Traffic Police removed license plates from several vehicles parked along the access road to Playa Blanca in Punta Leona on Saturday, adding a new flashpoint to one of Costa Rica’s most closely watched beach access disputes. Videos circulating on social media showed officers removing plates from vehicles parked near the route that leads to the popular white-sand beach in Garabito. Municipal staff confirmed the operation, while local reporting said the cars were affecting traffic flow on the road.
The incident comes just days after the Municipality of Garabito removed the access barriers at Punta Leona and reopened the route to Playa Blanca. The municipal government argues that the road is public and should remain open for free transit. Punta Leona Beach Club & Nature Resort maintains that the road and access structures are part of private property and that the matter should be resolved in court.
For visitors, the latest issue is not beach access itself, but parking. Playa Blanca has limited space for vehicles near the beach, and the sudden reopening of the road has brought more traffic into a narrow area that was not designed for heavy public parking.
Garabito Mayor Francisco González previously said the public can enter Playa Blanca without being a hotel guest or Punta Leona member. He also said there is no access fee to reach the beach, although nearby services and private parking areas may charge visitors.
The mayor noted that visitors have historically used private lots near the area, including options that include transport to the beach. Punta Leona also offers parking near the beach, with access to bathrooms, though that service carries a fee.
Saturday’s operation suggests authorities are now trying to manage the practical problems created by the reopened access route. While the removal of the barriers was celebrated by many beachgoers, the area remains difficult for vehicles, especially when drivers park along the road and reduce space for traffic, emergency access, and other visitors.
Under Costa Rican traffic rules, the removal of license plates effectively immobilizes a vehicle. Owners must recover the plates through the Road Safety Council, known as COSEVI, and must present documents including identification, vehicle ownership papers, current Marchamo, valid vehicle inspection, and the citation tied to the plate removal. The citation must be paid or formally challenged.
The Municipality of Garabito had not issued a formal public statement on Saturday’s plate-removal operation at the time of the initial local report; however, the broader legal dispute remains unresolved. The municipality says the road must be treated as a public route to guarantee access to Playa Blanca. Punta Leona says the property records support its position and that the courts should determine the final outcome.
For now, Playa Blanca remains accessible through Punta Leona, but drivers should not assume that open access means open roadside parking. Visitors heading to the beach should plan ahead, use authorized parking where available, and avoid leaving vehicles in places that could block traffic on the access road.
