Club O Has A Beach Problem

The beach in front of Papagayo no longer exists. For years, there was lots of sandy beach in front of Papagayo. Even after adding the "outside area" to the restaurant, there was plenty of room for two rows of chairs and umbrellas in between Papagayo and the water. I don't remember what year, but the beach started getting smaller and smaller. It didn't "come and go". It was only "go" for a few years, until three years ago the sand was all gone and the water was splashing up against the structure of the restaurant.

A couple of years ago Club O put some rocks and boulders in front of Papagayo to try and protect the building. But the sand never came back and the water continued to be right up against the structure. This year Club O built a "seawall" about 20 feet in front of Papagayo. There is even 10 feet (or so) of sand that you can walk on in between the restaurant and the seawall. The seawall seems to be doing its job, and Papagayo appears to be well protected from the ocean.

But here's the problem....the sand just to the north (towards The Perch) of the new seawall is now eroding away at an alarming rate. It has to be because of the new seawall. We were there in mid June and saw three feet of sand taken away during our stay. Two of the posts from the fence that separates the beach from the resort were washed away during that time. The second Chalet in from Papagayo is unit # 47. Four or five years ago there was 40-50 feet of sand in between the porch of #47 and the beach. In mid June there was no more than 15 feet of sand in between that same porch and the water. The "seawall" seems to forcing the water into this area. Not only could #47 be in danger, but that whole section of beach could be in trouble.

I'm hoping we can get updates on this situation from people who see this for themselves over the next few months. What is the current situation and what (if anything) is Club O attempting to do about it?

The beaches all over the island come and go. It's the same with Maho...some times there is a huge beach...other times it is just rocks. It's mother nature doing what mother nature does. There probably is nothing that Club O can do to change the way the ocean currents are. I've been going to the island for around 25 years now...and have seen huge beach at Orient...and other times it can be hard to put one row of chairs at points.

There is also seasonal erosion at Orient. Seems to erode much more in Summer, though in recent years there has been more than I've ever seen. We first visited 37 years ago when there were no structures at all anywhere on Orient, just Pedro's little pushcart. It was one BIG nude beach then, but a few dozen people was a busy day.

Beaches around the world have been growing and shrinking as a function of wind, weather, tides, currents, seasons, storms, etc. since time began. It is we humans that build something "permanent" on the shore expecting it to remain the same forever...and then complain when mother nature does what she has done for time immemorial...shift sand around at the shoreline constantly...

What a shoreline looks like on any given day is temporary...and WILL change! Enjoy what you find on any given day...

Agreed, the sands change, yes. But I think the OP's point is that the building of the seawall, which is protecting Papagayo, has apparently caused a threat to some of the beach chalets. That is a different thing.

Sea walls are well known to cause "flanking erosion" and the shape of the Papagayo wall is particularly bad as it causes wave reflection along the beach rather than back out to sea. Unfortunately, the Club probably didn't do much research and they may be playing a game of whack a mole trying to fix one problem and creating another. There are many examples of people using sea walls to protect structures only to cause way more damage than the original structure was worth... The tried and true answer is to move it inland.

While it naturally comes and goes and storms amplify this, Orient Beach has a losing beach batting average the last 3 years. Climate change/rising seas in the clubhouse or just a natural slump.

As for the sea wall, not sure what else they can do but what they actually did do. Its like protecting a sandcastle with a wall. Eventually you lose.

That is the reality of building on the beach.

To be positive, I'm hoping their batting average changes and they get 3 years of building sand starting right now.

Very well stated. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

And to all of these natural changes, don't forget to factor in mans invasion - dredging out, filling in, erecting beaches where nature never meant them to be, and all the other things we do to ourselves.......

On Anguilla a couple of years ago I asked what was creating the havoc that was occurring on Shoal Bay East around Gwenns. Several Anguillans at different times and in different situations each told me the same thing - man wreaks his own havoc and sometimes this is what we're left with.

Just sayin'....... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Agreed, they should have done more research with the design of what they did. Moving inland probably wasn't a big option for them though.

The beaches, marine life, reefs, etc, are all a finely balanced ecosystem. Before building a breakwater, there should have been an environmental study done. The beaches come and go in cycles. Maho & Mullet are low on sandy beach at the moment, but Simpson Bay beach is bigger than it has been for the past 3-4 years! Go figure. Perhaps "Club O's" solution will be to ADD more rocks to the wall. Wait and see.....If that doesn;t work, just keep adding more!

Yes, that's all true. But that is not the case when it comes to the Papagayo part of the beach at Club O. For the past 15-20 years, this part of the beach has only gotten smaller. I have no proof, but I think it's possible that something happened when Hurricane Luis came through in 1995. At first it was very gradual and difficult to even notice, but it started getting smaller and smaller. By 2009, what was once 50 feet of beach (or more), was down to just 10 feet. By 2011 it was all gone.... the water had reached Papagayo. In 2013, Club O put rocks and boulders at the base of Papagayo's "front wall" in an attempt to protect the building. By 2015, the rocks could no longer hold back the ocean and Club O built the seawall (barrier) that was completed a few months ago. Now the water is working its way around the seawall (to the north), which is why I started this thread. Where (and how) will this end?

I have photo's showing the beach in front of Papagayo. They show just how drastic the decline has been over the past 20 years or so. I can email them to anyone who could post them into this tread.

Yes, well said. That is exactly what is happening.

I am wondering if that reef at the end of the southern most outcropping might be breaking down after all the pounding it takes, and changing the way currents flow into Orient Bay?
Five years of views of Papagayos.

Late May 2011


June 2012


June 2013


June 2014


June 2015

Very nicely depicted. Thanks for sharing!

Good visuals. Thank you. The previous 5 year span was just as drastic. It was harder to notice because the erosion was still so far away from Papagayo. Will be interesting to see your photo from next June.

April May and June are the months when there is always the least beach.

China is building islands and the beach is a problem at Club O.

Here is a picture that Marcheall wanted me to post in this thread, of a picture which he says is probably from the early 90's. The difference in beach is dramatic, for sure!



We were at Club O for the millenium and I do seem to remember a whole lot of beach at that time, in front of Papagayo..

Certainly different from today! That beach area hasn't come back in 15 years.

Boy those chairs never wear out <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Carol, I think this picture says it all! Yes, the beach comes & goes but as can been seen here OB has mostly gone over the past 20 years. I have a picture somewhere of the volleyball net ON the beach with 3 or 4 rows of chairs around it. And I can remember talking to Andy & Cheryl about the impact of the cruise ship wharfs in Phillipsburg on the flow around the island. Nothing scientific & I only have vague memories of the conversation, but there was a feeling it began in a big way back then. I who loved OB rarely go there anymore - just not the same.

I have no knowledge whether something that far away would affect Orient sand or not, but there definitely used to be a ton more sand there.

Thanks a lot for these self-explanatory pictures. They're worth a thousand words.

Thank you for posting this Carol. Like you said, I can't place the exact year. The reason I want to say it was 93-95 is because of the trees and vegetation. Everything looks pretty lush in this photo and it took a few years after Luis for those plants and trees to get back to this point. If it is after the Luis rebuild it could be from the very late 90's or even the early 2000's. Perhaps someone can tell from looking at Papagayo if it's before or after Luis. Either way it shows just how much of the beach has been taken away. And, there is no indication that the erosion has peeked. I hate to think what will happen if it continues.

Looking at the recent aerial view today on the orient construction thread I would have to say club o might want to have a preliminary plan for more rocks and sea wall if the incursion continues it might threaten other buildings.

Other than Papagayo (which seems pretty well protected now) there are three or four Chalet's that "could" be in trouble. Other than the few waterfront units, the rest of the units at Club O are a good distance from the beach. I'm sure they are trying to figure something out. I hope so anyway.

Hello Caraol.
You may not remember Mary and I but we met you in SXM and NYC and also used to do the imprinted hats, tattoos and such. I wanted to contact you because, after 6 years, we would like to go back to SXM and was wondering if things have changed there and along Orient Beach and especially ClubO. If you have any input, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Rich & Mary

Rich--Definitely do remember you guys, yes. Glad to see you here again..

As far as whether things have changed, yes and no. Club Orient itself is very little changed. There are changes on the beach, some people come and gone, but at it's heart, it is one of the best places on earth...

Has anyone seen or heard how the Papagayo area of the Club O beach has fared over the past couple of months?