The awards come after a year-long evaluation of
84 beaches and 40 non-coastal communities, of which 50 beaches
and 15 inland communities qualified for the award. Those awarded
were categorized in a three-tier rating system:
A - Beaches with a Minimum score of 90% that include
basic services such as potable water and waste facilities.
AA - Beaches with a score of 100 % that include the presence of
lifeguards during high season and rip-tide warning signs.
AAA - Beaches with a score of 100 % that include the presence
of life guards and first aid-trained personnel, access for disabled
persons, tourist information, sanitary services and showers.
Begun in 1996 (only ten beaches qualified then),
the program rates beaches and communities by criteria that include
the quality of the ocean water, quality of drinking water in the
community, waste disposal, availability of sanitary facilities,
the existence of signs with safety instructions as well as the
involvement of the community in keeping the beach clean and educating
the local residents about the importance of maintaining their
beach in order.
Among the beaches that formerly held the flag but did not make
the cut this year are Tamarindo and Penca in Guanacaste, Santa
Teresa in the Nicoya Peninsula and Puntarenas, Roble and Doña
Ana – the last three due to contamination caused by the
nearby Tárcoles River.
The Blue Flag program was begun as a joint effort of various Costa
Rican authorities, including the National Water Service AyA, the
Costa Rican Tourism Institute ICT, the Ministry of Health, the
Ministry of Environment MINAE and the National Tourism Chamber
CANATUR.
The following is the list of this year’s
Blue Flag winners (in no particular order):
1 Playa Blanca
2 Punta Leona
3 Garabito
4 Manuel Antonio
5 Playa Espadilla Sur
6 Playa Puerto Escondido
7 Playa Gemelas
8 Playa Bahía Junquillal
9 Playa Conchal
10 Playa Arenilla
11 Gandoca
12 Isla Tortuga
13 Limoncito
14 Bejuco
15 Zancudo
16 Agujas
17 Ballena
18 Esterillos Oeste
19 Punta Uvita
20 Puerto Vargas
21 Blanca
22 Chiquita
23 Cocles
24 Punta Uva
25 Puerto Viejo
26 Mal País
27 Quitzales
28 Barú
29 La Colonia
30 Mata Palo
31 Pochote
32 Dominical
33 Piñuela
34 Blanca de Jiménez
35 Ocotal
36 Grande
37 Hermosa
38 Pan de Azucar
39 Monte del Barco
40 Flamingo
41 Junquillal
42 Carrillo
43 Punta Islita
44 Punta el Madero
45 Manzanillo de Liberia
46 Panamá
47 Pelada de Nosara
48 Guiñones de Nosara
49 Ostional
50 Langosta
