Costa Rica will have a new official port of access in El Coco. The space will be dedicated to nautical, fishing and other recreational activities, consolidating El Coco as a key point for maritime and tourism development. This new port will be possible after the signing of a contract between the Municipality of Carrillo, in Guanacaste and the Association for the Development of the Marina of El Coco (ASODEMAC).
This project, which has been in the making for more than two decades, will strengthen both the tourist attraction and the maritime identity of Playas de El Coco. The project meets all the Technical Feasibility requirements, including operational, environmental and maritime engineering criteria, among others, assessed by the Interinstitutional Commission of Marinas and Tourist Berths (CIMAT), in which the ICT participates. In addition, the contract through which the Municipality of Carrillo granted the concession of the area to develop the marina was reviewed and endorsed according to said criteria.
William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism, expressed his satisfaction with the significant progress of the project. “With the arrival of this new marina in Playas del Coco, maritime tourism will be strengthened, increasing the attraction of boat owners and travelers from around the world, and allowing space for expedition cruises that will be able to take advantage of this infrastructure, generating new employment opportunities and links in the province of Guanacaste and surrounding areas,” said the minister.
Regarding this, Luis Lemus, director of CIMAT, added: “This is a historic milestone for this community. The signing of this contract is not just another bureaucratic procedure, it is the realization of a shared dream and the beginning of a new chapter for El Coco, where a group of visionaries dared to dream of a marina for this town. This marina is not just an infrastructure project, it is a symbol of the commitment to progress and sustainable development; it will be an engine that will drive the economy.”
The president of ASODEMAC, Rafael Villegas, highlighted the support of the municipality and the resilience and strength of the members of the association to achieve this dream that has been sought for more than 24 years: “We are very happy to see a marina in Playas del Coco, with a Harbor Master's Office and representation of Customs and Immigration, we will be the main port of the North Pacific. The beach is for the use and enjoyment of tourists and residents of Coco, the area will be organized and improved.”
The Marina del Coco will be built with private funds managed by the concessionaire, which in this case is ASODEMAC. It is projected to be ready in a period of 3 to 5 years.
The initial phase will involve the construction of an access road and the filling of the water body. Once this stage is completed, the infrastructure works on land and water will begin.
The designated area is approximately 25 hectares, where 299 berths will be arranged in docks that can accommodate vessels between 12 and 40 meters in length; there will be administrative offices for the concessionaire and the Government, a storage area for vessels with the respective facilities for docking and launching, a maintenance warehouse, fuel storage and distribution dock, an ice factory, commercial areas and parking spaces.
About marinas in Costa Rica
The Interinstitutional Commission of Marinas and Tourist Berths (CIMAT) is responsible, under Law 7744, for assessing marina projects from the initial consultation stage, technical feasibility, among other aspects, and is made up of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the National Institute of Housing and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Health and the National Technical Secretariat of the Environment (SETENA).
Currently, there are six marinas operating in the country, with 1,013 berths on the Pacific Coast and records of servicing 825 vessels on average per month. Marina Papagayo, Marina Flamingo, Marina Los Sueños, Marina Pez Vela, Marina Bahía Golfito and Marina Banana Bay (Golfito) generate 5,073 indirect jobs and 2,000 direct jobs. 50% of the vessels in the marinas engage in sport and tourist fishing.
Source: ICT.