Join our community
The nonprofit Mar a Mar Association designed, built, and continues to develop El Camino de Costa Rica—but most importantly, it works closely with communities along the route. We provide guidance and capital seed money to rural entrepreneurs; address basic community issues such as water and electricity for schools and clinics; and tackle the digital divide, bringing internet access to these small communities. When you donate to Mar a Mar, more than 95% of your donation directly benefits projects along El Camino de Costa Rica, funding programs that sustain families and build communities over the long term.
Get to know Mar a Mar’s community
The Association Mar a Mar created El Camino de Costa Rica to offer hope and a promising future with dignity for enterprising individuals in some of the poorest regions of Costa Rica. Many who live in these remote regions of Costa Rica have lacked access to economic opportunities that would allow them to raise healthy families while staying in their beloved small communities, on family farms, or on traditional tribal lands. El Camino generates sustainable income opportunities and our donor-supported programs strengthen vital local infrastructure such as schools and healthcare services.
Our trail creates jobs, builds local capacity, provides environmental education and more. Learn more about how the Mar a Mar Association connects not only two coasts, but also a vibrant network for sustainable community development at the very heart of rural Costa Rica.
Because no one knows their homelands and needs like those who live there, we collaborate with local community associations and small entrepreneurs to design manageable projects and guide investment decisions. Roughly 90% of funds donated to Mar a Mar go directly to trail and community infrastructure projects designed to gain access to markets, empower small entrepreneurs, and improve quality of life in rural villages. These projects generate increased income by raising the quality and building the sustainability of the community’s ecotourism offerings. In this process, we place a special priority on empowering women and indigenous communities.
Our approach is based on three pillars: sustainable community development, proactive environmental conservation, and a world-class long-distance hiking trail
Sustainable Community Development
Promote sustainable tourism employment opportunities to break the poverty cycle in communities and prevent the outflow of youth seeking opportunities in other parts of the country.
4779
people benefited
Proactive Biodiversity Conservation
Raise awareness about the value of conserving natural resources to reduce climate change impacts and protect the biodiversity that attracts tourists.
1775
people benefited
World class long-distance hiking trail
Raise the bar of tourism infrastructure of El Camino de Costa Rica to meet the standards of a world-class route.
615
people benefited
We work hand in hand with 25 communities, fostering entrepreneurships and improving local infrastructure. Since 2016, we have:
- facilitated more than 40 improvements in community infrastructure,
- supported 23 rural entrepreneurships to improve their services
- trained 53 women entrepreneurs in 13 communities, and
- implemented potable water systems and reforestation projects to various communities.
By supporting Mar a Mar, you contribute directly to the economic well-being of these communities, helping them to preserve cultural traditions, protect the environment and promote sustainable tourism.
Also, the Mar a Mar Association manages Costa Rica’s El Camino Community Fund, which has become a key driver in the development of 25 communities along the trail. Our focus is to provide equal opportunity to local entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary skills and tools to offer quality tourism services. Through training and financial support, we have improved the lives of hundreds of entrepreneurs who can now share their culture and biodiversity with hikers while providing a standardized service. This effort assures that the differences between each stage of the Camino focus on the diversity of local ecosystems and traditions rather than economic inequality.