Parador Nature Resort & Spa
Social Responsibility
Green and Balanced
Sustainability
World-class services and amenities, however, in no way take a back seat to environmental responsibility. We are dedicated to a “green” philosophy in all areas of our resort, educating and interacting with our staff, colleagues and guests on how to sustain the fragile eco-system we call home.
We abide by to the strictest codes of sustainable tourism and are constantly upgrading the benchmark by which we measure and manage our resort.
Certified
CST Sustainable Tourism
Parador Resort & Spa is certified as sustainable by the Costa Rican Tourism Board reaching the highest level achievable (Elite) under their strict certification program. The certification for sustainable tourism is a process by which Costa Rican companies and organizations analyze their operations striving for efficiency, productivity, quality, environmental impact and customer satisfaction. It is a rigorous program that seeks to categorize and certify each tourism company per the degree to which its operations comply with a model of sustainability, established by the Costa Rican Tourism Board.
The program evaluates aspects related to sustainability management, quality of service, safety concerns and employee development, among others. It also encompasses criteria specific to socio-economic impact and support for community development.
Lastly, it evaluates the company´s management of water usage and water effluents, energy efficiency and clean energy usage, waste management, acquisition policies and contribution to biodiversity conservation. Additionally, carbon footprint mitigation, climate change adaptability policies, as well as the support of adjacent ecosystems and pollution contamination.
Awarded
Ecological Blue Flag
Parador Resort & Spa has received the prestigious Ecological Blue Flag for several consecutive years for “Actions Against Climate Change,” achieving top scores.
Volunteers work in the areas of conservation and development, in accordance with the protection of natural resources, seeking to implement actions that mitigate climate change, and invite locals, participating company´s collaborators and guests and visitors to learn and enjoy their environment and wildlife through collaboration.
Costa Rica
Code of Conduct
Parador Nature Resort & Spa has been recognized on multiple occasions by the prestigious World Travel Awards for its exceptional service and commitment to sustainable tourism. With our “We Share” program, we actively contribute to community outreach and education, embodying our core values and guiding principles.
At Parador, our team undergoes continuous training to stay at the forefront of sustainable practices, ensuring that every aspect of our operations and service aligns with our commitment to the planet.
Nestled within a magnificent 12-acre nature reserve, Parador proudly supports The Sloth Institute’s initiative to rehabilitate and release these beloved creatures back into the wild. By staying with us, you become part of this ongoing project, witnessing the profound impact of our collective efforts.
We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination.
If you make room in your suitcase for just 5 pounds (2.27 kilos) and bring supplies for area schools or medical clinics in need, you'll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families.
PAWS is a non-profit animal welfare organization which provides services for cat and dog populations in Quepos. Their volunteer team works on rescuing abandoned animals, neutering and spaying, tending to lesions or illnesses if present, preparing for adoption and more.
Located in the Central Pacific region of the Puntarenas province, at the border between the cantons of Quepos and Osa, the Barú National Wildlife Refuge spans a total of 330 hectares of protected areas. This includes three kilometers of coastline and one kilometer along the Barú River.
The reserve encompasses a diverse and appealing topography that rises to 300 meters above sea level, hosting various ecosystems: primary and secondary tropical rainforests, wetlands, mangroves, and coastal areas. Its mission is to ensure the conservation of the local wildlife, including the protection of sea turtles that nest on Barú Beach.
The Quepos Football Club was created to train children in the sport, transmitting discipline and teamwork, and keeping them away from drugs. They offer spaces for socialization of children and young adults, impacting their physical and emotional wellbeing. Several participants in the school founded by Henry Acosta, who also serves as their coach, have had important careers in local football clubs.
Conducts violence prevention programs and promotes social peace in Quepos. It centers on providing cultural, sport and job opportunities for at risk youth, with the objective of contributing to their comprehensive development.
Environmental Policy
To guarantee quality service for our clients which exceeds expectations, improves constantly and transmits our commitment for the respect and conservation of our natural environment, by preventing, communicating, mitigating and compensating the consequences of Climate Change. In so doing, we comply with applicable legislation in terms of quality, environment and occupational health.
Sustainable Tourism Program
Parador Nature Resort & Spa is committed to its guests and community to provide the highest standards of service and amenities in a culturally and environmentally conscious context, the epitome of responsible luxury.
We are dedicated to a “Green” philosophy in all areas of our resort, and work dilligently in the implementation of policies, educating and interacting with our personnel, colleagues and guests to conserve the fragile ecosystem and maintain a harmonious balance between man and nature.
We comply with the strictest sustainable tourism guidelines and are constantly updating the reference points by which we measure and manage our resort.
Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
As a fundamental frame of reference for responsible and sustainable tourism, the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) is a comprehensive set of principles designed to guide key-players in tourism development. Addressed to governments, the travel industry, communities and tourists alike, it aims to help maximise the sector’s benefits while minimising its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe.
Adopted in 1999 by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, its acknowledgement by the United Nations two years later expressly encouraged UNWTO to promote the effective follow-up of its provisions. Although not legally binding, the Code features a voluntary implementation mechanism through its recognition of the role of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to which stakeholders may refer matters concerning the application and interpretation of the document.
United Nations website information - https://www.unwto.org/global-code-of-ethics-for-tourism
Tourism Sustainability Policy
Climate Change
Parador Resort & Spa is aware of the importance of protecting the environment, which is why we have focused over the years on sustainable actions to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that has evolved on our planet. It prevents some of the sun’s heat the earth receives from leaving the atmosphere and returning to space, thus producing an effect similar to that observed in a greenhouse.
The increase in temperature affects natural phenomena such as winds, ocean currents, tropical storm formation and more, as well as the survival of life forms as we know them.
Climate change is a phenomenon that occurs naturally over the span of thousands of years of evolutionary history; however, Earth had never before encountered the human species. The current problem is precisely the human element, which is aggravating and accelerating climate change, spurring changes to happen within a few years instead of allowing them to occur naturally over a span of thousands of years. This is why the consequences of our lifestyle as we know it today can be truly disastrous.
For example, an increase of only two degrees in global temperature could have significant effects:
- It would cause the extinction of the mollusks that live in the coral reefs and the coasts, which are a vital part of the food chain in these habitats.
- It would affect the formation of coral reefs around the world. This marine life removes and recycles carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming, but the reefs are currently being oversaturated.
- It would radically impact forests—the Amazon, in particular, which is the Earth’s principal “lung.”
This change of only two degrees on the surface would also trigger a series of events that would increase the effects of climate change exponentially, eventually reaching a point of no return with unprecedented consequences for humanity.
This is the main reason why Parador has focused from the start on concrete actions and responsibility for the environment, thus reducing its impact on climate change.
Parador has calculated its carbon footprint and has been implementing action plans to reduce it, creating actions and investments that have been developed to contribute to the reduction of global warming. For example, the hotel has invested in more efficient and environment-friendly equipment, which has significantly reduced power consumption—one of the factors with the greatest impact on our carbon footprint.
Some concrete actions that the hotel has been investing in for the long term include:
- Gradual replacement of lights with energy efficient lighting.
- Replacement and unification of cooling chambers in the kitchen with more efficient and environment-friendly systems.
- Gradual shift in air conditioners with more efficient and environmentally-friendly cooling systems.
- Change of the water-pumping system with a more efficient system.
- Change of electric water heaters with more efficient gas units.
- Significant improvements in all the electrical connections, the transformers and electrical systems, switching to more efficient systems.
As part of our commitment to protect the environment, we will continue to implement projects to reduce the impact of climate change. We urge you to learn more about the impact of global warming so, like us, you can take a step further to ensure a better future for this generation and those to come.
