COSTA RICA BEACHES TO AVOID--FOR NOW

Costa Rica beaches are world famous for their beauty and things to do.

Unfortunately, a handful--including some of the Pacific’s most popular beaches--are presently contaminated or have had contamination problems recently. There are hundreds of exquisite beaches in Costa Rica but, for now, there are six to avoid on Costa Rica trips and one other to ask about when you come.

In August 2008, the government reported that the following Costa Rica beaches are too contaminated for swimming until they're cleaned up:

PACIFIC BEACHES

Playas del Coco

Playa Tambor

Jaco (a sewage treatment plant is in the design stages but not anticipated to being brought on line for some time)

Quepos (beach DIRECTLY in front of the town; the Quepos Park beaches are clean)

CARIBBEAN BEACHES

Cieneguitas

Portete

Take note: THESE SIX BEACHES MAY NOT HAVE "NO SWIMMING" SIGNS POSTED. IT'S BEST NOT TO SWIM OR SURF AT THESE SIX BEACHES UNTIL THEY ARE CLEANED UP.

And be cautious at Tamarindo.

Tamarindo Beach, on the Pacific, was declared hazardous to human health in 2007. The community and many others in this little country were shocked because Tamarindo is one of the most popular beaches in the country. Community and national governmental action was swift and Tamarindo was removed from the list of contaminated beaches in August 2008. However, the government is monitoring this important beach because it has recently discovered a number of hidden pipes discharging high levels of contaminants into the streams entering Tamarindo.

As these are discovered, corrective action is being taken by the government and many people in Tamarindo. The bottom line: Tamarindo is on a kind of national "watch list" as of this writing but seems to be fine.

You Can Help

UPDATE: In September 2008, the Costa Rica government announced that, with the financial help of Spain, treatment facilities are planned for parts of Puntarenas, Golfito(near the Pacific-Panamanian border), and near the Caribbean-Panamanian border.

Welcome news and a step in the right direction but none of the plants will affect the Costa Rica beaches described in this article.

There's simply too much development and too many cheaters (hotels, resorts, developers, and homeowners) to stay ahead of the problem with a few enforcement officers.

The only realistic permanent solution is a sewage plant and central sewer--not too much to ask in a modern society.

Fortunately, when the sewage flow is stopped, the contamination disappears--literally--in a little more than one hour.

Why?

Because as coliform bacteria enter the ocean water, a combination of salt, sunlight and antibacterial algae break them down very quickly.

According to the head of Costa Rica's Water and Sewer Institute's water laboratory coliforms (including E. coli) disappear within 72 minutes once the sewage discharge ends.

That's right. 72 minutes.

What does this mean?

First, if your beach is contaminated, there's a large volume of fresh sewage (an hour old) being dumped.

Second, when the dumping stops, the ocean will clean itself in just about an hour.

Money talks.

You can help these hazardous Costa Rica beaches recover by

avoiding them for now (just go to an different beach that's close by)

canceling hotel reservations at these beaches (and let the hotelier know why you’re taking your dollars and euros somewhere else)

complaining to the hotelier, travel agency, or travel company (Expedia, Cheap Tickets, whatever), demanding effective sewage treatment facilities where you spend your money, and

keeping people informed as to what is going on (good or bad).

Never under-estimate the power of an informed consumer.

We’re all in this together.

Finally, I want to emphasize again that there are HUNDREDS of great beaches, clean beaches, many pristine, and only six to avoid. But, do avoid them until they get cleaned up.

And. . . stay tuned here. I'll try to keep you up-to-date on this situation through my blog.

Update #2: January 2010 Testing by the Laboratorio Nacional de Aguas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) shows that the beaches of Los Baños, Portete and Cieneguita, in the province of Limón; the Tárcoles, Giacalillo and Quepos beaches in the province of Puntarenas, have a high level of contamination of fecal coliforms.

Readers' Forum: Your Thoughts and Ideas

Nobody likes pollution. I'd like your thoughts and constructive, respectful ideas.

And, of course, if there are other problems---or places with problems---I've not identified, I'd like those, too.

But, it's also important to acknowledge good steps being taken or accomplishments achieved.

I'm NOT interested in political statements.

We're all interested in proposed solutions.

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