The Green Fee at nYa Hotel: Small Contribution, Real Impact

What your Green Fee supports

Unlike many destinations that are just beginning their conservation efforts, Montezuma already has real, measurable results thanks to the ongoing work of Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Romelia and the volunteers who support each nesting season. In the 2025/2026 season —which is still ongoing— the team has achieved significant impact: 

• Sea turtle patrol outings: 596
• Relocated nests: 211
• In-situ protected nests: 10
• Total nests attended: 221
• Eggs recorded: 19,494
• Hatchlings released: 13,653

These numbers reflect nightly patrols, data collection, threat mitigation, community coordination, and a high level of commitment from volunteers. They also show the natural limitations of relying solely on human effort and very basic resources.

With the support of the green fee, we will be able to expand this work and strengthen local conservation efforts in a more stable and sustainable way. Your contribution will help make the following initiatives possible:

• Improving housing conditions for volunteers and interns who sustain the Conservation Program.
• Contributing to the purchase of a tractor to remove the trash that accumulates on district beaches.
• Scheduling more beach cleanups, especially in areas that are difficult to access.
• Creating a fund to sponsor biologists and students completing their internships in our research projects.
• Strengthening environmental education programs with local schools and community groups.

Each stay directly supports the natural environment that makes Montezuma so special. As the season progresses, we will share final results to maintain transparency and show how tourism can create meaningful impact when managed with care and intention.

How it works (transparency, plain and simple)

The $10 Green Fee is included with your reservation and goes directly to conservation efforts in partnership with Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Romelia. Here’s how we manage it:

• Funds are allocated throughout the season to support key initiatives: improved volunteer housing, contributions to the beach-cleaning tractor, expanded district cleanups, sponsored research internships, and environmental education programs.
• Every contribution is verified through updates, including photos, fi eld notes, and seasonal reports.
• Guests may add to the fee at any point, and 100% of those top-ups go directly to fi eld work.

Why a fee at all?

Protected places don’t maintain themselves. Rangers, educators, and volunteers need basic tools, training, and fuel to keep programs running. A small, consistent contribution from visitors spreads the cost fairly and creates stability for teams doing the work year-round. It’s a practical way to make sure the Montezuma you meet stays healthy for the next trip you plan—or for someone else’s fi rst time.

The nYa way: subtle design, lower impact

Beyond funding external projects, we reduce impact through everyday choices on property—quietly, so your stay still feels effortless.

• Adaptive reuse and local craft: we repurposed existing structures and fi nished spaces with furniture built by Montezuma carpenters. Less waste, shorter supply chains, more income staying local.
• Responsible materials and gardens: climate-fi t, mostly native planting; permeable paths; shade designed to reduce A/C reliance.
• Water stewardship: efficient fixtures; laundry scheduling; treated water routed to irrigation in dry months.
• Clean energy mindset: solar water heating, smart room switches, natural airfl ow where it makes sense.
• Refill culture: bulk amenities and eco-detergents; back-of-house sorting; kitchen and garden compost returning nutrients to our soil.
• Short supply chains at Agrá: produce from nearby farms; seafood when it’s right; menus that fl ex with availability. It’s sustainability you can taste—crisper greens, fresher herbs, better fruit.

None of this asks you to give something up; it just means the better choice is the easy one.

Easy ways you can join in (without trying hard)

• Keep towels and linens for multi-night stays; tell us if you need a refresh.
• Bring a reusable bottle (or use yours here) and choose reef-safe sunscreen.
• Walk when you can; Montezuma is compact and pleasant on foot.
• Ask for plant-forward options at Agrá; our team will guide you to what’s shining that day.
• Time your outings in the morning during Green Season; you’ll avoid heat and crowds and see more wildlife.
• Join a cleanup or a guided release (seasonal) if it aligns with your dates—we’ll arrange it properly.

If you’d like a simple packing checklist that supports low-impact travel here, see our blog post What to Pack for Montezuma.

What this means for your stay

A hotel’s sustainability shouldn’t feel like homework. Our goal is comfort fi rst—sleep well, eat well, spend time outside—while turning down resource use behind the scenes. The Green Fee turns those personal choices into collective action across beaches, forests, and classrooms. It keeps local conservation teams supplied, students engaged, and habitats stronger than they were yesterday.

If you want to take it further, we’ll help you build a day that aligns with your values: a quiet hike with a naturalist guide, a visit to a local farm to see Blue Zone practices up close, or simply a slower cadence with yoga, pool time, and a dinner at Agrá that highlights the week’s best produce.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the Green Fee mandatory?
  Yes, the $10 fee is included in every reservation. You can add an extra donation if you wish; we pass 100% of top-ups to field projects.
• Where does the money go?
  To conservation and education work with Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Romelia and neighboring protected areas—sea turtle protection, native tree planting, beach cleanups, and school eco-workshops.
• Can I see a project while I’m here?
  Often, yes—season permitting. Ask us about beach cleanups, school activities, or other initiatives.
• Do you provide a receipt if I donate more?
  Yes. We can issue a receipt for any additional contribution.
• How else do you reduce impact at the hotel?
  Solar water heating, refi ll amenities, composting, native landscaping, laundry and water efficiency, and short supply chains at Restaurant Agrá
  Most of it is behind the scenes so your experience stays comfortable.

A small fee, a clear outcome

You came for coastlines, wildlife, and that easy Montezuma rhythm. The Green Fee is a simple way to keep those things strong—while our team takes care of the details. If you want to add to your impact, tell us; we’ll steer you to meaningful, well-run opportunities that fit your time here.

Contact
Email: reservations@nyahotel.cr
WhatsApp: +506 8609 3999
Website: https://www.nyahotel.cr/