No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Costa Rica Wildlife Cameras Reveal Ocelot Naps and Crocodile Log Crossings

Vincent Losasso -
Where do I put my next camera trap? If you see me out somewhere and I have a kind of faraway look in my eye, I’ve likely zoned out...

Panama World Cup Travel Brings Busier Days to Airport

Tico Times -
Tocumen International Airport is preparing for one of its busiest travel stretches of the year as the 2026 World Cup sends a wave of Panama fans, connecting passengers and...

Lost at Sea: Costa Rica’s Fishing Communities Face Growing Pressure

Tico Times -
Four fishermen from the Roxana II remain missing in Costa Rica’s North Pacific after rough seas linked to Tropical Storm Cristina caused multiple boating emergencies off Guanacaste. The vessel...

The Teams Turning the 2026 World Cup Upside Down

Tico Times -
Three days into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the script is already coming apart. Across North America, teams that were expected to absorb their group-stage losses quietly are refusing...

Beach Access Dispute Grows After Costa Police Remove Vehicle Plates

Tico Times -
Traffic Police removed license plates from several vehicles parked along the access road to Playa Blanca in Punta Leona on Saturday, adding a new flashpoint to one of...

Costa Rica Says Ostional Turtle Nesting Not Seriously Harmed by Strong Swells

Tico Times -
Videos showing hundreds of turtle eggs scattered across the sand at Ostional National Wildlife Refuge raised concern this week, after strong Pacific swells eroded parts of one of Costa...

La Carpio Shows Signs of Change After Years Marked by Poverty

Mitzi Stark -
Years ago the name La Carpio stood for extreme poverty, homes made of corregated metal and recycled wood, and high crime. That's all changed. The area, to the west...

Costa Rica Rolls Out National Strategy to Stop Wildlife Electrocutions

Tico Times -
Costa Rica is moving to give national force to a strategy aimed at reducing one of its most persistent threats to wildlife: electrocution on power lines. The initiative brings...

Costa Rica Prepares for Severe El Niño as Water, Power and Tourism Face Pressure

Tico Times -
Costa Rica is preparing for a difficult El Niño cycle that could put pressure on water supplies, electricity costs and tourism services in some of the country’s most visited...

Costa Rica’s Humpback Whale Season Begins on the Pacific Coast

Tico Times -
Few wildlife encounters rival the sight of a humpback whale breaching from warm tropical waters, and Costa Rica has quietly become one of the best places on the planet...

Costa Rica’s Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Stands as Court Tosses Annulment Case

Tico Times -
A family court has rejected the Costa Rican government's long-running attempt to annul our country's first same-sex marriage, reaffirming the 2015 union of Laura Flórez-Estrada Pimentel and Jazmín Elizondo...

IKEA Begins Costa Rica Rollout: Start Practicing Your Allen Wrench Skills Now

Tico Times -
IKEA is moving closer to opening in Costa Rica, and the country’s future furniture shoppers may want to start getting familiar with flat-pack boxes, tiny hardware bags and the...

Costa Rica Clears Way for “Macho Coca” Extradition to U.S.

Tico Times -
Costa Rican courts have cleared the final domestic obstacle blocking the extradition of Gilbert Bell Fernández, known as “Macho Coca,” to the United States, where he is wanted for...

Paraguay Fall 4-1 to USA as World Cup 2026 Opens for North American Hosts

Tico Times -
The 2026 World Cup's North American co-hosts seized the spotlight Friday, as the United States overwhelmed Paraguay 4-1 behind a Folarin Balogun brace and, earlier in the day, Canada...

Rural Women Lead Climate Resilience Efforts in Costa Rica’s Farming Communities

Tico Times -
Rural women in Costa Rica are playing a growing role in climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture and food security, with new support from United Nations-backed projects aimed at helping farming...

Costa Rica Airport Adds Sunflower Program for Travelers With Hidden Disabilities

Tico Times -
Juan Santamaría International Airport has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, giving travelers with non-visible disabilities a discreet way to ask for patience, support or extra time while moving...

What It Really Costs to Live in Costa Rica as an Expat in 2026

Tico Times -
Costa Rica remains one of the most popular destinations in Latin America for retirees, remote workers and foreign residents, but the old idea that the country is automatically cheap...

Costa Rica’s Borinquen Geothermal Plant Advances With Major Contract

Tico Times -
Costa Rica’s state electricity company has moved Borinquen I one step closer to completion, awarding a contract worth nearly $100 million for the main electromechanical equipment needed to bring...

El Salvador Airport Introduces WhatsApp Help Line for Travelers

Tico Times -
El Salvador International Airport has launched an official WhatsApp help channel for passengers who need quick information before, during or after their trip through the country’s main air terminal. The...

Costa Rica Says Ocean Conservation Must Benefit Fishing Communities

Tico Times -
Costa Rica used a major international environmental finance meeting in Uzbekistan to present a marine conservation message built around coastal communities, fishing families and the idea that protecting the...

USA Soccer Begins Historic 2026 World Cup Run With Group D Test

Tico Times -
The United States men’s national team begins one of the most important tournaments in its history this summer, playing a World Cup on home soil with a talented roster,...

Costa Rica’s 2026 Growth Forecast Trimmed by World Bank

Tico Times -
The World Bank lowered its 2026 growth forecast for Costa Rica to 3.5%, a modest downgrade that places the country in line with other major economic projections but confirms...

World Cup 2026 Opens With Wins for Mexico and South Korea

Tico Times -
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened Thursday with a strong start for Mexico and Korea Republic, as the expanded tournament began its first day of play with two Group...

Costa Rica Weekend Weather: Drier Friday and Saturday, Stormier Sunday

Tico Times -
Costa Rica will get a short break from widespread rain this weekend before Tropical Wave No. 10 moves in on Sunday and raises the chance of downpours across several...

Costa Rica Rolls Out Plan as El Niño Officially Arrives

Tico Times -
El Niño is no longer a forecast for Costa Rica. It's here. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed Thursday that the climate phenomenon has established itself...

Canada Begins Historic 2026 World Cup Campaign Against Bosnia

Tico Times -
For the thousands of Canadians living in Costa Rica or passing through on vacation, tomorrow is a day circled on every calendar. At 2:00 p.m. Costa Rica time on...

Costa Rica Cuts Corcovado Visitor Capacity Over Wastewater Problems

Tico Times -
Costa Rica will reduce visitor capacity at the Sirena Biological Station in Corcovado National Park after technical inspections found serious problems with the station’s wastewater treatment system. The Osa...

Five Leading Contenders to Win the 2026 World Cup

Tico Times -
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has opened across North America, bringing the biggest field in tournament history and one of the deepest title races in years. For the first...

Costa Rica Extradites Canadian Fugitive Hiding in Tamarindo

Tico Times -
A Canadian man wanted in connection with a major drug and firearms case in British Columbia has been extradited from Costa Rica after several months in custody. Jesse Michael...

Costa Rica’s Crucitas Gold Crisis Deepens as Illegal Mining Spreads

Tico Times -
Costa Rica is facing one of its most difficult environmental and security tests in years as illegal gold mining spreads through Crucitas, a remote area in the northern zone...
Load more
Costa Rica Dental Care
Costa Rica Hospital
Costa Rica Hospital
Loading…
COSTA RICA EXCHANGE RATE
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Friday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Costa Rica T Shirts

Popular Articles

Cuba’s Tourism Industry Is Collapsing in Real Time

Tico Times -
Cuba’s tourism industry is facing one of its sharpest collapses in decades, with visitor numbers plunging, major hotel brands...

El Salvador Tourism Boom Puts Visitor Goal Ahead of Schedule

Tico Times -
El Salvador’s tourism growth is moving faster than the country’s own official targets. After years of being seen internationally...

Costa Rica’s Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Stands as Court Tosses Annulment Case

Tico Times -
A family court has rejected the Costa Rican government's long-running attempt to annul our country's first same-sex marriage, reaffirming...

Pacific Tropical Depression Keeps Costa Rica on Rain Alert

Tico Times -
A low-pressure system off Central America’s Pacific coast became Tropical Depression Three-E this morning as Costa Rica continued to...

Costa Rica Wildlife Cameras Reveal Ocelot Naps and Crocodile Log Crossings

Vincent Losasso -
Where do I put my next camera trap? If you see me out somewhere and I have a kind...
Load more

Travel and Tourism

Costa Rica’s Humpback Whale Season Begins on the Pacific Coast

Tico Times -
Few wildlife encounters rival the sight of a humpback whale breaching from warm tropical waters, and Costa Rica has...

Costa Rica Airport Adds Sunflower Program for Travelers With Hidden Disabilities

Tico Times -
Juan Santamaría International Airport has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, giving travelers with non-visible disabilities a discreet way...

Costa Rica Weekend Weather: Drier Friday and Saturday, Stormier Sunday

Tico Times -
Costa Rica will get a short break from widespread rain this weekend before Tropical Wave No. 10 moves in...

Costa Rica Cuts Corcovado Visitor Capacity Over Wastewater Problems

Tico Times -
Costa Rica will reduce visitor capacity at the Sirena Biological Station in Corcovado National Park after technical inspections found...

Ex-Air Canada Pilot Charged After Allegedly Flying Without Proper License

Tico Times -
A former Air Canada captain has been charged in Canada after police alleged he flew more than 900 domestic...
Load more

Expat Living

What It Really Costs to Live in Costa Rica as an Expat in 2026

Tico Times -
Costa Rica remains one of the most popular destinations in Latin America for retirees, remote workers and foreign residents,...

The Costa Rica Taxi Rule Every Newcomer Learns Fast

Don Mateo -
Newcomers to Costa Rica have to adjust to certain cultural and lifestyle habits here. A short list might include...

Costa Rica’s OIJ Warns of Surge in Virtual Kidnapping Scams

Tico Times -
Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) is warning of a steep rise in "virtual kidnapping" extortion, with complaints jumping...

Life in Costa Rica Shows Expats a Different Side of Politics

Don Mateo -
I moved permanently to Costa Rica for many reasons, but the political situation in the United States was not...

Costa Rica Coffee Culture and the Surprising Numbers Behind It

Don Mateo -
I just read a statistic that I find difficult to believe. According to worldpopulationreview.com, Hong Kong consumed a heart-racing...
Load more

Latin America News

Panama World Cup Travel Brings Busier Days to Airport

Tocumen International Airport is preparing for one of its busiest travel stretches of the year as the 2026 World Cup sends a wave of...

El Salvador Airport Introduces WhatsApp Help Line for Travelers

El Salvador International Airport has launched an official WhatsApp help channel for passengers who need quick information before, during or after their trip through...

US Restricts Visas for Nicaraguan Officials After Brooklyn Rivera’s Death

The US State Department announced Monday that it will restrict visa access for over 100 Nicaraguan officials and their family members following the death...

El Salvador Tourism Boom Puts Visitor Goal Ahead of Schedule

El Salvador’s tourism growth is moving faster than the country’s own official targets. After years of being seen internationally through the lens of violence...

Cuba’s Tourism Industry Is Collapsing in Real Time

Cuba’s tourism industry is facing one of its sharpest collapses in decades, with visitor numbers plunging, major hotel brands pulling back, airlines cutting service...

El Salvador for First-Time Surfers: A Guide to Surf City and the Wild East

For decades, surfers chasing Central America's best waves flew straight past El Salvador on their way to Costa Rica. That's over. With year-round swells...

Panama Prison Riot Leaves Two Dead as Over 80 Inmates Recaptured

A riot broke out at the La Joyita penitentiary in Pacora on the evening of June 1 when authorities attempted to transfer or redistribute...
Load more

Arts and Culture

Costa Rica’s Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Stands as Court Tosses Annulment Case

A family court has rejected the Costa Rican government's long-running attempt to annul our country's first same-sex marriage, reaffirming the 2015 union of Laura...

Starbucks Adds Protein Cold Foam Drinks Across Costa Rica

Starbucks is adding a new line of protein-infused cold beverages to its menu in Costa Rica, bringing the chain’s latest regional drink platform to...

Costa Rican Chorreador Reaches Pope Leo XIV in Gift Rooted in Coffee Tradition

A Costa Rican chorreador, one of our country’s most familiar coffee brewers, has reached an unlikely destination: the hands of Pope Leo XIV. The...

Mariale Acosta Crowned Miss Universe Costa Rica 2026

Mariale Acosta was crowned Miss Universe Costa Rica 2026 on Friday night at the Costa Rica Convention Center, completing a comeback that had made...

Costa Rica Bicycle Program Aims to Help Rural Students Reach School

For children in Costa Rica’s most remote communities, the distance between home and school is not measured in minutes. It is measured in hours...

Costa Rica Crowns New Miss Universe Representative Tonight

Tonight, under the lights of one of San José's premier venues, a new queen will be crowned to represent Costa Rica at the Miss...

Facebook Still Leads in Costa Rica, but TikTok Is Growing Fastest

Facebook remains the most widely used social network in Costa Rica, with eight in 10 adults who own a cell phone using the platform...
Load more

Environment and Wildlife

Costa Rica Wildlife Cameras Reveal Ocelot Naps and Crocodile Log Crossings

Where do I put my next camera trap? If you see me out somewhere and I have a kind of faraway look in my...

Costa Rica Says Ostional Turtle Nesting Not Seriously Harmed by Strong Swells

Videos showing hundreds of turtle eggs scattered across the sand at Ostional National Wildlife Refuge raised concern this week, after strong Pacific swells eroded...

Costa Rica Rolls Out National Strategy to Stop Wildlife Electrocutions

Costa Rica is moving to give national force to a strategy aimed at reducing one of its most persistent threats to wildlife: electrocution on...

Costa Rica Prepares for Severe El Niño as Water, Power and Tourism Face Pressure

Costa Rica is preparing for a difficult El Niño cycle that could put pressure on water supplies, electricity costs and tourism services in some...

Costa Rica’s Borinquen Geothermal Plant Advances With Major Contract

Costa Rica’s state electricity company has moved Borinquen I one step closer to completion, awarding a contract worth nearly $100 million for the main...

Costa Rica Says Ocean Conservation Must Benefit Fishing Communities

Costa Rica used a major international environmental finance meeting in Uzbekistan to present a marine conservation message built around coastal communities, fishing families and...

Costa Rica Rolls Out Plan as El Niño Officially Arrives

El Niño is no longer a forecast for Costa Rica. It's here. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed Thursday that the...
Load more
Tico Times Logo

© 2026 The Tico Times

Services

Support