Travel Sustainably Costa Rica

Stewart Chan — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:19:41 +0000

Let’s travel sustainably in Costa Rica.

But first we have to be completely honest from the beginning: if you are planning a trip to Costa Rica or you are already here, your impact on the environment is already an issue just considering the carbon footprint from your flight here. At Oropopo Experience we see this as an opportunity to travel along with you and help you to contribute the least amount of harm possible while you connect with nature and with our culture. When you return to your country, you will feel inspired and responsible with your loved ones, your community and our planet.

Enough talk... Here is a short list of tips to make your experience in Costa Rica a responsible and sustainable one:

Avoid having meat! We know this is a tough one, that’s why it is #1.
Use public transport as much as possible, and once at your destination, rent a bike. We know this can be tricky in our country, so if you need help, send us an email at info@oropopoexperience.com.
Refuse to eat Pineapple, no matter how delicious it’s destroying our country along with palm oil. And if you don’t believe us, check out this link!
Visit the farmers’ markets. Almost everywhere in Costa Rica, you’ll find farmers’ markets on weekends, these are perfect places to get fresh and local products directly from producers. PLEASE LOOK FOR FOR PEJIBAYES, YOU’LL THANK US.
Avoid giving your money to big corporations. We now have Starbucks and there’s a McDonald’s on every corner, but you know the local coffee shop will really appreciate that extra income and offer you a product filled with love and authenticity.
Ask for invoices as much as possible. Some people take advantage of travelers to avoid paying their taxes.
Be mindful of your wastes. Costa Rica has a terrible waste management system and policies, so your best choice is to produce as little waste as possible. Of course, single-use plastics are out of the questions (straws, plastic bags, etc.).
Engage with locals. Take your time to get to know locals, listen to their stories and dive deep into our culture. Every interaction is worthwhile.
Respect every single living organism you encounter. From wildlife to your local guide or bus driver, we are known worldwide for our Pura Vida lifestyle, embrace it, enjoy it.

This is my personal point of view and I think it summarizes really well some of our company’s core values. Hopefully, you’ll feel represented as well. We still can live in harmony with the environment and with peace of mind.

If you would like to know more about the way we do sustainable tourism in Costa Rica, check out this video by our friends from Sustainable Jungle.

Should you have read up to this point and find yourself aligned with our tips, you would likely appreciate traveling with us. Please reach out.

San José City Night Tour

Get to know the nocturnal fauna of the city of San José.

Sloths in San José City

Stewart Chan — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:01:23 +0000

Exploring the Jungle Campus Tour in San José

In my experience as a Jungle Campus Tour guide, I find immense satisfaction when the tour culminates with the sighting of a sloth listening in the background to the movement of the city of San Jose.

Sloths are elusive creatures and usually observed in a state of stillness, perfectly mimicking their environment among the dry leaves or bark of the trees. Occasionally, on sunny days.

On sunny days, you might occasionally see them stretching, gently shifting from one branch to another or indulging in some light scratching

Monitoring Sloth Behavior

Over time, the frequency of tours has increased, heightening the likelihood of encountering sloths and observing their diverse behaviors. This regularity in sightings allowed me to monitor a three-toed female sloth with her offspring (Bradypus variegatus). Throughout the early days of July, the baby consistently stayed in the same tree, nestled comfortably in its mother’s fur.

However, upon returning the following week, they had relocated to a nearby tree, seeking shelter from the rain that arrived in early August. Yet, on a sunny morning the subsequent week, they returned to their original guarumo tree. By then, the offspring had noticeably grown, and the mother was seen imparting lessons on selecting the finest leaves, bringing them closer to the baby’s snout for it to familiarize itself with their scent and texture.

Witnessing The Sloth Encounter

On a bright and breezy morning, two European girls were guided through the Leonelo Oviedo reserve, a small forest nestled within the University grounds. About 10 meters from the entrance, one of the girls stopped, pointing excitedly to the canopy and questioning, ‘Is that a sloth?’ Indeed, a female sloth was nestled atop the highest branches of a cedar tree, bracing against the forceful wind. After observing her for a few moments, the telescope was set up to provide a closer view as discussions about sloth behaviors ensued. Suddenly, one of the girls exclaimed, ‘There’s another sloth over there!‘

The dance begins

It was a male. Approaching with determination to the female, he stopped at the branch that was just below her and began to touch her gently with his claws, as if bothering her; she raised her head giving him a look over her shoulder. The male continued, until she changed position, turned her body to hang towards him, and they began to interact. They moved their front legs and claws as if trying to scratch each other, a game between the branches and the wind that rocked them hard.

Then the female stopped and returned to the position she was initially in, she seemed to be rejecting the proposal of the male, who stood watching her for a few minutes and then began to move towards the branches that were most exposed to the wind.

In this extreme environment the sloth male began a very striking display, hanging from his hind legs, dropping his body dropping his body into the void, he changed position

quickly and swung, taking advantage of the wind gusts. It was a kind of dance, a sequence of movements that exposed the dimensions of his body, his ability to move, and his strength for holding on. It was amazing how he managed to hang from such thin branches, suspended in the wind, which seemed to be an essential element of the show.

Meanwhile, the female looked at him from above and did not show much interest, but occasionally looked out as if evaluating his movements. The male made long strokes to move through the entire tree canopy, passed just below the female, and continued on his way. The female remained where we had found her. Hours later when I returned to the site, the rain was already falling and the wind had stopped. I didn’t find either of the sloths… maybe they had sought shelter from the rain together, maybe she was already pregnant, maybe I’ll find them again during another tour.

Should you have read up to this point and find yourself aligned with our tips, you would likely appreciate traveling with us. Please reach out.

Jungle Campus Tour

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