El Copal
A rural community tourism lodge run by a farmers' association that protects 177 hectares of rainforest on the edge of Tapantí National Park.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.9/5 · 67 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
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Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
2.4/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 42.5%
Green flags
- Nature, biodiversity and regeneration, level 4/4.
The community association conserves 177 hectares of very wet premontane and lower montane forest in the buffer zone of Tapantí National Park and La Amistad, and runs volunteer biological monitoring. Jaguar, tapir and puma are recorded there.
Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 4/4 · Legal protection such as a reserve or conservation easement, or measured outcomes published with dates and figures (hectares restored, species monitored, nests or hatchlings counted) | 30 / 30 points | The community association conserves 177 hectares of very wet premontane and lower montane forest in the buffer zone of Tapantí National Park and La Amistad, and runs volunteer biological monitoring. Jaguar, tapir and puma are recorded there. Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 2/4 · One specific system, such as solar hot water, a stated photovoltaic share, or buildings designed to need no air conditioning | 7.5 / 15 points | Solar panels provide lighting, refrigeration and water heating, per the lodge's own carbon neutral page (undated). Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source |
| Water | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as local or organic with no named source | 3.75 / 15 points | The restaurant page says La Cotinga serves local dishes that aim to rescue traditional Costa Rican food, with no named suppliers. “El restaurante La Cotinga le ofrece una variedad de platillos locales, que busca rescatar la comida tradicional costarricense.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 1/4 · General commitments without specifics or results | 1.25 / 5 points | The carbon page states general commitments to reduce emissions gradually, with no measured results or certificate. “Reduciendo gradualmente nuestro impacto de emisiones de carbono.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Accommodation Eco Score weights: Nature, biodiversity and regeneration 30%, Energy and climate 15%, Water 10%, Waste and plastic 10%, Food, farming and sourcing 15%, Buildings, heritage reuse and land use 15%, Measurement, transparency and certification 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years. Guest travel is not scored; everyone gets there how they can.
Purity, what touches your body
1.2/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 5%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as fresh or organic with no named source | 5 / 20 points | The restaurant page describes local traditional dishes with no organic or own garden source named. “El restaurante La Cotinga le ofrece una variedad de platillos locales, que busca rescatar la comida tradicional costarricense.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Linen, towels and mattresses | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 5 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Purity Score weights: Water you drink and bathe in 25%, Food on your plate 20%, Grounds and pest control 15%, Cleaning, laundry and fragrance 15%, Linen, towels and mattresses 10%, Air and quiet 10%, Pool and bathing water 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
People, ownership, work and community
3.1/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 52.5%
Green flags
- Ownership and control, level 3/4.
The about page says the lodge belongs to an association founded by 17 farming families from the nearby communities who bought the land together and formed the legal association in 1998.
“nace en el año 1986 cuando un grupo de 17 personas campesinos muchos de ellos familiares que viven en las comunidades de San José y Taus-El Humo”
Source · 2026-11-03 - Access to beach and land, level 3/4.
The activities page says the forest is an open laboratory for the educational community, with educational tours and school activities on the land.
“ofrece a la comunidad educativa, investigadores nacionales e internacionales un laboratorio abierto para el desarrollo de sus investigaciones científicas”
Source · 2026-11-03
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 3/4 · Locally, Black or Indigenous owned and run, family or community held, confirmed by a public record or interview | 22.5 / 30 points | The about page says the lodge belongs to an association founded by 17 farming families from the nearby communities who bought the land together and formed the legal association in 1998. “nace en el año 1986 cuando un grupo de 17 personas campesinos muchos de ellos familiares que viven en las comunidades de San José y Taus-El Humo” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as local staff | 6.25 / 25 points | The bird watching page says visits are organised with local guides, with no share of local staff stated. “Es por eso que, junto con nuestros guías locales, podemos organizar para usted recorridos cortos” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Community benefit | 20% | 2/4 · A named community programme, such as a school, fund or training | 10 / 20 points | The activities page lists volunteer commissions that run biological education with local schools and communities, and referrals to local enterprises. “actividades de Educación Biológica con los centros educativos y comunidades de nuestra área de influencia” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Access to beach and land | 15% | 3/4 · The community uses the land, through festivals, schools or an estate open to the public | 11.25 / 15 points | The activities page says the forest is an open laboratory for the educational community, with educational tours and school activities on the land. “ofrece a la comunidad educativa, investigadores nacionales e internacionales un laboratorio abierto para el desarrollo de sus investigaciones científicas” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The restaurant page says the menu aims to rescue traditional Costa Rican food, with no named makers. “que busca rescatar la comida tradicional costarricense” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. People Score weights: Ownership and control 30%, Local work and fair pay 25%, Community benefit 20%, Access to beach and land 15%, Culture and heritage 10%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
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Collected research sources
These source pages were captured on 2026-10-02. Capturing a page does not establish a rating or verify its claims. Only the reviewed pillar evidence above earns assessment points. Missing findings remain unavailable.
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