With more than 750 miles of coastline along two tropical seas, Costa Rica's famous beaches draw hundreds of thousands visitors every year. Snow white sand to dark brown and black colored sand to boulder-strewn beaches adorn the tiny country.
Long a world leader in conservation and sustainable development , this Latin American country passed the:
1. 1998 Costa Rica Biodiversity Law, leading the UN to award it the respected Future Policy Award in 2010 for meeting UN goals of biodiversity;
2. Blue Flag Certification Program (2002) aimed at awarding an Ecological Blue Flag to communities (and beaches) that objectively meet certain criteria:
a. Microbiological quality of sea water;
b. Quality of potable water;
c. Quality of sanitation (garbage, commercial and industrial waste, water run off);
d. Educational programs
Blue Flag Certification identifies the highest rated ecological beaches in the country, places that meet 90%-100% of the standards set by the government. The award has a lifetime of one year, meaning that the criteria must be met every year to keep the certification. Beaches, previously awarded Blue Flag status, that fail to maintain the standards are stripped of the certification.
Communities and even schools can take part in the program, so many of the beaches considered for Blue Flag certification are, obviously, in or near towns and communities. Blue Flag status is highly coveted, a great draw for tourism and, as the program is designed to enlist and encourage local participation, highly regarded.
Of the hundreds of superb beaches in Costa Rica, the very best Blue Flag beaches total about 80. Put another way, the Blue Flag beaches are the best-of-the-best.
While one might fairly assume that, given the prestige of obtaining ecological blue flag standing, local politics come into action,that does not seem to be the case.
For instance, Tamarindo Beach, in one of the hottest tourist destinations in the country and home to many ex pats, lost its Blue Flag Certification in 2008 and, though the community has worked long and hard to get back Blue Flag status, it's not yet met the standards. That isn't to say that the beach is of poor quality or shouldn't be used, only that it's not the best-of-the-best.
The programme, commonly accepted across the country, received an award for its contributions to better quality of life but,however not content to rest on its laurels, has expanded its scope and now awards up to 4 Stars to beaches and communities which not only meet 100% of the ecological factors but go over-and-above those factors in such areas as restrictions on motorised cars, horses and animals (on beaches), security and rescue, conservation sectors, easy access and security for disabled visitors, and showers and public sanitation along the beaches.
Long a world leader in conservation and sustainable development , this Latin American country passed the:
1. 1998 Costa Rica Biodiversity Law, leading the UN to award it the respected Future Policy Award in 2010 for meeting UN goals of biodiversity;
2. Blue Flag Certification Program (2002) aimed at awarding an Ecological Blue Flag to communities (and beaches) that objectively meet certain criteria:
a. Microbiological quality of sea water;
b. Quality of potable water;
c. Quality of sanitation (garbage, commercial and industrial waste, water run off);
d. Educational programs
Blue Flag Certification identifies the highest rated ecological beaches in the country, places that meet 90%-100% of the standards set by the government. The award has a lifetime of one year, meaning that the criteria must be met every year to keep the certification. Beaches, previously awarded Blue Flag status, that fail to maintain the standards are stripped of the certification.
Communities and even schools can take part in the program, so many of the beaches considered for Blue Flag certification are, obviously, in or near towns and communities. Blue Flag status is highly coveted, a great draw for tourism and, as the program is designed to enlist and encourage local participation, highly regarded.
Of the hundreds of superb beaches in Costa Rica, the very best Blue Flag beaches total about 80. Put another way, the Blue Flag beaches are the best-of-the-best.
While one might fairly assume that, given the prestige of obtaining ecological blue flag standing, local politics come into action,that does not seem to be the case.
For instance, Tamarindo Beach, in one of the hottest tourist destinations in the country and home to many ex pats, lost its Blue Flag Certification in 2008 and, though the community has worked long and hard to get back Blue Flag status, it's not yet met the standards. That isn't to say that the beach is of poor quality or shouldn't be used, only that it's not the best-of-the-best.
The programme, commonly accepted across the country, received an award for its contributions to better quality of life but,however not content to rest on its laurels, has expanded its scope and now awards up to 4 Stars to beaches and communities which not only meet 100% of the ecological factors but go over-and-above those factors in such areas as restrictions on motorised cars, horses and animals (on beaches), security and rescue, conservation sectors, easy access and security for disabled visitors, and showers and public sanitation along the beaches.
About the Author:
Victor Krumm lives and writes his popular and authoritative website Costa Rica Vacations from his home in the tropical land of Pura Vida.For a complete, up to the minute, list of all the Blue Flag beaches check out the top costa rica beaches here.
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