The Playa Hermosa beach located in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica has been named a World Surf Reserve (WSR). It is the first ever in Central America to be designated as a WSR, and only the eleventh in the world. The honour was conferred by Save the Waves Coalition, a US-based non-profit organisation.

The global award aims at preserving and enhancing the environmental, cultural, economic, and community characteristics of an area.

It honours Playa Hermosa&rsquos waves and biodiversity, along with its action plan to protect these. By designating the area as a WSR, the organisation will commit to supporting the long-term conservation of the beach.

The 13th WSR in the world, the beach joins a list of surfing locations like the Gold Coast in Australia, Santa Cruz, and California in the United States, Ericeira in Portugal, and Punta de Lobos in Chile.

&ldquoThe country of Costa Rica is thrilled to have received the honour of the World Surfing Reserve designation at Playa Hermosa,&rdquo said Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, former Environment Minister and current CEO of the Global Environment Facility. &ldquoThis surf ecosystem and community is a fantastic model for coastal conservation, and this designation will help drive other efforts around the country to protect our waves and coastline."

Playa Hermosa will win its official designation as a WSR in 2021. Located to the south of the beach town of Jacó, Playa Hermosa is known to have Costa Rica&rsquos most consistent waves. Its most significant achievement happened in 2009 when it hosted the ISA World Championship.