9 sustainable experiences in Latin America From horseriding with Argentinian cowboys to planting trees in Peru, here are nine ways your next trip to Latin America can benefit the environment and local communities 1. Explore primary rainforest in Costa Rica Costa Rican rainforest (Shutterstock) Sustainability and environmental awareness are at the heart of Costa Rica’s tourism ethos, with the country receiving the UN's highest environmental honour, the Champions of the Earth award. Exodus Travels’ Discover Costa Rica tour spends two nights in the south of the country at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, which is 100 per cent carbon-neutral. The lodge is set within 47 hectares of primary and secondary rainforest that was saved from logging in 1992. It is also surrounded by more than 3,000 hectares of untouched primary forest. The lodge is an excellent example of how to successfully combine conservation, environmental research and community development in a rural area. Most staff are local and profits are reinvested into the community to help fund local healthcare and education services.