Special Achievements:
The hotel cooperates with the following Ecological Organizations:
a) Protection Project for the Lapa Verde (Green Macaw)
b) We are members of the Red the Reservas Naturales, CODEFORSA (COMISION DE DESARROLLO FORESTAL DE SAN CARLOS). The American Birding Association (ABA), ECO-CLUB and the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS).

Energy Rating: ★ (1)
Staff Comment - The use and saving of electricity is equally important at the Lodge and is also controlled by the Management:
a) Light saving bulbs are used as much as possible,
b) Clients are urged to turn off the lights and fans upon leaving the rooms,
c) When clients leave their rooms for long walks and tours, the maid or Assistant Manager checks that no lights or fans were left on behind,
d) If weather allows, all laundry is dried outside. The use of the drier is left only when the air is too humid or it rains nonstop,
e) In as much as possible the wood stove is put to use, specially when cooking for large groups,
f) Once all guests are asleep, the night watchman is responsible for putting off all unnecessary lights and leaving on only those required for security.

Water Rating: ★★★ (3)
Staff Comment - WATER Saving water is of utmost importance and Management is responsible that any waste should be controlled immediately by:
a) Verify constantly that all water faucets are closed,
b) After cleaning the rooms, maids have to check that there are no leaks in the bathrooms,
c) The water cisterns are controlled so that there is no excessive use of the liquid and if so, check for leaks and/or excessive use.
d) We change towels and bed sheets every second night.

Disposal Rating: ★★★★ (4)
Staff Comment - The separation of the garbage is also very important among Lodge employees daily duties:
a) Biodegradable waste goes to compost,
b) Recyclable garbage is separated in plastic, glass and aluminum bottles, cans and containers, as well as cartons and paper. All of these is brought to a Day Care Center in Escazú (San Jose) who have a recycling program and with the sale proceeds they provide food and school supplies to children of poor means,
c) No beer or canned soft drinks are sold or served in the Lodge premises in order to maintain the surroundings clean of waste,
d) The cleaning personnel must separate the contains of the rooms waste paper baskets.

For food preparations, the Lodge uses produces from the region, such as Yucca, bread fruit, heart of palm, pineapples, pepper and from the garden lemons and juice fruits. Once a week the Manager drives to Pital to buy fresh supplies such as fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. that are needed for a week. In order to save time, money and transportation costs, supplies of no risk such as paper napkins, toilet paper, soaps, canned food, sauces and the like, are bought wholesale in San Jose, An up to date inventory control is maintained in order to save waste and losses.

Eco-Active Rating: ★★★ (3)
Staff Comment - With the exception of the Manager, the Lodge employees are all local people. The local people had no prior experience in the Hotel business and they were all trained on the job by management. A nice example:
The cook, Adolfo, a refugee from Nicaragua, was a simple worker doing on and off jobs where ever he could find one. By sheer coincidence we discovered his talent for cooking. We sent him to a restaurant in the next town for one month cooking training. Then the owners wife taught him some recipes and he developed into an excellent cook.

All our guests are particularly encouraged to appreciate and respect Nature, specially when walking the paths and gardens of the lodge as well as the rain forest and lagoons. b) We also inform the guests about the impact the lodge has made in the community and how we have contributed to improve it.

Protection Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - The Hotel works closely with the community on a number of activities, for instance: Improvement of the road, electricity and telephone line construction in the area, participation in the community activities in order to raise funds

The Lodge particularly helped a local boatman to start his own business of fluvial transportation. This man makes 90% of his income from our guests. Also we closely collaborate by giving transfers of tourists to a local member of the community. We have used our Rotary International Club relationship (the owner is an active member) to bring help to the community, specially to the local five schools. We have also brought for two consecutive years groups of Rotarian Dentists to offer free dental care, this in collaboration with ULACIT (Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencias y Tecnologia), including medicines, dental care products and first aid. Rotary members of Atlanta have come to help locals build a dining hall as well repair and paint the village schools.

Recently we got a grant form the German Embassy in San José to build a water cistern to supply with running water the nearby hamlet Santa Rita. We have also given scholarships to two children to continue their high school education in Boca Tapada. We are always on the look-out for volunteers and invite both local and foreign professional biologists to come to our hotel to help us identify plants and animals, as well as teach the local people to protect the environment.

The hotel is sole owner of 280 Ha. out of which 100 are prime forest, 81 secondary forest and 42 reforestation area, the total of 223Ha. representing 76% of the total property is natural protected area. The prime and secondary forest are both under the Government Protection Plan ( Plan de Manejo) and are entitled to the CPB ( Certificado de Protección de Bosque ) – ( Forest Protection Certificate ).

Contact Details

Name:
Laguna del Lagarto Eco Lodge
Address:
Boca Tapada
Costa Rica
Telephone:
+506 228 98 163
Website:
www.lagarto-lodge-costa-rica.com
E-mail:
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