At Ocotea Tours & Transfers, we’ve always believed that we should leave a place better than we found it. That’s why the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) isn’t just a badge for us; it’s a framework that shapes the way we work every single day.
Sustainability, our local community, and environmental stewardship guide everything from how we maintain our fleet to the way we select our partners and design our tours.
Costa Rica’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program was launched in 1997 by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) to make the concept of sustainable tourism real, and to position Costa Rica as a global leader in responsible travel. The program encourages the country’s tourism businesses to operate in ways that balance environmental protection, cultural heritage, community well-being, and long-term economic success.
Today, CST is internationally recognized and fully aligned with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standards, making it one of the most credible and respected certifications in the industry. Businesses are evaluated through a rigorous audit that looks at four key areas:
In the past, the CST used a “leaf” rating system (one through five) to indicate performance. Today, it awards two distinct levels:
Earning CST Elite is a significant achievement. It requires documented proof, year after year, that sustainability is woven into daily operations and actively benefits the environment, community, and economy.
Our CST journey began years ago. In 2016, we proudly achieved four leaves under the old CST system, maintaining that status again in 2018.
Then, in 2022, after a reassessment under the updated system, we were rated at the Basic level. That moment could have discouraged us, but instead, it pushed us to dig even deeper, evaluate our operations, and focus on measurable changes.
Those changes worked. After an October 2024 evaluation, on February 27, 2025, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) awarded us the CST Elite Level distinction during the National Sustainable Tourism Meeting. That same day, we also received formal recognition for upholding the Code of Conduct for the protection of children and adolescents in tourism – a cause that is deeply important to us.
As our General Manager, Karen, explains:
“At Ocotea Tours & Transfers, we take deliberate action to amplify tourism’s positive impacts on the environment, society, local culture, and the business community. Implementing the CST has provided ongoing motivation and training for our suppliers, team members, and clients, resulting in best practices that improve the quality of life for our local community and strengthen our commitment to conserving Monteverde’s biodiversity… We have now proudly achieved the Elite level – a milestone that inspires us to keep advancing our sustainability every day.”
Our commitment doesn’t stop at the national level. In May 2025, we were also recognized with the SICCS (Central American Integrated Quality and Sustainability System) seal – fully homologated with the CST standard.
This certification supports regional cooperation for sustainable tourism and promotes teamwork, continuous improvement, and environmental harmony across Central America.
For us, though, it’s more than a certificate: It’s a shared commitment with our neighbors – a recognition that our region’s natural wonders and cultural richness are interconnected, and that protecting them requires collaboration.
At Ocotea Tours & Transfers, CST principles aren’t abstract ideals – they’re visible in the details of our daily operations:
Notably, the CST is not a one-time award, but an ongoing journey toward regeneration. We look forward to re-earning our Elite status, every time, because for us, this is a deeply held personal value and the North Star in our moral compass.
We operate in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Monteverde’s cloud forests filter and store life-giving water. Wildlife depends on connected habitats. And our small community relies on balanced, responsible tourism.
The CST and SICCS frameworks help ensure that when we take you into the forest, along scenic backroads, or between destinations, we’re contributing to that balance rather than disturbing it. Every traveler we welcome – you, included! – has a role in protecting this environment, and we take pride in making that role easy, enjoyable, and meaningful.
When you travel with Ocotea Tours & Transfers, you’re already making a positive impact. But you can extend that even further by:
Small choices add up. Every time a traveler skips a plastic bottle, purchases directly from an artisan, or learns about a conservation project, it helps ensure Monteverde remains as breathtaking for future visitors as it is today.
For us, sustainability is woven into every route we drive, every story we tell, and every decision we make. Achieving CST Elite and earning the SICCS seal are two important milestones for Ocotea Tours & Transfers.
They’re also reminders that we’ve already made significant achievements – and that those we’ve reached, we’re doing well – but that the journey never ends: It’s about how you get there, the people you meet along the way, and what you choose to leave behind; for the land, for the community, and for the future.