 |
| Artists have turned this
forest into a piece of art, inspired by Pre-Columbian
times. |
| Courtesy Punta Islita
Hotel |
 |
| Hotel Punta Islita is located
in the village called Islita. To conduct business
in the most ethical way, the owner employed
more than half of the villagers to work for
him. |
| Courtesy Punta Islita
Hotel |
For many hotels in Costa Rica sustainable tourism
simply means proper sewage-handling, efficient garbage
collection and respect for monkeys. But Harry Zurcher,
the owner of Punta Islita Hotel in the Peninsula de
Nicoya, Guanacaste, has widened the definition of
sustainable tourism to such an extent that, even in
a global context, is quite remarkable. To Zucher sustainable
tourism should also include respect for the local
community in the places where the tourism industry
operates. In the case of the Punta Islita this means
three things: economic profitability shared between
the locals and the hotel owners, environmental protectionism,
and cultural as well as social interaction between
the locals and the hotel.
Zurcher’s idea was to build a luxury hotel that
integrated the local community and provides jobs and
education. Out of sixty-four hotel employees, fifty-four
are locals. One could assume that quality of service
suffers from this, but to the surprise of many, this
is not the case in Punta Islita. For example, the
chef, a self-taught local woman, has created some
of the most delicious dishes in the entire country.
Another way to allow employees to benefit from the
hotel is to donate old sheets and blankets, furniture,
dishes, and other hotel necessities to employees,
who in turn sell these items and use the money for
the benefit of the association to which every employee
belongs.
Concerning the environment, Zurcher has made a special
promise: over half of the 500 acres that he owns will
be designated as a National Private Refuge. Furthermore,
the hotel operation itself tries to protect area nature.
For example, the hotel advises guests that since the
hotel is located next to the jungle, sometimes centipedes,
ants or spiders will enter the room. The hotel also
educates guests that these insects are actually there
to serve a function, to keep mosquitoes away, and
therefore the guests are better off having these little
visitors in the room.
However, what really makes Punta Islita unique is
its art program: Encounter in Islita. This initiative
is part of the program Model Punta Islita, an integral
development program of the village Islita. The program
is a model for rural development, and the primary
role of the hotel is to establish individual relationships,
not only with the guests, but also the inhabitants
of the village.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency now considers
Punta Islita a model for tourism development.
One first comes into contact with Encounter in Islita
in the form of lollysigns – huge bugs and colorful
ropes alongside the road to the hotel. Once at Islita
plaza, visitors will find decorated houses, murals,
sculptures, and a ritual forest – all created
by a prominent Costa Rican pop artist who began working
on this project early in 2002.
The ancient traditions and cultures add to the image
of the village Islita. The artist, Sayira Cerdas,
is currently creating The Dragonfly Path in order
to help hotel guests to understand Islita’s ecology.
She is also putting together an art gallery at the
hotel to show and sell the best pieces of Costa Rican
contemporary art.
Loida Pretiz carves things in wood and paints them
according to different identities that she sees in
the village. Luis Chacon, a founder of several museums
in San José, painted the tour guide track together
with a hotel waitress and another artist, and he used
bright colors and little mirrors to symbolize the
brilliant sun of Guanacaste.
Paulina Ortiz’s ideas arise from pre-Columbian
times, specifically from the tribe called Chorotega,
who used to inhabit this area thousands of years ago.
She is responsible for the Sacred Chorotegan Forest,
and with feathers, strings and processed textiles,
like an ancient shaman, has turned this forest into
an earthly astronomical chart.
Edgar Zuñiga is a sculptor looking for the
souls of people in the old wooden columns of ancient
houses being demolished. His aim is to represent the
souls of those people who long ago settled in this
area seeking a better life.
Emilia Rodriguez, an anthropologist and a jewelry
maker, designs her objects with Argery, one of the
housekeepers who is also well-known in the village
for his handicraft.
One of the most controversial artists is Florencia
Urbina, who is either deeply loved or deeply disliked,
as her passion is to illustrate the identity of Costa
Rica – a topic which would create contrasting
opinions in any country. Urbana is also responsible
for painting public buses in San José along
with Louis Chacon, mentioned above. She created lollysigns
together with the local children. The signs symbolize
three elements: the moon, representing love, the starfish,
equating health, and the spiral eternal return –
as she is convinced that one will always return to
Islita.
To encourage your return to Islita the hotel provides
you with a small treat – different shaped and
colored cookies to be enjoyed every night during your
stay. These holistic symbols wish the traveler a good
night’s sleep and ensure their well-being. |
