Discover the sustainable practices of Finca Exotica Ecolodge located on the Osa Peninsula, next to Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. As part of her Hospitality Tour through Latin America, Florie collected the best responsible practices implemented by Finca Exotica for Hopineo.org

1. FINCA EXOTICA ECOLODGE OSA PENINSULA, CORCOVADO, COSTA RICA
www.fincaexotica.com - fincaexotica@gmail.com - + (506) 4070 0054

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

3. ENERGY MANAGEMENT
100% renewable energy :
•Combination system of Stream Engine water turbines and solar panels to adapt to nature’s rhythms of the seasons.
•Energy savings : constructions built in a way to using a maximum natural light, half LED and half halogene bulbs (12V), no air conditioning, no TV, no hot water, no WIFI, all clothes are dried using solar energy in a covered drying room.

4. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Separation and responsible disposal of all waste :
•Organic waste gets added to the compost or pigs food.
•Recyclables waste go to Puerto Jimenez high school recycle center.
•Tries to use as much as possible biodegradable products.

5. WATER MANAGEMENT
Two different water sources are located on Finca Exotica property :
•A water tank system was implemented in order to collect some of the water to supply the ecolodge, but also 3 other neighbor properties.
•100% of grey water is being cleaned and reused through biofilters.

6. AGRICULTURE & CATERING
The project started first with the vision of a permaculture farm : in spanish “Finca” means “Farm”:
•The organic garden soil is primed to receive a mixture of plants. An edible hill is being planting right in front of the kitchen to offer a larger variety of fruit trees, various wild native greens, native tubers full of protein and minerals and ornamentals that frame the rejuvenated landscape.
•Welcomes collaboration from professors, students or experts in agriculture or landscaping.

7. CONSTRUCTION
Markus, co-founder of Finca Exotica is an Architect, and planned very carefully the sustainable construction part of the project:
•Focused on using bamboo and thatch to the extent possible. A large variety of bamboo species planted in the first years with the intention of creating an on- hand supply of sustainable building materials.
•Cement was poured only in the kitchens for hygiene reasons.
•Only sustainably sourced wood was utilized and at minimal amounts as possible.
•Constructions are spread throughout the farm to lessen the impact and maintain a corridor for wildlife.

8. Markus is an active member of the Carate Community Development Association :
•Supports projects such as road maintenance, bridges’ construction and community formation.
•Helps in the design of Carate local school with a focus on sustainable construction using bamboo as the main material.
•Twice a year all the employees join a local project of cleaning the beach, and collecting them to take them to the recycle center.
•Respect of costa rican work and security insurance legislation.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

9. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Finca Exotica takes part to local development as being a new source of revenue for the community :
•12 local employees with full time and all year long work contracts.
•Supports local markets and supermarkets by buying there their supplies.
•Works with local independent guides and transportation suppliers.
•Support local artists and their projects.
•Offers guests to go discovering local farms and initiatives, such as Hacienda Rio Oro and their organic dairy products processes.

10. TRAVELERS’ AWARENESS
Tucked into the palms, heliconias and mango trees, guests become immersed in the most authentic experience with nature :
•Finca Excotica offers tours of the farm, volunteering opportunities in current projects, extensive library on permaculture, botanical plants and health to build up guests knowledge of sustainable living.
•Currently developing workshops and a more extensive education program for guests to learn sustainable practices that apply here and in their own home.

11. Corcovado National Park protects the last portion or fraction of Tropical Humid Forest of the Mesoamerican Pacific home of an amazing diversity of biological species :
•95% of Finca Exotica property was set aside exclusively for conservation purposes.
•Protecting 125 acres of pristine rain forest.
•Regenerating 90 acres of former cattle pasture.
•Founding member of the “Refugio Saimiri de Vida Silvestre Mixto”, an Osa Peninsula wildlife refuge established in 2007 to protect over 300 acres of land.
•Finca Exotica supports the “Cotorco” sea turtle conservation program giving a very good discount on room & board to volunteers.
LOCAL HERITAGE & BIODIVERSITY

12. GREEN MOBILITY
7 different trails inside the Finca Exotica property :
•Covering over 14km, providing easy access to some of the most diverse old-growth rainforest in Central America the perfect laboratory to engage in biological research.
•Offers also horse-back riding tours withing the tropical rainforest, rides on the beach, kayak tours on the lagoon, hikes into Corcovado National Park with a local guide.

13. FINCA EXOTICA ECOLODGE OSA PENINSULA, CORCOVADO, COSTA RICA
www.fincaexotica.com - fincaexotica@gmail.com - + (506) 4070 0054