Cover photo: Vissla

Playa Hermosa, also known as the national stadium of Costa Rican surfing, became the world's newest surfing reserve last Sunday, the Save the Waves Coalition reported on its website.

It became the 12th reserve, joining Malibu, California; Ericeira, Portugal; Manly Beach, Australia; Santa Cruz, California; Huanchaco, Peru; Bahia Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico; Punta de Lobos, Chile; Gold Coast, Australia; Guarda do Embaú, Brazil; and Noosa Heads, Australia. North Devon in the UK will soon be added to the list.

According to the press release: “Playa Hermosa deserves this new title. Its coastline has a variety of consistent surf spots, with more than 15 spots that include A frames, rocky point breaks and river mouths. It also has an incredibly diverse ecosystem with more than 61 endangered species in the well-known Punta Mala Refuge.”

Save the Waves created the World Surfing Reserve to protect iconic surfing spots around the world by recognizing the sites with the title of “reserve.”