Hotel Aguas Claras
An artist built boutique hotel on Playa Chiquita whose bungalows are rescued original Caribbean homes and whose seafood comes through the Dock to Dish programme.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.8/5 · 330 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
2.9/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 47.5%
Green flags
- Food, farming and sourcing, level 3/4.
Seafood comes through the community supported Dock to Dish fishing programme, fish is from local waters and minibars carry only local products.
Source · 2026-10-29
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 2/4 · A named area of habitat kept undisturbed, or one named native planting or conservation activity | 15 / 30 points | Staff volunteer twice a month to maintain a main trail in Cahuita National Park, and the hotel cleans its beach daily and joins monthly community beach clean-ups. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| 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 | The hospitality page says solar energy generated at the hotel heats water for the guest rooms, with auxiliary heaters as backup. Rooms also have air conditioning. “using solar energy generated at the hotel to heat water for our guest rooms.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| 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 · Page read |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 2/4 · One specific system, such as composting all organic waste or sorted recycling | 5 / 10 points | The hotel says it has removed all plastic water bottles, provides reusable bottles and uses locally made bamboo straws (2026 site). Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 3/4 · Own farm or organic land supplies a large share, with named local suppliers and seasonal menus; consolidated local supply rather than daily imports | 11.25 / 15 points | Seafood comes through the community supported Dock to Dish fishing programme, fish is from local waters and minibars carry only local products. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 2/4 · One specific practice, such as a historic building reused, local natural materials, or passive cooling design | 7.5 / 15 points | The original homes on Playa Chiquita were rescued and converted into the bungalows, with upcycled furniture inside. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 1/4 · General commitments without specifics or results | 1.25 / 5 points | Only group level Cayuga Collection awards from 2017 (Earth Changers) and 2018 (WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow) are cited; no current audited certification for this hotel. Source · 2026-10-29 |
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
1.8/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 20%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 2/4 · Public supply filtered at the tap or a refill station, with no single use bottled water as the default | 12.5 / 25 points | The FAQ says the hotel supplies free drinking water through a water filtration system with reusable steel bottles. It does not name an own natural source. “We have a sophisticated water filtration system installed and provide you with reusable stainless steel water bottles during your stay.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as fresh or organic with no named source | 5 / 20 points | The DaLime page says food is sourced from Puerto Viejo farms and fishermen, and the Papaya page lists vegan options, but no organic or own garden source is named. “That’s because we source from Puerto Viejo’s farms and fishermen.” 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 · 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 · 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 · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The FAQ says smoking is not allowed on the premises, and rooms have ceiling fans as well as air conditioning. “Regrettably, you will not be able to smoke on our premises during your stay.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| 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 · 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
2.6/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 40%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 2/4 · A named owner, with the share held locally or by the family stated | 15 / 30 points | The story page names Costa Rican artist Elizabeth Steinvorth and her daughter Elena Rohrmoser as the creators of the hotel. “the making of Hotel Aguas Claras has become an unexpected life project for the mother-daughter duo.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 2/4 · A stated share of staff from the island or nearby communities | 12.5 / 25 points | The community page states that staff are Costa Rican and predominantly from the local area, and are employed year round. “We hire exclusively Costa Rican staff predominantly from the local area.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Community benefit | 20% | 2/4 · A named community programme, such as a school, fund or training | 10 / 20 points | The community page names support for Manzanillo School through two projects, and a Dock to Dish fishing programme. “Many schools in this rural area of Costa Rica have limited resources. One of them is Manzanillo School which we support through two projects.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Access to beach and land | 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 · Page read |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The community page says the gift shop sells products handmade by local artisans, without naming makers. “Our gift shop also offers a variety of products handmade by local artisans including ceramics, clothing and books.” 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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