Waiving the Flag on Costa Rica’s Beaches
The prestigious Blue Flag will flutter across 50 of Costa Rica’s most ecologically sound beaches this year - six less than last year.

At a recent ceremony held Casa Presidencial in Zapote, the 50 beaches, as well as 15 inland communities were praised for their accomplishments and then officially given the coveted award.

The awards come after a year-long evaluation of 84 beaches and 40 non-coastal communities, of which 50 beaches and 15 inland communities qualified for the award. Those awarded were categorized in a three-tier rating system:

A - Beaches with a Minimum score of 90% that include basic services such as potable water and waste facilities.

AA - Beaches with a score of 100 % that include the presence of lifeguards during high season and rip-tide warning signs.

AAA - Beaches with a score of 100 % that include the presence of life guards and first aid-trained personnel, access for disabled persons, tourist information, sanitary services and showers.

Begun in 1996 (only ten beaches qualified then), the program rates beaches and communities by criteria that include the quality of the ocean water, quality of drinking water in the community, waste disposal, availability of sanitary facilities, the existence of signs with safety instructions as well as the involvement of the community in keeping the beach clean and educating the local residents about the importance of maintaining their beach in order.

Among the beaches that formerly held the flag but did not make the cut this year are Tamarindo and Penca in Guanacaste, Santa Teresa in the Nicoya Peninsula and Puntarenas, Roble and Doña Ana – the last three due to contamination caused by the nearby Tárcoles River.

The Blue Flag program was begun as a joint effort of various Costa Rican authorities, including the National Water Service AyA, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute ICT, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment MINAE and the National Tourism Chamber CANATUR.

The following is the list of this year’s Blue Flag winners (in no particular order):

Playa Blanca, Punta Leona, Garabito, Manuel Antonio, Playa Espadilla Sur, Playa Puerto Escondido, Playa Gemelas, Playa Bahía Junquillal, Playa Conchal, Playa Arenilla, Gandoca, Isla Tortuga, Limoncito, Bejuco, Zancudo, Agujas, Ballena, Esterillos Oeste, Punta Uvita, Puerto Vargas, Blanca, Chiquita, Cocles, Punta Uva, Puerto Viejo, Mal País, Quitzales, Barú, La Colonia, Mata Palo, Pochote, Dominical, Piñuela, Blanca de Jiménez, Ocotal, Grande, Hermosa, Pan de Azucar, Monte del Barco, Flamingo, Junquillal, Carrillo, Punta Islita, Punta el Madero, Manzanillo de Liberia, Panamá, Pelada de Nosara, Guiñones de Nosara, Ostional and Langosta.