Reserva Selva Bananito The lodge is built on our family farm which our father purchased in 1974 for farming and wood xploitation.
Despite a logging permit, our family decided to declare the untouched part of the farm a private, biological reserve ( 850 hectares or 2000 acres ). The lodge was built as an alternative source of income. This was a moral, not economical decision, since it is unlikely that the income generated by the lodge will ever approximate the commercial value of the protected wood.

Fundación Cuencas de Limón We established a non-profit foundation, Fundación Cuencas de Limón, which has become a regional leader on watershed protection and educational programs. The foundation obtains funding from income generated by Selva Bananito Lodge and private donations.

Socially responsible All employees at Selva Bananito Lodge are from nearby communities and our bi-lingual guides are from rural areas in the Province of Limón.  A substantial part of our shopping is done at local stores.  Since our establishment, Selva Bananito Lodge has regularly supported local schools and communal activities.

“Recycling” Of second hand hardwood for the construction 80% of the hardwood used to built the cabins was obtained from “second hand” wood discarded by loggers from trees already cut for other purposes. As much as 20% of a tree is classified as “second hand” and is normally left to waste. We wish to set an example for how to maximize the use of a tree once it is cut down. Using trees efficiently is one way to reduce deforestation.

Environmentally safe operation of the lodge We operate the lodge in an environmentally friendly way. We heat our water with solar energy, use bio-degradable soaps, compost our bio-degradable waste, purify our waste water with bacteria, enzymes, and water lilies, and recycle plastic bottles, aluminum and glass.

Limited impact on the forest Rather than building the cabins closer to, or in the rain forest, we purposefully erected them in an area that had already been altered by human activity. We keep the number of visitors that enter the Preserve within strict limits at any given time.

By choosing to come to Selva Bananito Lodge you become an integral and active part of the conservation process. What you sell and what you consume in North America and Europe has a direct impact on the environment in the tropics.

Please support responsible tourism.