The Manatee Festival will also take place in Gandoca this year
The Festival del Manatí (English: Manatee) is taking is shaped in Gandoca as a place where the community—and especially the younger generations—can learn about the biodiversity that is part of our homeland and help protect it. The manatee, as a symbol of our marine fauna, also provides an opportunity to discuss coastal and marine ecosystems, sea turtles, coral reefs, and all the species that find a place in this region to live, forage, and reproduce.
The festival is more than just an event: it aims to create a space where environmental education, community, culture, and nature conservation come together. We are convinced that understanding our environment is the first step toward appreciating it, and that knowledge gained through experience and participation can lead to concrete actions to protect our home.
For this reason, the 2026 Festival del Manatí will consist of four events taking place between October 29 and November 1, 2026, designed to involve various segments of the community. The festival is sponsored by Tropica Verde.
- Two days of the event are dedicated to students and teachers and include educational activities and hands-on experiences related to biodiversity and local ecosystems.
- A community-focused day is dedicated to a fair, culture, and regional expressions. This creates a space where local initiatives can be shared and highlighted.
- A fourth day featuring sports and recreational activities brings families and the community together to connect, participate, and share in the joy of their hometown.
All of these activities are guided by the same vision: to strengthen the connection between people and the nature that surrounds them. The festival aims to provide children, young people, families, organizations, institutions, and visitors with a space to learn, share ideas, and recognize the natural and cultural value of Gandoca.
The Festival del Manatí is a community-driven initiative that uses education, participation, and conservation as tools to shape a future in which biodiversity and community well-being go hand in hand.
Yours, Ariana
Director of the Environmental Education Network at Tropica Verde in Costa Rica
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