ATEC--Fair Trade Ecotourism
ATEC is Puerto Viejo’s original eco-tourism provider. We work to help visitors find fun ecologically and socially responsible activities to entertain themselves while in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.
Founded back in 1989, ATEC funded the training a group of about 20 guides. Now from this website and our little office in Puerto Viejo, we represent over 100 fabulous local guides. We encourage you to support ATEC and participate in local, fair trade travel in Talamanca!
ATEC is a self-sustaining non-profit association that supports itself, its guides, and its efforts through your support. THANK YOU!
You came to Costa Rica to get to know Costa Rica, do it with Costa Ricans.
At ATEC we promote culturally and ecologically sound tourism and small-scale, locally owned and responsible businesses. We stimulate conservation through education and by helping local associations and families derive economic benefits from their natural resources.
Our Goals
- Promote the development of an ecological and socially responsible tourism in Talamanca
- Promote ethnic pride and cultural expression among the indigenous and Afro-Caribbean residents
- Promote the initiation and management of locally owned businesses and tourist services.
- To fulfill ATEC’s goals our office, located in Old Harbour ( Puerto Viejo ), serves as a communication center to put visitors in contact with experienced native naturalist guides who offer a variety of interesting, educational field experiences. These guided hikes are by appointment and, under normal circumstances, limited to 6 persons.
Feature Tour
Yorkin - Women’s artisan group of upper Talamanca Indigneous reserve
One of our favorite tours, travel up river in a motorized canoe and learn about traditions and customs as presented by this BriBri women’s group.
A river trip in a traditional dugout canoe begins this unique opportunity to share and learn from a culture struggling to maintain its identity. Participate in daily life, take interpretive hikes; practice your basket weaving, chocolate production, roof thatching, & cooking skills; learn some of the BriBri language, history and folklore, from ancient times, to Colombian times, to the current struggle.
Find out more about Yorkin - Women’s artisan group of upper Talamanca Indigneous reserve
ATEC News
Green Tip--Support Local & Responsible Businesses
You came to Costa Rica to get to know Costa Rica, we think the best way to do that is to hang out with, economically support, and learn from Costa Ricans. We recommend that when you are in Costa Rica and in Puerto Viejo, that you try to distribute economic benefits throughout community, support several local ecotourism and service providers.
Here’s some information on local restaurants…
Green Tips--What is Ecotourism?
Ecotourism is a cooperative relationship between the non-wealthy local community and those sincere, open-minded tourists who want to enjoy themselves in a developing world setting and enrich their consciousness by means of a significant educational and cultural experience.
