The beach cleanup in Playas del Coco this past weekend wasn’t just an event. It was a promise. A beginning. A step toward something I’ve been dreaming about since the day I accepted the honor of becoming Miss Playas del Coco 2025.
I knew that this title wasn’t just about wearing a crown. It was about serving. About showing up for the place that raised me. And I knew that if I wanted to create change, I needed to start by doing something real. Something with my own two hands. So I organized the first of what I hope will be community based projects in Playas del Coco.
A Simple Start With Big Impact
What happened over July 5 and 6 surprised me in the most beautiful way.
Family showed up, smiling, ready. Friends I’ve known forever brought bags, gloves, and their full hearts. And even more powerful, people I’d never met came too. Strangers, united by a single purpose: to care for our beach. To care for what is ours.
Some came early and stayed late. Others brought their kids. A few visiting students joined us on Sunday, young and full of energy. Watching them scoop up litter from the sand with care reminded me why this matters. It reminded me how far love for a place can carry us.
This beach cleanup in Playas del Coco wasn’t about perfection. It was about effort. And effort, when shared, becomes momentum.
What I Learned on the Sand
This wasn’t just a cleanup. It was a classroom. It taught me that when you lead with intention, people show up. When your heart is in the right place, help always finds you.
I saw the true meaning of community. Not just the neighbours you know by name, but the ones you’ve never spoken to who still show up beside you to do the work. That’s the kind of community we have here in Playas del Coco. One that cares. One that moves forward together.
I learned that the beach doesn’t just belong to tourists, or the local businesses that benefit from its beauty. It belongs to all of us. And it’s our job to protect it.
This beach cleanup in Playas del Coco was proof that when we unite, we can do incredible things, no matter how small the action may seem.
A Call to Action for Our Community
This was only the beginning. There will be more cleanups. More projects. More chances to show up and care.
But I can’t do it alone.
If you’ve ever looked at our shoreline and felt something stir in your chest, whether it be pride, responsibility, or love, then I ask you to join me. Next time, bring a friend. Bring your kids. Bring your neighbour who always wanted to help but didn’t know how.
The next beach cleanup in Playas del Coco is coming soon. And I want to see even more faces. More helping hands. Because this is about all of us. About keeping our community clean, strong, and united.
And yes, our beach is long. The work is a lot. But the reward? It’s bigger than anything I imagined.
Gratitude for Every Step Forward
To those who came: thank you. You made the first step real. You proved that action speaks louder than words. You reminded me why I wanted to do this in the first place.
To those I didn’t know before, thank you for trusting me. For believing in this mission without needing a reason other than love for our environment.
To my family and friends: your support fuels me. You carried this with me from day one. And I’m forever grateful.
This beach cleanup in Playas del Coco was more than a success. It was a signal. That we’re ready. That we care. That we’re willing to step up.
What’s Next
In the months ahead, I’ll be organizing more cleanups and projects centered around environmental awareness and community connection. I hope to see our numbers grow each time. I hope to hear laughter while we pick up plastic. I hope to see kids teaching other kids why the ocean matters.
If you’re reading this and wondering if your time matters, let me tell you, it does. Every hand helps. Every donation, every bag of trash collected makes a difference. Every kind word exchanged during these moments strengthens our bond as a town.
If you’d like to get involved in the next beach cleanup in Playas del Coco, follow DelCocoBlog or sign up to their newsletter. You’ll hear about upcoming events, and together, we’ll build a Playas del Coco we can all be proud of.
From my heart, thank you for reading. Let’s keep walking forward one cleanup, one moment, one act of care at a time.
With gratitude,
Luana Daley Barrera Canales
Special thanks to Luana Dalay Barrera Canales for sharing her story and inspiring our community through her actions.
Follow Luana’s community work on Instagram: @luana_barrera.canales
Photo by Paradise Productions
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