Social and Environmental Responsibility
As a leading operator or nature and outdoor adventure tours, we are responsible for establishing sustainable practices in our office, our homes, and on tour with our guests to help protect our natural environments, promote sustainable travel, and set an example that others should emulate.
We believe tourism should be educational, entertaining, and, above all, sustainable. We focus on a low-to-no environmental impact and strive to support the local communities that host us. All guides follow strict “green ethics.” Waste materials are packed out of the forest and collection of any natural material is forbidden-even as a small souvenir. We work with businesses that share our environmental approach and beneficially involve local communities. We support programs throughout the country, from planting trees toward the goal of carbon neutrality to protecting sea turtles. At the end of the day, each guest of ours will have made a positive impact just by being here with us, enjoying their vacation.
All Together, Conserving Costa Rica
Conserving Costa Rica
Given the naturally beautiful landscapes and rich biodiversity, Costa Rica is one of the most visited destinations in Central America. The term ecotourism was created in Costa Rica, and to date, we have protected 26% of our country. Mountains, valleys, volcanoes, beaches, lakes, forests, national parks, thermal waters, and myriad species of fauna and flora are some of the natural gems visitors can enjoy while in Costa Rica, and we ensure that your experiences have a positive and lasting impact.
Today, ecotourism is a cornerstone of sustainable tourism. In this economic activity, respect for the environment is paramount, causing the minimum possible impact while maintaining a positive social and cultural environment. In addition, the country’s power comes from hydro, nearly 75%—with the rest from wind, geothermal, and solar sources.
Each day, more and more local businesses show their commitment to sustainable management while respecting local culture and contributing to the communities they belong to.
Ethos and Impact
Cultural And Environmental Conservation
Our Commitment
“We believe tourism should be educational, entertaining, and above all sustainable. We focus on a low-to-no environmental impact and strive to support the local communities that host us.”
John Aspinall, CEO
Natural Ethos
Since its inception over 30 years ago, Costa Rica Sun Tours (CRST) has been the guardian of the land and the people of this Central American country. Our efforts to protect the beauty of our land and empower local communities have spread far and wide. We make every effort to make carbon-neutral trips and continuously make positive improvements at all levels of our business.
Positive Impact
In addition to our daily efforts both in the field and in the office, the CRST team has been involved in several dynamic projects over the past three decades, many of which are outlined on the following pages.
In Business For Greater Good
About Us
Owner-operated Costa Rica Sun Tours has been offering engaging and unparalleled tours since 1988. We are fully committed to working with and supporting our travel partners, and today, more than ever, it is imperative to have a reputable ally and one with a commitment to sustainability. We’re proud of our team in the office and in the field and the outstanding reputation we have among our peers and suppliers. Our goal is to offer transformative, meaningful, and unique life-changing travel experiences.
John Aspinall, Founder & CEO
John Aspinall, CEO of Costa Rica Sun Tours and sole proprietor, is a pioneer in tourism in Costa Rica. He, along with his family were ahead of their time with the creation of two eco-lodges—Tiskita Jungle Lodge and the Arenal Observatory Lodge, built for scientists from the Smithsonian. John’s newest property is Senda Monteverde, a cutting-edge example of environmental consciousness in the hospitality world, offering a new standard in sustainable luxury to its guests.
John’s love for nature and wildlife defines everything he does—an explorer that is always procuring the road less traveled in search of new and exciting places to be interwoven in our itineraries.
Ongoing Efforts
Project-by-project, partnership-by-partnership, we’re building a sustainable future!
Tree Planting
Over several decades, thousands of trees have been planted with guests in a variety of locations including the central highlands of Los Lotes-Tres Rios, Monteverde, Cerro de la Muerte, Cajón de Grecia, Río Tárcoles, Punta Bancode Pavones, and La Fortuna de Arenal.
John’s love for nature and wildlife defines everything he does—an explorer that is always procuring the road less traveled in search of new and exciting places to be interwoven in our itineraries.
Guide Training
CRST has provided guide training and seminars for more than 25 years. This improves the skills of guides and helps boost their incomes. Several CRST guides have obtained international awards as top guides competing with guides from around the globe.
Carbon Reduction
CRST works with the Programa de Aliados de Cambio Climático to mitigate our programs’ carbon footprint.
Coopelesca
We support the work of COOPELESCA by bringing our guests to experience their organized local tours of Juan Castro Blanco’s cloud forest and promoting visits to energy plants with eco-friendly operations to protect water resources.
Partnerships
Costa Rica Sun Tours supports many important organizations nationally and worldwide fiscally and through project work and education.
Working hand-in-hand supporting the communities that support us is a natural win-win and bonus for our guests who have the opportunity to experience real pura vida!
Home Lunches and Homestays
Costa Rica Sun Tours has curated authentic cultural experiences and educational opportunities where our guests can experience the natural warmth of the Ticos. For decades, we’ve worked with several local families who warmly welcome travelers into their rural homes for homemade traditional dishes and even a homestay if they wish!
Small Business
We place great emphasis on working with local subcontractors for activities that include local tours, dance lessons, and cooking classes— a fun and beneficial way of helping our neighbors gain extra income and sharing our culture with guests.
School Visits
CRST organizes school visit programs for volunteering, sharing donations, and cultural exchanges in areas including El Cerro, Tortuguero, Arenal, Sarapiquí, and Quebrada Arroyo in Quepos. These visits are always a highlight for guests and the schoolchildren alike.
Donations
Oftentimes, guests may have to purchase items for their trip that they don’t want to take home. In this case, we facilitate guest donations on request. These have included useful items such as child booster seats and even a wheelchair.
Gifts for Good
Upon request, we purchase gifts for guests to help celebrate special occasions or for no reason! In all cases, we always opt to support local artists and cooperatives. An example is Bananas, which was created by Tamara and her project Bekuo Arte in support of the Cabanisi Project, which protects the Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow, a bird species in danger of extinction.
Community Based Tourism
CRST promotes El Camino de Costa Rica and Sendero Pacífico – trail hikes that have clients hiking past rural communities who reap benefits of tourists.
Efforts In Action
Together We Can!
Partners in Conservation
Costa Rica Sun Tours’ partnerships over the decades have included companies who are champions of in conversation in their own right! In collaboration with several international tour operators—including Natural Habitat, Conservation VIP, REI, and Xperitas, to name a few—as well as Rotary International, schools, and individual families wanting to get involved with projects, we have facilitated countless efforts with great result!
Community Focus
We recognize that for all the natural beauty Costa Rica is famous for, our people are just as stunning and we celebrate and honor them. For over 20 years we have organized visits and donations to local schools in Monteverde and Arenal. For those looking to immerse themselves deeply in local culture,we organize homestays in rural areas (Sarapiquí, El Cerro). These examples directly help local families.
Sustainable Commitments
- We facilitate Sea Turtle Conservancy turtle adoption certificates for guests visiting the east coast—these travelers become ambassadors for the conservation of sea turtles in Tortuguero.
- We provide ongoing support for the Bellbird Conservation Program in Monteverde by hiring local experts to provide talks—in turn promoting donations to improve the biological corridor of the endangered Bellbird.
- On request, we can include a pre-dinner performance by a local children’s music school band from Tortuguero—the school, Escuela de Música Infantil Caribeña, receives payment in exchange to purchase new instruments.
Efforts In Action
Volunteer Experiences
Travel with Purpose
Get ready to get dirty! Over the course of the past several years, we have developed an array of volunteer experiences with positive impact and fun to boot! Following are just a few examples focused on conservation though we offer several volunteer opportunities that are focused on community. We encourage you to inquire with us to plan experiences that are the perfect match for your interests and abilities.
Punta Banco Turtle Hatchers
The primary goal in Punta Banco is to protect the sea turtles that nest on the beaches in the area. Work here at Tiskita and Playa Burica includes exhuming nests of hatched sea turtles, tallying egg casings, creating signage, beach cleanup, and even bicycle repairs (these bikes are used to patrol by night and rented out during the day to generate funds for the project!). We have also organized similar volunteer work near Dominical Beach at Hacienda Barú Wildlife Refuge.
Tárcoles Scarlet Macaws
The coastal communities along this area have established a biological corridor of beach almond tree nurseries, extending from Carara National Park to Guacalillo Mangroves. The almond tree is the main food source for the endangered Scarlet Macaws. Here, volunteer groups help build the nurseries, dig post holes, place wood skirting and mesh roofs, and fill seedling bags with the rich soil and seeds found under mature almost trees.
Resplendant Quetzal
Cerro de la Muerte
This is an opportunity to work in the highlands near Cerro de la Muerte on a project that centers on restoring the habitat of the Resplendent Quetzal. Volunteers join a community member of Sal Si Puedes and our Resplendent Quetzal nest project manager, who leads the group in the process of building and assembling a pre-made Quetzal nest and clearing a viewing trail near a tree where Quetzals have been feeding.
