Q COSTARICA — Developing a structure with the sea as its central feature, on an iconic island steeped in history and also the country’s newest National Park, presents a series of challenges.
However, simply providing the island known as “la isla de los hombres solos” (the island of lonely men) with a new, modern, world-class tourist pier justifies all the efforts.
During an inspection visit to the Isla San Lucas, located in the Gulf of Nicoya, and declated Costa Rica’s thirtieth national park in August 2020, on Friday, March 27, by Tourism Minister William Rodríguez, project managers confirmed that the project is 26% complete, both in the structural work on the coast and in the impressive pilings, several meters high, driven into the sea.
The final handover and inauguration of the pier are estimated to take place between July and August of this year.
The total investment for the project exceeds 985 million colones, entirely funded by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
“Tourism continues to advance, and the new tourist dock on San Lucas in Puntarenas is a priority project to consolidate first-rate infrastructure and safety conditions at this site of high historical and natural value. With approximately 490 meters of construction, the design has been conceived to integrate with the environment and respect existing heritage structures, replacing a now deteriorated infrastructure,” explained Minister Rodríguez.
A Challenging and Necessary Construction
This modern dock will have the capacity to receive up to four vessels simultaneously and will incorporate accessibility criteria in accordance with Law 7600.
The project is the result of coordination between the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT), the Board of Directors of San Lucas Island National Park, and the Heritage Office of the Ministry of Culture and Youth.
For Karl Kuhlmann, engineer and technical director of the project, “among the main challenges are working within a National Park, an unprecedented undertaking for any construction company, as well as building at sea while respecting biodiversity.”
He also highlighted the logistical complexity due to weather and tidal conditions, in addition to the construction of floating docks. “We are pleased to know that this pier will be of great benefit to tourists and the community,” he concluded.
The project will contribute to the protection of biodiversity and provide better working conditions for guides and park rangers, promoting sustainable tourism. It will also create a network of services for tour operators from Puntarenas and neighboring areas, along with an increase in cruise ship visits.
San Lucas, an alternative for Semana Santa
It is worth mentioning that San Lucas continues to operate normally and is an attractive alternative for domestic tourists during Semana Santa
“While San Lucas is known for its former prison, it is much more than that. We have 15 kilometers of trails on the island, one of the last remaining tropical dry forests in Mesoamerica, and archaeological sites,” described Elvis Barrantes, a park ranger on the island.
In addition, tourists can enjoy sightings of species such as white-tailed deer, anteaters, and howler monkeys, as well as numerous resident and migratory bird species.
San Lucas is a heritage and historical treasure. For many years, it housed a prison that even inspired the book La Isla de los Hombres Solos” by José León Sánchez.
The park will be open to tourists and visitors throughout Semana Santa, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Guided boat tours are usually organized from the city of Puntarenas.