Those planning a summer trip to Costa Rica hoping for an eco-tourism experience may be in for a surprise. The country, once known for its stunning national parks and rare wildlife is rapidly transofrming into a commercial tourist destination, complete with beachfront apartments and hotels. If development continues, environmental groups express concern that the country will eventually resemble other travel hotspots like Cancun, Mexico, with large resorts, cruise ship ports and golf courses.

The development has started to take its toll on the local environment. Half of the country's monkey population has disappeared within the past 12 years as their habitat has been destroyed by developers, while leatherback turtles in the small town of Tamarindo are being driven into the clutches of waiting predators thanks to disorienting light pollution that directs them away from the sea where they are safer. Tamarindo also faced the problem of overflowing septic tanks caused by rain, which leaked raw sewage into the ocean and cost the towns its "blue flag" status, indicating healthy ocean water conditions.

"These cases of poorly planned tourist developments in Costa Rica could affect the well-deserved reputation as a pioneer in eco-tourism," said Ronald Sanabria, a Costa Rican who works for the Rainforest Alliance, an international advocate for sustainability.

Despite the environmental implications, developers point out the economic benefits of tourism, which grew by 16 per cent last year. That may be the case, but tourist organizations and even Costa Rica's president Oscar Arias, are worried about the price the country will pay if this type of growth continues .

"Costa Rica can no longer project the pure image of an eco-tourism paradise since reality shows investors are free to develop more and more projects without clear rules," the Costa Rican Hotel and Resorts Association warned in a report in May.

President Oscar Arias, whose government wants to cut the country's net carbon emissions to zero by 2021, has begun a crackdown at newer Pacific resorts, closing some businesses and ordering height restrictions on buildings near the beach.

"Tamarindo and Jaco got out of our hands, but our scientists are working on ways of assuring development that is compatible with nature," Arias told Reuters.

» Reuters Environment