The Terra Caribea Supplier Charter

As a local agency, Terra Caribea serves as a destination expert and a true guarantor of quality for interested travelers. Each team member is responsible for recommending experiences, accommodations, transportation, and activities that align with our values and have a positive impact.

Our travel consultants are dedicated to designing trips that make our clients’ dreams come true while constantly striving to strike a balance between travelers’ aspirations and the realities on the ground. Some regions, such as Corcovado, have a long history of responsible practices; others, such as Guanacaste, are experiencing more urban and internationalized development. We approach these contrasts with pragmatism: supporting, encouraging, and prioritizing alternatives whenever possible.

Contrary to popular belief, sustainable travel doesn’t have to be more expensive: we always prioritize thebest value for money, combined with high ethical and environmental standards.

Our relationships with suppliers are based on clear principles:

• Compliance with local laws : labor laws, community rights, and child protection.
• Professional ethics: opposition to child labor, combating exploitation and sex tourism.
• Sustainability: reducing environmental impacts, promoting CSR practices.
• Transparency: clear communication, fair pricing, and a relationship built on trust.
• Continuous improvement: support and encouragement toward increasingly responsible practices and maintaining quality. 

These principles are reflected in our Social and Ethical Responsibility Agreements: clauses distributed to and signed by our suppliers, establishing common standards for social and environmental responsibility as well as codes of conduct and best practices.

All of our partners must meet a set of core criteria that cover:

• Responsible resource management ( energy, water, waste).
• The preservation of ecosystems and local traditions.
• Local roots and economic benefits.
• Communication and raising awareness among travelers.
• Compliance with and implementation of social and ethical responsibility agreements.

To ensure responsible tourism at the destination, we take into account specific criteria based on the type of each provider: accommodations, activity providers, and transportation companies. These criteria focus on resource management, the preservation of biodiversity and local culture, community engagement and support, the use of sustainable materials, and training and awareness-raising for staff and travelers. We invite you to visit our dedicated page for more details about this selection process, as well as this summary table. 

The concept of preferred suppliers is at the heart of our approach. These partners are our “gems”: they stand out for their quality, their commitment, and the experiential value they bring to our travelers.

Our internal catalog, updated at least twice a year, features these carefully selected providers. Each selection is based on a collective decision-making process when necessary, and on ongoing dialogue with partners to update our offerings, incorporate new practices, and share promotions or innovations.

The ranking of these preferred suppliers is based on several criteria: our on-site inspections, customer feedback, the quality of the business relationship, and a comparison with other direct service providers in the region. Our priority is to offer high-quality, environmentally friendly products with a low environmental impact.

In practice, these preferred suppliers are given priority in our quotes. Highlighting them reflects our on-the-ground expertise and our commitment to guiding our travelers toward unique experiences, while maintaining a diverse range of options tailored to specific projects, budgets, and availability.

We continuously monitor the quality and compliance of our partners through:

• Site visits, customer feedback, and self-assessments,
• Rigorous internal documentation of decisions and follow-up,
• Constructive dialogue prior to any sanctions, including suggestions for improvement,
• Suspension or termination in the event of persistent non-compliance,
• Regular sharing of best practices and resources.
• In the event of mixed feedback, and depending on its significance, we contact the supplier to inform them and determine the necessary corrective actions before making any judgment regarding their quality.

This Charter is binding on both parties.

• Our suppliers commit to adhering to these criteria and to collaborating in a process of continuous improvement.
• Terra Caribea is committed to applying the same principles in its internal management, promoting its partners’ best practices, and supporting them in their transition toward increasingly sustainable tourism.

Last updated: November 11, 2025