The Costa Rican Banking Association said that 95 percent of banks in the country have already started to swap out the 7 million credit and debit cards currently circulating in the country with more secure chip cards.
Three Limón fishermen missing since Sept. 21 were found alive off Panama's Caribbean coast after their boat's engine failed and a cellphone call to 911 led rescuers to them.
Costa Rica increased international tourism advertising spending by 223% between 2022 and 2025, but government auditors found insufficient evidence that the additional spending significantly increased visitor arrivals.
Costa Rica's tourism board says its rivals are Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand, not its neighbors. Business chambers see a wider field and warn the country is getting too expensive.
