Sustainability in Costa Rica
Costa Rica protects more than a quarter of its land, generates nearly all of its electricity from renewable sources, and hosts over 5% of the world's known species on just 0.03% of the planet's surface. Its environmental achievements are not just a marketing story — they represent decades of genuine policy commitment and community action.
Costa Rica's Green Credentials
Renewable Electricity
Costa Rica consistently generates 99%+ of its electricity from renewable sources — primarily hydroelectric, followed by geothermal, wind, and solar. The national electricity grid (ICE) has run on 100% renewable power for extended periods. Geothermal energy from the volcanic highlands is a particularly stable baseload source.
Protected Land
Over 25% of Costa Rica's territory is protected as national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges, and protected zones managed by SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion). The country maintains 30 protected areas within the SINAC system, ranging from Tortuguero on the Caribbean to Corcovado on the Pacific.
Extraordinary Biodiversity
With roughly 500,000 species — including over 900 bird species, 250 mammal species, and thousands of plant and insect species — Costa Rica holds approximately 5% of the world's total biodiversity. The country's position between North and South America and its range of elevation zones from sea level to 3,800m create exceptional habitat diversity.
Blue Flag Program
The Bandera Azul Ecologica (Blue Flag) program certifies beaches, communities, schools, and protected areas that meet rigorous environmental and water quality standards. A Blue Flag beach has passed independent water quality testing and community environmental management criteria. Look for the blue flag symbol when choosing beaches.
Carbon Neutrality Goal
Costa Rica has pursued a carbon neutrality target and was among the first countries to publish a National Decarbonization Plan. The main challenge is the transportation sector, which still depends largely on fossil fuels. Electric vehicle adoption is growing, supported by government incentives, but is a work in progress.
Plastic Reduction
Costa Rica has moved to eliminate single-use plastics in many contexts. National parks prohibit single-use plastics within park boundaries. Tap water is safe to drink in most of the country, making reusable water bottles a practical alternative. Some municipalities have adopted additional plastic restrictions beyond the national standard.
Renewable Energy at a Glance
| Energy Source | Approximate Share of Generation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hydroelectric | ~70–75% | Dependent on rainfall; droughts reduce output |
| Geothermal | ~12–15% | Consistent baseload from volcanic highlands (Miravalles, Arenal region) |
| Wind | ~10–12% | Mainly Guanacaste highlands; growing capacity |
| Solar | ~1–3% | Rapidly expanding; residential and commercial installations increasing |
| Biomass / Other | ~1–2% | Bagasse (sugarcane residue) and small thermal sources |
| Total Renewable | 99%+ | Multiple years of 100% renewable operation recorded |
Traveling Responsibly
Responsible Wildlife Watching
Do not touch wildlife. This protects both you and the animals. Sloths, monkeys, and other wildlife handled by tourists suffer significant stress and can transmit diseases in both directions. Avoid any tour operator or attraction that allows you to hold sloths, take photos with monkeys on leashes, or interact directly with wild animals in unnatural situations. These are indicators of wildlife trafficking or irresponsible captive operations.
Report suspected wildlife trafficking to SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion) by calling 1192 or visiting sinac.go.cr.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Standard sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate have been shown to damage coral reefs even at very low concentrations. Use reef-safe mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide based) when swimming near coral reefs — particularly on the Caribbean coast (Cahuita, Manzanillo) and at dive sites. This small change has a measurable positive impact.
Water Bottle & Single-Use Plastics
Tap water is safe to drink in most of Costa Rica — including San Jose, the Central Valley, Guanacaste beach towns, and most tourist areas. Carrying a reusable bottle eliminates the need for plastic water purchases. Check with locals in very remote areas where municipal systems may be less reliable.
Choose Certified Operators
Look for the CST (Certificado para la Sostenibilidad Turistica) certification when choosing tour operators, hotels, and activity providers. CST-certified businesses have been independently evaluated on environmental practices, social responsibility, economic impact, and service management. The certification level (1–5 leaves) reflects performance across all four pillars.
Support Local Businesses
Choosing locally-owned restaurants, guides, and accommodation keeps tourism revenue within the community and supports the families who maintain the areas you visit. International chain hotels return a larger share of revenue abroad. Small locally-owned sodas, guesthouses, and community-based tour operators offer more authentic experiences and greater local economic benefit.
CST Certification Explained
Certificado para la Sostenibilidad Turistica
Costa Rica's national eco-certification for tourism businesses — administered by ICT
CST is a voluntary certification program managed by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT). Businesses are evaluated by independent auditors and rated from 1 to 5 "leaves" (hojas) based on their performance across four pillars:
Physical-Biological Environment
How the business manages its interaction with surrounding ecosystems, water, energy, waste, and biodiversity.
Management Infrastructure
Policies, procedures, and systems in place to manage environmental and social performance at the management level.
Service Management
How sustainability principles are incorporated into the service delivery and the guest or customer experience.
Socioeconomic Environment
The business's contribution to the local community — employment, sourcing, cultural heritage preservation, and community engagement.
You can verify whether a specific business holds CST certification at tourism.co.cr (ICT's official portal) by searching the certified businesses directory. A rating of 4 or 5 leaves reflects outstanding performance across all four pillars.
Environmental Challenges
The Full Picture
Costa Rica's conservation achievements are genuine and significant, but the country faces real ongoing environmental challenges. Deforestation continues outside protected areas, particularly for agriculture and development. Plastic waste management varies significantly by region — remote areas often lack adequate collection systems. Rapid coastal development is pressuring ecosystems in Guanacaste and the Southern Pacific. The Caribbean coast faces an ongoing lionfish invasion, an invasive predator that has dramatically impacted reef fish populations. Awareness of these challenges helps visitors engage more meaningfully with conservation efforts rather than assuming all is well.
How to Contribute
Volunteer Programs
Turtle conservation: Tortuguero (Caribbean leatherback and green turtles, March–October) and Ostional (olive ridley mass nesting) are two of the most significant sea turtle nesting sites in the Americas. Volunteer programs through the Sea Turtle Conservancy and ASVO place volunteers in these communities.
Reforestation: ASVO (Asociacion de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Areas Protegidas) coordinates volunteers within Costa Rica's national park system, including trail maintenance and habitat restoration.
Conservation Organizations
Several organizations work on the ground in Costa Rica's most ecologically sensitive areas:
- MINAE / SINAC — government ministry managing protected areas; sinac.go.cr
- Sea Turtle Conservancy — Tortuguero-based, global leader in sea turtle research; conserveturtles.org
- Osa Conservation — focused on the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse places on earth; osaconservation.org
- ASVO — coordinates national park volunteers; asvo.org