It all began for us in 1990 on an educational trip. We had taken two credited courses: "Initiation to the Tropical Forest" and "Tourism Introduction Level 1". These courses were dispensed in Costa Rica and for many reasons; everything went wrong from day one. This however brought out some skills and ideas that turned the trip around in a good way.

Success did not take long to reach us. Eco-adventure started out in 1970 at Tikal Tours. The concept of ecotourism was then way ahead of it's time; the name became available in 1990 and we took it. It was first registered in Québec, and then a few years later incorporated. Today we are simply incorporated in Costa Rica and Eco Aventura is now a small Costa Rican business.

We have accompanied many student groups from high school and University levels, organising specific stays for each project or curriculum. We maintain strong links both with rural and indigenous communities and we participate in the positive consequences of sustainable development our groups produce along with our suppliers and partners, almost exclusively Costa Ricans, indigenous or Afro-Americans.

We are implicated in projects that are scientific as well as adventure and tourism oriented. For example, we have collaborated to the development of the famous Aerial Tram with Dr. Donald Perry and allowed many of our students to visit and study the canopy with him. From this adventure, many tree-top climbing micro enterprises were born. We also finance conservation projects like for example the protection of the Great Green Macaw (Lapa Verde) with the Tropical Science Center.

Our specialty for a long time consisted in organising the complete logistic for educational institutions from Canada and the USA. We are very happy today to be able to offer similar services to adults in quest of not only adventure, but trips with thematic and educational content.

Mesoamerica
Olivier Chassot
PO Box 228-6150 Santa Ana, Costa Rica, CA
Ph./fax: (506) 203-6773; Mobile: (506) 822-0226
E-mail: olivier@ecoaventura.co.cr