As of today, a total of 151 beaches in the country have the Ecological Blue Flag (BAE) led by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) and the National Water Laboratory of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AYA).
The official ceremony took place at the Fiesta hotel in Puntarenas with the presence of the Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez, as well as representatives of the BAE Committees of Puntarenas and the Gulf Islands, local authorities and special guests.
“The Ecological Blue Flag program and the 151 award-winning beaches are testimony to the country's efforts and commitments, both institutional and private, with sustainability and care of nature. Behind these 151 beaches there are 151 committees that collectively work to obtain the long-awaited flag in the coastal areas of the North, Middle and South Pacific, as well as in the Caribbean,” said William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism.
In 2023, 136 beaches were awarded; In 2022 the number was 140 and in 2021 there were 138 beaches that received the distinction.
Beaches for sustainable and tourist enjoyment
According to the number of stars received by each beach, as well as compliance with the hygienic and sanitary conditions guaranteed by the constant analyzes of sea water and drinkability carried out by the National Water Laboratory. Safety elements such as preventive labeling of rip currents, lifeguards or lifeguards during weekends and in the high season are also evaluated; the presence of showers, sanitary services, separation and recycling of solid waste, environmental education, among other elements.
The objective of this program, established in 1996 by the National Commission of the Ecological Blue Flag Program, is to have an incentive to promote the organization of local committees and their integrality with the purpose of seeking conservation and development, in accordance with the protection of natural resources, the implementation of actions to confront climate change, the search for better hygienic-sanitary conditions and the improvement of the public health of the inhabitants of Costa Rica.
The 151 blue flags awarded to beaches this 2024 are distributed as follows: 24 in North Guanacaste, 26 in North and South Guanacaste, 39 in Puntarenas and the Islands of the Gulf of Nicoya, 28 in the Middle Pacific, 16 in the South Pacific and 18 in the Caribbean.
A total of 11 beaches will fly their ecological blue flag with five stars, BAE's highest distinction:
In addition to this, 10 beaches were awarded for the first time and 55 beaches were given special complementary stars in the colors pink, gold, silver, orange and green, which are a way to motivate or encourage healthy competition between the registered PBAE committees. .
How is the evaluation carried out?
Personnel from the Regional Offices Department make three visits a year to evaluate the progress of the annual plan proposed by each committee with the task of inspecting the work on the beaches, advising the group regarding technical and administrative work and providing recommendations for improvement for the next visit. At the end of the period, the committees deliver their results reports to evaluate compliance with the work plan and, together with the laboratory tests carried out by AyA on water quality, they are given a rating that will allow them to achieve a certain number of stars.
Before 2023, the evaluation percentage of the AyA National Water Laboratory with respect to water was 70%, while the ICT evaluated the other 30%, but with the update implemented last year the percentages were balanced at a 50% and 50% to each institution.
The 20% increase for the ICT is reflected in the coastal health quality parameter and in environmental education, both increasing by 10%. For its part, the seawater quality parameter dropped from 35% to 20% and the quality of water for human consumption from 15% to 10%.
Regarding the grading of the stars, previously to obtain from the second to the fifth star, 100% compliance with the mandatory parameters was requested, however, now 95% is requested.
The Blue Ecological Flag Program (BAE) is one of the five programs that promote sustainability in the tourism industry through the organization of local committees and organized communities.