The Contentious Administrative Court acted upon a request presented by Reserva Conchal Beach Resort and has ordered the Municipality of Santa Cruz (Guanacaste) to take immediate measures to close the vehicle access and parking in the Maritime-Land Zone of Conchal Beach. They must transfer the unauthorized commerce ( Beach sellers)to a different location in the area. “It was determined that if this preventive measure is not taken, serious environmental damages could affect the area“stated the court’s resolution.

Many people access Conchal Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Guanacaste via car through Brasilito; this is the access the court ruling ordered to be close. This resolution is now creating a dispute between the Municipality of Santa Cruz and Reserva Conchal Beach Resort.

The Municipality denounces that this is an attempt to “privatize“ the beach “Both the Council and the Mayor’s office regret this situation, because this road has existed for over one hundred years. This route connects two communities (…) We feel this is a sneaky way to privatize the beach (…) Neither the Council or the Mayor’s office are in agreement with this”, commented Maria Rosa Lopez, Mayor of Santa Cruz in an interview with CRHOY.

Lopez also commented that in order to access the beach by foot people will have to walk close to 500 meters which she feels could also affect tourism.

However, Reserva Conchal explained through a document titled “Community and Tourists yes, vehicles no”, that “This prohibition does not limit in anyway the access of neighbors and tourists to the beach, in other words, this restriction cannot be seen in any way as an attempt to “privatize” the beach”… “The measures seeks the protection and conservation of the environment in the affected area (as was confirmed through environmental impact studies and the Ministry of Environment -MINAE), as well as guaranteeing the security of visitors/tourists”.

The National Tourism Chamber (Canatur) considered the measure “appropriate”, since it “it is intended to protect the environment and people who visit the place”. “Canatur promotes responsible tourism that maintains a respectful relation with our surroundings (…) we do not consider that this measure attempts against social tourism or the right of all people/tourists to access the beach freely”, commented Sary Valverde, president of Canatur.