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Accommodation · Sarapiquí

Tirimbina Biological Reserve

Verdict Accommodation Eco Score

A lodge run by a nonprofit research reserve that protects 345 hectares of rainforest in Sarapiquí and has given free environmental education to local communities since 1999.

Accommodation Eco Score
2.4/5 Accommodation Eco Score
Throne Standard 2.2 · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 33.8%. Weighted sources are shown below.
Against accommodations
Records scored in accommodations476
Category average2.3/5
Scores below this one52%
Tirimbina Biological Reserve
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Where it is
Sarapiquí
RegionHeredia
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Google reviews

Google rating · 4.4/5 · 604 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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About Tirimbina Biological Reserve

27 of 95 fields held
Recorded research, grouped by subject; claims remain unverified unless linked to reviewed evidence. Blue bars show how much information is held; they are not positive or negative scores. Fields with nothing behind them are counted, not listed.
7 groups · 27 fields
Features 1 of 8
What to do generally The lodge and restaurant sit in a 345 hectare private wildlife refuge on the Sarapiquí River, reached by a 264 metre suspension bridge about two hours from San José. Guests walk 9 km of public trails, cross a second suspension bridge in the forest and choose from six tours by day, by night and with cocoa.
Scan result 2 of 4
Eco Score 2
Eco Score Label Developing evidenced performance
Ownership and legal entity 2 of 16
Owner Name Tirimbina Association for Conservation, Research and Education (ATCIE), a Costa Rican nonprofit
Ownership Type Community owned
Identity 2 of 4
Brand Name Tirimbina Biological Reserve
Closest Airport name Juan Santamaría Intl (SJO)
Claims and evidence 1 of 5
Verified Researched and source checked in three passes, Oct 2026
Place and access 2 of 3
Continent/Region Central America
Google Place ID ChIJiZb-BBeFoI8R_zuz4S1JsUU
Further detail 17 of 55
Booking Link expedia.com expedia.com
Booking Site Expedia
Street La Virgen
City Sarapiquí
Country Heredia
Closest Airport KM 90
Type Eco Lodge
Environment Type Rainforest
Room Types Three room types
People Targeting Eco-Tourists / Student Groups
Secluded / Isolated High Seclusion
Eco Amenities The nonprofit reserve protects 345 hectares of rainforest, registered as a Private National Wildlife Refuge, with over 3,300 documented species and 290 scientific publications. The official CST directory lists Reserva Biológica Tirimbina at Élite level, certified 18 March 2025 and valid to 18 March 2028. The reserve's own site says all its tourist services are under the CST and that it has published sustainability reports since 2023.
Activities to do While at Tirimbina Rainforest Lodge, you can go educational forest walks, bat watching and chocolate tours. Tirimbina Rainforest Lodge offers on-site educational rainforest and chocolate tours.
Food Options On-site restaurant
Food Type À la carte and buffet
Google rating 4.4
Google review count 604
Filed under 16 terms held

Environmental evidence and weighted assessment

2.4/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 33.8%

Green flags

  • Nature, biodiversity and regeneration, level 4/4.

    The nonprofit reserve protects 345 hectares of rainforest, registered as a Private National Wildlife Refuge, with over 3,300 documented species and 290 scientific publications.

    Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source
  • Measurement, transparency and certification, level 3/4.

    The official CST directory lists Reserva Biológica Tirimbina at Élite level, certified 18 March 2025 and valid to 18 March 2028. The reserve's own site says all its tourist services are under the CST and that it has published sustainability reports since 2023.

    Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source
Environmental evidence by pillar
PillarWeightLevel and what it meansContributionEvidence, quote and source
Nature, biodiversity and regeneration30%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 nonprofit reserve protects 345 hectares of rainforest, registered as a Private National Wildlife Refuge, with over 3,300 documented species and 290 scientific publications.

Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source
Energy and climate15%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Water10%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Waste and plastic10%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Food, farming and sourcing15%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Buildings, heritage reuse and land use15%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Measurement, transparency and certification5%3/4 · A current third party certificate confirmed in the certifier's own directory, or measured data published for one year. Tiers earned by years certified add nothing3.75 / 5 points

The official CST directory lists Reserva Biológica Tirimbina at Élite level, certified 18 March 2025 and valid to 18 March 2028. The reserve's own site says all its tourist services are under the CST and that it has published sustainability reports since 2023.

Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source

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

1.0/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 0%

Purity evidence, what touches your body by pillar
PillarWeightLevel and what it meansContributionEvidence, quote and source
Water you drink and bathe in25%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Food on your plate20%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 20 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
Grounds and pest control15%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Cleaning, laundry and fragrance15%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Linen, towels and mattresses10%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Air and quiet10%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Pool and bathing water5%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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

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

2.7/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 41.3%

Green flags

  • Community benefit, level 3/4.

    The home page describes free environmental education for local communities since 1999 with nine schools each year, and the report adds plant donations, community recycling campaigns and talks with the local water association.

    “Desde 1999: educación ambiental gratuita para comunidades locales.”

    Source · 2026-11-03
  • Access to beach and land, level 3/4.

    The ecotourism page says part of the reserve is open to the public and schools use the forest as a classroom, and the home page lists free education for local communities.

    “En Tirimbina se reciben grupos de escuelas y colegios, que utilizan el bosque como espacio para realizar sus actividades educativas.”

    Source · 2026-11-03
People evidence, ownership, work and community by pillar
PillarWeightLevel and what it meansContributionEvidence, quote and source
Ownership and control30%2/4 · A named owner, with the share held locally or by the family stated15 / 30 points

The reserve is directed by a named Costa Rican nonprofit association, which is the stated holder.

“Tirimbina es dirigida por una asociación costarricense sin fines de lucro: Asociación Tirimbina para la Conservación, Investigación y Educación”

Source · 2026-11-03
Local work and fair pay25%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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
Community benefit20%3/4 · Several programmes plus named local suppliers and makers15 / 20 points

The home page describes free environmental education for local communities since 1999 with nine schools each year, and the report adds plant donations, community recycling campaigns and talks with the local water association.

“Desde 1999: educación ambiental gratuita para comunidades locales.”

Source · 2026-11-03
Access to beach and land15%3/4 · The community uses the land, through festivals, schools or an estate open to the public11.25 / 15 points

The ecotourism page says part of the reserve is open to the public and schools use the forest as a classroom, and the home page lists free education for local communities.

“En Tirimbina se reciben grupos de escuelas y colegios, que utilizan el bosque como espacio para realizar sus actividades educativas.”

Source · 2026-11-03
Culture and heritage10%0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages0 / 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

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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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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