Back in 1991, Michel Aranda, Neo Travel’s manager, saw one of his early dreams vanish, he was told he could not be a veterinarian surgeon. He then had to make choices, before him, tropical biology was shown as a way to help animals, reason for which he first taught of being a vet.
His first steps in tourism, had showed him there were very knowledgeable tour guides, he Heard from some of them, they had had biology background, being a naturalist guide semt reasonable then. However, he felt like he wasn’t doing much to help the environment, or animals. A colleague guided him thru an opportunity to reproduce poisonous frogs, in order to export them, this meant a certain amount of rules, one of them, reintroducing these species where they were threatened or did no longer exist. This pleased him more than exporting.
Later in his career, herpetological master Juan Bolaños introduced him to Brady Barr, National Geographic’s herpetologist for a large amount of time, he realized then, it was possible, Michel Aranda had helped a small community to begin a private leatherback reserve, humble costarican families with no scientifically knowledge back then for most of them, except their leader, bringing Brady Barr and his TV crew to this place triggered something within Michel’s mind, reaching small communities and give logistic, operational and customer service’s experience and knowledge to help them develop a better product.
Being as authentic as possible should go hand to hand to being as professional as possible.
We have realized through this experience that there is no long term ecology if there’s not a long term economy involved. People should have an economical benefit from preserving, otherwise they couldn’t sustain such projects, that’s sustainable tourism’s essence.
Our commitment is allowing communities around us to experience and witness such benefit.
This last weekend Neo Travel along with Hagnaeur Foundation brought 36 children from an indigenous territory to see for their first time Las Pumas Rescue Center, many of these children had never seen anything beyond 2 miles from their community, just imagine what this trip meant, a whole world beyond their natural boundary, Rio Frio river, opened before their eyes, impossible to describe as we were driving the look on their eyes, wandered, sceneries they had never imagined.
Once we got to Las Pumas, Environmental educator, Marta Venegas professionally explained and guided kids and their parents through the Project, making sure it wasn’t just a visit, but a learning and impacting lesson, in a fun and effective way. Five species of felines, birds, turtles, White tailed deer and a collared peccary, made it difficult for them to choose their favorite animal, a spoiled puma sleeping on its back called Bruno was one of the kids favorite, for others, it was a jaguar, rescued from only a mile away from their own school, Rafa, volunteers fed him on purpose before these kids, an image they will never forget.
Later on, biologist Esther Pomareda, master in Wildlife Professional Development and Conservation, had the exciting responsibility to get these kids hands dirty, our visit allowed 40 trees to have a new home, mud and fun always go together, smiles and laughter filled Las Pumas.
It wasn’t over by then, Marta had more activities for them, games, kids love games, strategically chosen, these games interiorize the importance of preserving wildlife and their environment.
Finally, all kids received pedagogical material to complete with their families, Margarita’s Indigenous School’s coordinator, Amanda Acosta received material to share with other kids and school principal.
On the way back to the indigenous territory, indescribable comments and laughter slowly became silent as all of these emotions had worned them up, just dreaming of all this fun and excitement, and perhaps, their next visit, visit you can help us to accomplish.
Neo Travel has a true commitment and depends on visitors to go on with this kind of programs, we appreciate your help, by travelling with us, you are helping to spread the message, it is possible to live out of the forest without destroying it, it is possible to preserve culture while allowing a better lifestyle. We believe it for we have seen it.
We are closer to the costarican heart …..
