Sustainable Communities

Local Staff  – Big Impact

Our Local Hiring Philosophy Makes A Difference to Communities

95% Local Staff, Higher Wages, Broader Opportunities

We not only use 95% local guides and all staff for Rios operations across Costa Rica, we have worked hard to develop a world-class river guide training program for Costa Ricans that draws from international industry standards of excellence. Rios Tropicales was the first rafting company to hire guides from the nearby town of Turrialba in 1985, the closest town to both the Reventazon and   Pacuare rivers. Turrialba now is home to more than two hundred raft guides, many of who work for us. Shortly after hiring and training the first two local guides from Turrialba, we began to hire and train locals from the tiny community of El Tigre and indigenous Cabecar Indians for hiking and river tours. All our trips have local guides who offer a wealth of knowledge of the area and natural environment.

Higher Education

Many guides have taken courses at InBio or ACOPROT (Association of Costa Rican Tourism Professionals), and EARTH University. Several have studied biology, geology, engineering, architecture, etc., and have continued their education while with us—especially in wildlife and environmental conservation. Rios also offers education reimbursement benefits to help employees pursue higher education. This kind of support and encouragement makes all the difference for young Costa Rican adventure professionals. They can achieve degrees that they otherwise would not pursue, and open the door for advanced career opportunities. Rios Tropicales consistently engages local Costa Ricans in their communities to participate in the wide-scale tree-planting conservation program. In the process, these residents have learned English such that they also help educate Rios clients on conservation and indigenous culture.

Guides Become Role Models for Their Communities

These guides have a unique opportunity to not only make a significantly greater living, but also importantly serve as role models for other members of their families and communities, especially youth. Occupational opportunities are often limited to agricultural positions, much of it subsistence farming, in many of these rural areas. These guides now show others that there are many positions available within the ecotourism industry. By actively taking part in the everyday practices of the company, they have learned, and are now able to teach others, the importance of sustainable business practices, not only within their country, but abroad as well. Many of our guides have moved on to other jobs in the educational tourism industry, and are now working all over the world, in areas such as New Zealand, California, and the Himalayas.

Ecopreneurs

Rios Tropicales Facilitates Staff Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Rios takes it a step further and directly facilitates the establishment of complementary geotourism companies owned solely by Rios’ former top guides, now turned “ecopreneurs”. It would have been easy for Rios to simply hire guides to run more Rios “outposts”, but because of the founders’ beliefs in entrepreneurial ownership & mentoring, instead Rios helped their best guides start their own businesses. Rios collaborates with each to best serve guests with countrywide geotourism opportunities now. Learn more about our ecopreneur partner adventure franchises here.