In late May, Costa Rican police arrived in central Pavones at 4 a.m.—dressed in body armor, rifles in hand, and gas masks on—to escort demolition crews. Their mission: tear down local businesses. Residents, caught off guard, had to scramble just to salvage food and goods from inside the buildings. Shockingly, the local government of Golfito appears to be backing developers and demolition teams over the very citizens they were elected to serve.At the heart of the issue is a controversial slate of proposed luxury real estate developments. These projects threaten to reshape Pavones—impacting the environment, limiting beach access, and displacing local, family-run businesses.

On this episode of the Swell Season Surf Podcast, we are joined by Walter Brenes, a dedicated environmental lawyer standing alongside the local community against aggressive real estate developments. Walter shares the ongoing battle to protect Pavones' unique culture, environment, and heritage from gentrification and unlawful land concessions. We discover the historical context, current challenges, and the legal fight to save one of the world's most treasured surf breaks. This conversation explores the broader implications of unchecked development and the erosion of local communities worldwide. Tune in to learn how you can support Pavones and join the resistance. Don't miss this critical discussion on preserving the soul of Pavones.

To learn more about how you can support the community of Pavones here are a list of resources: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-pavones-costa-rica-protect-our-communityhttps://www.savethewaves.org/endangered-waves-past-site-pavones-costa-rica/

The Swell Season Surf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. 

For more information, you can follow @swellseasonsurfradio on Instagram or go to our website: www.swellseasonsurf.com 

Music:
Artist: Malpais
Song: Malpais
Album: Uno

00:00 Introduction to the Swell Season Surf Podcast
01:53 The Controversial Real Estate Developments in Pavona
03:21 Interview with Walter Breez: Defending Costa Rican Communities
04:28 The Impact of Gentrification in Costa Rica
04:53 The Surge of Foreign Investments Post-COVID
09:52 The Cultural and Environmental Significance of Pavona
22:53 The Role of Local Government and Corruption
27:09 The Fight Against Unchecked Development
41:14 Costa Rica's Environmental Wealth
42:03 Surf Culture and Respect
43:06 Impact of Surf Retreats
46:26 Fighting for Local Communities
48:16 Challenges of Tourism and Development
51:13 Legal Battles and Community Support
55:44 Cultural Preservation and Resistance
58:06 The Role of Influencers and Expats
01:01:39 Privatization and Local Resistance
01:04:19 Personal Sacrifices and Community Defense
01:05:45 Call to Action and Support

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season-surf-radio--3483504/support.