Costa Rica Suntours is one of the oldest and most established tour operators in Costa Rica. They work as a ground operator for many of the biggest names in the adventure travel industry and have gained a reputation for safe, reliable service and attention to detail. The company’s decades of uninterrupted service and partnerships with local suppliers provides a foundation for them to deliver unique and memorable travel experiences.
Costa Rica Suntours History
Founded by fifth generation Tico John Aspinall, Costa Rica Suntours is still owner operated. John helped pioneer ecotourism in his homeland leading multi day trips to Arenal, Monteverde and Costa Rica’s southern rainforest. He saw the potential of the Arenal region early on, developing the original camp for the Smithsonian Institute, now better known as the Arenal Observatory Lodge.
Costa Rica Suntours Guides
Costa Rica Sun Tours naturalist guides are among the best in the country. They are bilingual experts on the local flora and fauna who take great personal pleasure in making sure travelers have an unforgettable experience. To maintain quality the company provides yearly guide training and employs an operations department that provides 24/7 support. They are singularly focused on the travelers’ experience and consistently exceed our clients’ expectations.
Costa Rica Suntours Sustainability
From the beginning Costa Rica Suntours has had a focus on sustainable travel and ecotourism. They have achieved a rare 5 leaf certificate rating from the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, the highest sustainable travel rating available. This commitment runs throughout the organization from choosing local operators to planting trees to compensate for greenhouse cases emitted by operations. The company is Rainforest Alliance certified and in 2000 John received the Ecotourism Excellence Award from Conservation International for his commitment to maintaining high standards in the ecotourism industry. John maintains the philosophy that Costa Rica ecotourism should be educational as well as entertaining for guests, and he extends it to all his company’s operations. This philosophy also recognizes that Costa Rica’s spectacular natural heritage is an important economic resource for Costa Rica communities, providing them with strong incentives for protecting their natural resources.
AdventureSmith and Costa Rica Suntours
AdventureSmith Founder and President Todd Smith has had the pleasure to work with John Aspinall and Costa Rica Suntours since before AdventureSmith was founded. We share many of the same ideals and commitments to conservation and to our clients. We are proud to partner with Costa Rica Suntours and implicitly entrust them with our clients traveling in Costa Rica.
