Field report from Carol Cespedes (September, 2002) :
I have just revisited an outstanding example of success by a small Costa Rican eco-lodge. La Quinta de Sarapiqui
owned by Beatriz Gamez and Leonard Jenkins, started up eight years ago when this young Costa Rican couple bought a deforested
finca on the banks of the Rio el Virgin.
Today it is a model of sustainability - 25 cabins with a pleasant restaurant, small children-safe swimming
pool (kids need to stay wet), butterfly garden, poison dart frog area, organic vegetable farm, tilapia ponds, and recycling
project making paper from pineapple waste. Two years ago it scored a coup by becoming the location of the "Jewels of the Rain
Forest" entymological collection.
With three small children of their own, Beatriz and Leo are advocates for the local schools and bring classes
to the lodge for environmental education. Beatriz was happy to tell me that after eight years of hard work they finally have
a nice business that provides a living to their growing family.
