While living in Nosara, Costa Rica I had the opportunity to get a private guided tour of the CST 5 leaf approved Harmony Hotel. The Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program; brought into practice Costa Rica Tourist Institute,  allows any tourism-targeted business to voluntarily take part in maintaining (or authenticating if you want to get real about the issue) Costa Rica as a eco-destination. Maximum rating is 5 leafs, of which only13 hotels in the country hold. The rating system is similar on many points to the LEED program here in Canada.

Harmony has laid out its vibrant sanctuary 200 meters back from the oceans edge (200 m’s of protected wildlife habitat implemented by the Ostional Wildlife Refuge) in the surf/yoga town of Nosara. The Hotel has been carefully planned from it’s birth 6 years ago. The land it sits upon was cleared for cattle farming long ago, but Harmony is reintroducing the astoundingly natural beauty of regional species back onto the land.

During my time in Nosara I became a fixture at the hotels organic juice/coffee bar as well as the yoga studio in the Healing Centre – the invigorating landscape and architecture matching the folks who tend the hotel perfectly made for a brilliant home-away-from-home.

Some of the features Harmony has incorporated into the facility include:

• on-site vegetable and herb garden, nutrient-rich soil from hotel kitchen waste compost
• landscaped gardens irrigated via uv filtered grey water system from hotel
• water consumption and electricity use monitored throughout the hotel
• thorough on site composting of food and garden clippings for reuse on property
• rigorous recycling collection, diverting where possible and weighing waste to monitor their impact
• collection and seedling program aimed at the reintroduction of native plant species to the hotel property and surrounding land
• education for guests, beautiful pathways labeling the vegetation, frequented by gorgeous birds and butterflies!
• sustainably oriented book and gift store (also happens to be the only enclosed air conditioned space for guest use)
• lighting on sensors in public restrooms
• reusable hand towels
• copper, silver and zinc ion pool (no chlorine)
• weekly documentary showings focusing on healthy lifestyle and sustainable living
• educational workshops and tree planting along the beach for local community and guests
• safe, clean, convenient and economical community living for staff on site
• bio-diesel generator that kicks in 3 seconds after power in the area fails (which happens fairly frequently)

For  more info or to book a trip to Nosara Harmony Hotel visit www.harmonynosara.com

Thank you to Gerardo and Harmony Hotel for the informative tour & your geniune concern for the health of Costa Rica’s ecology!

Read article here.