SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
& SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM
Ecole Travel Costa Rica has been successfully operating responsible and sustainable tourism in Costa Rica for more than 30 years now, pledging to provide a constant high service quality and continuously refining its superior knowledge of this exciting and beautiful country.
Responsible Company
Sustainability Policies
Mutual understanding and respect among people and communities, recognizing and responding to their concerns…
Organizational Culture
We take our responsability towards employees seriously and we are aware about the vital role tourism plays…
What is CST all about
CST is a program that seeks to categorize and certify each tourism company according to the degree to which…
RESPONSIBLE COMPANY
Ecole Travel has been successfully operating responsible and sustainable tourism in Costa Rica for more than 30 years now, pledging to provide a constant high service quality.
We are committed to deal with respect and fairness our employees, suppliers and communities.
We put effort in working together with local, private and governmental organizations in order to protect nature and the local customs and culture. These efforts are recognized and rewarded with the maximum of 5 levels in the CST program of the National Tourism Board.
Being a sustainable company, bringing benefits to all our stakeholders is part of our mission since our creation. During the years the founders have passed this commitment to the employees and providers.
This has been recognized and rewarded with the maximum 5 levels in the sustainable tourism C.S.T. Program.
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
ENVIRONMENTAL
- Ensure the sustainable and responsible management of natural resources and biodiversity.
- Develop practices for the efficient use of water and energy, as well as the proper management of solid waste.
- Promote local and sustainable supply chains through the purchase of products and the hiring of local services.
- Prohibit the captivity, acquisition, interaction, commercialization, or consumption of endangered or threatened wild species of flora and fauna.
- Prohibit the purchase, sale, or use of historical and archaeological artifacts, while promoting their conservation and protection.
SOCIOECONOMIC
- Develop tourism products that contribute to community development and strengthen
Costa Rican history and culture. - Provide the highest quality service in order to exceed our client’s expectations and needs.
- Guarantee our clients an operation that complies with all necessary health, safety, and sanitary measures.
- Ensure the legal hiring of employees, contractors, and suppliers.
- Reject, prohibit, and report activities related to harassment, abuse, and the
commercial sexual exploitation of vulnerable groups. - Respect people, diversity, and human rights.
- Promote business leadership that supports gender equality and the empowerment of women within the tourism industry.
- Act as an agent of change at both the local and national levels through awareness-raising and education on sustainability issues.
- Uphold ethics and transparency in all aspects of our business management and operations.
OUR COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION
- Reduce emissions generated by our operations as much as possible by adopting responsible consumption practices, innovating in the implementation of sustainable
travel experiences for our clients, and promoting low-emission transportation. - Offset those emissions that can no longer be reduced by investing in reforestation projects that protect biodiversity and water resources.
- Support local communities and tourism destinations in developing resilience and adaptation measures to address climate change.
- Educate and train clients, employees, suppliers, vulnerable groups, and strategic partners on sustainability and climate change issues.
10 Ways to Be a Responsible Traveler
1. Learn about the history and culture of each place Take the time to research your destination. Understanding local customs, traditions, and historical contexts allows you to connect more deeply with the community and show genuine respect for their way of life.
2. Live in harmony with nature and wildlife Protect the natural environments you visit. Stay on designated trails, avoid damaging flora, and ensure that your presence leaves the smallest possible footprint on delicate ecosystems.
3. Do not touch, feed, or disturb wild animals Wild animals should remain wild. Feeding them disrupts their natural diets and behaviors, while touching or getting too close causes stress and alters their habitat dynamic.
4. Protect archaeological sites and cultural heritage Historical structures and artifacts are irreplaceable. Avoid touching ruins, never take pieces of stone or pottery as souvenirs, and follow all safety and preservation guidelines at historical sites.
5. Conserve natural resources like water and energy Be mindful of your resource consumption at your accommodations. Turn off lights and air conditioning when leaving your room, and reuse towels and sheets to significantly reduce water and energy waste.
6. Dispose of waste properly and do not litter Always carry your trash with you until you find proper recycling or disposal bins. Avoid single-use plastics whenever possible to help prevent the pollution of pristine landscapes.
7. Support the economy by consuming local products Choose locally-owned restaurants, hotels, and tour operators. Purchasing authentic handicrafts directly from artisans ensures that your travel expenditures directly benefit the host community.
8. Reject and report any form of commercial sexual exploitation We maintain an absolute zero-tolerance policy toward any form of human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation, especially involving children and adolescents. Travel safely and report any suspicious activities to local authorities.
9. Get involved with community and conservation projects Seek out opportunities to positively engage with local initiatives. Supporting community-based tourism helps preserve unique cultural traditions and funds vital localized conservation efforts.
10. Minimize and offset your carbon footprint Opt for low-emission transport methods like walking, biking, or public transit where feasible. Consider participating in local reforestation programs to offset the environmental impact of your journey.
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
SUSTAINABLE FROM THE INSIDE
IN ORDER TO CREATE HAPPY EXPERIENCES YOU NEED A HAPPY TEAM !
ECOLE TRAVEL takes its responsibility towards their employees seriously. We are conscious of the fact that tourism plays a vital role as a leading sector within the Costa Rican society.
We have built an organizational culture of “family of work”, where employees can develop professionally, but at the same time fulfill their dreams and projects, as well as maintain a balance with their family life. A successful operation begins with a mentally, physically and emotionally healthy worker!
Caravana Tica
It is an original program of Ecole Travel with La Polea Theatre Group, in which artistic shows and high-level recreational activities are taken to communities that have little or no access to this type of entertainment. These selected communities turn out to be those that receive the greatest impact from the footprint generated by tourism operation.
Educational Workshops
With the organization of the educational workshops Ecole Travel aims to share its experience and knowledge with small touristic initiatives in the rural side of Costa Rica. Those (often familiar) business sometimes have great potential. However it is often difficult for them to get access to the right information and counseling they need to prosper.
To fill in this gap, a multi disciplined team of Ecole Travel travels 2 times per year to a rural destination in order to offer technical, practical and legal knowledge, which helps the rural initiatives to function successfully in Costa Rica. These workshops are offered for free.
Health Month
The key to serve our customers with the warmth and consideration we want to offer, is to have physically and emotionally balanced partners, which is why a campaign is created that aims, for a full month each year, to offer activities that promote the well-being of Ecole staff. Through classes yoga, dance, talks about healthy eating, emotional well-being, massage sessions, routine medical exams and others, we load our body with positive energies to face the challenges of daily life with enthusiasm.
Sharing Experiences
Intercultural exchanges program where our collaborators have the opportunity to travel to other countries to enrich their technical knowledge, as well as to experience the richness of cultures different from their own. Seeking to open the mind and broaden perspective that each one has about his existence and about the world.
Boots on the Ground
At Ecole Travel, we believe that authentic travel experiences can only be created through firsthand knowledge. Our team regularly travels throughout Costa Rica to visit destinations, inspect accommodations, meet local communities, and discover experiences with a strong sense of purpose. By maintaining a constant presence in the field, we ensure that the products we offer reflect the true essence of the country, support local development, and provide meaningful experiences that create a positive impact for both travelers and host communities.
Educational Trips
Ecole Travel regularly hosts educational visits for our international partners. Through these immersive experiences, participants have the opportunity to explore Costa Rica firsthand, connect with local communities, and gain a deeper understanding of the destinations and tourism products we promote. By experiencing the country directly, they become better equipped to inspire travelers and support tourism initiatives that generate meaningful social, cultural, and environmental benefits.
Internal Training
Volunteer Program
We encourage employees and their families to participate in socioenvironmental campaigns such as: recycling, reforestation programs; beach, rivers and forests cleaning; raising funds for education for children in social vulnerability, field work in repairing schools and other social welfare programs.
WHAT IS CST ALL ABOUT
CST is a program that seeks to categorize and certify each tourism company according to the degree to which its operations comply to a model of sustainability. To this effect, four fundamental aspects are evaluated: Physical- biological parameters , service Management, External client, socio-economic environment.
Costa Rica is worldwide known as a leader in the field of sustainable tourism and it marked its leadership by creating the CST program. This program was created as an answer to the global challenge of making the tourism industry more sustainable.
The fundamental purpose of the CST is precisely to convert the concept of sustainability into something real, practical and necessary in the context of the country’s tourism competitiveness, to improve the way in which natural and social resources are used, participation is encouraged with active in local communities, and provide new support for the competitiveness of the business sector.
To measure the company’s commitment to sustainability, there are levels, the CST establishes a scale of 0 to 5 and in which each number indicates the relative position of the company in terms of sustainability. Obtaining Level 5, means a company considered as exemplary in terms of sustainability.
