Published on Monday, March 17, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A new beach access ramp for individuals with disabilities has been installed at Samara Beach in Guanacaste Province, improving accessibility for visitors, according to the Tourism Institute.

The 42-meter pathway was built by the Accessible Tourism Network (Red Costarricense de Turismo Accessible), a non-governmental organization (NGO), in collaboration with the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, the Municipality of Guanacaste, and private companies. The project was made possible through the "Donate a Plastic Lid" (Dona una Tapa) initiative, which involved collecting plastic lids for use in construction.

The project incorporated sustainable materials, using 5,000 kilograms of recycled plastic lids to create 14 retractable walkways and an amphibious wheelchair designed for beach access.

The Samara Beach Development Association has been entrusted with managing the portable walkway, which is available for public use daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Costa Rica’s Law 7600 mandates accessibility in the tourism industry, requiring hotels, theaters, museums, national parks, and other attractions to accommodate people with disabilities. However, challenges remain, particularly in providing direct water access, user-friendly showers, parking, and accessible restrooms at many beaches, authorities stated.

Samara is the 17th beach in Costa Rica to feature an access ramp to the water. Other accessible beaches include:

• Guanacaste Province: Junquillal, Panamá, Hermosa, Tamarindo.

• Puntarenas Province: Herradura, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Bandera, Espadilla, Hermosa de Osa.

• Limón Province: Piuta, Cieneguita, Manzanillo and Cahuita among others.

As part of its tourism strategy, Costa Rica recently launched a marketing campaign in Germany, featuring 100 electric taxis adorned with banners showcasing the country's rich flora and fauna.

In 2024, Costa Rica earned over $5.4 billion in foreign exchange from tourism, according to the Central Bank’s data.

  

Additionally, the country saw a 7% increase in air arrivals, welcoming more than 2.6 million tourists in 2024 compared to the previous year.

ICT is responsible for promoting tourism and supporting infrastructure development in tourism areas in Costa Rica.

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What can Costa Rica do to improve tourism services for people with physical disabilities? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com