Costa Rica’s new barrier-free beach changes lives with innovative design

Costa Rica now has a new accessible beach, thanks to Costa Rica Accessible Tourism Network, Ojochal Development Association and Grupo Monge. Ventanas Beach in Ojochal has been transformed to accommodate people with disabilities, reduced mobility and the elderly.

The trails are modular in design and can be adapted to any terrain, and are durable and suitable for long-term use. Each section weighs 74 kg and measures 1.5 x 3 meters. There are 11 sections in total, totaling 33 meters of trail.

This amphibious chair can support 90 kg and has stainless steel screws and special materials for salt water. It does not absorb moisture, weighs 26 kg and is made of recycled plastic. The design was developed by the Costa Rican Accessible Tourism Network. It took 1,000 kg of plastic cover to build the trail and the amphibious chair, with a total cost of $6,300.

“I am proud to announce the delivery of a 33-meter-long walkway and an amphibious chair in Playa Ventanas de Osa, thanks to the DONATAPA campaign. This achievement, supported by Tiendas Monge and in partnership with Asociación Desarrollo Ojochal, represents a valuable step towards our goal of equipping all public beaches in the country with accessible facilities,” said Stephanie Sheehy, Executive Director of the Costa Rican Accessible Tourism Network.

Since 2021, more than 10 tons Plastic bottle caps With this waste, we built and installed more than 250 meters of walkways and five amphibious chairs on five different beaches: one on Espadilla Beach in Manuel Antonio, two on Puntarenas Beach, one on Manzanillo Beach in Limón and the last one on Ventanas Beach.

The DONATAPA campaign combines collection and environmental awareness with a circular economy, creating a positive social impact. This is the 14th beach to benefit from the campaign and the second in the Osa region.

“We leave Playa Ventanas today with joy knowing that more people will be able to enjoy the beach without barriers. We also hope that more entities will join this shift in awareness and implement universal design and accessibility for all,” added Sheehy.