Beaches or beach areas located within Protected Wilderness Areas may not be used until phase 2 of the State of Emergency.

Yesterday, new guidelines were provided to be applied in Costa Rican territory due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about this topic at: https://surfingrepublica.com/blogs/news/surfing-costa-rica-playas-se-abriran-con-horario-especifico

https://surfingrepublica.com/blogs/news/surfing-costa-rica-practica-del-surf-sera-para-todo-publico-y-no-se-debera-presentar-carnet-federativo

The guidelines included various measures to gradually and moderately ease restrictions on different activities and use of different areas.

One of these reopenings was that of beaches, which can be used starting Monday, May 18th, during specific hours, in addition to other areas of the country, such as twelve Protected Wildlife Areas. It is precisely at this point that we are left with uncertainty: what should I do if I want to surf in a Protected Wildlife Area?

The Press Department of the National System of Conservation Areas (Sinac), represented by Francesco Pinacci, told us the following about this question.

“The Ministry of Health and MINAE have designated twelve Protected Wilderness Areas that will be authorized for public use starting May 16. These areas will be opened gradually and in an orderly fashion to train staff on public service and health and safety protocols for both staff and tourists, and this will take time. However, everything will be done gradually to avoid a massive influx of people, which is what causes infections.”

The National System of Conservation Areas (Sinac) emphasizes that the use of the twelve authorized zones must be done with 50% of the visitation capacity, and the distancing protocols and hygiene measures required by the Ministry of Health must be respected.

The Executive Director of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC-MINAE), Ms. Grettel Vega Arce, confirmed in a statement on the agency's official website that the reopening of National Parks and protected wilderness areas will be carried out gradually and in an orderly manner. She also stated, “We are providing all personnel stationed in the Protected Wilderness Areas with supplies, equipment, and materials, provided by the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and those acquired by SINAC, thereby ensuring the safety of our staff, in accordance with the general guidelines established by the Ministry of Health for the reopening of activities in authorized National Parks.”

The list of the twelve Protected Wilderness Areas enabled as of May 16th is as follows:

• Irazú Volcano National Park
• Poás Volcano National Park
• Arenal Volcano National Park
• Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park
• Guayabo National Monument
• Braulio Carrillo National Park
• Carara National Park
• Corcovado National Park
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Cahuita National Park
• Tapantí National Park
• Los Quetzales National Park

In addition, the private Monteverde reserve was included, which, despite being privately owned, will also be enabled because it is a site of strong tourist visitation.

The opening of the 163 Protected Wilderness Areas will take place in the second phase of the State of Emergency, which is planned to begin on June 1st.

Therefore, and conclusively, based on the information provided by the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), beaches or sections of beaches located within the territory of protected areas that have not yet received approval for their opening cannot be used.

It is understood that in places such as Playa Hermosa - Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge, Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge, Santa Rosa National Park, among many other places not mentioned in the opening of the first phase, which are normally used for surfing, they cannot be used within the limits that comprise the various protected areas.

Writing and media: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero