People in wheelchairs can now enjoy the arribadas and mass hatching of olive ridley turtles, a unique phenomenon in the country at Ostional Beach, located along the coast between Nicoya and Santa Cruz.
Since August 10th, the Ostional Wildlife Refuge has opened a 60-meter-long ramp made of “plastic wood,” donated by Pro Parques, Gollo, and other private companies and public institutions. These organizations collect plastic bottle caps, which are then transformed into foldable ramps.
In addition to the donation of the ramp, users can also use a 4×4 chair, which provides greater mobility and traction on the terrain, allowing them to fully enjoy the natural turtle spectacle on the beach.
For information about the arribadas and the use of the walkway and chair, you can contact the refuge at 2686-0937.
How can you help make more beaches accessible?
The walkways are built by reusing plastic. The process works as follows: you need to identify caps #2, #4, and #5, which are usually indicated on one side of the cap. Toothpaste caps, shampoo caps, food container lids, and the “handles” or sticks from some shaving products are also acceptable.
Then, you take them to a collection point.
From there, they are transported to a collection center to be converted into plastic wood. This wood is then used to design and build retractable walkways. They are designed this way so they can be extended and retracted according to the tide and also because, by law, they cannot be left permanently on the sand.
In the country, these initiatives are led by the Accessible Tourism Network and Proparques. In addition to the walkways, they also provide amphibious chairs (with wheels and designed for people to move around the beach or enter the water), as well as accessible restrooms and changing rooms.
And if you want to find out the collection points in Guanacaste, here they are:
In all the cantons:
- Monge stores
- Gollo stores
Liberia:
- Rogafa: 300 meters west of Economy Rent a Car
- Coriport S.A. – Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
Santa Cruz:
- Conapdis: 225 meters south of the Social Security (Seguro Social)
- Panache Sailing: 250 meters east of Hotel Bahia del Sol in Playa Potrero
- Reserva Conchal: Brasilito, Cabo Velas, Santa Cruz
Carrillo:
- Transmiratours: 200 meters north of Catsa
Hojancha:
- Hojancha Municipality
Bagaces:
- Municipal Depot of Bagaces, 125 meters north of the Public Force Station, Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
La Cruz
- Junquillal Wildlife Refuge
Outside of Guanacaste
- Visit this site if you want to learn about the other collection points of the Accessible Tourism Network. On this other site, you will find the points for Proparques.
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