Costa Rica: Explore Sarapiqui! - 8 days/7 nights

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All trips are for two people and good for one year. If you can't make the event, but still want to bid on a trip, please contact Whitney Cooper at wcooper@responsibletravel.org and 202.347.9203 ext 414. Unless specified, international flights are not included. Please note that different dates and conditions may apply for each trip.

Costa Rica: Explore Sarapiqui!
8 days/7 nights
Selva Verde Lodge & Rara Avis

Journey off Cosa Rica's well trodden ecotourism paths to Sarapiqui. Spend 3 nights at Costa Rica's original ecolodge at Rara Avis. Then travel for a 4 night stay at Selva Verde Lodge, another early ecolodge built on a large tract of rainforest.

Selva Verde Lodge
www.selvaverde.com

Enjoy 4 nights at this beautiful ecolodge. Selva Verde has positioned itself as a premier ecotourism destination, protecting the most accessible rainforest in Costa Rica, and attracting nature enthusiasts from around the globe.

Trip available November 2009 to November 2010

Selva Verde Travel Awards:

• Almond Tree: INBIO, the National Institute for Biodiversity in Costa Rica Exceptional Tree Award - 2007

Selva Verde Sustainable Social & Green Practices:

• Minimizes negative impacts on the local environment and maximizes positive effects on the surrounding community in Sarapiquí through support of the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC)
• Is part of the network of CST (Certification of Sustainable Tourism) properties in Costa Rica.

Rara Avis Rainforest Ecolodge
www.rara-avis.com

Stay 4 days/3 nights at Rara Avis, Costa Rica's oldest and purest Rainforest Lodge. Whether you are learning to understand the rainforest with naturalist guides, swimming in crystalline jungle waterfalls, or simply relaxing and watching birds from the hammock on your balcony, Rara Avis is completely isolated from modern civilization.

• Trip available November 2009 to November 2010
• This donation includes lodging, all meals served family style, tractor car transportation from/to las Horquetas town, taxes, and naturalist guide services at the reserve
• This donation does not include transfers to and from the local airport, or rain gear

Rara Avis Travel Awards:

• "Clean Breaks" Rough Guide winner - 2009

Sustainable Social & Green Practices at Rara Avis:

• Protects 495 hectares of rainforest
• Hires locally with almost all employees coming from the surrounding village
• Minimized energy consumption
• Items in the lodge are bought locally

Nature Air
www.natureair.com

Travel between Selva Verde Ecolodge and Rara Avis Rainforest Lodge will be arranged by Nature Air, Costa Rica's internal and the world's first carbon neutral airline. Since 2004, Nature Air has been compensating 100% of its carbon emmissions by supporting reforestation and conservation programs in Costa Rica.

Nature Air Travel Awards:

• Receives the Tourism for Tomorrow award, presented by the World Travel & Tourism Council(WTTC) - 2009
• Winner of Ashoka Changemakers, National Geographic Geotourism Challenge - 2009

Sustainable Social & Green Practices at Nature Air:

• Makes every reasonable effort to become carbon neutral and even carbon positive thru energy conservation, offsets thru conservation and reforestation.
• Supports local initiatives and organizations to develop and conduct sustainable tourism events and meetings
• Recycles all paper, oils, plastics
• Uses local suppliers whenever possible
• Encourages car pooling and promotes electronic communication (e.g. email rather than fax, on-line banking)
• Employs locally for all positions including operations, maintenance and administration.
• Provides training to each employee and provide English courses as well.
• Involves local communities in planning and decision making
• Assesses social impacts of tourism activities
• Respects social and cultural diversity