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Lifeguard Program Returns in Costa Rica's Tamarindo

Playa Tamarindo, the popular tourist destination on Costa Rica's northwestern Guanacaste coast, is again offering lifeguard services. The program was cancelled last August after a shortage of funds.

According to the Guanacaste Tourism Chamber (CATURGUA), Playa Tamarindo beach is currently being supervised daily by 3 trained lifeguards.

The local fund-raising and awareness campaign has been a great success. Through the support of the Tamarindo Improvement Association, residents and local Tamarindo businesses, contributions of $2,500 a month are coming in to keep the life-saving program afloat.

The lifeguard service is vital for a beach that on a given day can see as many as 100 surfers, said Giancarlo Pucci, of the recently constituted Playa Tamarindo Tourism Commission, according to a CATURGUA press release.

“What's more, it must be stressed that these lifeguards are equipped with necessary buoys, ropes, boards and binoculars, among other equipment,” Pucci said.

Tamarindo's reputation as a fun surfing beach is increasingly popular with tourists, although its has been marred by recent drownings. 

The lifeguards came with a string of good news touted by the beach town to fight the flawed image – overbuilding, dubious water quality and safety – of a locale Forbes magazine calls Costa Rica's “most popular beach.” Developments there have included the formation of the new tourism commission, which is a CATURGUA offshoot, and projects ranging from rebuilding roads to recycling to a new police station.