Agro-tourism project Person-to-Person Agricultural Transfer System (SINTRANCA)
History and location of the experience
The agrotourism project Person-to-Person Agricultural Transfer System (SINTRANCA) is located in the canton of San Carlos, one of the most important areas in Costa Rica in terms of agricultural production, since it is a key supplier of products to the country's capital, San José. Among the tourism services offered in the canton of San Carlos, the SINTRANCA initiative stands out, offering experiences that connect people and nature, the protagonists being the land, agricultural activity and life on the farm.
SINTRANCA was born in 2012 as a project of the Sancarleña Network of Rural Women (RESCAMUR), which has approximately 60 members. Among the RESCAMUR participants, most are dedicated to agriculture, but there are also artisans, seamstresses, bakers and more, who range from 13 to 80 years old. The SINTRANCA rural tourism project is the tangible outcome of RESCAMUR's objectives, since it provides the members with opportunities to strengthen their leadership, training and economic empowerment.
What does it offer?
What does it offer?
The services offered by SINTRANCA include trails that allow the sighting of fauna and the identification of trees; visits to the seed sanctuary, where members participate in seed exchange activities and share knowledge on the subject; theoretical-practical workshops to share the members' agricultural knowledge and their organizational experience, and books on seeds, agriculture and rights, which are available in the ecological library and which visitors are invited to take out and read on benches located in the wooded area. In addition, there is a camping area that has Internet access, and a tent rental service on site. Visitors can also request food service.
The social networks Instagram and Facebook are used to promote events and share photos of the experience. To contact the SINTRANCA project and obtain more information, see the Facebook page "Red Sancarlena de Mujeres Rurales", or the RESCAMUR Instagram account.
Thanks to the San Carlos Rural Electrification Cooperative (COOPELESCA RL), which donated technological infrastructure to SINTRANCA, it has three computers and a very good quality Internet network in the area of the farm. Even so, the members usually prefer to use mobile phones due to their greater ease of use.
Email is used for business management, as well as the Sinpe Móvil service to receive payments. In terms of internal communication, even though not all the women have a mobile phone, WhatsApp has become a key tool for communication.
Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre
History and location of the experience
The Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre is a small rural tourism company managed by the Maleku Association for the Rescue of Our Cultural Identity. The Maleku population is located in the territory of the Guatuso Indigenous Reserve, in the cantons of San Carlos and Guatuso, the latter of which is situated between the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Arenal Volcano National Park and the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. The Guatuso canton also has recognized tourist attractions in its vicinity, such as the Venado Caves, the La Fortuna area and the Frío River, among others.
The Maleku are one of the peoples with the highest degree of cultural preservation in Costa Rica, due to the fact that they remained independent during the colonization of the country, thus preserving their cultural autonomy. The language of this people remains in use in approximately 80 percent of the population. Both the association and the cultural centre are initiatives of a leading family in the community, which approaches the business as a tool to revitalize the Maleku culture among members and strengthen their identity as an indigenous people. The association is made up of 12 partners and 30 households, while the tourism company is made up of seven partners representing seven households, whose members are between 18 and 60 years old.
What does it offer?
What does it offer?
The families of the Maleku community have created a variety of tourist services that reflects their community spirit. Among the tourist services offered are excursions on forest trails, during which the use of medicinal plants, traditional hunting methods and the processes of extracting supplies for workshops are explained, as well as cultural ceremonies, plays and dance in which the typical Maleku costume is worn, recreational fishing and archery. As for the cacao tree, visitors may listen to an explanation of the drying and roasting process before enjoying a beverage. Additionally, visitors can sample the local gastronomy and witness the preparation of traditional foods, such as chicha and mafuriseca.
In addition to these services, there is the Caño Negro Museum, which highlights the history and traditions of the Maleku people through stories about their ancestors and the display of objects such as drums, vessels and bows, among other elements. Finally, there is a gift store with crafts produced by the community.
Thanks to a young person from the community who is knowledgeable in computers and marketing, the Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre has a Facebook page. Also, the experience uses Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok to promote the business and attract tourists.
However, the mobile phone continues to be the main means of internal communication for the members. In terms of management, the Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre has an accountant who uses the GTI electronic billing system, as well as an email address. The experience relies on Sinpe Móvil to receive electronic payments.
Hijos del Bosque agro-ecotourism farm
History and location of the experience
The rural tourism project Hijos del Bosque agro-ecotourism farm covers an area of 27 200 m2 located in the Tenorio-Miravalles biological corridor, which is part of the Guanacaste mountain range, extending from the Miravalles Volcano National Park to the Tenorio Volcano National Park. Due to its ecological richness and its scenic beauty, it is an attractive area for tourists.
This project was born in 2018 as a family initiative after members received training about the tourism business. The idea is based on the protection of the environment, the promotion of organic agriculture and the generation of employment opportunities. The name, which was adopted 12 years ago, refers to the seeds of the trees of the forest and nearby mountains. Although the business had to cease operations due to the pandemic, it is currently in the recovery stage.
What does it offer?
What does it offer?
The tourist experience consists of sharing the family's traditional knowledge about agricultural work, cocoa cultivation and the artisanal manufacture of chocolate. In addition, the services offered include walks through the cocoa plantation, with an explanation of the artisanal process of drying, roasting and grinding cocoa beans, and visitors can participate in the preparation of chocolates or cocoa drinks. There is also the possibility of a tour of the forest, where visitors can appreciate the process of reforestation and conservation of some species of trees, such as the rubber tree. Apart from these services, it is possible to take a farm tour, which includes explanations about the planting and harvesting process in relation to lunar cycles and traditional agricultural practices.
Although the farm does not have a website, the Chamber of Tourism supports the promotion of the business through its website, for which the family pays a monthly fee of CRC 5 000 (USD 7). Regarding business management, email is used to keep up to date with events such as talks and fairs, among others and, as in other experiences, Sinpe Móvil is used to receive electronic payments.
Regarding the use of social networks, the Facebook profile Los Hijos del Bosque is aimed at sharing photos of the experience, while WhatsApp is used as a tool to answer questions and send the location of the farm. In addition, with the idea of promoting the business, a professional designer has been hired to create brochures and business cards that are delivered to nearby hotels and the Chamber of Tourism.
The leaders of the experience have knowledge in the use of mobile phones, but only the children of the family know how to use a computer, so they are the ones who manage social networks, share photos and respond to messages from tourists.
