Isla San Lucas, Costa Rica, Oct 8 (AFP/APP):Despite the country’s coronavirus lockdown, Costa Rica’s island of San Lucas, a former penal colony with a dark history, has been newly converted into a tourist paradise, albeit with strict pandemic protocols in place. Something of Costa Rica’s own version of Alcatraz, the island was once home to one of the most notorious prisons in the country’s history. Since its August reopening however, it has also become a picturesque destination for hiking, wild beaches and abundant fauna — thanks in no small part to several government agencies opening up walking trails and renovating infrastructure to the tune of $2.4 million. Located in the Gulf of Nicoya off the country’s Pacific coast, the formerly abandoned San Lucas served as a penitentiary between 1873 and 1991, known for its torture and subhuman conditions. In 1995 the island was declared to be of architectural interest and in 2001 named a wild sanctuary. “San Lucas is a spectacular destination. It has culture, history, architecture, beaches, biodiversity,” First Lady Claudia Dobles, who was behind the project, said in a video sent to AFP. “It’s the best kept treasure in the Pacific.” ‘Island of Lonely Men’ At the start … Continue reading Costa Rica converts island prison into tourist attraction