At Böëna Lodges, sustainability is the very foundation upon which the organisation is built. Since its inception, Böëna Lodges has been committed to conserving some of the planet’s most biodiverse regions, ensuring their protection for generations to come.

The education of today’s children is crucial in shaping the environmentally conscious leaders of tomorrow. Instilling an appreciation for nature and an understanding of sustainability from an early age helps cultivate a generation that values and protects the world’s natural resources.

For over two decades, Böëna Lodges has been dedicated to providing environmental education to school-aged children in nearby communities. These initiatives aim to foster an early connection with nature, encouraging young minds to develop a lifelong commitment to conservation.

Reinstating environmental education programmes after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has been a gradual yet steadfast process. Since 2019, changes in school leadership, shifts within Costa Rica’s education system, and ongoing health concerns have presented obstacles to resuming these vital programmes. Despite this, Böëna Lodges took on the challenge, reintroducing environmental education sessions in the communities surrounding its lodges during lower-occupancy periods.

The initiative recommenced on 6 October 2022, when the Pacuare Lodge Environmental Education Committee visited the school in Tsiobata, an indigenous community, engaging ten children aged 8 to 12 in interactive learning sessions. The programme then continued with eleven students at Santa Marta School on 31 October and nine children at El Bajo del Tigre School—the closest community to Pacuare Lodge—on 8 November 2022.

At each school, staff members delivered lessons on:

• Natural resource conservation
• Waste management and recycling processes
• The significance of Costa Rica’s biodiversity
• Wildlife protection and responsible environmental stewardship

Each session was designed to be both educational and engaging, incorporating interactive activities that allow children to learn through experience. Additionally, the lodge provided refreshments, fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

While these sessions were designed to educate the children, the Böëna Lodges team also found themselves enriched by the experience. The shared commitment between children and adults to care for and improve their local environments was a powerful reminder of the importance of education in driving sustainable change.

Pacuare Lodge extends its commitment to sustainability beyond environmental education by supporting broader community development initiatives. The lodge has contributed to local projects, such as funding a volleyball team in Turrialba with a donation of 260,000 colones to provide uniforms for 20 children.

Furthermore, Pacuare Lodge has strengthened environmental learning opportunities by collaborating with local schools, including Escuela Bajos del Tigre, Santa Marta, and Linda Vista. More than 250 students have participated in these environmental education programmes, which focus on:

• Wildlife observation and conservation
• The importance of responsible waste management
• Cultural and ecological appreciation

Environmental education remains a cornerstone of Pacuare Lodge’s mission. The lodge regularly organises events such as the World Environment Day celebration, where local schoolchildren participate in birdwatching tours and cultural walks, gaining firsthand experience of their natural heritage. 

Additionally, Pacuare Lodge has led waste management awareness campaigns in Siquirres, conducting door-to-door education efforts and providing educational materials for schools in Linda Vista.

By integrating environmental conservation, community engagement, and sustainable business practices, Pacuare Lodge has established itself as a leader in responsible tourism. Through education-focused initiatives, the lodge ensures that its sustainability efforts extend beyond its immediate surroundings, empowering local communities with the knowledge and tools needed to protect their environment for future generations.

By educating and inspiring young minds today, Pacuare Lodge is nurturing a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals—ones who will carry forward the principles of sustainability and conservation throughout their lives

Pacuare Lodge has been a trailblazer in renewable energy solutions since its establishment in 1986, as the lodge operates entirely on clean energy. 

Pacuare Lodge generates 70% of its energy through 204 solar panels, installed on the restaurant and staff accommodations, and three hydroelectric turbines that harness the natural flow of water from a mountain spring. This clean energy is efficiently stored in 84 batteries and distributed across the lodge, ensuring that all operations remain entirely self-sufficient and environmentally responsible.

The lodge employs a state-of-the-art energy monitoring system that tracks both production and consumption, optimising efficiency and minimising waste. 

By relying on a closed-loop renewable energy system, Pacuare Lodge exemplifies how businesses can operate sustainably, even in remote locations, while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.

Pacuare Lodge offers a sustainability tour, providing guests with first-hand insight into its innovative renewable energy systems. Visitors learn about the lodge’s off-grid energy solutions and are encouraged to take part in broader sustainability initiatives.

To further reduce its environmental impact, the lodge prioritises waste reduction strategies, including the use of reusable packaging and bulk sourcing of products. These efforts minimise waste production and reinforce a circular economy model that promotes resource efficiency.

Pacuare Lodge integrates sustainable transport into its operations, ensuring that guests and staff travel in an environmentally responsible manner.

• Rafting as Sustainable Entry – Guests arrive primarily by rafting down the Pacuare River, an exhilarating yet environmentally friendly mode of transport that eliminates the need for roads and vehicles.
• Electric Vehicles – Once at the lodge, guests use electric cars powered by the lodge’s renewable energy system, ensuring a zero-emissions transport experience.
• Sustainable Employee Transport – Employees are provided with shared transport options, reducing individual carbon footprints and optimising fuel efficiency. All lodge vehicles undergo regular maintenance to ensure they operate with maximum efficiency and minimal emissions.

Beyond its own operations, Pacuare Lodge is dedicated to improving energy access for local communities. In September 2022, the lodge implemented a project to provide clean water access to the Nairi Awari Indigenous Reserve, a small and isolated community in need of sustainable infrastructure.

Utilising solar energy, the lodge installed a solar-powered water purification system that ensures the community has access to safe drinking water. The system, which was initially tested at Pacuare Lodge, includes:

• Two solar panels to generate clean energy
• Two filtration units for water purification
• A UV light purification system to eliminate harmful contaminants

Valued at $5,473.30, this solar-powered solution provides a reliable and sustainable source of potable water, improving public health and overall wellbeing for the community’s residents. As part of its long-term commitment, the lodge conducts monthly maintenance to ensure the system’s continued functionality and effectiveness.

The impact of these initiatives has been profound, with members of the Nairi Awari community, including Siveriano Barquero, Erick Morales, and Aidol Pérez, expressing their immense gratitude for the provision of clean water—a fundamental necessity that was previously inaccessible.

This project stands as a powerful example of how sustainable tourism can drive environmental conservation, energy access, and social development simultaneously. Through its pioneering use of renewable energy and commitment to community empowerment, Pacuare Lodge continues to inspire transformative change, proving that a more sustainable future is not only possible but already in motion.

On 23 January 2024, Pacuare Lodge was awarded the prestigious ELITE LEVEL certification by the Sustainable Tourism Certificate (CST) Technical Verification Commission, recognising its exceptional sustainability efforts. This distinction highlights the lodge’s unwavering dedication to minimising its environmental footprint while fostering social, cultural, and economic benefits for local communities.

Pacuare Lodge actively manages over 340 hectares of protected rainforest within the Barbilla-Destierro Biological Corridor. This vital habitat supports a diverse range of flora and fauna. 

In collaboration with the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, the lodge spearheads the Jaguar Conservation Program, a research initiative aimed at monitoring and protecting native wildlife. Through extensive fieldwork, the programme has gathered over 5,288 photographic records from 2,523 trap nights, documenting 24 mammal species and 19 bird species. 

Beyond wildlife conservation, Pacuare Lodge actively participates in the Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and regeneration of the Pacuare River Basin. 

As part of these efforts, the lodge has planted 360 trees in the San Martín de Tres Equis area, supporting reforestation projects that restore ecosystems and enhance climate resilience. Additionally, the lodge plays a key role in Citizen Water Observatories and Natural Resources Surveillance Committees, ensuring the sustainable management of local water sources.

Pacuare Lodge believes that true conservation success is only possible with community participation. A key initiative in this effort was the First Soccer Tournament for Jaguar Conservation, launched in collaboration with the National University of Costa Rica and the Jaguardians Project. 

The event brought together indigenous communities from Las Brisas, Tsiobata, Dueri, and Bukeri, strengthening ties between conservationists and local residents.

Over 30 indigenous participants attended educational workshops on the use of camera traps in the rainforest, learning how to monitor and protect jaguar populations. The tournament itself saw the participation of over 60 players, including former first-division Costa Rican footballers such as Evaristo Coronado, Enrique Rivers, Andrés Núñez, Víctor Cordero, Carlos Vivó, and Germán Chavarría. 

By merging sports and conservation, the initiative successfully fostered environmental awareness while encouraging local communities to take an active role in protecting their natural heritage.

Pacuare Lodge operates Finca Tuis, an organic farm that supplies fresh, locally grown produce to the lodge’s kitchen. The farm employs sustainable agroforestry techniques, cultivating 2,500 coffee plants under natural shade canopies, which promote soil health and biodiversity.

In addition to producing tomatoes, leafy greens, and coffee, Finca Tuis has generated 7,584 kg of compost and 320 litres of effective microorganisms (EM) to enrich the soil, further reducing the environmental impact of food production. These regenerative farming methods support the lodge’s farm-to-table philosophy, ensuring guests enjoy sustainably sourced, organic cuisine while minimising waste.

Pacuare Lodge’s dedication to protecting Costa Rica’s natural and cultural heritage has earned it international recognition. The lodge proudly holds the Ecological Blue Flag, awarded for its 340-hectare protected natural area, and is actively involved in conservation initiatives within the Barbilla Biological Subcorridor.

By integrating biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and regenerative tourism, Pacuare Lodge has established itself as a benchmark for sustainable travel, demonstrating that luxury hospitality and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.