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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Forbes Puts Costa Rican Coffee Farmers at the Center of the $60 Cup

Tico Times -
A Forbes travel feature on $60 coffee centers on a small producers association in Turrubares. Its president says the Starbucks price reported in the article likely reflects an intermediary rather than a direct sale.

Can Tourism Really Push Out Drug Trafficking in Costa Rica’s South Pacific?

The Tico Times -
Local officials and business leaders in Costa Rica's South Pacific are betting on tourism to change the image and economic trajectory of communities long associated with drug trafficking, illegal...

US Demands Nicaragua Release Brooklyn Rivera’s Relatives

AFP -
The United States on Monday demanded that Nicaragua’s government release relatives of Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera, who died in prison three months ago. Rivera, a longtime leader of the...

Costa Rica’s Medical Tourists Are Trading Dental Chairs for Operating Room

Guest Author -
The foreign patient arriving in Costa Rica for a dental implant or a cosmetic procedure is no longer the whole picture. Hospitals here are reporting a rising share of...

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Erupts Again in Costa Rica

The Tico Times -
The Rincón de la Vieja Volcano gave us yet another eruption yesterday afternoon, sending a column of steam approximately 1,000 meters, or 3,280 feet, above its crater. The eruption...

Route 32 Closures Will Keep Coming and Here Is What Drivers Should Do

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica said today it will spend $100 million to take the roundabouts out of Route 32, the highway that connects San José to the Caribbean coast. President Laura...

National Geographic Names Costa Rica a Forest Bathing Paradise

The Tico Times -
National Geographic has named Costa Rica one of five places in the world to experience forest bathing, the practice of walking slowly through a natural setting and paying deliberate...

Costa Rica Expansion and Rebuild of the Limón Airport

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica plans to invest about $40 million to rebuild and expand Limón Airport, with the long-term goal of bringing international flights directly to the Caribbean. The Ministry of...

Costa Rica’s OIJ Invests in Israeli Technology to Unlock Seized Phones

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investing heavily in technology capable of unlocking and getting information from cellphones seized during criminal investigations, as police increasingly confront cases in...

Lagoon Operator Says German Consul Was Swimming When He Drowned

The Tico Times -
The association that runs the recreation center where Germany's consul in Costa Rica died on Saturday has disputed the account that circulated internationally in the hours afterward, saying Mario...

Messi Retires from Argentina After 20 years with the National Team

The Tico Times -
Lionel Messi announced today that he is retiring from the Argentina national team, closing a 20-year international career that ended with a World Cup title in Qatar and a...

Costa Rica Opens First Medical Cannabis Manufacturing Laboratory

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica’s emerging medical cannabis industry has taken another step forward with the opening of a manufacturing laboratory in El Guarco, Cartago, designed to turn locally grown cannabis into...

Tourist Guide Dies in Flash Flood on Pérez Zeledón River

The Tico Times -
A tourist guide died yesterday when a wall of water came down the Río Barú in Pérez Zeledón and caught a group of roughly 40 people crossing it. The...

Argentina’s Navone Hands Djokovic His Earliest Grand Slam Exit in 20 Years

The Tico Times -
Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title ended almost as soon as it began Sunday night, with Argentina’s Mariano Navone pulling off the biggest win of...

Wife of Extradited Trafficker Detained at Costa Rica Airport

The Tico Times -
Costa Rican authorities detained a woman sought in the largest organized-crime investigation this afternoon, moments after she stepped off a flight from Switzerland at the San Jose Airport. The...

Wildlife Trafficking in Costa Rica Moves onto Social Media

The Tico Times -
Currently unknown numbers of wild animals are illegally pulled from Costa Rica's forests, rivers and coastlines every year, according to the Attorney General's Office, and the pipeline moving them...

Flash Flood Sweeps Away Guide and Hiker in Pérez Zeledón

The Tico Times -
Update, August 31: The excursion guide swept away in this incident was found dead Sunday evening. The Red Cross confirmed he was the only person reported missing, and everyone...

Heavy Rains Put Costa Rica’s Banana Farms Under Growing Pressure

The Tico Times -
Heavy rain, flooded fields and the spread of a damaging plant disease are putting growing pressure on Costa Rica’s banana farms, particularly in the Caribbean region. Some plantations have...

Costa Rica Scrapped the Three Month Driving Limit for Foreign Licenses

Tico Times -
If you are driving in Costa Rica on a license from home, the rule you have probably read online is out of date. You are not capped at three...

Costa Rica Upholds Puerto Viejo Dock Approval as New Appeal Raises Coral Concerns

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica’s environmental authority has kept approval in place for a proposed public dock in Puerto Viejo. A new appeal argues that important coral information was added after the original decision and questions the project’s reported size.

Germany’s Consul in Costa Rica Dies in Alajuela Lagoon Accident

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica's Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of Mario Genz, a consul at the German Embassy in San José, who drowned Saturday afternoon at the Centro Recreativo La Laguna...

Parque La Libertad Layoffs Prompt Community Protest in Costa Rica

The Tico Times -
Communities surrounding Parque La Libertad are preparing a peaceful musical protest on Sunday after government budget cuts led to 15 layoffs and temporary salary reductions for another 30 employees....

Scientists Document a Rare Golden Ray in Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific

The Tico Times -
A small ray the color of a gold coin turned up in shallow water off Guanacaste, and researchers say nothing like it has ever been recorded in its family....

The Lifeguards Who Transformed Playa Dominical in Costa Rica

Don Mateo -
Playa Dominical has a well earned reputation as one of Costa Rica’s premier surfing spots. Its powerful and consistent beach break draws riders from all over the world. It...

Ship Pays Record Amount to Cross Panama Canal Amid Drought Restrictions

AFP -
A ship paid a record $5.3 million to cross the Panama Canal sooner, just days before a reduction in vessel traffic takes effect due to drought caused by the...

The Hidden Climb in Tortuguero Most Visitors Never Discover

Guest Author -
Just beyond Tortuguero’s famous canals, Cerro Tortuguero offers a rainforest hike and one of the most impressive panoramic views on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.

U.S. President Trump Announces Major Venezuela Oil Deal

AFP -
President Donald Trump announced a sweeping oil agreement with Venezuela that he says will expand U.S. reserves, attract billions in private investment and eventually lower gasoline prices.

El Salvador’s Fireball Festival Lights Up Nejapa

The Tico Times -
If you are in El Salvador this weekend and want to see something you will not find anywhere else, head north from San Salvador on Monday night. The district...

Costa Rica Delays Yellow Fever Vaccine Rules Until October

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica has delayed new yellow fever vaccination rules for travelers to eight countries, giving you another month to get vaccinated before the requirements take effect. The Health Ministry...

Costa Rica Aims to Have Electric Train 80% Complete by 2030

Steven Hodel -
The Costa Rican government expects the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) Electric Train project to be approximately 80% complete by the end of the Laura Fernández administration in 2030, leaving...
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Popular Articles

Partial Lunar Eclipse Will Be Visible Across Costa Rica Tonight

The Tico Times -
Anyone in Costa Rica will have the chance to watch a dramatic lunar spectacle tonight, as a deep partial...

Heavy Rains Put Costa Rica’s Banana Farms Under Growing Pressure

The Tico Times -
Heavy rain, flooded fields and the spread of a damaging plant disease are putting growing pressure on Costa Rica’s...

Costa Rica’s August 31 Holiday Falls on a Workday for the First Time

The Tico Times -
Monday, August 31 is a national holiday in Costa Rica. Plan for a three-day weekend, closed government offices, and...

Forbes Puts Costa Rican Coffee Farmers at the Center of the $60 Cup

Tico Times -
A Forbes travel feature on $60 coffee centers on a small producers association in Turrubares. Its president says the Starbucks price reported in the article likely reflects an intermediary rather than a direct sale.

Parque La Libertad Layoffs Prompt Community Protest in Costa Rica

The Tico Times -
Communities surrounding Parque La Libertad are preparing a peaceful musical protest on Sunday after government budget cuts led to...
Load more

Travel and Tourism

National Geographic Names Costa Rica a Forest Bathing Paradise

The Tico Times -
National Geographic has named Costa Rica one of five places in the world to experience forest bathing, the practice...

Costa Rica Expansion and Rebuild of the Limón Airport

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica plans to invest about $40 million to rebuild and expand Limón Airport, with the long-term goal of...

Tourist Guide Dies in Flash Flood on Pérez Zeledón River

The Tico Times -
A tourist guide died yesterday when a wall of water came down the Río Barú in Pérez Zeledón and...

Flash Flood Sweeps Away Guide and Hiker in Pérez Zeledón

The Tico Times -
Update, August 31: The excursion guide swept away in this incident was found dead Sunday evening. The Red Cross...

Costa Rica Scrapped the Three Month Driving Limit for Foreign Licenses

Tico Times -
If you are driving in Costa Rica on a license from home, the rule you have probably read online...
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Expat Living

The Lifeguards Who Transformed Playa Dominical in Costa Rica

Don Mateo -
Playa Dominical has a well earned reputation as one of Costa Rica’s premier surfing spots. Its powerful and consistent...

Costa Rica Delays Yellow Fever Vaccine Rules Until October

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica has delayed new yellow fever vaccination rules for travelers to eight countries, giving you another month to...

Costa Rica Moves Toward Satellite Cell Coverage With Starlink

The Tico Times -
Costa Rica is getting its first taste of satellite connected cell phones, and both of the biggest telecom operators...

Ring of Fire Earthquakes Put Costa Rica’s Seismic Risk in Focus

Don Mateo -
A series of powerful earthquakes around the Pacific Ring of Fire has renewed attention on Costa Rica’s seismic risk and the tectonic forces constantly moving beneath.

Why Spending US Dollars in Costa Rica Can Be Surprisingly Difficult

Don Mateo -
When money is the subject, I am as old school as anybody. Cash is king in my world. The...
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Latin America News

US Demands Nicaragua Release Brooklyn Rivera’s Relatives

The United States on Monday demanded that Nicaragua’s government release relatives of Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera, who died in prison three months ago. Rivera,...

Ship Pays Record Amount to Cross Panama Canal Amid Drought Restrictions

A ship paid a record $5.3 million to cross the Panama Canal sooner, just days before a reduction in vessel traffic takes effect due...

U.S. President Trump Announces Major Venezuela Oil Deal

President Donald Trump announced a sweeping oil agreement with Venezuela that he says will expand U.S. reserves, attract billions in private investment and eventually lower gasoline prices.

El Salvador’s Fireball Festival Lights Up Nejapa

If you are in El Salvador this weekend and want to see something you will not find anywhere else, head north from San Salvador...

Panama and El Salvador Declare Alerts as El Niño Intensifies

Panama and El Salvador declared states of alert on Tuesday over the El Niño climate phenomenon, which is expected to reach record levels and...

El Salvador Faces a Major Test as TPS Ends in the United States

As Temporary Protected Status for roughly 170,000 to 200,000 Salvadorans in the United States comes to an end on September 9, most coverage of...

Nicaragua Moves to Reject International Rulings and Foreign Laws

Nicaragua’s Parliament on Saturday approved a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at rejecting international rulings and foreign laws. It will be put to a vote...
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Arts and Culture

Parque La Libertad Layoffs Prompt Community Protest in Costa Rica

Communities surrounding Parque La Libertad are preparing a peaceful musical protest on Sunday after government budget cuts led to 15 layoffs and temporary salary...

Costa Rica’s Caribbean Comes Alive for Puerto Viejo’s Wolaba Parade

One of the South Caribbean’s biggest cultural celebrations returns Saturday as the Wolaba Parade fills the main street of Puerto Viejo with music, dancing,...

Costa Rica’s August 31 Holiday Falls on a Workday for the First Time

Monday, August 31 is a national holiday in Costa Rica. Plan for a three-day weekend, closed government offices, and a payroll question if you...

Is Costa Rica’s 98% Literacy Rate Really Accurate?

Costa Rica has long promoted itself as the most literate country in Central America, and by the numbers it is. Government statistics put the...

Public Institutions Pull Out of Costa Rica’s Festival de la Luz

Several major public institutions will not bring their traditional illuminated floats to San José’s Festival de la Luz this year, forcing organizers to rethink...

Costa Rica’s Maleku Chocolate Wins International Bronze Medal

A 70% dark chocolate grown, fermented and finished entirely in Costa Rica has earned international recognition for its Guanacaste-based producer.

What happened to Galeria Namu?

Founded in 1998, Galeria Namu had become a must-visit attraction for tourists visiting San Jose, as well as for many nationals, interested in seeing...
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Environment and Wildlife

Forbes Puts Costa Rican Coffee Farmers at the Center of the $60 Cup

A Forbes travel feature on $60 coffee centers on a small producers association in Turrubares. Its president says the Starbucks price reported in the article likely reflects an intermediary rather than a direct sale.

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Erupts Again in Costa Rica

The Rincón de la Vieja Volcano gave us yet another eruption yesterday afternoon, sending a column of steam approximately 1,000 meters, or 3,280 feet,...

Heavy Rains Put Costa Rica’s Banana Farms Under Growing Pressure

Heavy rain, flooded fields and the spread of a damaging plant disease are putting growing pressure on Costa Rica’s banana farms, particularly in the...

Costa Rica Upholds Puerto Viejo Dock Approval as New Appeal Raises Coral Concerns

Costa Rica’s environmental authority has kept approval in place for a proposed public dock in Puerto Viejo. A new appeal argues that important coral information was added after the original decision and questions the project’s reported size.

Scientists Document a Rare Golden Ray in Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific

A small ray the color of a gold coin turned up in shallow water off Guanacaste, and researchers say nothing like it has ever...

Climate Change May Be Intensifying El Niño, 1,000-Year Coral Study Finds

Records preserved in coral skeletons dating back 1,000 years show that El Niño events are becoming more intense as the planet warms, with major...

Climate Change Could Dull the Brilliant Blue of Costa Rica’s Morpho Butterflies

One of Costa Rica’s most recognizable butterflies could become a little less brilliant as temperatures rise. A new study found that unusually hot temperatures...
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