From Turrialba Volcano spewing ash, to La Sele‘s joy after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, to Costa Rican political candidates holding a debate in La Reforma prison – our favorite photos from 2017 are as diverse and unique as the country they depict.
This photo from January of the Turrialba Volcano, east of San José, shows the remarkable impact of ashfall on the mountainside.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: Turrialba’s big weekend
Protests in the United States of the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Donald Trump were echoed in San José and also the northwestern beach town of NOsara, where about 100 residents took a stroll on Playa Guiones to show support for women’s rights.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: Nosara marches against Trump
The seventh edition of the Envision Festival brought together thousands of people in March to celebrate music, yoga and permaculture in Uvita, on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast.
Check out the photo story here: 21 photos from this year’s Envision Festival
In April, Good Friday was celebrated with crucifixion processions all over the country. Our photographer captured the scene in Nicoya, Guanacaste, where residents dressed up and went out to the streets to recreate the Via Crucis.
Check out the photo story here: Behind the scenes at Nicoya’s Good Friday Procession
June saw thousands of people take to San José’s streets for the city’s annual Diversity March, celebrating gay pride and the LGBTI community, and advocating for equal rights for all.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: San José celebrates diversity and LGBTI rights
Each year, Costa Rica’s Caribbean port town of Limón throws a party on Aug. 31 to celebrate its vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture. The main event is a parade, which fills the streets with floats, colorful dresses and dancing.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: Afro – Caribbean Day in Limón
For Independence Day, Sept. 15, photographer Priscilla Mora went to the streets of Santo Domingo de Heredia and photographed the traditional desfile de faroles and patriotic parades that filled the town with color, nostalgia and dance.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: The beauty of Independence Day in Costa Rica
The second half of the year was dominated by the #Cementazo, a corruption scandal involving the import of Chinese cement. As part of the Legislative Assembly investigation, President Luis Guillermo Solís testified before legislators at Casa Presidencial in an event that had Costa Ricans around the country huddled in front of their television or computer screens.
Read the story here: President Solís – ‘I’ve always told you the truth’
In October, Tropical Storm Nate hit Costa Rica and killed at least eight people, caused flooding and drinking water shortages around the country, and left thousands of people in shelters.
Read the story here: UPDATE: Tropical storm causes deaths, flooding in Costa Rica and region
Just days after the storm, the country celebrated la La Sele’s qualifying for the 2018 World Cup with Kendall Waston’s goal in the last minutes of the match.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: Costa Rica clinches World Cup 2018 berth
Also in the world of sports, Costa Rican boxing phenom Hanna Gabriels defeated Dominican opponent Oxandia Castillo by unanimous decision at San José’s Gimnasio Nacional, thereby retaining her World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight titles.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: Our favorite moments from Hanna Gabriels’ big night
On November, seven of the 13 presidential candidates went to La Reforma prison’s gymnasium and held a debate there.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: Costa Rican presidential candidates hold debate at La Reforma prison
During the same month, Costa Rica hosted the World Meeting of Blue Zones in Nicoya, Guanacaste, where regions whose populations exceed the average life expectancy were celebrated.
Check out the photo story here: PHOTOS: Costa Rica hosts World Meeting of Blue Zones
Lastly, about two weeks ago we celebrated the Festival de la Luz or Festival of Light in downtown San José with beautiful floats decorated with lights.
Check out the photo story here: Costa Rica’s Festival of Light
