Playa Hermosa is left without municipal lifeguards at the start of the season of the biggest waves on the Pacific coast.

The Municipality of the Garabito canton decided that lifeguard surveillance would continue at Playa Hermosa starting during Holy Week, an idea that had begun the previous year, but due to a budget cut caused by Covid-19 it was not fully implemented and the proposal was resumed in 2021.

However, yesterday Mr. Mar Chen Pérez, Head of the Lifeguard Beach Patrol for the Aquatic Rescue Department, was informed that lifeguard services in the Playa Hermosa area of ​​Jacó were being suspended. The notification was delivered by the Chief of Police, Lifeguards, and Municipal Licensing, Mr. Angelo Hernández. The decision took Pérez by surprise, as the work being done there had been quite noticeable.

“The decision honestly took me by surprise. A total of 21 people had been rescued in this period following Easter, and we were very pleased with the work done. We consider the work done in Hermosa to be monumental and of great benefit to the merchants and residents of the area, since their tourists are safe. I think that a solution to maintain a good balance between Jacó Beach and Hermosa Beach would be to listen more to the professionals who are on the ground,” Mar Chen Pérez explained when asked about the situation.

Three merchants from the Playa Hermosa area were consulted about the decision, and they gave us their opinions:

Roger Chun - Bowies Point Restaurant: With all due respect, I believe what the municipality is doing is unfair to the businesses in Playa Hermosa. We at the restaurant were very comfortable, and even though this is a beach with somewhat large waves, the lifeguards gave us peace of mind regarding the visitors. We also used to have Alberto's support, but due to budget constraints, it couldn't continue. Now, with the municipal lifeguards, we had regained our peace of mind, as they have done an excellent job carrying out numerous rescues. We hope a meeting can be held with the mayor so that a good agreement can be reached. Tobías Murillo (the mayor) has always supported us and has done a great job in his position, but we hope he can also support us on this issue, as we are truly very concerned because it is a very delicate matter. Lifeguards are definitely needed in Playa Hermosa, especially now that we are receiving more tourists than before. The decision is a bit sad, because they are also removing the lifeguards, at a time when the biggest waves are about to hit Hermosa, as is the case during the winter season.

Juan Bernini - Vida Hermosa Restaurant: It's regrettable. The work the lifeguards were doing was invaluable; they saved around 21 lives in a month. They provided a great deal of security and prevention for businesses, and now we're dismayed by this decision. Rescues will now have to be done by surfers, and if there aren't any, that's where the problem lies, as drownings will occur. We don't know why this decision was made, whether it's for political or budgetary reasons, or because of the number of businesses in Playa Hermosa compared to Jacó, and for that reason, it's not given the same importance. We must emphasize the great work the municipal lifeguards were doing; they added value for beachgoers, and even though this beach isn't designated for swimming, many people visit it.

Johanna Roque - Aparthotel Ola Bonita: We feel a bit pensive and sad, since Playa Hermosa has very large waves and can be quite dangerous for swimmers, and the lifeguards gave us some reassurance; in fact, they had already carried out quite a few rescues. We hope a solution can be found as soon as possible.

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero