The Lifecycles of Beaches

Via De Agua

Giovanni Artavia Chaps

Playa Tortuga

Lisa Carroll Norman

Playa Dominical

Natural beaches take thousands of years to evolve, a process that is the result of constantly moving water that erodes the land located around its edge. Essentially, beaches are formed by rocks or coral reefs located off the shore that are worn down by moving waves as well as earth sediments being moved by storms.

The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica has been blessed with 1,016 km (631 miles) of beach front. In Costa Ballena, the ebb and flow of the tides combined with storms change the beaches along our coast every season. The fundamental cycles of beaches include storms and their associated erosion, plus the post-storm recovery period and tidal cycles. These cycles may have a period of between one-half day and several weeks, even years in some local cases that we have seen.

Truly, the extent of changes along our shores can also be measured by the amount of rainfall that contributes to the impact of what we see on our beaches every time the rainy season hits in full force. Each one of the beaches in our area that are exposed to the elements (versus being cove or shaped as a natural harbor) have underwent major transformations over the past decade, and even beyond those years.

In recent past years (2017), Playa Dominical underwent a major transformation after a heavy rainfall. There were homes that were river front that got swept away and went down the Barú river. For a while, at low tide, you could walk out on a sand bank at Playa Dominical that led in front of the river mouth. With time that sand embankment disappeared and the beach returned to its now current, natural shape.

At one time, the natural reef barrier that forms the Whales Tail was destroyed by a storm. Now 10 years later, the damage that was done goes undetected and the beach has retaken its natural shape.

In Ojochal, you can now explore caves and see a mimic in stone of an Elephants trunk in the rocks that protrude forms he ocean, whereas twenty years ago the beach went yards out, and there was even a restaurant where Isla Garsa now finds itself. With the heavy movements from the Terraba river, which is the largest river mouth in Costa Rica, it is no wonder erosion has played a massive role in shaping Playa Tortuga. But perhaps it is because of the river mouth that a the Olive Ridley Turtles return year after year to lay their eggs on the shores.

During this time of year, July through to December we can find plancton at night on many beaches along the coast. With the full moon that lights up the night sky, a low tide and equipped with curiosity it is a natural wonder of the world that is a delight to experience.