Every year, Costa Rica’s Blue Flag Program receives applications for their “Blue Flag” ecological recognition which rewards community efforts towards sustainable development.

The program is a joint effort of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute and the Ecological Blue Flag National Commission, known in Costa Rica simply as the “Bandera Azul” program.

The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) announced today that 105 beaches throughout Costa Rica received a Blue Flag ecological recognition that rates beaches on a number of aspects. They are listed by region on the attached table.

Three applicants to the program received five stars, the top recognition, and all are on the Pacific Coast: Playa Matapalo, on the outermost point of the Osa Peninsula, in the southern Pacific coast area; Punta El Madero in the northern Pacific province of Guanacaste; and Playa Blanca in the Central Pacific region.

Beach communities wishing to be considered for a blue flag recognition must present their case to the ICT through a local blue flag committee, which is run voluntarily, and which organizes programs to ensure sustainable tourism and conservation efforts in the area on and around their beach.

The blue flag award is also award to communities, schools, watersheds, and homes, but the beach program is the longest running and draws the most participants.

Blue flag awardees are giving promotional materials to display on their beach to help with attracting and educating visitors about the importance of ecological protection.

Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, said the strength of the blue flag program is that it promotes sustainable development through a community participation model that involves different actors on local actions that further this goal.

“Beyond protecting natural resources, such as beaches, [the Blue Flag Program] seeks the promotion of sustainability in three areas: Social, environmental and economic,” explained Ventura at the award ceremony today.

The classification from one to five stars is based on a variety of aspects such as the quality of sea water and drinking water, the overall environmental health of the coast, safety awareness such as signs warning of strong waves or riptides, presence of emergency and safety personnel on weekends and during high season, availability of public showers and bathrooms, recycling facilities, environmental education, and other considerations.

To evaluate applicants to the Blue Flag Program, ICT representatives make three annual visits to beaches to assess the progress of the annual plan proposed by each committee. The ICT inspects the committee’s work, advises the group on technical and administrative aspects, and provides recommendations to aid in achieving their goals.