ask about their social and environmental policies. For example: What do they do to support any projects that benefit communities or conservation areas?

3. While on location, leave no trace, do not litter or pick wild flowers or plants.

4. Reuse and recycle whenever possible. For example reuse your water bottles several times throughout your trip.

5. Preserve local resources when possible: If your hotel has a policy to minimize laundering of towels and sheets, try to support it. Remember to turn off lights and air conditioning when you leave your room. Try not to waste water when you are not using it. Try to use biodegradable soaps and organic bug repellent and sun block.

6. Respect local traditions and culture and: Be aware and sensitive to cultural differences in language, custom and dress.

7. Be open to learning about the local culture and learn a few words in Spanish.

8. Help ensure your money stays in the local community. Try local brands for food and drink. Buy hand crafted goods produced by local artisans.

9. Never buy authentic archeological artifacts or souvenirs made from endangered plants animals, such as turtle shell, coral and non-plantation precious wood.

10. Hire a local naturalist guide: Guides enhance the overall experience, and provide a richer interpretation of the natural areas you visit, as well as help you spot wild wildlife that is invisible to the untrained eye.

11. Avoid feeding, touching or harassing wildlife.

12. Stay on the trail at all times: This helps lessen your impact on the forest.

13. Take some time to reflect on how the culture and wildlife of you're your trip destination may have benefited in the long and short term from your visit. If you have found a particular cause that interests you, find out how you can contribute by making a donation, volunteering your time, or recommending your sustainable Costa Rica trip to friends and family.

At Package Costa Rica we offer a Sustainable Package which includes three exotic locations and hotels, two of which have attained the highest level of sustainability according to Costa Rica's CST program (Certificate in Sustainable Tourism).