Seventeen musicians have joined forces to defend one of Costa Rica’s popular waterfalls, releasing a protest song after environmental authorities confirmed damage to protected land near the Montezuma waterfall on the Nicoya Peninsula. The song, titled “Catarata sin Tractor” (Waterfall Without a Tractor), was released on Saturday.
It brings together Costa Rican and international artists who want to draw attention to construction work and land clearing near the waterfall, a popular destination for tourists visiting the southern Nicoya Peninsula. The project was organized by Costa Rican musicians and environmental activists Fabián Pacheco and Rialengo, working alongside the environmental group Bloque Verde. Their goal is to turn a local dispute over environmental damage into a broader conversation about protecting Costa Rica’s natural attractions from poorly controlled development.
The controversy began well before the song’s release. Residents and environmental organizations raised concerns about trees being cut down, vegetation removed and heavy equipment operating on steep land near the waterfall and the Montezuma River. Those complaints prompted an investigation by our National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the government agency responsible for protecting forests and other natural areas.
In a technical report in September, SINAC documented changes affecting approximately 6,564 square meters (1.62 acres) of land near the waterfall. Inspectors found that vegetation had been cleared, trees damaged and soil moved to create terraces, fill areas and retaining structures. Of that total, 554 square meters belonged to Costa Rica’s State Natural Heritage, land that receives special legal protection. Another 827 square meters of affected private land fell within a protected area alongside the river.
Inspectors also found a cleared strip running down a steep hillside toward the waterfall, measuring between 10 and 20 meters wide and approximately 70 meters long. Trees in the area had been cut back or damaged, and much of the smaller vegetation beneath them had been removed.
SINAC ordered work stopped on one of the affected plots while authorities investigated whether the activity violated environmental laws. The agency also forwarded information to the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) and environmental prosecutors. The case remains under investigation.
Authorities have not publicly established who was legally responsible for all the work or whether criminal charges will be filed. SINAC has also cautioned that additional technical analysis is needed to determine whether the activity amounted to an illegal change in forest land use. The controversy has become a rallying point for environmental groups concerned about the growing pressure from construction and real estate development in Costa Rica’s coastal communities.
Bloque Verde argues that the Montezuma case raises questions about how effectively the country enforces environmental protections, particularly in tourist destinations where land values and development interest have increased. Pacheco has criticized what he considers a lack of respect for environmental laws among some foreign investors and has questioned whether public officials are doing enough to prevent damage. Those allegations have not been established by the investigation.
Rather than limit their response to formal complaints, the musicians decided to bring the issue to a wider audience through music. The recording includes contributions from Lucas Alberti, Marypaz Munay, La Voz Nativa, Luz MarÃa Romero, Paolo Nájera, Flor de Mar and several other artists. The musicians combined vocals, piano, accordion, guitar, percussion and rap to create a song intended to encourage public involvement in protecting the waterfall.
The production was released through A La Batalla Records and is available on YouTube and SoundCloud, with a wider release on Spotify and other streaming platforms scheduled for November 13. The waterfall itself is among Montezuma’s best-known natural attractions and you reach its pools and cascades by hiking through forested terrain, making the surrounding landscape an important part of the experience.
Environmental groups worry that continued clearing and construction near such attractions could permanently alter the scenery and surrounding ecosystems that bring visitors to the area. For now, the government’s investigation continues. SINAC’s most recently documented inspection in September, found no additional vegetation clearing during that visit.
The musicians hope their song will keep public attention on the case and encourage authorities to ensure the affected land is protected. The dispute highlights a question facing Costa Rica as tourism and coastal development continue to grow: how to accommodate new investment without damaging the forests, rivers and natural attractions that have made the country a leading ecotourism destination.
