REGENERATIVE PRACTICES Sustainability is about giving back more than you take.
Valle Escondido is a regenerative education center, using tourism as a modilty to support the world we share.
Vistit Virtual Library Project
Our Practices
Skylights and windows are placed in guest rooms and common spaces to maximize the use of natural light
Solar collectors on the buildings provide hot water for hotel rooms
A solar air-drying facility is used for hotel linens and towels to reduce the use of gas or electric dryers
Energy-saving lighting is used, included low wattage bulbs, presence-detecting lights, and photovoltaic lamps
EARTH
Cleaning products used at Valle Escondido are 100 % biodegradable including soaps, detergents, & disinfectants.
We do not use pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides in any form
All food that is grown on the property is 100% organic
Valle Escondido grounds and plants are treated with organic bio ferments and organic fertilizers made on-site
Landfill reduction - all waste is managed and recycled, we do the best we can to avoid any waste that will wind up in landfill
Nonrecyclable plastics are used to make eco-bricks that are used for construction projects
Our paper waste and cardboard are used for composting and generating healthy soil
Used kitchen oil and plastic containers are repurposed
On-site we provide several different examples of composting techniques and the production of organic fertilizers
WATER
Rainwater collection is used for our greenhouses and growing terraces and garden beds.
Grey Water management – wastewater from our restaurant, laundry, and hotel rooms is collected and filtered with added active probiotics through a series of living terraces.
Aquaculture- we grow our own tilapia on-site and use that water for fertilizing garden beds
Reforestation - over the years we planted 1700 endemic species of trees here in our preserve and many native fruiting trees to attract birds and animals.
We are a private nature reserve of 17 hectares (42 acres).
COMMUNITY
Supplies for the restaurant and hotel are sourced as local as possible
We are engaged in community programs and regular financial contributions or donate our time, and farm produce, to support community initiatives
All staff are trained in Non-Violent Communication to help support a sustainable working environment and the community
Our reserve trails are free for locals and our restaurant offers local discounts to the community
Our classroom space and hotel areas are provided free of charge as a community meeting space and for community benefits
Our Sister Nonprofit AVER donates and installs small greenhouses built from repurposed materials for local schools and offers sustainable workshops for children and school staff free of charge
Learn more about AVER our Sister Nonprofit
Living Library Project with AVER
This project has been 3 years in the making! It a website dedicated to sharing practices, methods and designs to support living in this world in a regenerative way. Take time to enjoy, learn and share. If you have any feedback please let us know. This is a combined initiative between AVER our sister nonprofit and Valle Escondido. ENJOY!
(Its a large site so please give it time to load)
LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Click on the following links to find ways to get involved and support a healthy future for Monteverde
Commission for Resilience to Climate Change
Monteverde Institute
Monteverde Community fund
Valle Escondido Integrated Policy
Valle Escondido is dedicated to offering authentic rural tourism experiences in the Monteverde community, combining excellent guest service with a deep commitment to protecting the natural environment. Our vision is to promote regenerative practices through responsible tourism. To achieve this, we are committed to the following principles:
- Commitment to Quality:
To offer national and international visitors an experience in harmony with nature, guided by our organizational values and a deep sense of gratitude for what sustains life. We seek to inspire creativity by promoting joy, curiosity, connection with nature, and openness to continuous change.
We are firmly committed to providing quality service and pursuing continuous improvement, while promoting more accessible tourism. We also reject all forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, as well as any form of abuse or exploitation within the tourism industry.
2, Commitment to Our Team
To ensure employee selection processes that avoid all forms of discrimination and promote the inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds in all possible positions. We are committed to integrating gender, age, diversity, and inclusive employment practices, as well as facilitating the participation and integration of people with disabilities.
We also assume a firm commitment to the ongoing training and professional development of our team, while maintaining a safe work environment that prevents, rejects, and sanctions any form of sexual harassment. Through these commitments, we seek to provide high-quality, sensitive, and humanized service that responds to the diverse needs of society.
- Commitment to Sustainability
To operate with a firm commitment to improving our environmental performance, complying with all legal requirements, as well as any voluntary requirements we have adopted as part of our organizational commitments.
We are committed to protecting the environment, including protected, threatened, and endangered species. This includes the prevention of pollution, the sustainable use of resources, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the protection and regeneration of biodiversity and ecosystems. We also recognize the importance of protecting cultural, historical, and archaeological heritage.
In addition, we are committed to supporting the local development of Monteverde and its surrounding communities. To strengthen this commitment, we establish rigorous supplier selection processes that prioritize:
the local economy
the entrepreneurship of women, families, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable social groups
the use and marketing of organic products
fair working conditions
certified or award-winning products and services, which in turn rejects the monoculture industry and avoids the use of products generated by transnational companies.
