- Through interaction with our staff as well as written material at the front desk, on the website and in the guestbooks (#16, pages 21-25 ) placed in each cabin, guests who come to Lapa Rios are extremely well informed about the area’s historical, cultural and ecological significance.

- Employees are also encouraged to talk with the guests, share their lives and where they live as a contribution to the guests’ experience—this method has proven much more personable than only using printed material.

- Guided tours are provided to: Pto. Jiménez, the Carbonera School, Lapa Rios Reserve, Golfo Dulce and Corcovado National Park. Tour information is available at the front desk or in guestbooks (#16, pages 11-21).

- Local borruca masks with a written explanation are displayed in the restaurant (#96)

- The hotel library contains many books about the bio-diversity of the Osa Peninsula, the national parks as well as many books about Costa Rican people and their culture.

- People that work with conservation are encouraged to give talks and interact with other guests during evening hours to create awareness. Additionally, our guides give weekly chats about the area’s environmental importance (#70).

- In 2005 a sustainability tour was incorporated as part of what guests can experience at Lapa Rios where they can learn about all the different things that are done and can be done to be sustainable (#71).

- In 2006, the Finca Ramirez tour was introduced. In this tour, guests are invited to a local farm and are hosted by a local family for breakfast. This tour has proven to be a great way to take part in local culture and family life (#70).

- Signs placed in the restaurant inform guests of local fruits, vegetables and typical Costa Rican dishes. These signs are rotated every day for both breakfast, lunch and dinner (#106).

17.2 There is an informational program providing guests details about the hotel’s commitment to the CST policies and objectives. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

- Guests are informed about Lapa Rios’ commitment to the CST through its website, guest evaluation (#72), guestbook found in every room (#16, pages 32-48) and on the sustainability tour (#71). Additionally, a book that documents Lapa Rios’CST efforts is included in the hotel’s library.

17.3 The hotel declares under oath that all information contained in its promotional material is true. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

- Lapa Rios declares that all information contained in promotional material is true in its guidebooks (#16). This information is also expressed in the guest copy of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (#27)

17.4 The hotel’s promotional materials refer to and promote the objectives of the CST program. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

- The questionnaire and responses have been written in English as a tool for guests to fully understand the certification requirements, how we have performed, and where they think we could improve. These responses are placed in our library for all guests to view and evaluate.

- Lapa Rios’s most effective promotional tool is its website. The website explicitly explains our comittment to the CST program, and has been linked to the Lapa Rios web page. The previous CST results are published on this site. (See: website www.laparios.com)

- The new brochure of Lapa Rios includes the CST logo (#42)

- Each guest information book explains the CST goals plus the Lapa Rios goals and its involvement. Guests are invited to contribute ideas and improvements to our program. See “Information about the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism” in our guestbook (#16, pages 32-48).

- In October 2002, Karen Lewis published a 280-page book about developing Lapa Rios. The book contains information about sustainanble development and challenges at Lapa Rios. The CST mission statement and website address is also included in this book (#41).

- In the hotel’s library, the complete CST documentation is available for guests to review. (See: CST Report 2006 on library table).

17.5 The hotel guest is informed and encouraged to participate in the different CST-based programs. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

- Guests are educated about our commitment to sustainable practices and our CST effort during the oral orientation (#44), during nature tours and sustainability tours (#71) and in the guest room information book (#16, pages 33-46)

- Guests are invited to leave written recommendations for hotel performance/improvement upon departure (#72).

- Guests are encouraged to leave a donation at the end of their stay to help Women of the Osa and the Asociacion de Educacion (#73).

- Guests are invited to participate in various programs in the surrounding community, including Earth Day (#130)

17.6 Guests are provided information regarding the area’s environmental protection. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

- Upon arrival, our General Manager greets guests and in his presentation he explains to them what the mission of Lapa Rios is and the environmental and social problems of the local area (#44).

- An entire section of the guestbook in each cabin discusses information about the area’s environmental protection (#16, pages 25-32)

- A sustainability tour is offered to guests, where information about the area’s environmental protection policies is discussed (#71).

17.7 Information is given to the guests about local ongoing social and cultural activities. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

- Due to the lodge isolation there are only a few, limited social and cultural activities: the Carbonera School and Pto. Jiménez tours are activities that offer guests experiences into the area’s social and cultural activities. These tours are discussed during orientation, at the front desk and in the guestbooks of each cabin in “Tour Information”, pages 13-23 (#16, pages 11-21).

- When there are local festivals or parties in town, guests are often invited. Many of our guests have participated in past events, such as Independence Day, Las Fiestas de San Juan Bautista and the Marine Sea Turtle Festival, for example (#130)

- As of 2003, a local school dance group performs at Lapa Rios weekly and for special occasions (Christmas, New Years, etc.). The group helps teach interested guests some of the dances (#70).

- Guests are invited to participate in all local soccer games and fiestas held at the Carbonera School. This is discussed during orientation, at the front desk and in the guestbooks of each cabin in “Tour Information” (#16, pages 11-21).

- The medicine tour is a cultural tour that explains the indigenous people’s beliefs in the curative affects from locally harvested plants. This tour is discussed during orientation, at the front desk and in the guestbooks of each cabin in “Tour Information”(#16, pages 11-21).

- Weekly live music performed by members of our staff showcases traditional Costa Rican music (#70).

- “Tico Cooking Classes”, which teach guests how to prepare typical Costa Rican cuisine, is offered weekly (#70).

- People that work with conservation are encouraged to give talks and interact with other guests during evening hours to create awareness. Additionally, our guides give weekly chats about the area’s environmental importance (#70, #52).

- Yes, two containers for “recyclables” and “non-recyclables” are placed in every single guest room (#119)

18.2 The room has the necessary information inviting guests to help save water and energy. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ]

- Yes. One sign reminds guests about electrical use/outlet caution and a turn off unattended fixtures (#113).

- The guest welcome orientation includes the lesson about minimum electricity (and use) as well as the policy to practice sustainable conservation with minimal impact (little electricity). This policy is outlined in the suggestions pages in the guest information book (#16 pages 6-7) and during orientation (#44).

- Air conditioners are not present in any of the hotel rooms. Additionally, hair dryers and curling irons are not allowed at the property. This information is included in the guestbook (#16, pages 6-7)

18.3 The hotel has a program to promote alternating days towel and linen laundering. Weight: 3 [ ] yes [ ]

- Yes, signs are placed in guest rooms to promote alternate day towel and linen laundering (#50)

18.4 In an effort to reduce air pollution only certain areas of the hotel are available for smokers. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ]

- Smoking is permitted only at the bar and on the outside decks.

- The restaurant has a no smoking policy during meal times.

- The cabins are all non-smoking cabins. Guests can only smoke outside on the deck. Guests are informed through staff members in the restaurant. This information is included in the employee sustainability manual and communicated to guests verbally (87) and through a no smoking sign in the restaurant (49)

- Guests receive a 20-minute orientation upon arrival where they are told and invited to tour and experience Corcovado National Park, the Golfo Dulce forest reserve, Rio Esquinas as well as the Lapa Rios Reserve (#44).

19.2 The hotel has naturalists and/or guides, personnel trained to provide detailed information to guests. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

- There are 4 staff guides on duty for lodge hikes/experiences; most employees also have basic knowledge of local wildlife near the hotel and willingly provide assistance to guests (#16, pages 11-21).

- Numerous neighbor and community guides (about 12) provide a variety of tour experiences away from the forest: fishing, kayaking, boating, surfing, cruising to see wildlife up the Rio Esquinas, etc. This information is included in the Tour Information section of the guestbook (#16, pages 11-21).

19.3 The hotel has developed a program to encourage guests to help clean, maintain and conserve the protected areas. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

- The labeled trash containers and signs along the road encourage guests to pick up litter found along the beach and roads (#19)

- Lapa Rios offers a Plant a Tree program, a guest-financed reforestation program for second growth regeneration near the main lodge. Guests help the forest guide select and bag baby trees for planting (#74).

- Lapa Rios only gives guests reusable hand-carry coolers and packaging supplies for guest picnics away from the hotel, thereby reducing any excess trash that may be produced.

- Guests are encouraged by guides to minimize forest impact: by stepping carefully, avoiding tree roots; to only use designated trails; and, never to create additional paths. This information is layed out in our guide training manuals (#43) and in our guestbooks in every cabin (#16, pages 11-21).

- Guests may only take walking sticks, binoculars and cameras to the forest: no machetes/shovels to harvest or weapons to kill are allowed. This information is discussed in guest welcoming brochures (#46) and in the Tour Information section of guestbooks (#16, pages 11-21).

- Guests must follow strict Lapa Rios Reserve standards: minimize sound/interruption with only 6 – 8 hikers per group; acceptance of no posted signs; and, no unguided tours except near the building site. This information is discussed in the Tour Information section of guestbooks (#16, pages 11-21).

19.4 Guests are provided with guidelines about responsibilities and proper behavior when visiting the area’s wilderness. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

- During orientation upon entering Lapa Rios and before every tour within the Lapa Rios private reserve, the receptionist and/or guide explains forest and hiking etiquette—what to do and what not to do during the hike, what flora and fauna will be expected to be seen; conservation tips for less disturbance; clothing and comforts to bring, etc (#44). This information is also included in guestbooks (#16, pages 11-21).

- Outside tour guides have been trained that Lapa Rios guests need guidance before hikes, with suggestions for proper clothing, footwear, water, repellents, sunscreen, etc. This information is communicated by our guides and our front desk, as well as our welcome brochure (#42) and guestbooks (#16, pages 11-21).

19.5 The hotel sells and promotes tours and general activities that invite interaction between guests, the community and nature. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

- All of our tours involve some interaction between guest, the community and nature. Our tour boards, guestbook (#16, pages 11-42) and sustainability and cultural event signs (#70) communicate this information.

- Guest questionnaire are given to each guest prior to departure. This form contains questions about our CST progress as well as requests suggestions for improvements (#72).

20.2 The results of the hotel’s survey are reported to the CST and the Ministry of Tourism every 6 months. Weight: 1 [ ] yes [ ] no

- Yes, all surveys are reported, analyzed and sent to the Ministry of Tourism every six months (#94)

20.3 Guests have a form on which they add comments about the hotel’s implementation of the CST program. Weight: 2 [ ] yes [ ] no

- On the guest evaluation forms, there is a specific question about the CST program and its implementation at Lapa Rios (#72).

20.4 The hotel has designed a guarantee for the guest related to the services offered and the results of the CST. Weight: 3 [ ] yes [ ] no

- We guarantee a free Plant a Tree tour if any guest finds an inconsistency regarding our implementation and response to the CST program. This guarantee is in the guest information book (#27).