Through interaction with our staff as well as written material at the front desk, on the website and in each cabin.
(See: guest information book)
(Copy: Costa Rican folklore)
(Copy: Typical dance descriptions)
(Copy: Pto. Jiménez , past and present)
(Copy: useful Costa Rican slang)
(See: Carbonera school documents)

The employees are also encouraged to talk with the guests, share their lives and where they live as a contribution to the guests’ experience—this method has proven much more personable than only using printed material.

Guided tours are provided to: Pto. Jiménez, the Carbonera School, Lapa Rios Reserve, Golfo Dulce and Corcovado National Park.
(Copy: Pto. Jiménez, past and present)

The hotel library contains many books about the bio-diversity of the Osa Peninsula, the national parks as well as many books about Costa Rican people and their culture.
(Copy: Costa Rican guidebooks and natural history books)
(Copy: tours - Pto. Jiménez tour)

12.2 There is an informational program providing guests details about the hotel’s commitment to the CST policies and objectives. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

(See links on the website www.laparios.com)
(See: guest information book)
(Copy: What is the “CST”?)
(Copy: guest evaluation)
(See: prominent display of CST plaque at reception)
(See: CST Report 2000 on library table)

12.3 The hotel declares under oath that all information contained in its promotional material is true. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

Yes. As state by: Karen Lewis, John Lewis, Lapa Rios owners with Andrea Bonilla (General Manager) and Hans Pfister (Operations Manager), Directors from Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality.

12.4 The hotel’s promotional materials refer to and promote the objectives of the CST program. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

The questionnaire and responses have been written in English as a tool for guests to fully understand the certification requirements, how we have performed, and where they think we could improve.
(See: CST Report 2000 on library table)
(See: CST Report 2003 – to be published)

Lapa Rios’s most effective promotional tool is its website. The website explicitly explains our comittment to the CST program, and has been linked to the Lapa Rios web page. The previous CST results are published on this site.
(See: website www.laparios.com)

The logo of the CST is included in the rate sheets.
(Copy: Rate sheet)
- The logo of the CST is in the promotional CD.
(See: promotional CD in Pto. Jiménez office)

Yes, each guest information book explains the CST goals plus the Lapa Rios goals and its involvement. Guests are invited to contribute ideas and improvements to our program.
(Copy: guest evaluation)
(Copy: What is the “CST”?)

In October 2002, Karen Lewis published a 280-page book about developing Lapa Rios. The book contains information about sustainanble development and challenges at Lapa Rios. The CST mission statement and website address is also included in this book.
(Copy: The Lapa Rios Story)

- In the Lobby the complete CST documentation is available for guests to review.
(See: CST Report 2000 on library table)

12.5 The hotel guest is informed and encouraged to participate in the different CST-based programs. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

Guests are educated about our commitment to sustainable practices and our CST effort during the oral orientation, during nature tours and in the guest room information book.
(Copy: orientation topics)
(See: guest information book)

Sound environmental goals are visibly labeled, monitored and practiced and guests are invited to participate with: energy conservation, reforestation, community involvement, personal waste recycling, trash pick up along the road, etc.

Guests are invited to leave written recommendations for hotel performance/improvement upon departure.
(Copy: guest evaluation)

12.6 Guests are provided information regarding the area’s environmental protection. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

The guests’ presence provides ongoing maintenance to the Lapa Rios Reserve.

Other conservation projects to read about and/or visit listed on the website, the tour board and in folder in all guest rooms: Cabo Blanco, Corcovado, Golfo Dulce, Rio Esquinas, Rio Piro, etc.

Invitations extend for guests to contribute to conservation efforts at: 1. the turtle project at Piro, 2. The ongoing guarding of Corcovado Park and The Corcovado-Tapir and Corcovado guard project.
(Copy: tours- turtle )
(Copy: Corcovado guard contribution)
(Copy: Corcovado tapir project)
(Copy: CEDARENA/land trust program)

12.7 Information is given to the guests about local ongoing social and cultural activities. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

Due to the lodge isolation there are only a few, limited social and cultural activities: the Carbonera School and Pto. Jiménez tours are activities that offer guests experiences into the area’s social and cultural activities.
(Copy: tours – Carbonera School)

A local school dance groups now performs (2003) at Lapa Rios weekly every Friday evening, and for special occasions (Christmas, New Years, etc.). The group helps teach interested guests some of the dance.

Guest parties (Christmas, New Years, special occasions) include local salsa/merengue experts, the local dancing lessons part of the evening’s fun.
(See: Giovanny Mesen and Gloria – Iguana Lodge)

Friday or Saturday transport is made available for guests interested in attending local dances in Pto. Jiménez.

Guests are invited to participate in all local soccer games and fiestas held at the Carbonera School.
(See: tour board)

The medicine tour is a cultural tour that explains the indigenous people’s beliefs in the curative affects from locally harvested plants.
(Copy: tours – medicine walk)

Yes.

13.2 The room has the necessary information inviting guests to help save water and energy. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ]

Yes, 2. An electrical use/outlet caution and a turn off unattended fixtures.

The guest welcome orientation includes the lesson about minimum electricity (and use) as well as the policy to practice sustainable conservation with minimal impact (little electricity). This policy is outlined in the suggestions pages in the guest information book.
(Copy: guest suggestions)
(Copy: orientation topics)
(Copy: good environmental habits)

13.3 The hotel has a program to promote alternating days towel and linen laundering. Weight: 3 [ ] yes [ ]

Yes.
(Copy: towel/sheet laundering)

Guests are encouraged in the guest information/suggestion pages to hang drying towels and personal laundry on the outside deck.

13.4 In an effort to reduce air pollution only certain areas of the hotel are available for smokers. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ]

Smoking is permitted only at the bar and on the outside decks.

The restaurant has a no smoking policy during meal times.

There are no separate cabins assigned smoking only. There are so few guests who smoke that, lacking walls in the open cabin architecture, smoke dissipates without tainting the room. In 10 years there has never been a complaint of lingering smoke odors in bungalows.

Guests receive a 20-minute orientation upon arrival where they are told and invited to tour and experience Corcovado National Park, the Golfo Dulce forest reserve, Rio Esquinas as well as the Lapa Rios Reserve.
(Copy: orientation topics)

14.2 The hotel has naturalists and/or guides, personnel trained to provide detailed information to guests. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

There are 4 staff guides for lodge hikes/experiences; most employees have basic knowledge of local wildlife near the hotel and willingly provide assistance to guests.
(Copy: guide biographies)

Numerous neighbor and community guides (about 12) provide a variety of tour experiences away from the forest: fishing, kayaking, boating, surfing, cruising to see wildlife up the Rio Esquinas, etc.
(Copy: tours - various)

14.3 The hotel has developed a program to encourage guests to help clean, maintain and conserve the protected areas. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

The labeled recycling containers and signs along the road encourage guests to pick up litter found along the beach and roads.
(See: road clean up signs)
(Photo)

Lapa Rios offers Plant a Tree, a guest-financed reforestation program for second growth regeneration near the main lodge. Guests help the forest guide select and bag baby trees for hardening. Other guests help water and tend weeds from trees previously planted.
(Copy: plant a tree certificate)

Request donations for Corcovado’s tapir program, park guards, etc.
(Copy: Corcovado tapir project)
(Copy: Corcovado guard contribution)
(Copy: donation report)

We only use reusable hand-carry coolers and packaging supplies for guest picnics away from the hotel.

Guests are encouraged by guides to minimize forest impact: by stepping carefully, avoiding tree roots; to only use designated trails; and, never to create additional paths.
(Copy: guide manual – Spanish and English)

Guests may only take walking sticks, binoculars and cameras to the forest: no machetes/shovels to harvest or weapons to kill are allowed.

Guests must follow strict Lapa Rios Reserve standards: minimize sound/interruption with only 6 – 8 hikers per group; acceptance of no posted signs; and, no unguided tours except near the building site.

A memory and expression book in the reception area provides a preserved writing/drawing space for the guests’ creative reflections following their natural experiences.
(See: memory book in reception)

2 visiting families helped develop the Osa Trail, cutting the original path and creating the crude steps where necessary.

14.4 Guests are provided with guidelines about responsibilities and proper behavior when visiting the area’s wilderness. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

Before every tour, the guide explains forest and hiking etiquette—what to do and what not to do during the hike, what flora and fauna will be expected to be seen; conservation tips for less disturbance; clothing and comforts to bring, etc.

Outside tour guides have been trained that Lapa Rios guests need guidance before hikes, with suggestions for proper clothing, footwear, water, repellents, sunscreen, etc.
(Copy: guide manual—Spanish and English)
(Copy: guest suggestion)
(Copy: preparing for your tour)
(See: nature tour book)

14.5 The hotel sells and promotes tours and general activities that invite interaction between guests, the community and nature. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

A section of the tour board includes a section to promote any cultural event being held at the Carbonera School or in Pto. Jiménez. Sign up space is provided for guest participation/transfer service.
(See: tour board)

During tours into the reserve and on outside tours with neighboring guides guests interact with only community hosts/members.

An interactive tour board is available for guests, guides and staff to write about sightings, experiences and thoughts.
(See: tour board)

The Lapa Rios memory books hold guest and visitor observations and reactions to the community, the staff and the rain forest reserve.
(See: memory book in reception)

Some staff members invite return guests to their homes to better know their family and to share meals. Ongoing relationships have developed between several local families and guests.

Guest questionnaire are given to each guest prior to departure. This form contains questions about our CST progress as well as requests suggestions for improvements.
(Copy: guest evaluation)

In August 2002 Martha Honey, president of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), spent 3 days in Lapa Rios reviewing our CST participation and reporting system.

Informal research in casual guest conversations is collected and acted upon by management.

Megan Eplerwood, International Ecotourism Society founder and former president, did a review of our CST participation in June 2003.

15.2 The results of the hotel’s survey are reported to the CST and the Minstiry of Tourism every 6 months. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

Yes.
(Copy: guests’ opinions for CST staff)

15.3 Guests have a form on which they add comments about the hotel’s implementation of the CST program. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

On the guest evaluation forms, there is a specific question about the CST program and its implementation at Lapa Rios.
(Copy: guest evaluations)

15.4 The hotel has designed a guarantee for the guest related to the services offered and the results of the CST. Weight: 3 [ ] yes [ ] no

We guarantee a free Plant a Tree tour if any guest finds an inconsistency regarding our implimentation and response to the CST program. This guarantee is in the guest information book.
(Copy: What is the “CST”?)