Nature-Based Tourism ROI Calculator


Getting started

Use this calculator to estimate the financial performance of nature lodges and ecotourism projects. Enter assumptions for rooms, ADR, occupancy and seasonality, plus Capex and Opex, to see ROI, IRR, payback and break-even. Results are indicative and must be validated with market comps and third-party review.

Own the Amazon. 700 hectares of pristine Peruvian rainforest — or a ready-to-run ayahuasca retreat on 57.5 hectares Or all together?

+ CALCULATORS:

Expat Cost of Living & Salary Calculator (PPP)
Amazon Rainforest Carbon Credits Calculator

How the model works

  • Revenue engine
    ADR × occupied room nights by season, plus ancillary per guest per night for meals, tours, transfers and add-ons, with price growth and seasonality multipliers.

  • Operating costs
    Staff, utilities, supplies, marketing, maintenance, insurance and other fixed items with annual cost growth.

  • Investment and financing
    Land and build or renovation, FF&E, eco-tech and working capital.

  • Outputs
    Gross and Net revenue, Opex, EBITDA, Net profit, ROI, IRR, payback period, break-even occupancy and year-by-year cash flows.

Inputs you can edit

  • Rooms, ADR, occupancy and ancillary per guest

  • Seasonality windows for high and mid seasons, low season occupancy

  • Operating costs by line item and annual cost growth

  • Forecast period, price growth and ramp-up after opening

  • Investment items including land, build/renovation, FF&E, eco-tech and working capital

Outputs you get

  • Year-by-year revenue, Opex, EBITDA and Net profit

  • ROI and IRR for the full forecast horizon

  • Payback period and break-even occupancy

  • Cash-flow table ready for export

Planning bands for 2025 and 2026

These bands are for planning and stress-testing, not market quotes. Always replace with local comps.

  • Occupancy 35–70% in 2025 for small nature lodges depending on access, airlift and brand presence; test ±10 percentage points for 2026.

  • ADR USD 60–250 per night by region and quality; test ±10–20% for 2026.

  • Opex share 45–70% of revenue for lean operations; add buffer for remote logistics.

  • Payback 4–10 years typical for small lodges; align final thresholds with the investment committee.

Best practice before budgeting

  • Build low, base and premium cases with explicit seasonality.

  • Validate demand with DMO and airport statistics and recent comps.

  • Separate ancillary lines and apply realistic attachment rates.

  • Add contingency on Capex and include a 6–12 month ramp-up after opening.

  • Document all assumptions and sources for investors and lenders.

Interactive Eco-Tourism ROI Calculator

Financial forecasting tool for sustainable tourism projects

Initial Investment

Accommodation Parameters

Seasonality

Annual Operating Expenses

Financial Conditions

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What performance metrics does the calculator return?

ROI, IRR, payback period, break-even occupancy, annual Net profit and a year-by-year cash-flow table to export.

How should I set ADR and occupancy?

Start from local comps and DMO data, then stress-test low, base and premium cases. Keep seasonality explicit and reflect gradual ramp-up after opening.

What unit conventions does the model use?

Prices are in USD and performance is per twelve-month forecast year. Occupancy is percent, ADR USD per night, ancillary USD per guest per night.

Can I use this for Peru and other Amazon countries?

Yes. The calculator is tuned for Amazon and other nature destinations. Enter custom ADR, occupancy and seasonality to reflect local access, airlift and demand.

Does this replace professional feasibility or audits?

No. This is a decision-support tool. You still need feasibility, legal, environmental and operational reviews before funding.

How are payback and IRR calculated?

Payback is the number of years until cumulative free cash flow equals initial investment. IRR is the discount rate that brings NPV to zero using the forecast cash flows.

How should I treat ancillary revenue?

Separate per-guest averages for meals, tours and transfers and apply realistic attachment rates. Sensitivity-test with ±20–30% and document assumptions.

How do I benchmark demand trends?

Use UN Tourism and WTTC for macro demand and receipts, then reconcile with local DMO and airport stats before finalizing assumptions.