Costa Rica protects roughly a quarter of its land, runs largely on renewable energy, and built its entire global brand on pura vida and the natural world. The South Pacific coast — the Costa Ballena — is one of the wildest, least-developed stretches of it, and that’s no accident: strict laws limiting coastal development are exactly why it still feels untouched. Keeping it that way is partly up to those of us who visit.
None of this requires sacrifice or a hair shirt. It’s mostly common sense, a little awareness, and a few small choices that make you a better guest — to the land, the wildlife, and the people who live here. Here’s how to travel light on this coast.
Protect the Wildlife (The Big One)
The animals are the reason many people come, and they’re also the easiest thing to harm without meaning to.
- Never feed wild animals. Feeding monkeys, coatis, raccoons, and birds makes them aggressive, sick, and dependent, and it’s genuinely harmful. A fed monkey is a future problem monkey. Keep food secured at the house, too — the local wildlife is clever.
- Keep your distance. Use a zoom lens or binoculars, not your snack. Don’t crowd, chase, or try to touch animals — including for photos.
- No flash photography of wildlife, especially sloths and nocturnal animals; it can damage their eyes and stress them.
- Choose ethical wildlife experiences. Favor genuine sanctuaries and rescue/rehabilitation centers over any place offering animal handling or selfies. If you can hold it, drug it, or pose with it, walk away.
- Skip anything with captive wild animals as entertainment. Costa Rica has rightly moved away from this; so should we.
Protect the Ocean & Reefs
- Reef-safe sunscreen, always. Conventional sunscreens (with oxybenzone and octinoxate) damage coral and marine life — and you’ll be snorkeling Caño Island, swimming at Ventanas, and walking the Whale’s Tail. Buy mineral (zinc/titanium) sunscreen and apply it well before you get in the water.
- Take only photos. Don’t touch or stand on coral, and don’t take shells, sand, or rocks — removing them is both ecologically harmful and, in protected areas, illegal.
- Respect Marino Ballena National Park rules, including keeping a respectful distance from whales and dolphins on tours. Choose operators who do the same — the good ones cut engines and keep their distance.
- Pack out your trash from every beach, and pick up a piece or two that isn’t yours while you’re at it.
Tread Lightly on Land
- Stay on the trails at waterfalls and in parks. Shortcuts cause erosion and trample habitat.
- Mind water and energy at the house. Costa Rica’s grid is impressively green, but fresh water is precious, especially in dry season. Turn off the A/C and lights when you head out, and be reasonable with water.
- Drive carefully on the mountain roads — for the wildlife as much as for you. Animals cross, especially at dawn and dusk. Slow down.
- Leave no trace on hikes and beaches: no litter, no graffiti, no carving.
Support the Local Economy
This is the easiest and most enjoyable form of sustainable travel — it just means eating and shopping well.
- Eat and shop local. The ferias, the village baker, the roadside fishermen, and the family sodas put your money straight into the community — and the food is better anyway.
- Hire local guides. A certified naturalist guide from the area improves your experience enormously and keeps tourism income where it belongs. Worth every colón.
- Buy authentic crafts directly. The Boruca indigenous people make hand-carved masks and natural-dye textiles; buying directly from artisans at the ferias supports a living tradition (see our Ojochal history post for who they are).
- Tip fairly. Restaurants typically include a 10% service charge; rounding up or adding a little for great service, and tipping guides and drivers, is appreciated and goes a long way locally.
Be a Good Cultural Guest
- Learn a few words of Spanish. Hola, gracias, por favor, pura vida. A little effort earns a lot of warmth here.
- Embrace “tico time.” Things move at an unhurried pace. That’s not a flaw to fix — it’s the whole point. Relax into it.
- Ask before photographing people, and be respectful around homes and small businesses.
- Respect the quiet. Ojochal is a peaceful village; keep noise down, especially in the evenings.
A Simple Mindful-Traveler Checklist
- ☐ Reef-safe (mineral) sunscreen packed
- ☐ Reusable water bottle and a bag for beach trash
- ☐ A resolution not to feed any wild animal, ever
- ☐ Cash for ferias, local guides, and Boruca crafts
- ☐ A few Spanish phrases learned
- ☐ A plan to hire local and eat local
- ☐ A willingness to slow all the way down
Do these, and you’ll not only lighten your footprint — you’ll have a richer, more genuine trip. The travelers who engage with this coast respectfully are the ones who fall hardest for it. That’s the real pura vida: leaving a place as beautiful as you found it, and being changed a little by it yourself.
Have a sustainable-travel tip or a favorite local business we should highlight? Share it in the comments — we love adding to the list.
Stay at Vista Bendita
After a day exploring waterfalls, beaches, whale watching tours, restaurants, and rainforest adventures, relax in the peaceful mountain setting of Vista Bendita overlooking Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast.
Enjoy ocean views, tropical wildlife, a private pool, and easy access to some of the region’s best experiences near Ojochal and Uvita.
More Details & Local Travel Tips
Browse our blog for information on:
- Shop like a local: ferias, fish & the French baker
- National parks & nature reserves
- Wildlife & bird watching
- The Ojochal & Uvita community
Explore the Vista Bendita Travel Blog
Pura Vida
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