Essential Costa Rica promotes beach cleanups in La Paz, supporting civil society organizations and promoting sustainable tourism

In a joint effort to preserve natural beauty and promote responsible tourism, Esencial Costa Rica held a beach cleanup in La Paz, Baja California Sur. This initiative was supported by various civil society organizations, including Azul Centeo and Ecology Project International (EPI), which work to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the marine environment, as well as Ándale La Paz, an organization that promotes cultural, artistic, and community learning projects in the municipality.

María Fernanda Leitón, Coordinator of the Sustainability Department of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), was present at the event and shared her knowledge and practices to promote more environmentally friendly tourism. The Costa Rican corporation Proyecto Llatebo also participated, contributing its experience in environmental and social projects.

"The goal is to engage the local community, visitors, tourism businesses, and strategic partners in actions that protect beaches and marine ecosystems, as well as promote the exchange of knowledge that benefits Mexico and Costa Rica in terms of tourism sustainability," said Leitón.

The La Paz beach cleanup took place on the afternoon of August 15th at various points along the seafront, with the participation of more than 150 volunteers, educational institutions, and civil organizations committed to environmental conservation.

During the two-hour activity, more than 700 cigarette butts were collected, along with nearly 3 kilograms of non-recyclable plastic, 2 kilograms of recyclable plastic, and approximately 1,000 microplastic fragments removed using sand sieves. “This was the cleanup with the highest attendance recorded in La Paz. The amount of microplastics and waste imperceptible to the naked eye was surprising, even on one of the cleanest beaches I've participated in,” said influencer Cuitláhuac Corrales, founder of Azul Centeo.

That same day, in the morning, talks were given to more than 45 sustainability specialists, students from the University of Marine Biology of La Paz, and the public interested in the EPI facilities. Later, on the boardwalk, influencers dedicated to nature, biology, and sustainability joined in, delivering messages to the attendees and volunteers.

At the Costa Rica stand, the country's tourism offerings were presented through the "Costa Rica and its Green Footprint" itinerary, organized in partnership with Operadora Travel Shop. This initiative seeks to showcase how Costa Rica works toward environmental conservation through volunteer and educational projects, while also offering experiences in its natural landscapes.

In total, the activities impacted more than 1,000 people throughout the day. With this initiative, Esencial Costa Rica reaffirms its commitment to environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable practices that generate tangible benefits for communities and ecosystems.