Responsible Travel & Sustainability
Travel with purpose, feel good about your stay.
At Olas Verdes, responsible travel isn’t a label or trend; it’s how this place was imagined, built, and operates every day. We see ourselves as part of a larger living system that includes the forest, beach, wildlife, and the people who call Nosara home.
Thoughtful choices made over time help protect what makes Playa Guiones and this region so special.
Sustainability has been our process long before Olas Verdes welcomed its first guests; we see land as something to restore, respect, and regenerate rather than something to extract.
Culture
We invite you to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Costa Rica and Nosara at Olas Verdes. Our suites feature décor from five different regions of the country, each item sourced directly from local artists at fair trade prices. Our mission is to enhance your experience while supporting local craftsmanship and traditions.
Environment
We are fortunate to be in a region rich in biodiversity. To protect this, we preserved 90% of the trees on our property during construction and continue to support the Costas Verdes BarriGuiones Reforestation Project at Playa Guiones. Additionally, we share our plant catalog with new residents, encouraging the growth of native gardens in local homes.
Energy
Local architect Donald Loria Prendas employed passive solar design principles to minimize energy loads. Natural ventilation, shading, and strategic spatial orientation help keep you cool, while our energy-efficient lighting and appliances ensure comfort. Olas Verdes is proud to have earned a Platinum level LEED certification.
Economy
Olas Verdes employs area residents from design to daily operations. Our construction materials were locally sourced, and resident artists created our murals and décor. By supporting the local workforce, we contribute to retaining community talent while cultivating their skills.
Landscaping
The hotel grounds seamlessly blend into the Wildlife Refuge thanks to our exclusive use of 100% native vegetation, featuring over 130 species. Native plants are low-maintenance, don't require toxic fertilizers or herbicides, prevent erosion, and provide optimal habitats for Costa Rica's wildlife. Our lush gardens help lower temperatures, reduce noise, and attract new bird species.
Recycling
Our goal is to be a zero-waste hotel. We avoid overpackaging and prioritize local products in our procurement practices. Yard waste is composted on-site, food scraps are sent to a local pig farm, recyclables are sorted and delivered to the Nosara Recycling Center, and vendors refill our biodegradable cleaning and bathroom product containers.
Solar
Costa Rica is a leader in renewable energy, with approximately 94% of the country’s electricity coming from renewables. At Olas Verdes, our solar PV and hot water systems supply over 35% of our annual energy needs. During peak sunny hours, we rely entirely on clean, solar-generated energy.
Water
Water conservation is crucial in drought-prone Nosara, and we prioritize it at Olas Verdes. We utilize 14,000 liters of rainwater storage, ultra-efficient water fixtures, and a greywater treatment system for irrigation. These efforts are reflected in our water consumption, which is one-third of other hotels of similar size and occupancy.
Prologue: history shaped by care and foresight
Before Nosara became the community it is today, much of this area was used for farming and cattle ranching, with large portions of the original forest cleared. In the 1970s, residents made a conscious shift toward conservation and reforestation. Locals, expats, and Costa Rica’s environmental institutions, including MINAE, worked together to protect what remained and restore what had been lost.
The creation of the Nosara Civic Association marked a turning point, helping ensure Playa Guiones would grow with intention rather than fall into the patterns of unsustainable tourism seen elsewhere.
Today, the beach and surrounding land are proudly protected as part of the Ostional–Nosara National Wildlife Refuge, a responsibility we take seriously as direct neighbors to this vital ecosystem.
Culture: local roots, shared respect.
Staying at Olas Verdes means being welcomed into a place shaped by local hands and voices.
Most furnishings, artwork, and decorative details throughout the hotel were created by Costa Rican artists from different regions. Each piece was thoughtfully selected and purchased at fair trade prices, supporting craftsmanship while sharing a sense of place.
Our team reflects this same philosophy. Sustainability here involves everyone, from housekeeping and maintenance to the kitchen, gardens, and guest services; each person contributes knowledge, care, and pride in what they do.
Environment: embracing biodiversity
Understanding biodiversity is central to Nosara; we consciously preserved existing trees on the property, planted native vegetation during construction, and continue to protect this area, which provides habitat for birds, monkeys, insects, and countless other species.
We support local reforestation initiatives such as the Costas Verdes project and share our native plant catalog with new residents to encourage responsible landscaping throughout the community. These efforts help ensure that growth in Nosara respects the natural systems that sustain it.
Energy: designed to be used less.
Olas Verdes was designed with climate and efficiency in mind. Natural ventilation, building orientation, and shading reduce the need for artificial cooling. Solar energy systems provide a significant portion of our annual power needs.
Our Platinum-level LEED certification reflects years of careful planning and intentional design choices, all aimed at reducing environmental impact without compromising comfort.
Economy: growing together with Nosara.
Responsible travel also means contributing to the community’s well-being. Olas Verdes employs local residents at every level and prioritizes working with local suppliers, artisans, and service providers.
Keeping opportunities and resources within the region helps strengthen Nosara’s economy and supports a more balanced form of tourism that benefits those who live here year-round.
Landscaping: nature first, always
Instead of manicured lawns, we work with what the land offers. Our grounds feature more than 130 species of native plants, allowing the hotel to blend naturally into the surrounding wildlife refuge.
Native landscaping requires significantly less water, no toxic chemicals, and creates corridors for birds, insects, and animals. For guests, it means being surrounded by living, breathing nature rather than curated or artificial environments.
Water & waste: our daily choices
Water stewardship is our responsibility. Rainwater storage, efficient fixtures, and on-site water treatment systems allow us to reuse greywater for irrigation and keep water use well below typical hotel levels in Nosara and Costa Rica.
Additionally, we reduce waste wherever possible by avoiding over-packaged products and prioritizing refillable, biodegradable alternatives. Yard and kitchen waste is composted, food scraps go to a local pig farm, and recyclables are processed in-house and at the Nosara Recycling Center.
Pack for a Purpose: small actions, real impact.
Guests who wish to participate more actively can join the Pack for a Purpose initiative, which encourages travelers to bring needed supplies for local schools and community projects.
It’s a simple way to turn extra luggage space into meaningful support for families and children in the area.
What responsible travel feels like here
At Olas Verdes, sustainability is a shared mindset. It shows up in quiet ways: in how the property blends into the forest, how wildlife moves freely through the grounds, how staff take pride in their work, and how guests often leave feeling more connected than when they arrived.
Staying here means your visit supports conservation, community programs, and a thoughtful approach to tourism that values balance, respect, and long-term care for this special corner of Costa Rica.
