Hotel Casa Turire- Luxury Eco Hotel in Costa Rica

If you are looking for a luxury hotel outside of San Jose, Costa Rica, you will love this colonial deco boutique hotel. It is in the Cartago Province just minutes from the majestic Turrialba volcano. It is one of the best eco hotels in Costa Rica! Hotel Casa Turire, in Turrialba, Costa Rica, is a gorgeous luxury hotel with Rainforest Alliance Verification for sustainable tourism. Our press group had the pleasure of speaking with, Jana Dangle, the manager of Hotel Casa Turire about why they got verified and what the benefits of verification are for them.

While tourism is a vital source of income for many developing countries, it can also result in pollution, degradation of land, inefficient energy use and cultural exploitation. The Rainforest Alliance seeks to prevent the negative effects that tourism can have and offers training to tourism businesses in order to provide them with the education and tools to run efficiently and sustainably. Businesses that have completed the Rainforest Alliance verification program earn the right to use the Rainforest Alliance Verified™ mark on promotional materials. This makes it easy for travelers to know they are making a positive impact when they select a verified hotel or tour operator.

Hotel Casa Turire- Eco Hotel Review

In 2007, Hotel Casa Turire started on the road to Rainforest Alliance verification. It took about one year for them to get verified. The biggest change was becoming more aware of what they use and how much they use. They do lots more training now with the staff.

Hotel CasaTurire-
21 years old and based on a plantation home style
40 acres with a farm and located right next to a lake
16 rooms
30 employees, all Costa Rican

Hotel Casa Turire was approached by the Rainforest Alliance and told about the verification training. Hotel Casa Turire was attracted to it because they wanted to maintain their reputation as one of the best hotels in the area and be leaders. The liked that the verification would help set them apart. They already were trying to do things in a good way. It made sense that they would be able to learn how to improve and achieve recognition at the same time.

The Benefits of Rainforest Alliance Verification For Casa Turire

The workers like the guarantee that verification provides that the workers will be able to get health benefits. Hotel Casa Turire appreciate the employee satisfaction and happiness.

The workers learn sustainable practices that they can bring home with them. For example, conserving water and recycling and it helps the whole area improve.

Verification helps with acceptance of new practices. The staff knows these are things that have been adopted because they are beneficial and actually work.

All of the employees feel proud that they are doing their part to protect their natural resources.
The manager feels that many Europeans chose them because of verification.

What is sustainable tourism to you?

As a Eco Hotel in Costa Rica, sustainable tourism is all about sharing the beauty of their amazing country with tourist in a sustainable way. It is important not to allow the tourism to degrade the natural beauty.

Being sustainable environmentally has also helped them be sustainable economically. It cuts down on transportation and costs when they are able to trade services in the community. It also helps create better relations in the community.

Breakfast at Casa Turire — Breakfast at Hotel Casa Turire- everything comes from their gardens or local community

All of their beautiful Tropical arrangements are grown on Hotel Turire grounds. Their farm includes animals, flowers, fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Everything on the menu comes from their community- Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Just one small corner of the massive Casa Turire Gardens

Ways in Which Hotel Casa Turire Works With The Community

The hotel works with local school to implement recycling programs in the community. This benefits them as well because people don’t throw stuff on the side of the road.

They plant food bearing plants for the social program for kids and pregnant or nursing moms. Hotel Turire lets kids help with planting and they do replanting whenever needed.

They also host educational programs for the kids in the community providing food and activities.

We toured the beautiful grounds of Hotel Turire as a group. Then we split to try out different amenities and activities. Some of us went horseback riding, some took a canoe out on the lake, and some toured a nearby coffee farm. I also tried out the massage and it was amazing!

As beautiful as Hotel Casa Turire was with its luxurious, large rooms, fancy dining area, lovely pool, and relaxing common areas, my favorite part was how genuinely excited they are to be running a hotel that is sustainable and a benefit to the community.