In celebration of World Ocean Day, Casa Chameleon Hotels in Costa Rica is proud to align with Relais & Châteaux’s global initiative to protect marine biodiversity by removing threatened seafood species from our menus. As part of a network of world-class sustainable luxury hotels and restaurants, we are taking decisive steps to protect ocean life, promote sustainable sourcing, and inspire positive change through gastronomy.
At Casa Chameleon, we honor our oceans by respecting them as a valuable source of produce, whilst always favoring responsible fishing practices. We invited our friends at Amamos el mar – MarViva to join us, through Dr Jorge Jimenez, to speak to our guests and culinary coleagues, about the importance of creating consciousness and awareness in all steps involved in offering these treasures that our oceans provide.
Following the lead of Relais & Châteaux and head chef Mauro Colagreco, we are instituted in all efforts to sustainably offer our guests quality fresh fish and seafood, and vow to promote such practices at our properties and local communities.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of responsible seafood consumption and ocean conservation, aligning with the global mission of World Ocean Day, celebrated annually on June 8th. Guests enjoyed a curated culinary experience led by guest chefs and accompanied by expert insights from Jorge Jiménez, a marine conservation specialist from MarViva, reinforcing Casa Chameleon’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices through gastronomy.
As a proud member of the Relais & Châteaux family, Casa Chameleon is deeply committed to the association’s sustainability pledge, “In Harmony With All Life on Earth”, endorsed by UNESCO. In 2025, this collective movement invites chefs around the world to remove at least one threatened marine species from their menus—guided by experts at Ethic Ocean and based on regional biodiversity risks.
This initiative is part of a wider global movement across the 580 Relais & Châteaux properties, guided by Ethic Ocean, a leading environmental NGO. Together, we aim to foster awareness and directly contribute to the regeneration of vulnerable marine ecosystems.
In line with this mission, our chefs at Sentido Norte, La Pampa Grill, and The Green House have made conscious adjustments to their sourcing and menu design, eliminating species such as the orange roughy and blue swimming crab.
“What we refuse to serve is as important as what we choose to highlight.” — Mauro Colagreco, Vice President, Chefs of Relais & Châteaux
This year, Casa Chameleon proudly renews its commitment to marine conservation by removing threatened deep-sea species from our menus at all restaurants of Casa Chameleon. Our culinary teams at Sentido Norte, La Pampa Grill, and The Green House have thoughtfully revised their menus, eliminating species like the orange roughy and blue swimming crab, whose populations are critically depleted in the Indo-Pacific region, including coastal Costa Rica.
– Extraordinary Longevity: Lives up to 230 years and matures only at 20–30 years of age, making population recovery extremely slow.
– Deep Sea Habitat: Resides at depths of 180–1,500 meters along seamounts and continental slopes across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
– Low Reproductive Rate: Females spawn only once a year, releasing under 90,000 eggs—unusually low compared to many commercial species.
– Conservation Status: Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN; some regional populations are recovering due to strict protections and catch limits.
– Nursery Habitat: Juveniles thrive in estuaries and mangrove ecosystems up to 65 meters deep, sheltering in sandy–mud substrates while feeding on larvae and small shellfish.
– Fast Growth & High Fecundity: Reaches market size (11–14 cm carapace width) in under a year; females can release over 250,000 eggs per spawning.
– Commercial Significance: A key fishery species in the Indo-Pacific, currently undergoing conservation efforts like seasonal bans and Fishery Improvement Projects.
– Ecological Role: As both predator and prey, it plays a vital part in maintaining healthy, balanced coastal food webs.
By removing these species from our menus, Casa Chameleon joins global efforts to protect vulnerable marine life while continuing to deliver exquisite, sustainable cuisine.
At Casa Chameleon, we believe every plate has the power to protect. Our chefs are committed to verifying the sustainability of the species they serve by evaluating scientific names, fishing methods, the geographic origin, and conservation status of all seafood used. By refusing to serve threatened species, we send a clear message to suppliers, partners, and guests that sustainability is not optional—it’s essential.
These decisions not only preserve delicate marine ecosystems but also influence our suppliers, guests, and local communities toward more sustainable practices.
Savor the vibrant flavors of Costa Rica with dishes inspired by local traditions and crafted from fresh, seasonal ingredients. From line-caught fish and tropical fruits to aromatic herbs nurtured in our on-site gardens, every bite at Casa Chameleon Hotels reflects the rich bounty of land and sea. Indulge in ocean-to-table freshness at Sentido Norte in Las Catalinas, or delight in wood-fired specialties and grilled favorites at La Pampa Grill, where each meal celebrates the deep connection between place, people, and purpose.
Costa Rica is a global leader in sustainability and biodiversity preservation. By implementing this change at Casa Chameleon, we contribute directly to the country’s efforts to protect its marine ecosystems, which are home to thousands of species, many found nowhere else on Earth.
“We all have a role to play in shaping a more sustainable future—whether as chefs, suppliers, or guests. Together, we can ensure our oceans remain full of life for generations to come.”– Gilles Boeuf, President, Ethic Ocean
Relais & Châteaux has been committed to marine biodiversity protection since 2009, when it signed the Ethic Ocean charter. That year, its chefs agreed to remove bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the North-East Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea from their menus, helping prevent the species’ collapse due to years of overfishing. Thanks to collective action and strict management starting in 2007, the bluefin tuna stock has since recovered and is no longer considered overfished (ICCAT 2022, Ifremer 2024). In 2023, the Association launched an “SOS for Biodiversity” to eliminate eel species from menus, with 84% of members complying.
In 2025, participating chefs around the world have committed to removing one or more of 18 threatened species, identified with Ethic Ocean, and will continue to do so until stocks are restored. Among these are orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) and blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus).
By embracing sustainable culinary practices, we give our guests the opportunity to enjoy fresh, ocean-friendly cuisine without compromising on flavor or ethical responsibility. Guests dining at Sentido Norte, La Pampa Grill, or The Green House can expect menus that celebrate Costa Rica’s coastal heritage while honoring our shared duty to protect it.
Costa Rica boasts over 5% of the world’s biodiversity and consistently ranks #1 on the Happy Planet Index—outcomes directly supported by Casa Chameleon’s eco programs.
Set in breathtaking locations like Las Catalinas, Mal País, Santa Teresa, and Nosara, Casa Chameleon Hotels are more than luxury escapes—they’re sanctuaries that tell a deeper story of conservation and connection to the natural world. With on-site organic gardens, local sourcing partnerships, rainwater harvesting, solar power, open-air architecture that minimizes energy use, reclaimed hardwood construction, and a strict elimination of single-use plastics, Casa Chameleon reduces its environmental footprint while celebrating the region’s rich bounty.
Casa Chameleon’s broader eco-initiatives include monthly beach clean-ups, a successful Plant-a-Tree reforestation program, a sea-to-table philosophy in partnership with responsible local fishers, and a greenhouse at Sentido Norte that supplies organic produce to the kitchens. In partnership with Kind Traveler and Abriendo Mentes, a portion of each stay supports educational resources for over 1,000 students in Guanacaste.
These initiatives reflect Casa Chameleon’s ongoing mission to preserve Costa Rica’s natural beauty and uplift its communities. Learn more at:
Our commitment to sustainability is deeply rooted in the local communities and ecosystems we call home. In Mal País and Santa Teresa, OCiO Villas offer guests the chance to immerse themselves in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone—one of the few places on Earth where people live measurably longer thanks to strong community ties, plant-rich diets, and daily contact with nature. Nearby, the Cabo Blanco Marine Reserve—Costa Rica’s first protected area—hosts nesting turtles and vibrant coral reefs, making it a haven for both biodiversity and eco-adventure.
Across our diverse properties—from the private beach sanctuary of Hacienda Barrigona near Nosara with 300-year-old mangrove tunnels to the car-free cliff-top village of Las Catalinas and the jungle perched OCiO Villas—Casa Chameleon immerses guests in Costa Rica’s richest ecosystems while championing conservation.
Celebrate the ocean and coastal cuisine every day with Casa Chameleon, savoring sustainable flavors, supporting ocean conservation, and being part of a movement that’s making waves across the world. Every dish served is a step toward a healthier ocean and a better future.
Join both Casa Chameleon and hundreds of Relais & Châteaux properties worldwide in supporting a healthier ocean. Together, we can shift habits, influence demand, and regenerate the beauty that inspires our work.
From surfing the legendary breaks of Mal País and kayaking through the mangrove tunnels of Hacienda Barrigona, to snorkeling volcanic reefs in Las Catalinas and spotting dolphins near OCiO Villas, each Casa Chameleon destination offers a unique way to explore Costa Rica’s rich coastal ecosystems. Let the ocean lead your next adventure.
Adventures at Las Catalinas Adventures at Mal Pais Adventures at Hacienda Barrigona Adventures at OCiO
