Costa Rica's Blue Flag program identifies and certifies the best quality beaches. What exactly is a Blue Flag Beach?Modeled after the Blue Flag program developed in Europe to identify the world's best beaches based upon ecological quality and visitor conveniences, Costa Rica has created its own Blue Flag program with strict objective rating standards involving water and beach qualities of cleanliness. Only those beaches obtaining a water and beach quality score of 90 or more (out of 100) are certified as Blue Flag. Under the Blue Flag Ecology Program, the Costa Rican beaches are evaluated on a strict criteria. The beaches are assessed on water quality of the ocean and the drinking water, waste disposal, sanitary facilities, signage, tourist safety, environmental education and involvement of the community in beach maintenance. Only beaches with a 90% score succeed in acquiring a distinction and receiving the Blue Flag. Beaches awarded the Blue Flag are then monitored on monthly basis for sustained maintenance. Out of 84 beaches hoping for the award, only 67 beaches passed throughout several examinations, such as water quality, cleanliness and security.
This program s
tarted in 1996, and it's carried out by the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) (Aqueducts and Sewers Institute), the ministries of Health, Environment and Education, by the National Chamber of Tourism (NCT) and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (CRTI).
