65 Interesting Facts About Ecotourism And Sustainability In Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been a pioneer in ecotourism and sustainability since the 1970s. Today, tourism is one of the largest industries in this Central American country and it has been crucial in the development of its rural economy.
The country protects approximately 28% of its land as national parks, reserves and wildlife refuges and has a remarkable 93% of its electricity coming from renewable sources, which has earned it the reputation as one of the world’s premiere ecotourism destinations.
While I think it’s important to celebrate Costa Rica’s sustainability accomplishments, I will also include some interesting facts about the dark side of mass tourism and the negative impacts of ecotourism in Costa Rica.
If you would like to learn more about how nature-based tourism has transformed Costa Rica, here are some of the more interesting facts and statistics about ecotourism and sustainability in Costa Rica.
Tourism Statistics:
1. Tourism accounts for roughly 13.5% of Costa Rica’s GDP, with ecotourism being the fastest-growing sector of the tourism industry.
2. Costa Rica receives around 3 million visitors annually, with over 60% participating in some form of ecotourism activity.
3. The average ecotourist spend 10-14 days in the country and spend significantly more per day than conventional tourists.
Biodiversity Impact:
4. Costa Rica contains about 5% of the world’s biodiversity despite occupying only 0.03% of Earth’s surface.
5. Over 500,000 species of flora, fauna and fungi can be found in Costa Rica, including:
- 894 bird species
- 250+ mammal species
- 225+ reptile species
- Over 13,000 plant species
- Over 65,000 fungi species
Conservation Success:
6. The country successfully reversed deforestation, increasing forest cover from a low of 21% in 1987 to over 59.4% in 2020. It is the first tropical country to reverse deforestation according to the World Bank.
7. Revenue from ecotourism has helped establish and maintain 30 national parks, 51 wildlife refuges, 13 forest reserves and 8 biological reserves.
8. Local communities receive direct economic benefits with about 80% of ecotourism revenues staying within the country.
Economic Benefits:
9. Ecotourism creates approximately 110,000 direct jobs and over 500,000 indirect jobs. It is estimated that 25% of Costa Rica’s economically active population is employed in tourism-related work.
10. Many rural communities have transformed from logging or farming-dependent economies to sustainable tourism-based economies.
11. The average ecolodge employs 10-25 local residents. Costa Rica leads the Americas in ecolodge density, with over 300 certified sustainable lodges across the country.
Environmental Innovation:
12. Costa Rica launched a pioneering “Payment for Environmental Services” program where landowners are paid to preserve forests.
13. The country aims to become carbon neutral by 2050 and already runs on nearly 93% renewable energy for most of the year.
14. Many ecolodges operate completely “off-grid” using solar power and rainwater collection systems and the country has pioneered its own Certification For Sustainable Tourism (CST).
Wildlife Conservation:
15. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve alone houses over 2,500 plant species and 100+ mammal species.
16. Costa Rica banned recreational hunting in 2012, becoming the first Latin American country to do so.
17. Marine conservation areas protect 1.5 million hectares and have helped endangered sea turtle populations recover in recent decades.
Cultural Impact:
18. The phrase “pura vida” (pure life) has become synonymous with Costa Rica’s eco-friendly lifestyle. The term originates from a 1956 Mexican movie called “Pura Vida!” where the main character uses the phrase to stay optimistic, happy, and full of positivity, despite all the negative circumstances around him.
19. Traditional farming practices are being preserved through agri-tourism, where visitors can learn about sustainable coffee and cacao cultivation. Many of the most destructive agricultural practices like palm oil plantations have been replaced by ecotourism.
20. Indigenous communities manage several ecotourism projects, helping preserve their cultural heritage.
Sustainable Practices:
21. Over 400 hotels, ecolodges and tour operators in Costa Rica have earned the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) which meets the prestigious Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standard.
22. Many ecolodges use locally sourced materials, follow permaculture practices and traditional building techniques.
23. The country has developed extensive networks of hiking trails designed to minimize environmental impact.
Scientific Research:
24. Costa Rica hosts over 250 research stations and biological field sites.
25. The country’s biodiversity helps in discovering new medicines with researchers finding approximately 300 new species annually.
26. The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica near Cahuita is the world’s first sloth-only facility for injured, orphaned & abandoned sloths and has pioneered research in sloth rehabilitation and conservation.
Educational Impact:
27. Over 90% of ecolodges in Costa Rica provide environmental education programs.
28. Costa Rica requires environmental education in all public schools with a focus on promoting awareness and understanding of environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss.
29. Many universities worldwide send students to Costa Rica for environmental studies. The country is renowned for its international University of Peace, founded in 1980 with the help of the United Nations.
Development Tensions:
30. Despite the eco-friendly image, some large resorts in Costa Rica have been criticized for draining local water resources and damaging fragile coastlines.
31. Several major hotel developments have allegedly violated protected area boundaries and building regulations.
32. Some communities report being displaced from traditional lands to make way for tourism developments and many beach towns in Costa Rica have become unaffordable for locals.
Economic Disparities:
33. While tourism generates significant revenue, critics argue that large international companies capture most profits, not local communities.
34. Many tourism workers earn below the country’s living wage, especially in service positions.
35. Some remote communities bear the environmental costs of tourism but see little economic benefit.
Environmental Concerns:
36. Popular destinations like Manuel Antonio National Park face overcrowding issues, with some scientists warning about negative impacts on wildlife.
37. The carbon footprint of international flights to Costa Rica contradicts the country’s green image.
38. Some ecolodges practice “greenwashing”, which means making misleading environmental claims while operating unsustainably.
Social Impact:
39. Tourism has contributed to increased property prices, particularly in beach areas which has made housing unaffordable for many locals.
40. Some areas report increased drug trafficking and sex tourism alongside mainstream tourism growth. Prostitution is legal in Costa Rica but the country goes to great lengths to protect children.
41. Traditional communities have reported cultural erosion due to tourist influences.
Infrastructure Challenges:
42. Sewage treatment is inadequate in many tourist areas of Costa Rica, leading to significant ocean pollution.
43. Road construction to access remote eco-destinations has sometimes led to forest fragmentation. Costa Rica’s Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death) is one of the world’s most dangerous roads.
44. Some popular parks lack proper waste management systems, leading to litter problems.
Indigenous Territories:
45. Costa Rica has 8 distinct indigenous peoples: Bribri, Cabécar, Ngöbe, Teribe, Boruca, Huetar, Maleku and Chorotega.
46. There are 24 legally recognized indigenous territories covering about 6.7% of the country.
47. Approximately 105,000 indigenous people live in Costa Rica, representing about 2.4% of the population.
Indigenous Tourism Initiatives:
48. The Bribri people run several successful ecotourism projects in Talamanca, including cacao tours and traditional medicine walks.
49. The Maleku Indigenous Reserve in northern Costa Rica offers cultural tours and traditional craft demonstrations.
51. The Bribri Cultural Tour in the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve has become a model for community-based tourism.
Indigenous Economic Impact:
52. Indigenous-run ecotourism generates approximately $2-3 million annually for local communities.
53. Many indigenous ecotourism projects employ 10-15 community members directly and women-led initiatives make up about 40% of indigenous tourism enterprises.
54. Traditional craft sales contribute 20-30% of tourism revenue in indigenous territories.
Cultural Preservation:
55. Several communities have established cultural centers funded by tourism revenue and traditional agricultural practices are being preserved through agri-tourism activities.
56. Indigenous language education programs are partially supported by tourism income and tourism has helped revive traditional practices like cacao ceremonies and medicinal plant use.
57. The Stibrawpa Indigenous Alternative to Tourism, which is a community-based tourism project run by indigenous Bribri women in Yorkín in the Caribbean hosts over 2,000 visitors annually.
Challenges Faced:
58. Only about 30% of indigenous territories have developed tourism infrastructure and access to marketing and digital platforms remains limited in many communities.
59. Some territories face pressure from non-indigenous tourism operators and development from tourism-related activities.
60. Conservation of traditional knowledge while sharing with visitors requires careful balance and hopefully the Costa Rica government will help fund more indigenous ecotourism initiatives.
Reducing Pollution:
61. While Costa Rica has had great success in protecting the environment in rural areas, the capital San Jose has seen worsening air pollution and today is one of the most polluted cities in the Americas.
62. In 2024, the air pollution in San Jose surpassed Mexico City for a period of weeks, long considered one of the most polluted urban areas in Latin America.
63. More than 88% of the population of Costa Rica is exposed to harmful levels of air pollution largely because the vast majority of the population lives in polluted urban areas.
64. 96% of Costa Rica’s wastewater being discharged into rivers without proper treatment. The Tárcoles River that flows from the Central Valley is considered one of the most polluted rivers in Central America.
65. Despite challenges with environmental problems and pollution like those faced in most countries, Costa Rica has a universal health care system, strong ecological awareness and the highest life expectancy in Latin America.
I hope you enjoyed these interesting facts and statistics about ecotourism and sustainability in Costa Rica. If you have any facts to add to the list feel free to reach out and contact me.
