Santa Juana Community-Based Rural Tourism Program

According to Peter Utting the term social and solidarity economy (SSE) is increasingly being used to refer to a broad range of organizations that are distinguished from conventional for-profit enterprise, entrepreneurship and informal economy by two core features. First, they have explicit economic AND social (and often environmental) objectives.

Santa Juana Community Project is a great example: In the last year alone revenues from the tours and the new lodge, both operated by members of the community, have made possible repairs to the roof and windows of the school and improved the water delivery to the village. In October, donations from Globalgiving and other sources made possible the construction of the cage needed to re-introduce the Scarlett Macaws (ara macaw) back into the local area in a 90 day transition program with the Ministry of natural Resources.

We continue to be amazed about the reviews and personal commitments by guest’s experiences at the new lodge, especially one particular family that decided to rent 20 movies to watch in their cabin. So, when I heard that a guest had rented 20 movies out of the library I had to wonder. It turned out when they realized that the $2.00 movie rental went to the local primary school scholarship program, they decided to pay for 20 movie rentals, but only took one back to their cabin.  That says a lot for the clientele of Greentique Hotels, where you can Travel Right & Travel Well by supporting “sustainable hospitality”, a travel choice that includes Santa Juana Mountain Lodge: http://santajuanalodge.com

Both the Santa Juana Rural Mountain Adventure and Lodge together have created more employment opportunities, enhanced both the value of rural culture and protection of biodiversity, providing “Exceptional Costa Rica Experiences”.

We invite you to come enjoy the Magic of Nature and Good-natured hospitality while making a difference.