Espadilla Beach in Quepos debuts walkways for wheelchairs made with plastic covers | The nation
Espadilla beach in Quepos de Puntarenas already has a walkway for wheelchairs that was made with more than 1,500 kilos of plastic covers, which made this site in the central Pacific the eighth accessible tourism destination in the country.
This beach, with white sand and turquoise sea, surrounded by trees and mangroves and located a short distance from Manuel Antonio National Park, in the Central Pacific of the country, now offers these retractable trails, as well as "amphibious" chairs that make it easier for people with motor disabilities move along the beach and enter the sea under equal conditions.
The walkways were donated by the Monge company and the Donatapa project, which was in charge of collecting reusable waste in 180 points of sale throughout the country and the subsequent construction of the structures. Both the trails and the amphibious chairs will be administered by the Sayú Foundation, which works in that town.
As detailed by those in charge of the initiative, initially, the schedule for the use of the accessible walkways of Espadilla beach will be from Friday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm
“For the Costa Rican Network of Accessible Tourism to have an ally like Monge who opens the doors of his 180 stores for us is wonderful, since it gives anyone the opportunity, no matter where they live, to be part of the Donatapa campaign (... ) Donatapa is our way of making people aware of issues of sustainability, human rights, and universal accessibility. Through it, together we will be able to innovate with a route where sustainability, human beings and healthy coexistence in equal conditions are the main axis,” said Stephanie Sheehy, executive director of the Costa Rican Accessible Tourism Network.
@Samiieface @nevefinnigan @MrJayPerry this is absolutely true... too many times do we hear of the "i'm a nice guy"… https://t.co/jFu1Dh5VPK
— josh Thu Mar 11 05:11:01 +0000 2021
As detailed, the collection campaigns will continue throughout the country in order to develop new projects such as Espadilla, in other places, including waterfalls.
Currently other beaches such as the Cahuita National Park in the southern Caribbean, Cieneguita beach in Limón, Hermosa and Sámara beaches in Guanacaste, as well as Jacó and Dominical in the central Pacific have this type of trails that make them fully accessible destinations.
In Cieneguita, for example, 30 meters of retractable walkways made of plastic wood were placed, which were made with 640 kilos of tapas. In addition, visitors with a disability are not only offered the amphibious chair, but also an adventure on a board known as surf therapy.
Last November, the travel guide publishing company Lonely Planet awarded Costa Rica the award as the best accessible destination 2021, with which it recognizes the adaptation of tourist services to the needs of all people.
In reporting on this award, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) highlighted how the country managed to adapt, for example, a canopy tour for wheelchair users, a rain forest suitable for people with disabilities, or surfing and catching waves without that reduced mobility is an impediment.
