Our Environmental Policy 

At the Rainforest Inn B&B we are doubly committed to minimising negative impacts on the environment, not only because of our personal beliefs but because the environment around us is the delicate El Yunque rainforest.  We strive to provide a safe and healthy living environment in all phases of our operation. We promote environmental awareness and ensure full compliance with all Social, Ethical and Environmental (SEE) legislation and regulations.

We are responsible for our local environmental issues, policy and regular monitoring. We gather and record information monthly. We seek to identify waste and other activities that could have a negative environmental impact such as communications, travel, and facilities management.

The data we collect on energy consumption and waste production is evaluated and, where necessary, we will consider setting targets for appropriate reduction or more efficient management. At the Rainforest Inn we try to identify opportunities such as our long term plan for the use of alternative energy, solar-perhaps supplemented with wind so that we will have a truly renewable, sustainable energy source wherever financially prudent and practical.

 Our guests and suppliers are consulted on a wide range of environmental issues. Feedback and dialogue assists in policy development, which we review regularly and revise when necessary.

Our Social, Ethical and Environmental Practices (some examples)

Ecological Appreciation  To accompany our hike guidebook, scientists from the El Verde Research Station labeled notable trees along the trail of our private Lost Machete Hike in order to teach guests the beauty and importance of our rainforest wildlife. Atop our private waterfall, the deep, cool natural pool gives guests a wild swimming experience that utilizes our ecosystem services to provide clean, refreshing water, therefore negating the need for a man-made pool with chemical, energy and water requirements.

We have welcome homes for wild bees. We have bat homes in the trees. Our pond attracts and welcomes dragon flies and other jungle visitors. We encourage local flora and re-plant some of the trees like "Tabonuco" and "Laurel Sabino" that were cleared when this land was a coffee plantation and subsistence farm. We have an ongoing planting program to increase the number and diversity of the rainforest wildlife.

Natural Mosquito Control While many hotels rely on chemical pesticides, the Rainforest Inn stands apart with our use of safe and sustainable biowarfare to fend off mosquitoes. Our program integrates a variety of natural mosquito predators: our koi pond attracts dragonflies and houses fish that eat the mosquitoes that make it through the dragonfly barrier and attempt to lay eggs on the water. With the combination of cane toads, anoles, lizards, coquís and iguanas that protect our property, the Rainforest Inn is not a friendly spot for any mosquitos that might venture near. Our biowarfare program coincides with our environmental mission because avoiding the use of pesticides allows the rainforest wildlife to thrive and continue to protect us and our visitors. Disproving the common misconception that a bed and breakfast enveloped in the jungle is a mosquito hotspot, our guests are regularly surprised by the almost non-existent mosquito population around the Rainforest Inn.

Recycling We recycle as much waste as possible - paper, cardboard, cans, bottles, packaging and envelopes. We compost all raw vegetable matter and recycle all food waste. Only one standard trash container of non-recyclable waste is used per month.

Responsible Sourcing We source all our B&B foods, soaps, toiletries and linen from Puerto Rico. Many of our breakfast ingredients are sourced locally or grown on our property. Most of what we serve is homemade, like our hot sauce and our guava butter.

All our stationary is recycled or chlorine free. Our preferred method of communication is telephone or email (without printing).

We only use local contractors and upon receipt of invoices are 'next day' payers.

Energy Efficiency 100% of our lighting is energy saving LEDs. Our main kitchen appliances are all Energy Star rated. Our solar energy installation takes care of over 60% of our energy use and with the Tesla powerwalls we can ride out any power outage.

The Rainforest Inn is designed to be open-air and tropical. No air conditioning is necessary. We are 100% smoke-free so that guests can breath in the fresh clean air of the rainforest. High ceilings and both ceiling fans and stand-up fans assist the cool tropical breezes. One amazing benefit of our open air villas is that the jungle sounds become part of our guests’ environment. 

We have carried out a risk assessment for the Fire regulations and produced full Fire Safety notes for guests. There is a strict no smoking policy within the B&B.

Lost Machete Hike

Guests can be enraptured by nature as they trek through the undergrowth on our private Lost Machete Hike to the top of the Espiritu Santo waterfall. One step off the back deck and guests can immediately feel the jungle surround them. Along the trail, trees were labeled by scientists from the El Verde Research Station and our hike guidebook accompanies the tree identification labels to teach guests the beauty and importance of our rainforest wildlife. Atop our private waterfall, guests can soak in both the sun and the breathtaking vista of the Caribbean Sea, picnic among the centuries-old stones and swim in the deep, cool natural pool. The natural pool gives guests a wild swimming experience that utilizes our ecosystem services to provide clean, refreshing water, therefore negating the need for a man-made pool with chemical, energy and water requirements.