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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Costa Rica’s Film Festival Kicks Off with a New Vision

San José is lighting up for the 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC), running June 19–29, 2025, with filmmaker Patricia Velásquez Guzmán taking the reins for the first...

Panama Vows Constitutional Action Amid Worsening Bocas del Toro Unrest

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced Thursday that he will take “constitutional measures” to stop the wave of protests and road blockades affecting the Caribbean province of Bocas del...

El Salvador Extradites Lev Tahor Members to Israel, Guatemala Over Child Abuse Charges

El Salvador has extradited two members of the Lev Tahor sect—an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse—to Israel and Guatemala, authorities from both countries reported...

Costa Rica’s $35M Mega-Prison Bid Targets Overcrowding Crisis

Costa Rica is taking a bold step to fix its overcrowded prisons with a new high-security facility. The Ministry of Justice and Peace has announced a $35 million bid...

Costa Rica’s Taiwan Ties Stir “One China” Policy Tensions

Costa Rica is caught in a diplomatic tug-of-war with China after sending officials to Taiwan for training. The government confirmed that five members of the Directorate of Intelligence and...

Nicaraguan Critic Roberto Samcam Assassinated in Costa Rica

A retired Nicaraguan army officer and outspoken critic of the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo government was shot dead Thursday in Costa Rica, where he was living in exile....

Six Arrested in Costa Rica for Hiding Drugs in Boats, Surfboards

A Costa Rican criminal group was taken down this week after smuggling 32 kilograms of cocaine into Australia, hidden inside roll-up inflatable boats. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), led...

Costa Rica Rolls Out Medical Cannabis Sales with Strict Rules

After years of waiting, medical cannabis is now available in Costa Rica. However, access remains tightly regulated. Its sale is restricted exclusively to pharmacies, and a doctor’s prescription is...

Nicaragua Grants Political Asylum to Panamanian Union Leader Amid Protests

The Nicaraguan government announced Wednesday that it has granted political asylum to a leader of Panama’s main construction union, who was facing an arrest warrant for alleged money laundering...

Costa Rica Defeats Dominican Republic 2–1 in Gold Cup Thriller

Costa Rica battled hard but came out on top with a 2–1 victory over the Dominican Republic in their second Group A match of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup,...

Volaris Launches New Costa Rica Flights to Miami, Orlando, and Tulum

Volaris Airlines just rolled out three new direct routes from San José, Costa Rica, to Miami and Orlando, Florida, and Tulum, Mexico. These flights, kicking off in July, aim...

Bahía Papagayo Project Clears Hurdle as Court Rejects Environmental Appeal

A $925 million tourism development in Guanacaste is pushing forward after Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court dismissed an appeal challenging its environmental approval. The Bahía Papagayo project, set to bring...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister Denies Crisis Despite Falling Visitor Numbers

Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister, William Rodríguez, is pushing back against claims that the country’s tourism sector is in trouble. Speaking to the Legislative Assembly’s Tourism Commission, Rodríguez said, “We’re...

Nicaragua Slashes Highway Speed Limit, Public Reacts with Mockery

Nicaragua reduced the national highway speed limit from 100 km/h to 50 km/h, a measure widely mocked on social media as “ridiculous,” with users joking about going back to...

Panama Faces Turmoil as Protests Turn Deadly Over Pension Law

A person died on Tuesday in Panama after sustaining a back injury during ongoing protests against a controversial pension reform, according to an official source. The incident occurred in...

How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Healthcare in Costa Rica

Artificial intelligence is changing the game for healthcare in Costa Rica. It’s helping doctors predict illnesses, make better decisions, and use resources more effectively. This is especially important in...

Costa Rica Debates Sustainable Redevelopment of Crucitas Region

The Frente Amplio party has introduced a bold new bill in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly aimed at transforming Crucitas, an area historically associated with illegal mining, state abandonment, and...

U.S. Revokes Visa of Ex-Panama President Torrijos After Military Deal Criticism

The U.S. government under Donald Trump canceled the visa of former Panamanian President Martín Torrijos after he criticized a new agreement allowing U.S. military deployment in Panama, the ex-president...

Costa Rica Tourism Slips Again in May 2025: U.S. and European Visitors Drop

Tourist arrivals to Costa Rica took another hit in May 2025, raising red flags for the country’s vital tourism industry. Data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) shows...

Costa Rica Bids Farewell to Former Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro

Former Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, who died Saturday at the age of 95, was honored Monday in a funeral mass held in Costa Rica. Her family vowed...

Costa Rica’s Investment Appeal Fades Amid Social and Environmental Challenges

Costa Rica’s reputation as a prime destination for foreign investment is under threat, according to a new study from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). While the country still...

U.S. Warns Americans to Avoid Nicaragua Amid Authoritarian Risks

The U.S. State Department is urging Americans to skip travel to Nicaragua due to increasing authoritarianism that puts tourists at risk. The Level 3 travel advisory, active since...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister Dismisses Crime and Currency Concerns

Tourism Minister William Rodríguez López addressed growing concerns about crime and the strengthening colón’s impact on Costa Rica’s tourism industry, asserting that these issues are not scaring off international...

Panama Arrests Banana Union Leader After Chiquita Strike Ends

Panamanian authorities arrested Francisco Smith, leader of the banana workers’ union SITRAIBANA, accusing him of orchestrating road blockades during a six-week strike against Chiquita Brands. The arrest, just days...

The Hidden Costs of Living in Costa Rica: Tariffs, Monopolies, and More

‘Tariffs’ is one of the buzzwords of 2025. Defined as taxes imposed by one country on goods imported from another country, tariffs are essentially trade barriers that raise prices...
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Popular Articles

Bahía Papagayo Project Clears Hurdle as Court Rejects Environmental Appeal

A $925 million tourism development in Guanacaste is pushing forward after Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court dismissed an appeal challenging...

Nicaragua Grants Political Asylum to Panamanian Union Leader Amid Protests

The Nicaraguan government announced Wednesday that it has granted political asylum to a leader of Panama’s main construction union,...

Six Arrested in Costa Rica for Hiding Drugs in Boats, Surfboards

A Costa Rican criminal group was taken down this week after smuggling 32 kilograms of cocaine into Australia, hidden...

Bahía Papagayo Project Clears Hurdle as Court Rejects Environmental Appeal

A $925 million tourism development in Guanacaste is pushing forward after Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court dismissed an appeal challenging...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister Denies Crisis Despite Falling Visitor Numbers

Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister, William Rodríguez, is pushing back against claims that the country’s tourism sector is in trouble....

Costa Rica Tourism Slips Again in May 2025: U.S. and European Visitors Drop

Tourist arrivals to Costa Rica took another hit in May 2025, raising red flags for the country’s vital tourism...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister Dismisses Crime and Currency Concerns

Tourism Minister William Rodríguez López addressed growing concerns about crime and the strengthening colón’s impact on Costa Rica’s tourism...

Costa Rica Expat’s Bus Journey to the Border: A Ride Like No Other

I can’t say what compelled me to buy a ticket to the border on a collectivo bus. I got...

Costa Rica Law Now Requires Corporations to Register an Email for Legal Notices

Costa Rica has recently approved a very important law which establishes a new obligation for commercial corporations, and that...

True Stories from Costa Rica’s Tourism Frontlines

Tourists—can’t live with them, can’t live without them. They, and the money they spend here, account for close to...

Learning Spanish in Costa Rica: Lessons Beyond the Textbook

Learning a new language later in life requires patience, perseverance, and the understanding that, no matter how fluent you...

Latin America News

Panama Vows Constitutional Action Amid Worsening Bocas del Toro Unrest

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced Thursday that he will take “constitutional measures” to stop the wave of protests and road blockades affecting the...

El Salvador Extradites Lev Tahor Members to Israel, Guatemala Over Child Abuse Charges

El Salvador has extradited two members of the Lev Tahor sect—an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse—to Israel and Guatemala,...

Nicaraguan Critic Roberto Samcam Assassinated in Costa Rica

A retired Nicaraguan army officer and outspoken critic of the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo government was shot dead Thursday in Costa Rica, where...

Nicaragua Grants Political Asylum to Panamanian Union Leader Amid Protests

The Nicaraguan government announced Wednesday that it has granted political asylum to a leader of Panama’s main construction union, who was facing an arrest...

Nicaragua Slashes Highway Speed Limit, Public Reacts with Mockery

Nicaragua reduced the national highway speed limit from 100 km/h to 50 km/h, a measure widely mocked on social media as “ridiculous,” with users...

Arts and Culture

Costa Rica’s Film Festival Kicks Off with a New Vision

San José is lighting up for the 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC), running June 19–29, 2025, with filmmaker Patricia Velásquez Guzmán taking...

Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Welcomes First Starbucks in Liberia

Starbucks has opened its first store in Guanacaste at Solarium Business Park in Liberia, marking a significant step in its expansion across Costa Rica....

Centroamérica Cuenta Literary Festival Tackles Freedom of Expression

Guatemala is set to host the Centroamérica Cuenta literary festival from May 19 to 24, bringing together 60 writers from 15 countries, plus Spanish...

Lord of the Rings Stars Showcase Costa Rica’s Culture and Food

Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, famous for playing Pippin and Merry in The Lord of the Rings, brought their travel show Billy & Dom...

Bad Bunny’s Concerts in Costa Rica Sell Out in Record Time

Bad Bunny is bringing his music to Costa Rica for two shows on December 5 and 6 at Estadio Nacional. The tickets for both...

Environment and Wildlife

Costa Rica Debates Sustainable Redevelopment of Crucitas Region

The Frente Amplio party has introduced a bold new bill in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly aimed at transforming Crucitas, an area historically associated with...

Costa Rica’s President Stirs Debate with Oil Exploration Stance

President Rodrigo Chaves has sparked controversy with his recent comments on oil exploration and the Escazú Agreement, defending his positions in an interview with...

UN Ocean Summit Ends with Progress but No Clear Funding

The UN Ocean Summit concluded in Nice with advances in protecting the high seas—but without any clear financial commitments. After bringing together around 60...

Costa Rica Minister Faces Accusations Over Gandoca-Manzanillo Development

Costa Rica’s reputation as an environmental leader is under scrutiny. A formal complaint filed by environmental lawyer Marco Levy has called for a criminal...

Costa Rica’s Tortuga Island Hits Coral Milestone in Marine Restoration Push

Costa Rica’s Tortuga Island is making waves in marine conservation. On World Oceans Day the National Learning Institute (INA), State Distance University (UNED), and...