The celebrated beachbreaks, coupled with unparalleled biodiversity, of Costa Rica’s Playa Hermosa have earned the area the esteemed designation as a World Surfing Reserve, as announced by the Save the Waves Coalition.
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“The Playa Hermosa application demonstrated that the famous surfing beach deserved the World Surfing Reserve title due to the incredible biodiversity of the area, strong community support, a clearly articulated conservation vision, as well as its world-class waves,” Save the Waves noted in a press release. “Playa Hermosa is the center of surfing in Costa Rica and every year hosts surfers from around the world who seek out the renowned waves at the beachbreak.”
Under the World Surfing Reserve umbrella, Playa Hermosa will be designated as a safeguarded zone, through a collaboration between Save the Waves and local governments, that ensures the surf landscape and surrounding ecosystem will remain protected for years to come.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Central Costa Rica Regional Surf Forecast
“Playa Hermosa was a perfect candidate for the WSR designation,” said Save The Waves Coalition’s Executive Director, Nik Strong-Cvetich. “With its incredible biodiversity and environmental attributes as well as a clear conservation vision for the future, this surf ecosystem is very deserving of the title. This is also a very exciting pick for the network and program as it will be the first World Surfing Reserve in Central America.”
Costa Rican native and perennial QS threat, Carlos Muñoz, tucking in at Playa Hermosa.
For decades, traveling surfers have cherished Costa Rica, and particularly Playa Hermosa, as a destination for many reasons – the Pura Vida lifestyle of the locals, the likelihood to score, the tropical environment and, of course, the quality of waves. In fact, many expats have moved to the region over the years, making it a permanent home.
READ MORE: Puerto Rico’s Punta Borinquen Declared World Surfing Reserve
Laura Zumbado, leader of the World Surfing Reserve application and Environmental Engineer, stated, “We have built an incredible team to foster the protection of Playa Hermosa for future generations to cherish its waves. We look forward to improving this incredible surf habitat as well as the benefits it brings to our community. For us, it is an honor to join the surf protection community and the incredible network of World Surfing Reserves.”
Playa Hermosa will join the growing network of World Surfing Reserves across the globe including Malibu, California; Ericeira, Portugal; Manly Beach, Australia; Santa Cruz, California; Huanchaco, Peru; Bahia Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico; Punta de Lobos, Chile; Gold Coast, Australia; Guarda do Embaú, Brazil; and Noosa Heads, Australia. Playa Hermosa is expected to be formally dedicated in 2021.
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