Photo by Belen Alvarado” title=”Costa Rica” srcset=”https://news.iu.edu/live/image/scale/2x/gid/2/width/1000/height/750/8865_costa_rica_.rev.1690401598.jpg 2x, https://news.iu.edu/live/image/scale/3x/gid/2/width/1000/height/750/8865_costa_rica_.rev.1690401598.jpg 3x” data-max-w=”3200″ data-max-h=”2400″/> View of the Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica at sunrise. Photo by Belen Alvarado IUPUI students traveled to Costa Rica this summer to put what they learned in their ecotourism classes into practice, traveling to different towns and learning more about the Central American country’s sustainable practices and progressive environmental policies.
Instructors planned the trip using IUPUI’s Green Travel Guide, allowing students to demonstrate how they practiced sustainability during their travels. The guide was created by the IUPUI Office of Sustainability to educate travelers on how to minimize their impact on the environment when exploring new places. Costa Rica was chosen as the class destination because it is well known for its ecotourism and sustainable practices.
“The course was all about sustainable travel — staying in eco-lodges, eating and shopping locally, and only going on tours with locals so that money stays in the community,” said Amanda Cecil, professor of tourism, events and sports management in the Indiana University-IUPUI College of Health and Human Sciences.
Students visited local families to learn about Costa Rican agriculture. Photo by Natalie Walters The trip began in the capital, San José, where students took a day trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest and visited a family farm. There, we caught trout for dinner that night and learned about sustainable agriculture. Next, we stopped in La Fortuna to visit the Fortuna River Falls, which are sustainably managed by a local non-profit organization. We also visited local cooperatives to better understand how tourist money is used.
One of the main focuses of this trip was learning to reduce waste, starting with ditching plastic bottles and switching to reusable bottles. We also didn’t print on items and made sure to turn off lights when not in use to reduce our carbon footprint.
“When we visited La Fortuna, we went to a recycling plant,” says Rafael Bahamonde, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, who accompanied us on the trip. “They recycle everything and try to give the profits back to the town.”
Many of the student activities were designed to be authentically connected to the local community, such as a cultural dance class or cooking dinner with a family on a local farm. The students spent a day at the National University of Costa Rica, working with students from the university on sustainability issues.
Photo by Samuel McCarley” title=”Costa Rica” srcset=”https://news.iu.edu/live/image/scale/2x/gid/2/width/500/height/375/8867_costa_rica.rev.1690402591 .jpg 2x, https://news.iu.edu/live/image/scale/3x/gid/2/width/500/height/375/8867_costa_rica.rev.1690402591.jpg 3x” data-max-w=” 2016″ data-max-h=”1512″ reading=”lazy”/> The topiary garden in Salcero, Costa Rica was one of the stops for students on their leafy journey. Photo by Samuel McCarley
Other outings during the trip included hiking, visiting national parks, swimming in hot springs, chocolate tours, and other unique activities with locals.
For those looking to travel more sustainably, here are some tips from Cécile and Bahamonde.
Plan ahead: Look for airlines and hotels that are committed to reducing emissions. Many booking sites will tell you which airlines and hotels are the most emissions-friendly. Only the essentials: Pack only the essentials and bring a reusable water bottle. From the time you leave home until you arrive, think about the resources you use. Limit printing: You can save your flight tickets digitally, as well as maps and other tourist information on your phone. Give back to your community: Eat only at local restaurants and shop from local vendors. Buy responsibly and only buy locally made items that you really need. The best way to give back is to put your money into the same community. Respect your local community: Learn about the culture and learn from the residents. Take advantage of every opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture, such as taking cooking or dance classes. Minimize waste: Make sure to hand wash your clothes when necessary. Bring a reusable water bottle and reusable straw if needed. Recycle as much as you can and turn off lights when not in use. When packing, use refillable toiletry bottles to avoid using store-bought travel-sized products.
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