26/11/2025
Addressed to the Competent Authorities and the Citizens of Santa Teresa and Cóbano and Costa Rica
The purpose of this document is to formally and emphatically express the deep concern and rejection of the community of athletes, residents, and visitors of Santa Teresa regarding the apparent intention to restrict or eliminate access to the parking area of the emblematic La Lora Beach and Surfpoint.
Free access to this location is not a privilege; it is an essential NECESSITY and a civil right established by customary use and the natural vocation of the area.
I. Context and Basis of the Demand
Historical and Sporting Value: La Lora Beach is recognized as the most important and beloved surfpoint in Santa Teresa. For decades, it has been the natural gathering point for surfers and citizens, whose access and parking have been historically free and public.
Public Use vs. Private Interest: The local community has observed actions suggesting a coordinated effort to modify the established use of this public space. We allege that this alteration responds to the visual and commercial interests of Hotel Fermenta, seeking to clear the beachfront to enhance the view from its private facilities (pool and restaurant).
II. The Fundamental Question and the Role of the Municipality
It is incomprehensible that the particular interest of a recent tourism development or foreign investor should prevail over the common good and the public use that the community has exercised for years.
We question the Municipal Authorities of Cóbano:
Why is collaboration or permission being granted for the change of a consolidated and natural public use that benefits the entire citizenry, in favor of the aesthetics and profit of a single private company?
Are efforts being made to surrender or restrict an essential public access space, contravening the spirit of coastal laws and the Regulatory Plan that must protect the interests of the PEOPLE?
III. Request and Demand
We immediately demand the following from the competent authorities:
Guarantee the permanence and integrity of the public parking lot and the free pedestrian and vehicular access to La Lora Beach.
Transparency: Present and make public any agreement, permit, or negotiation carried out with Hotel Fermenta or any other entity that seeks to modify beach access.
Respect for Customary Use: Recognize and protect the use that the people of Santa Teresa have given to this space for years, in defense of the rights of athletes and the general public.
