Pura Osa
A giant buttressed rainforest tree seen from below
Pura Osa › Regenerative travel

Regenerative travel in Osa: leave it better than you found it

Osa holds about 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity on a sliver of land, and the people who live here are the reason much of it still exists. Travel can help keep it that way. Here is how.

By Geinier Alvarado Guzman · Updated October 2026

From sustainable to regenerative

Sustainable travel asks how to do less harm. Regenerative travel asks a bigger question: how can each visit leave the forest, the sea and the community a little stronger? In Osa that is not theory. Families that once lived from logging and gold mining now earn a living as guides, boat captains, cooks and conservationists, and every booking either supports that choice or works against it.

A clear forest stream running over boulders
Photo: Geinier Alvarado Guzman
A purple guaria morada orchid, Costa Rica’s national flower
Photo: Geinier Alvarado Guzman

Seven ways to travel regeneratively in Osa

  1. Hire localBook certified guides, boat captains and drivers from Osa. Their income is the strongest argument for keeping the forest standing.
  2. Sleep where the money staysChoose family-run lodges, cabinas and homes, ideally with CST certification, local staff and protected forest on the property.
  3. Eat from hereSodas, farmers’ markets, local fish and fruit. Food is one of the easiest ways to support families directly.
  4. Respect the limitsPay park fees, follow whale-watching distances, never feed wildlife, keep to trails and accept visitor caps: they exist so the places survive.
  5. Go slowTwo bases for a week is better than five. Less driving, fewer emissions, deeper experiences and more time with the people of each place.
  6. Leave no trace, bring less plasticCarry a refillable bottle, use reef-friendly sun protection (or a long-sleeve rash guard) and take your trash out of remote areas.
  7. Give backDonate, volunteer or buy from local conservation projects: turtle nesting beaches, reforestation, wildlife research and environmental education.

Local projects you can support

These organizations work on the ground in the Osa region. Contact them before visiting or volunteering; programs and dates change.

Piro, Matapalo–Carate road

Osa Conservation

Sea turtle nesting beaches, forest restoration, wildlife monitoring and regenerative farming; volunteer programs.

Visit website →
Drake Bay area

Fundación Corcovado

Sea turtle protection, environmental education and community projects around Corcovado; volunteer options.

Visit website →
Carate

COPROT

A community group protecting sea turtle nests on Carate beach, with paid work and training for local people.

Golfo Dulce

LAST (Latin American Sea Turtles)

Research on sea turtles feeding in the Golfo Dulce, working with local communities.

La Palma

Fundación Saimiri

Conservation of the endangered Central American squirrel monkey through research and community work.

Río Nuevo

BioSur Foundation

Rainforest reserve, research and insect collection in the hills of the peninsula.

Visit website →

Certifications worth looking for

About CST (ICT, official)

Pura Osa origin seal

The Pura Osa origin seal

We recommend places and people we know and trust. The seal identifies businesses that are rooted in Osa and show it in practice:

  • local ownership or real local benefit
  • staff and suppliers from the community
  • care for forest, water, wildlife and the sea
  • honest information for travelers

Recommended places do not pay to appear. Run a business that fits? Write to [email protected]

Stories from Osa

I was born in Cortés de Osa and grew up between Ballena, Tinoco and Uvita, long before tourism arrived. Soon this section will tell the stories of the captains, guides, cooks and conservationists who make Osa what it is.

Where to stay Plan your trip

Frequently asked questions

What is regenerative travel?

It goes beyond sustainable travel: instead of only reducing harm, it aims to leave places, ecosystems and communities better than they were, by putting local people and nature at the center of how tourism works.

What is the CST certification?

The Certification for Sustainable Tourism is a free, voluntary program run by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). It evaluates natural and cultural resource use, community wellbeing and local economic benefit, with Basic and Elite levels.

Can I volunteer in Osa?

Yes. Several local organizations run turtle, reforestation and research programs, usually with minimum stays and a fee that covers food and lodging. Contact them directly before you travel.

How can I tell if a business is greenwashing?

Ask specific questions: who owns it, where staff come from, how much forest it protects, what it does with water and waste, and which local projects it supports. Real answers are concrete; greenwashing stays vague.

Pura Osa is independent. Organizations listed here did not pay to appear.