A brief stopover by five U.S. military helicopters in Costa Rica over the weekend drew the ire of lawmakers who claimed the landing violated Costa Rica's sovereignty. The executive and legislative branches of government have been disputing the legality of U.S. military vessels in Costa Rica since both countries signed a joint-patrol agreement in 1999.

Some visitors we met in Cuba wanted to get here "before everything changes" — meaning before tourism is opened wide to the U.S. But things in Cuba are already changing fast.

A roundup of events taking place September 11-17.

Costa Rica's football team has found its groove again under new head coach Óscar Ramírez after going nearly a year without a win. Here's three reasons why the man they call "Macho" should have his selection peaking in time for World Cup qualifying play.

A fierce opponent of Cuba's Communist regime, Posada Carriles broke his collar bone and cracked several ribs in the accident, his attorney told the Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Herald. Cuban officials accuse Posada Carriles of masterminding the downing of a Cuban jet off Barbados in 1976 that killed 73 people.

Nearly 60,000 people in over 90 buildings in downtown San José will be evacuated in a drill Thursday to test the country's preparation for an earthquake with an epicenter located near the capital.

Those reaching Europe represent a small percentage of the 4 million Syrians who have fled into Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, making Syria the biggest single source of refugees in the world and the worst humanitarian emergency in more than four decades.

In the spirit of setting the record straight, we at The Tico Times are starting a new occasional column called “For the record.” In this first column, we take apart the false news recently reported in online and international media that Costa Rica is closing its zoos.

Cabo Blanco's sheer isolation on the southernmost tip of Nicoya Peninsula makes it a secluded paradise worth visiting. So why don't more people come here?

Costa Rica's Health Ministry recently ordered San José city officials to come up with a plan to control the urban pigeon population. The birds are becoming a health hazard.