During our travels from La Fortuna to Monteverde we had the chance to see one of the many ways Costa Rica produces renewable energy, with windmills. Here we learned how Costa Rica generates almost all of its electricity from renewable energy sources including hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, wind turbines, and biofuels. Also that hydroelectricity is…
Tag: Plus3 Costa Rica
Check out all the Plus3 Costa Rica blogs below!
Blown Away in Costa Rica
Today we had a long but enjoyable day. We had a long bus ride from La Fortuna to Monteverde to start off the day. Halfway through the ride we made a stop at some wind turbines and learned more about renewable energy. One thing we learned that stuck out to me was that Costa Rica generates nearly 99%…
Blown Away by Sustainability
During our stop at the wind turbines, I learned how much Costa Rica depends on renewable energy. There were many giant windmills spread across the mountains and the land, making it easier to understand how seriously Costa Rica takes environmental protection. Unlike many countries that still rely heavily on fossil fuels, Costa Rica generates almost…
Sloths before profits
On this trip, we have learned so much about sustainability, including the good and bad. Sustainability is using land in a way that protects wildlife and keeps the planet healthy while balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social wellbeing. Some examples of this would be solar energy, wind energy, protecting rainforests, national parks, etc.Sustainability has…
May 19th: Gone with the Wind
This morning, we said goodbye to La Fortuna and headed towards Monteverde. On our way, we made stops at a wind turbine farm and Life Monteverde, a coffee plantation. At the wind farm, we got an up close example of one of Costa Rica’s renewable energy methods. These include wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric energy systems….
Night Hike with Lots of Bugs!!
Today we left La Fortuna and bussed to Monteverde. It was a very long bus ride and the first half I didn’t have my phone because it was dead and had water in it so I couldn’t charge it. It made the bus trip feel even longer. We stopped at windmills on the top of…
1% Fossil Fuels and 100% Humid
Costa Rica has been setting the standard for renewable energy since the 1970s, and after today’s visit to the wind turbines near the continental divide, it is easy to see why this country takes so much pride in its energy infrastructure. The country currently generates around 13,000 kilowatts of energy through renewable sources, with roughly…
Adventura and Essays: Green Economy Integration
Today we went to Arenal Mundo Aventura for a lecture on their business practices and a tour of their grounds. We then went into downtown for lunch, returning to the hotels early to begin working on our blog projects (my group is focusing on Multinational Corporations and Green Economy Integration). Our lecturer at Mundo Aventura…
May 18: The Price of Protecting Paradise
Today’s visit to Arenal Mundo Aventura made me realize how complicated conservation actually is. AMA was founded in 2005 by four Costa Rican business partners who wanted to protect the rainforest while still creating a successful business through ecotourism. The whole model is built around adventure tourism funding conservation. People come for the ziplining, rappelling,…
Wrapping up our La Fortuna Adventures
Today, we visited Arenal Mundo Aventura, or AMA, where we attended an informational lecture about the organization and went on a walking tour around the property. We were able to see both the nature surrounding the park and the different zip line courses throughout the rainforest, which I found very cool to see, as we…
May 18th
Today, we went to the AMA, which is a company that is committed to preserving and sustaining the environment. The AMA activity was a way of commercializing nature, which, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to save and preserve it. During the activity, I was able to see such a great view…
May 18th: Cash Conservation
Today, we visited Arenal Mundo Aventura, an adventure park that includes ziplining, waterfall rappelling, horseback riding, and more activities. Most of profits from these activities go towards the conservation of the national park and private area that the property is on. The property is over one thousand acres large and it includes one of Costa…
Even the Volcano Looked Chill Today 😎 – 05/18
La Fortuna, fue un placer. Today is our last day in La Fortuna, and tomorrow we head to Monteverde. Today the most relaxed day of the whole trip, we went to one business presentation, to the town to eat, and after we had free time. Which I used to write this blog, work on my…
Fun Excursions are Good for the Environment?!
At Arenal Mundo Aventura we learned about the behind the scenes operations of the zip lining industry in La Fortuna. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country because it offers everything tourists are looking for, like waterfalls, rainforests, and adventure experiences. Because of this popularity, there is a lot of…
Day 8 – Amazing Arenal Adventures
Arenal Mundo Aventura (AMA) really stood out to me because it’s not just an adventure park; it’s a business built around protecting nature. The park was started in 2005 by four Costa Rican partners who wanted to show that tourism and conservation could work hand in hand. Of the 560 hectares of rainforest, only 10%…
May 18th – I got stuck on our tour
Today we visited an ecotourism business that has been operating for over 20 years, protecting 1,300 acres of forest that borders a national park and serves as a natural bridge between two protected areas. The revenue from their operations is what funds the conservation, which means that without the tourism, the forest would not be…
Tarzan 2
Today we visited Arenal, a popular tourist site in La Fortuna. We sat down with one of their leaders and learned more about how their business operates. Costa Rica is split up into two seasons, a dry season and a rainy reason. The dry season is from December to April, he was saying during April they brought…
Saving Nature Through Tourism
Today we learned about Arenal Mundo Aventura and how the company combines adventure tourism with conservation. The presenter explained that most of their visitors come from the United States and Canada, but they are also trying to attract more tourists from Europe. Since La Fortuna is one of the most visited places in Costa Rica,…
May 18th – Exploring La Fortuna
Hearing the ins and outs of the business and marketing side of tourism made me think of this trip through a whole new lens. AMA’s business model seems both pragmatic and effective because they have a valid financial reason to protect nature instead of clearing it for other forms of development. The adventure activities like…
Soaking It In (Literally)
With Costa Rica holding 6% of the world’s biodiversity, they carry a significant responsibility to care for it. As a developing country without oil reserves or an abundance of raw materials to lean on economically, they have had to look at what else they have to offer. That answer was ecotourism, turning their natural environment…