Discover the sustainable practices of Terra Barichara Hotel, Santander Region, Colombia. As part of her Hospitality Tour through Latin America, Florie collected their best responsible practices for Hopineo.org. Read the complete article: www.hopineo.org/en/terra-barichara-hotel-colombia

1. HOTEL TERRA BARICHARA
SANTANDER, COLOMBIA
www.hotelterrabarichara.com - info@hotelterrabarichara.com - + (57) 311 452 61 68

2. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Construction
Social Responsibility
Local Development
Travelers’ awareness
Local Heritage & Biodiversity
Energy
Water
Waste
Agriculture & Catering
Learn about Hotels Sustainable Practices on Hopineo.org

3. ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Reducing consumption:
• Solar water heater system.
• Passive architecture principles: no air-conditioning.
• Use a maximum of daylight.
• LEDs lighting.
• Energy Efficient Appliances (such as a rational selfcooking oven).
• Current Projects:
 Solar panel to provide electricity for night exterior lighting.
 System of black pipes to heat water for the spa part.
 Better sensibilize guests to energy savings with signings.

4. WATER MANAGEMENT
Water is a very critical point at Barichara because of the very dry climate.
Reducing consumption:
• 80% of the water used at the hotel comes from a rainwater collection system.
• Water is treated through a silica sand filter, activated carbon and small quantities
of chlorine and sulfate.
• Jacuzzi water is reused to water the garden.
• Long-stay guests’ sheets are changed only every 2 or 3 days.
Water treatment:
• Black water: filtered through a wastewater treatment plant,
• Gray Water: directly to the ground or reused to water the garden.

5. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Reduce:
• Offer free potable water to guests to avoid plastic bottles.
Reuse:
• Organic waste from the kitchen feed the animals of an employee’s farm.
• Organic waste from the garden are composted.
Recycle:
• Recyclable waste are sorted out and collected by the municipal waste collector.

6. AGRICULTURE & CATERING
Purchases:
• Try to buy produces cultivated in the area but there are unfortunately no much
because of the dry climate, only: beans, pineapples, café and grapefruits.
• Serve and sell organic and semi-organic local coffee.
Homemade:
• Make their own bread and cook delicious fresh food.
• Use a cooling unit in order to freeze food and avoid waste.

7. CONSTRUCTION
Architecture:
• Passive principles to take advantage of sun and wind natural conditions.
• Works exclusively with local labor and techniques.
• Enhance natural elements of decoration and vegetation integration.
Materials:
• Walls in rammed earth (tapia pisada): for high acoustic and thermal isolation.
• Try to use local and renewable material when possible: rammed earth walls, local
tiles, canas bravas, responsible construction wood from plantations or fallen trees.
• Waste from construction material were almost all reused .

8. • Respect of national legislations and all extra hours of employees are paid.
• Sex trafficking prevention.
• Collect bottle tops for charity.
• The hotel building is almost all horizontal and with no more than one floor to make
it easier for employees and accessible to disable guests..
• Trainings are provided to the staff.
• Welcome children at the hotel swimming pool to teach them how to swim.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

9. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
• Bought examples of furniture (like seats) to give them to reproduce and be made
by local craftsmans.
• Take part to COTELCO tourism association, the chamber of commerce trainings and
Pro-Colombia wedding program.

10. TRAVELERS’ AWARENESS
• Information in the hotel welcome guide about the hotel sustainable policy.
• Promote eco-tourism activities to travelers such as typical handcraft workshops
and outdoor activities.

11. • No commercialization or use of prohibited fauna & flora or cultural artifacts.
• 1 hectare out of the 3 hectares is occupied by the eco -hotel project.
• Promote the destination of Barichara National Monument village.
LOCAL HERITAGE & BIODIVERSITY

12. HOTEL TERRA BARICHARA
SANTANDER, COLOMBIA
www.hotelterrabarichara.com - info@hotelterrabarichara.com - + (57) 311 452 61 68