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CST Elite certified

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.

CST EliteCertified Sustainable Tourism

Aerial view of rainforest meeting the Pacific along a rocky shoreline

Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)

Certification for Sustainable Tourism

CST Elite

The highest level of Costa Rica’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism


Parador Nature Resort 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.

  1. Management and service

    Sustainability management, quality of service, safety concerns and employee development.

  2. Community

    Socio-economic impact and support for community development.

  3. Water, energy and waste

    Management of water usage and water effluents, energy efficiency and clean energy usage, waste management and acquisition policies.

  4. Climate and biodiversity

    Contribution to biodiversity conservation, carbon footprint mitigation, climate change adaptability policies and the support of adjacent ecosystems.

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.

  • Parador volunteers planting a tree seedling
    Planting trees
  • Volunteers walking a beach with collection bags
    Beach cleanup
  • A recycling station with bins labeled for glass, aluminum and plastic
    Recycling station
  • Team members in a training session on sorting waste
    Team training
  • A Parador chef presenting potted herbs, eggshells and a compost demonstration
    Kitchen herbs and compost
  • A cleanup crew in work gloves beside a full bag of collected litter
    Cleanup crew
  • Two team members at night under red light, holding a mesh bag of eggs
  • Dancers in traditional Costa Rican dress performing outdoors
    Traditional dance

Policies

Our commitments


Sustainable Tourism Program

Parador Nature Resort 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.

Tourism Sustainability Policy

Parador Nature Resort and its employees are committed with the society, the community and visiting tourists to provide environmentally, socially and culturally responsible services where sustainable practices are followed. We are committed to a mentality in which consumers, tourism operators and nearby communities interact positively in a social and natural setting in harmony with the environment.

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.

Climate Change

Parador Nature Resort 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.

Certifications

  • CST Elite

  • Ecological Blue Flag

  • Costa Rica Code of Conduct

Community

We Share


Parador Nature Resort is firmly committed to nature conservation, supporting community projects, and initiatives that reduce environmental impact. We invite you to collaborate with a small contribution of $1.50, which will be added to your room bill and used to support the following foundations:

WeShare Program
  • Pack for a Purpose

    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.

    PackForAPurpose.org, Pack for a Purpose (opens in a new tab)
  • PAWS

    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.

    PawsCR.org, PAWS (opens in a new tab)
  • Quepos Soccer Club

    The Quepos Soccer 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.

    Facebook, Quepos Soccer Club (opens in a new tab)
  • Barú National Wildlife Refuge

    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.

    facebook.com/RefugioBaru, Barú National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab)
  • Cuidado Paliativo Pediátrico CR

    The objective is to facilitate human, material and intellectual resources necessary so that children and adolescents in Costa Rica who are in a limited life condition and or terminal, receive efficient and opportune care.

    Facebook, Cuidado Paliativo Pediátrico CR (opens in a new tab)
  • Copaza

    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.

    facebook.com/teatrocopaza, Copaza (opens in a new tab)
  • Ignis Mundi

    Ignis Mundi is a community dedicated to promoting human and social well-being through support and service to those in need.

    Their mission is to create and provide homes for the most vulnerable, offering real opportunities for development and growth through social and human services.

    It offers training and support for those in need, serving as a safe, green space in a densely populated area. It provides recreational opportunities for children, youth, adults, and families in vulnerable communities. Ignis Mundi is a welcoming community committed to serving others.

    IgnisMundi.org, Ignis Mundi (opens in a new tab)
  • Obras del Espíritu Santo

    Obras del Espíritu Santo is a Costa Rican nonprofit founded in 2000 by Father Sergio Valverde, who felt a divine call to serve the poor directly. What began as small acts of compassion in the country’s most vulnerable neighborhoods has grown into a nationwide mission that provides food, shelter, medical support, education, and love to more than 100,000 people, including 72,000 children. Through programs like BELÉN Casa del Pan, Levántate y Anda, and the Furgones de la Esperanza, the organization creates space for dignity, transformation, and hope for families, youth, and people with disabilities throughout Costa Rica.

    obrasdelespiritusanto.org, Obras del Espíritu Santo (opens in a new tab)

From the journal

Stories for your stay

Nature

Parador Nature Resort’s Naturalist Expert

Growing up in the picturesque surroundings of Quepos, young Elías had one unwavering dream: becoming a guide. It was at the tender age of 14 that he approached the renowned ranger Don Javier, the…

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