Ecotourism in Costa Rica

In early January, we had the opportunity to travel to beautiful Costa Rica. With a keen eye on sustainable practices, we researched the practices of hotels, plantations, and the societal system as a whole. While traveling our group specifically investigated Eco-tourism and how sustainability practices have influenced this industry. Now this may seem easy, considering almost everything we did in Costa Rica was associated with ecotourism in some capacity. However, if you did not listen closely to the people who supported the places we visited, many of the wonderful sustainable actions taken to protect these ecological destinations would be missed.  

Tortuguero Recycling Plant 

Tortuguero Town 

One location in particular, Tortuguero, exemplified what it means to be a sustainable eco-tourist location. When we look at Toruguero we think about the turtles laying their eggs on pristine beaches throughout the fall months through to January. But what we do not immediately consider is how the community as a whole works together to protect their beaches and their turtles. Through the Sea Turtle Conservancy and other local programs, the town educates its community members on the importance of conservation for the local economy. Torutguero is often used as a prime example of sustainable practices and how nature, economics, and the livelihood of a society and its ecosystem can run full circle.

           

Another prime example of eco-tourism in Costa Rica was the beautiful Arenal Volcano location. This beautiful landscape attracts thousands of tourists due to the amazing sights as well as the ever relaxing hot springs. These hot springs, naturally heated from the volcano, created an amazing opportunity for locals to create a business entirely ran on their natural resources. Using the natural environment as a source of tourism helps protect the environment as well as providing an economic boost to the surrounding communities. This example also runs perfectly parallel to an amazing experience we had in Sarapiqui when we went white water rafting through the jungle. Once again, the local economy was able to substantially benefit from using their natural environment as a source of tourism while still maintaining a sustainable practice.

 

      Overall, it was incredible to witness just how conscious the Costa Rican society is about their sustainability practices. The local economy, people and environment are put in such a high regard that a great deal of commitment is put towards creating an eco-friendly tourist state. There is so much that can be learned from the way Costa Rica operates from an eco-tourism perspective that much of what they do can and should be implemented in the United States. It is our hope that our community continually changes to create a more sustainable society. 

Ecotourism Group Blog~ Talia Alexander, Emily McLaughlin, Billy Carroll, Marco Addonizio 

Life at Bryant has always been a bubble. A small campus with only 3,000 students will do that to a girl like me. Perspectives are tunneled, information is limited, and new initiatives are tough to come by. But, within this bubble, some people also exist who make the four years of college more memorable than anything imaginable. By traveling to Costa Rica to study marketing sustainability (instead of curling up in my comfy bed watching Netflix), my little bubble of the Bryant culture has popped, and I could not be happier.

A Pura Vida Lifestyle

Life at Bryant has always been a bubble. A small campus with only 3,000 students will do that to a girl like me. Perspectives are tunneled, information is limited, and new initiatives are tough to come by. But, within this bubble, some people also exist who make the four years of college more memorable than anything imaginable. By traveling to Costa Rica to study marketing sustainability (instead of curling up in my comfy bed watching Netflix), my little bubble of the Bryant culture has popped, and I could not be happier.

Landing in Costa Rica, my eyes widened and lit up with the introduction of a new environment. I had never seen an area so green; so full of life; so friendly. I knew right away that leaving this country was going to break my heart. Throughout my nine days in Costa Rica, adventures were taken, sleep was lost, friends were made, knowledge was gained, and essentially, a new perspective of how I would like to live my life was accepted.

Visiting the different farms (including coffee, chocolate, fruit, and banana) opened my eyes as to just how much I take for granted at Bryant. After Costa Rica, I realized just how much hands on work and physical labor goes into products that I just pick up off a shelf or buy from a cafe. When buying a cup of Starbucks coffee, I now understand the meaning behind it. One individual picked those beans, another raked them out to be dried, and an additional one even took the months to store them. Buying a cup of coffee is not just a common errand run, but rather a major deciding factor for people's livelihood in Costa Rica. I recognized this much more after returning back to the U.S. from Costa Rica. Purchases I never gave a thought to began to make an impact on me. I now try extremely hard to buy products that are made locally, as well as products that I know come from smaller businesses. I can make a difference in people's lives just by making this small change in my life. In addition to my purchases, I recognized how much I take for granted at Bryant in the sense of food. Because Salmo is a type of dining hall where you can take as much as you want, I recognized just how much I was wasting after this trip. I was taking too much food, resulting in it being unfinished and essentially thrown away. Wasteful. After Costa Rica, I understood that people were putting in physical labor to get this food to me, and I now understood how silly it was to just throw it all away. I have become conscience about how much food I place on my plate, and how much food I waste in able to better our environment as a whole and the people within it. Taking smaller portions may seem unimportant, but when one individual tried to make an impact, others may follow. When everyone jumps on board, the impact can be amazing.

In addition to adjusting my purchases and being mindful of my food amounts, I have made other life changes to become more sustainable while at Bryant and in the U.S. These include small ideas like:

• refilling my water bottle instead of buying plastic ones
• turning off unnecessary lights
• turning off the water when I brush my teeth
• doing less laundry to save water
• buying organic products
• buying local

Although some people think it's silly to believe that one individual can change the world, some believe it's possible. That's me. I believe that one individual's choices do have, and make, a bigger impact on the world than we notice. Buying a cup of Starbucks coffee does impact other people's lives outside of the U.S. Taking less food at Salmo, and finishing what is on your plate, does impact the waste in which hurts our environment. Small changes to an individual's life can truly make the world a better place and keep it turning. Without this trip to Costa Rica, I would not be as knowledgeable as I am today, or even be the person I have come to be.

     
Special special thanks to my two professors Dr. Boyer and Dr. Attaran for this life changing experience. Without these two, this adventure who not have taken place, and I would honestly not be in the place I am today. I have taken the numerous lessons from Costa Rica, back to Bryant, and have changed my ways to better my world. These two have inspired me to make a difference, and without them, I would not be who I am today. Thank you for the most memorable adventure and experience!

Pura Vida; Live Happily

--Autumn Harrington--

To follow me on my journey through marketing sustainability in America and Costa Rica, follow me on Twitter!

Also, follow my class and our experiences on Twitter, as well as our blog! 

Recycling For Sustainability

When we returned from Costa Rica and started school, our group realized how little we value recycling in our community compared to the people in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, trash bins were always accompanied with recycling bins, and all the tours we visited had their own special ways of minimizing waste and recycling their products. When we first saw the tiny recycling bin placed next to the trash bin at the first hotel, we were surprised. It was something that we had never seen or expected. However, as the days passed by, we realized this was Costa Rica. Recycling was not something neglected that was forced onto people. It was a habit and something that they valued. Recycling bins were everywhere, which made it so much easier for all of us to recycling while we were there.

Recycling bins we found on the street in Tortuguero

It was not only DoubleTree Cariari, our first hotel, that provided recycling bins everywhere. The Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero also enforced recycling and strongly stated how important waste management was in keeping their hotel sustainable. The Tortuguero Recycling Plant was nearby and the Laguna Lodge collected waste every day to send to the plant. This was a mandatory process that they followed. In addition to the hotels, all of our tour guides also had their own ways of staying sustainable. Jose from Espiritu Santo mentioned how the coffee branches cut off were all used as fire woods rather than thrown out as waste. Jose from Dole Banana Plantation talked about how he had to use plastic to cover his bananas, but all of it was always recycled. The banana tree cuts are left on the ground to be decomposed into organic matter and the stalk after the bananas are cut are used for making banana paper. Nothing was just “waste” in Costa Rica.

Our group was fascinated when we visited the recycling plant at Tortuguero. It was incredible to see how all the trash was sorted and recycled. All garbage near the Tortuguero area was picked up and delivered unseparated to the plant and it was the workers’ job to classify it.  All the plastics were separated into color and thickness and the papers were sent to San Jose to make walls, ceilings, etc.  Glass was separated by color and some were grinded. This glass was sold to difference companies in San Jose to make a special kind of paint that glows. Oil containers were also grinded and sold to biodiesel companies. So many materials were delivered and everything had to be classified manually. The garbage that is not reused gets picked up my city hall for waste. We learned a lot and it was a good way of getting direct experience about how Costa Rica recycles. The recycling plant was a place that proved all the recycling bins that we saw had a purpose.

Inside of the Recycling Plant

Recycling bins during our tour

We wanted to look into how the recycling process worked here in the US and compare this to the practices in other countries along with Costa Rica. Although waste management and recycling practices are improving compared to the past, the recycling rate is still relatively low and we wanted to find ways to change that. The people in Costa Rica are accustomed to the life that incorporates sustainability. We want to pass on this kind of mindset to our community as well and promote a culture that values recycling.

Recycling bins located around the Unistructure

It can be hard to suddenly take a huge step and make drastic changes. We suggest that everyone start slow and see the gradual effects that recycling and reducing waste can have on our environment. Businesses can start altering their products to make them more efficient and environmentally friendly. Use of plastics can be reduced, cardboard boxes can be replaced with reusable boxes, etc. Consumers can try to avoid using paper or plastic utensils, get reusable shopping bags, and make recycling a habit. If households start to keep recycling bins with their trash bins, it will be easy to recycle on a daily basis. Eventually this practice will be prominent outside of the house and people will look for recycling bins on the streets as well, encouraging cities to provide them.

We wanted to make some recommendations to Bryant University as well. During the research, we realized that Bryant actually had a lot of sustainability organizations and was working to implement sustainable practices around campus. Faculty can utilize BlackBoard and provide assignments online or have students hand in papers electronically. This will help save a lot of paper. Most importantly, Bryant can try to be more transparent about recycling practices and encourage all students to recycle efficiently. In turn, students should try to mirror what Bryant leadership is doing by printing double sided papers, using reusable water bottles, purchasing online textbooks, and utilizing the recycling bins around campus. Bryant will see a change and will become a much more sustainable community if everyone participates.

Team Waste Management/Recycling
- Kasey, Jenny, Macy, Cassie -

Follow us on Twitter: @BryantMKT421

The Costa Rica Experience

This past January, I was given the chance to travel to Costa Rica to learn about its sustainability practices. This was my first time in Costa Rica and my first time learning about sustainability. I was a little skeptical at first, but it turned out these two were just a start to a trail of new experiences.

I was never a sustainable person. I left the lights on for as long as I wanted to, I bought plastic water bottles and opened a new one every day without finishing any of them, and I took long showers. The environment was never a priority over my convenience. I can’t say that I am completely changed now and suddenly am an incredibly sustainable person, but I can confidently say that my way of thinking has changed greatly. I find myself yelling at my suitemates for leaving their lights on or not recycling their plastics and papers and carrying my garbage around the campus looking for a recycling bin. Most importantly, I know what sustainability really is and the importance it has on our community. Seeing Costa Rica assures me that my contributions will make a difference in the long run if everyone starts to value sustainability.

It is amazing to see how much of an impact the little practices have in keeping Costa Rica sustainable. The first hotel and the first few tours talked about how they were being sustainable and I wasn’t completely convinced as to how sustainable Costa Rica really is. Nevertheless, as the days went by, every single person we met and spoke to mentioned how much they valued the environment and the significance of it in the Costa Rican culture. I realized why we came to Costa Rica for a sustainability marketing course. It was incredible how much work everyone was contributing to keep up with Costa Rica’s reputation on sustainability.

White water rafting was a process..

This experience was especially unforgettable to me and I feel it was a time that forced me to break out of my bubble. Having to go on this trip already required a lot of thought since I didn’t know most of the people I was travelling with. The hiking on day two, the zip lining, and jumping off a cliff were all things that I normally would not do probably ever. However, I realized what a great experience this all has been and now I can look back at them as memories and accomplishments.

If I get the chance, I definitely want to re-visit Costa Rica. It has left a memorable piece in me that I can still feel to this day. This wasn’t just about learning how to be more sustainable or the coffee process or that bananas grow on trees. It was more than just a class to me and the rest of the group. This experience is not something that can be learned from sitting in a class and I know I will always look back at this winter and the memories I have made. Pura Vida!!        - Ji Heon Kim -

Our sustainability marketing class!

Follow us on twitter: @BryantMKT421

"Ticos & Ticas" Do It Better

Traveling to Costa Rica was an amazing experience. It was wonderful to travel with my school because we didn't do the “usual tourist” attractions. I enjoyed every piece of Costa Rica. Being that this was my first international trip I was so excited to get there and had all intentions of capturing every moment.

In a week’s span we visited over 10 different locations and had the opportunity of speaking with so many locals that were passionate about their country. From the multiple farms/plantations, hotels, and markets we visited to learning about the culture of the country; It was such a remarkable time and I can't wait to go back.

(Video to the right is from the Tirimbina Biological Reserve Chocolate Tour)

Poster at the Tirimbina Biological Reserve 

I enjoyed learning about the Costa Rican history, their methods of sustainability, how they promote ecotourism, and the food; but what I enjoyed most were the locals. After speaking to many locals in multiple different cities and regions of the country, I learned that they all have one thing in common. They all love their country and work hard to preserve their culture and land.

The Costa Rican people a.k.a. “Ticos & Ticas” work tirelessly to protect their culture and way of living. They pride themselves in coexisting with the environment to keep Costa Rica beautiful and flourishing. I understand why “ticos” are called the happiest people in the world because that is genuinely what they are. Everyone we met was very pleasant to talk to. Our tour guide Miguel a.k.a. Miguelito was always in high spirits and continuously teaching us, the methods of how to live sustainable. The “ticos” are very motivating people. They strive to educate tourist on their country, how they can help benefit, and how to protect the land. They are very eager to show off the beauty of Costa Rica. 

This trip to Costa Rica not only taught me how to be sustainable and how to make sustainable decisions but also taught me how to care about my community. Since being back in the United States, I am actively trying to practice sustainability in multiple ways. I now look to purchase fair trade products, shop with-in my local community, and even shut off or unplug electronics when not in use to conserve energy. Costa Rica has taught me that it’s the little things that matter.

Follow us on twitter: @BryantMKT421

~T.E.A.

A Time Well Spent

No Snow in Costa Rica

            This winter I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Costa Rica. We departed from Providence, RI in January, leaving the brisk and difficult winter in New England behind. A group of 21, we arrived in Costa Rica in high spirits, excited to be able to begin our new journey together.

            For me this trip was an attribute to what some call the “travel bug”, an eager person of any age looking to travel, see different parts of the world and have new expirences. In the last few years, I have had the opportunity to visit Italy, London, parts of Canada, and much of the US. This trip was affirming my interest in what lies south of our borders.

Jake in a hammock at the market

            When we arrived in San Jose we immediately began to partake in cultural activities. We attended an open market, ate a delicious lunch on banana leaves, and enjoyed, first hand, San Jose commuting traffic. I say enjoyed because this is when we were acquainted with who would be our tour guide. His name is Miguelito!

The People We Met

            Miguel was my first introduction to Costa Rica and in my opinion the finest introduction there could be. (Really, Costa Rica should have this man in commercials and on billboards) Throughout the trip, Miguel had a genuine interest in making our trip to his country the best it could be. He changed our schedule, added events and stops, and always accommodated our needs. At the end of the trip he offered to donate a pair of shoes I was planning to through out to a member of his community. Also, little did we know, he is an ecological expert, always teaching us about the beautiful ecology that Costa Rica and it’s people work to protect.

Miguelito teaching Salsa!

            He also is very intelligent and eager to teach Costa Rica beyond what we see as tourists. At such moments of the trip, I found the most meaning. Miguel took us to the national cemetery, which is divided between social classes. He described the history and civil war between Cartago and San Jose, slavery in Costa Rica, and the quasi-American (USA) attempts at conquest of the Latin American region as a whole.  We were lucky as a group to have such a guide that allowed us to enjoy so many great experiences!

Experiences

            In just over a week, we travelled across the country, toured through farms and plantations, and bathed in both the Sarapiqui river and the volcanically warmed thermal baths of Arenal. We enjoyed a fruit tour and a coffee tour, in the beautiful town of Los Santos. We learned the sustainable practices of farmers throughout Costa Rica. For example, local schools  cafeterias in Los Santos are supported by the local farmers. Then, we travelled hours on land and canal to the Carribean side of Costa Rica to Tortuguero. A town entirely supported on eco-tourism.

Morning in Toruguero

Takaways      

            There were things about this trip that made a lasting impact on my outlook many things. For one, I have been inspired to keep a constant filter on sustainable issue. Since I’ve returned to the states I’ve been more conscious to how I consume and where it comes from. Also, this trip reminded me of how wonderful it is to meet new people, both in Costa Rica and from Bryant University. Ironically, one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip was when we were stuck (literally not moving) for almost two hours on the road. Without wi-fi, all of us students just began to talk, play cards, and get to know each other more deeply than we would have otherwise. And the greatest take way I received from this trip is the power of removing oneself from their comfort zone.  One of the greatest hindrances to progression and in this case, sustainable living is when a person gets comfortable in their situation. When removes themself to learn the ways of others, and is open to these ways, they can apply them to their life and improve the lives of themselves and their community. 

It was an amazing and unforgettable experience