SLEEPING WITH THE TOUCANS: 100 GREAT PLACES TO STAY IN COSTA RICA recommends B&Bs, hotels, and lodges that help protect Costa Rica's environment by practicing sustainable tourism.

Sleeping With the Toucans by Chris Fields and Alison Tinsley, your Costa Rica
guidebook and up-to-date electronic on-line guide to environmental organizations, NGOs,
and eco-activism in Costa Rica. Help protect Costa Rica's environment and endangered species.
Guide to Costa Rica environmental and ecological and green organizations and NGOs
working to save the rainforest, preserve species such as whiteface monkeys, spider monkeys,
squirrel (mono titi) monkeys, howler moinkeys, jaguars, ocelots, crocodiles, caimans, scarlet macaws,
blue macaws, rainforest trees, cloudforest trees, endemic plant species, rare birds,
migratory birds, native plants, rainforest birds, epiphytes, tropical dry-forest birds, plants, and mammals,
endangered amphibians and reptiles, tree frogs, rainforest frogs and toads, lizards, whales, sea turtles,
green Ridley turtles, leatherback turtles and other endangered mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians,
fish, plants and other species. Sleeping With the Toucans is your on-line guide to Costa Rican
environmental organizations and NGOs including Women of the Osa, ADELA, Foundation for Sustainable Living,
Rainforest Alliance and other environmental organizations and NGOs. Sleeping With the Toucans guides you
to practice sustainable tourism and sustainable tourist practices including recycling, use of alternative energy,
where to find organic fruits and vegetables, and where and how tio find small boutique hotel, country inn, B&B,
nature lodge, eco-lodge, and other accomodations and lodgings that practice sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.
Wildlife and endangered species conservation organizations and NGOs opposed to over-development, deforestation,
offshore oil exploration, habitat desctruction and other non-sustainable environmental practices. Organizations such as
Women of the Osa and ADELA working to preserve habitat, support Costa Rica's national parks, wildlife preserves,
nature reserves, ocean reserves, pristine beaches, protected rainforests, protected cloud forests, wild rivers,
clean water and clean air.

SLEEPING WITH THE TOUCANS:
100 GREAT PLACES TO STAY IN COSTA RICA

Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Chirripo National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Poas Volcano National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Guanacaste National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Monteverde National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Gandoca National Park, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the Talamanca mountains, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the southern Caribbean coast, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the northern Pacific coast, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the central Pacific coast, Costa Rica. Wildlife and forest reserves and endangered species protection organizations and NGOs and sustainable tourism
practicing small boutique hotels, small inns, B&Bs, eco-lodges, nature lodges, and other lodgings and accomodations
in or near the southern Pacific coast, Costa Rica.

A Guide to the most charming Small Inns, B&Bs, Boutique Hotels, Nature Lodges, and Spas of Costa Rica
Plus ... where to go and what to see throughout Costa Rica!

Help protect Costa Rica's natural wonders!

Here are three simple ways that you can help:

• Practice sustainable tourism in your own travels.

• Support Costa Rica's environmental and
     community organizations.

• Tourism is central to Costa Rica's economy.
     Let President Arias and members of his
     government know what will keep you
     coming back.

SLEEPING WITH THE TOUCANS by Chris Fields and Alison Tinsley,
with cover art by Pat Redding Scanlon - the comprehensive and selective guide to
the most charming inns, boutique hotels, jungle lodges, B&Bs, and spas in Costa Rica.
Sleeping With the Toucans: 100 Great Places to Stay in Costa Rica reviews charming accomodations
for every budget, from cost-conscious to extravagant. Every destination area is described, with
driving directions and over 150 color photographs. Find Costa Rica vacation destinations for
romantic, intimate adults-only getaways and honeymoons, family and kid-friendly activities,
birding, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, rafting, surfing, swimming, and other sports,
exploring downtowns and shopping, eating at quality restaurants with Costa Rican, Italian, French,
fusion, or nouvelle cuisine, enjoying happening bars and nightlife or just relaxing.
Now available as a print guidebook
and as an on-line guide and vacation planner.

Support and practice sustainable tourism.

SLEEPING WITH THE TOUCANS supports low-impact, sustainable tourism by recommending hotels, B&Bs, and lodges that are actively engaged with sustainability practices such as:
• Local hiring and community development.
• Local education.
• Recycling.
• Alternative energy and fuels.
• Reforestation and forest conservation.
• Wildlife protection and habitat preservation.
• Water conservation.

Ask your innkeeper about his or her efforts toward sustainability. You may be surprised by what you learn! Many innkeepers are using their tourism income to support reforestation, build and equip local schools, purchase land to expand nature reserves, encourage organic agriculture, and engage in other local environmental and social development projects. Staying with our recommended innkeepers helps further their work.

Costa Rica has developed a Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program that has become an international model. If you're staying at a large or high-end hotel, ask to see their CST certificate. Many smaller hotels, B&Bs, and lodges do not have the staff or resources needed to obtain this official certification, but still implement sustainability practices. Ask your innkeeper about your hotel's program.

Support Costa Rica's environmental and community organizations

Costa Rica has many environmental and community-development organizations, with activities ranging from building local community recycling centers to developing sources of alternative energy and fuels to protecting Costa Rica's beaches and mountains from uncontrolled or illegal development.

   • Cloud Forest Alive supports the Monteverde Cloud Forest with education and outreach, in collaboration with the
       Tropical Science Center.
   • El Centro de derecho Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales (CEDARENA) develops environmental law and policy in support of
      protected areas and sustainable development (in Spanish).
   • Women of the Osa supports recycling, community development, education, and sustainability in the Osa Peninsula, one of
      Costa Rica’s best-preserved natural areas.
   • Federación Costarricense para la Conservación del Ambiente, Costa Rica's main environmental organization, works in concert with
       other national environmental organizations in Central and South America on issues of sustainability, fair trade, and environmental
       justice (in Spanish).
   • Acción de Lucha Antipetrolera (ADELA) works to prevent oil exploration and development on the Caribbean coast, and supports
      alternative fuels development.
   • Ecological Association of Paquera, Lepanto and Cóbano protects and acquires land to expand nature reserves in the southern
      Nicoya Peninsula.
   • Foundation for Sustainable Living promotes organic agriculture, local-material based home construction and
      alternative energy systems.
   • Colegio de Biólogos de Costa Rica, the professional organization for all Costa Rica biologists, gives short courses on tropical
       biology and advises the Costa Rican government on environmental and economic development policy (in Spanish).
   • Rainforest Alliance supports sustainable agriculture, forestry and tourism in Central America from its Costa Rica office.

Read about Costa Rican President and Nobel Laureate Oscar Arias' "Peace with Nature" Initiative announced June 29, 2007 (in Spanish).

Do you represent a Costa Rican NGO? Email us to be listed on this page.

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Sleeping With the Toucans
100 Great Places to Stay in Costa Rica
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"These are hotel keepers who are not just in business for themselves ... They are using tourism income to preserve and strengthen the things tourists come to see in Costa Rica."