Campaign Yields 5,000 Signatures Against Marina

An online signature campaign started three weeks ago opposing the construction of the Puerto Viejo marina has garnered 5,000 supporters, according to one organizer.

Joaquín Arias, a Spaniard living in Ciudad Colón, helped start the campaign – known as Salvemos Puerto Viejo, or Let’s Save Puerto Viejo – and hopes to gather another 1,000 signatures before delivering the petition to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.

“(Puerto Viejo) is the most beautiful place in this nation,” Arias said, explaining his passion for the Caribbean beach town.

Jan Kalina, planning director for Grupo Caribeño Internacional, said he was not aware of the campaign but doubted it would stop the marina.