COSTA RICA GIVES GUANCASTE CANTON AN $8 MILLION MAKEOVER

COSTA RICA GIVES GUANCASTE CANTON AN $8 MILLION MAKEOVER
By JohnK, 11 April 2008

Costa Rica Gives Guanacaste Canton an $8 Million Makeover

The 13 kilometer road that goes from the coastal communities of '27 de Abril' to 'Paraíso' in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste is getting resurfaced. This short route goes through Las Delicias, Río Seco, Paraíso, Junquillal, Los Pargos, Avellanas, Playa Negra, Callejones and other small communities and has been in serious need of repairs for many years now.

Some of these areas, especially Playa Negra and Avellanas, are popular tourist destinations for their beaches and natural beauty. Playa Negra in Guanacaste is not to be confused with it's namesake on the Caribbean coast that recently lost its Bandera Azul certification due to excessive contamination. The public works project is a positive step for the area as most of the residents and the local economy relies on the tourism industry. These areas depend on the salaries generated from hotels, tour agencies, restaurants and other related tourism services.

The project, with a total investment of almost $8 million (¢3,900 million), started this March. According to what seems like a local tradition, the repairs have already faced delays although cost-overruns have not yet been announced. The works have taken longer than expected to be completed because the construction contractor, MECO, did not have the necessary environmental permits from the Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental (Setena) - one of Costa Rica's environmental protection agencies.

This road has been in a sorry state for many years and once these repairs are completed, the new roadway will allow locals and visitors to travel more easily and comfortably. Although the works have taken longer than expected, both local businesses and residents have expressed their satisfaction as it will help boost economic activity in the area. It remains to be seen if the economic boost to the area will be properly managed to protect the areas' fragile natural habitats. As has occurred in other nearby areas, excessive real estate development has generated pollutants of various types and become a threat to local species.

Santa Cruz, Guanacaste
Santa Cruz, means Holy Cross in Spanish and is considered to be the second most important city in the Guanacaste province, after Liberia. With a population of about 50,000, the city of Santa Cruz is located in the heart of the Nicoya Peninsula. It is conveniently located about a 30 minute drive away from the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia.

Santa Cruz was declared the "Folklore City" by the Central American Institute of Tourism. If you visit the area, you'll see exactly why this is and you can also get a more intense hands-on experience by visiting Santa Cruz during January when the city honors its patron saint 'Santo Cristo de Esquipulas'. During this festival or country fair, there are traditional foods, arts & crafts, dances, parties, bull riding, and more.

The canton is also internationally renowned for is splendid beaches including Potrero, Conchal, Brasilito, Nombre de Jesus, Grande, Tamarindo, Langosta, Avellanas, Junquillal, Manzanillo, Veracruz, Ostional, Nosara, and others. Some of these beaches have great surfing conditions. The Ostional National Wildlife Preserve and Parque Marino Baulas (home to the Ridley turtle and leatherback turtle's nesting grounds, respectively) are also located in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

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