Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat & Sustainability

Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat is a family-run rainforest conservation and sustainable tourism project. Before construction the owners sought out Rainforest Alliance, and their Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism, and applied their best practices to the design and construction of the Retreat, working in harmony with the rainforest, and using recycled materials wherever possible.

Through their participation in the Costa Rican Bird Route, Chilamate Rainforest benefited from two full audits from the Rainforest Alliance and training on ways to improve their business practices, community outreach programs and sustainable practices within the Retreat. They also received training through the Earth University and their program for small tourism projects, Promoting Sustainable Markets (PROMES). From that participation, they received a third full audit from Rainforest Alliance in which they received one of the highest qualifications in the country in terms of sustainable practices.

Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat preserves over 69 acres of rainforest at the Retreat and their newly acquired Biological Station el Roble and they use solar power, rainwater catchments, natural lighting and air conditioning, and only biodegradable environmentally friendly cleaning, bathing and cosmetic products. The use of these practices maintains the area around the retreat appealing to wildlife, making it easy to spot many species of frogs, birds, and other animals during your stay!

Maybe most importantly for Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat is the work they do in the community; they strongly believe that the local community needs to perceive a benefit from the conservation project in order for it to be sustainable in the long term, and permit them to continue expanding the territory dedicated to conservation.

You can help by supporting any of their community projects, purchasing locally made artwork available in the gift-shop, doing a tour with one of the neighbors, or even staying with a local family at a home stay!

The easiest way to support the family run rainforest conservation and sustainable tourism project is by coming to stay here at the Retreat as a guest or using our tourism services! All proceeds from your visit allow for the Retreat to continue to work in pro of rainforest conservation in Chilamate, Sarapiqui and in pro of the local community! Thanks for your support!