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30 Guanacastecan Beaches Win Blue Flag Recognition

20 May, 2011 08:17:00 Marisol Arias Murillo

Photo by Marisol Arias

Punta del Madero Beach got the maximum score. It is the only beach of the area with the best possible rating of five stars.

The beaches Langosta, Mansita, Bonita, Avellanas and Blanca (Flamingo) also received the flag

Guanacaste is the province with the highest number of blue flags, as 30 of its beaches won this important award for conservation efforts. Beaches such as Playa Punta del Madero, Langosta, Mansita, Bonita, Avellanas, Blanca (Flamingo), Penca, Ventanas, Grande, Hermosa, and others were granted the recognition from the Blue Flag Program (PBA for its Spanish acronym). The PBA, which celebrates 15 years of promoting community organization in support of the protection of nature, has garnered award categories since its foundation. Today it has eight categories: beaches, non-coastal communities, schools, natural areas, hydrological watersheds, actions against climate change, climate neutral, and promotion of community health. Puntarenas is the second province with more blue flags. Twenty-nine of its beaches were granted such recognition, including Punta Leona, which received the highest rating of five stars. Eight beaches of Limon have a flag now. Sixty-seven beaches across the country received the recognition as a guarantee that the water is clean and that they meet the health requirements for human beings. This year, there were more winners than in the past. For example, 40 communities were recognized, as well as 426 schools and 142 private institutions, such as the Earth University in Guácimo, which was certified as a "Climate Neutral Community.” Playa Punta del Madero, the highest category
Playa Punta del Madero (the only beach in Guanacaste) and Punta Leona were the only two to achieve the program’s highest score of five stars. In addition to having clean waters and sands, these beaches have signage, restrooms, showers, parking, facilities for people with disabilities, and community environmental actions. Punta del Madero is located in front of Hotel Barceló Langosta, between Playa Langosta and Tamarindo, and it has been "adopted" by the hotel, who has designed a program of environmental actions to protect it and has made it worthy of the Blue Flag.
"The hotel has been participating in the program for seven years now. We have worked very hard to be sustainable, and this has implied many changes and adjustments," said Argerie Cordero, Assistant Director of the Hotel, who is in charge of implementing the environmental measures.

"We got this award by carrying out actions against climate change," she said.

Among the climate actions they have implemented include the following: a plan for fuel efficiency, reduction of power consumption by using special light bulbs, and a treated water system for watering gardens.

Taking care of the beach is a commitment for the communities and the tourism industry, since they benefit from this important natural attraction and invest resources in protecting the coastal areas; such is the case of this hotel, since it carries out periodic analysis of sea waters, recycling programs for organic waste, and, of course, the use of a wastewater treatment plant.

"We have environmental education programs with Villarreal High School. We work together in a reforestation program. They have a large area to plant in. Hacienda Pinilla donates the trees, and together, we were part of this important work in which many young people and community participate," said Cordero.

"We also invest in beach safety. We have a lifeguard to provide protection to those visiting the beach," he concluded.

This hotel is aware of the fact that their actions must be accompanied by an awareness-raising campaign for their guests to use natural resources rationally. Therefore, the guests are asked -through pocket guides- to turn off lights and air conditioners when they are not being used, as well as to recycle and not to waste water. "It is a matter of social responsibility," said Jorge Jimenez Montero, Manager of Hotel Barceló Playa Langosta to THE Tamarindo News. "This should be a topic that we all must commit with. I hope other businesses and individuals realize that this is not only a matter of recognition but also of responsibility. Country-wide, this is very important. It allows us to be more competitive,” he concluded.