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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Air France Boosts Costa Rica Flight

Air France has significantly expanded its flight service to Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport, comprising daily flights for much of 2024. This caters to surging demand from French tourists, attracted by the country’s breathtaking natural landscapes and biodiversity. With Costa Rica proving ever-more popular with Air France’s customer base, the airline is committed to the market, having increased flight frequencies over the past two years. The country welcomed over 67,000 French visitors by air in 2023 alone….

Tamarindo Faces Water Shortage

Residents of Playa Tamarindo are facing severe water supply shortages, with some reporting 10-day service outages. Despite the scarcity, authorities continue issuing construction permits and water availability letters for large real estate projects further straining infrastructure. Locals must pay for costly water deliveries amid constant shortages. Representatives criticized the Aqueduct and Sewerage Institute’s incompetence, with some reporting the agency removed water meters, leaving them without service. Businesses and residents say their shortage reports go unheeded. The situation underscores inadequate infrastructure and planning, heightening tensions over continued tourism and construction approval without assessing impact….

Airbnb in Costa Rica Faces Calls for Regulation

Costa Rica’s hotel industry is calling for greater regulation of non-traditional accommodations like Airbnb, citing unfair competition. Hotels face more taxes, permits, and staffing requirements while platforms evade some fees and capture local tourism with flexible, budget stays. A proposed 6-night minimum stay law for alternative lodging aims to level the playing field but risks limiting consumer choice. Stakeholders urge an equitable solution benefiting hotels and platforms to sustainably grow tourism….

Costa Rica Traffic

Traffic congestion in Costa Rica has worsened due to ongoing construction, lack of planning by authorities, and limited public transportation options. Adding to the problem are the 100-150 minor traffic accidents that happen daily, often rear-end collisions caused by impatient drivers trying to force their way through stand-still traffic. Authorities are working to more quickly clear these accidents to keep traffic moving. Traffic police presence is also being increased in problem areas to enforce laws and reduce congestion caused by drivers disobeying traffic islands and lane markings.

Today's Top News

US and China Battle for Latin American Trade Influence

Latin America has become a battleground between the United States and China. Countries in the region are being forced to choose sides under pressure...

Tennis Star Sinner Suspended Three Months for Doping

Tennis Star Jannik Sinner, world number one, will be suspended until May 4 after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which...

Costa Rican Study Reveals Deep Divide on Abortion Amid Political Tensions

A recent survey by the National University of Costa Rica (UNA) has shed new light on the nation's views regarding abortion, revealing deep divides...

Costa Rica Corporate Reporting Guide For Expat Business Owners

As has been indicated previously, in Costa Rica, corporations and many other entities, have the obligation of reporting the distribution of the company shares...

Historic Cypress Trees Cut Down in Costa Rica After Foreign Resident’s Lawsuit

The iconic cypress trees that adorned the streets of San Rafael de Heredia, particularly in the residential area of El Tirol, were cut down...

Costa Rican Communities Win Fight to Protect Maritime-Terrestrial Zone at Cabuyal

The neighbors of Cabuyal Beach won a battle to ensure that the maritime-terrestrial zone (ZMT) of that beach remains public. Costa Rica's maritime-terrestrial zone...

4 Must-Visit Pre-Columbian Sites in Costa Rica

In 2024, almost 3 million tourists came to Costa Rica. Many who arrived participated in tours, both of the action/adrenaline variety (rafting, ziplining, etc)...

Costa Rican Police Dismantle Human Trafficking Network in San José

The Costa Rican Police Force conducted a major operation in Barrio Escalante, San José, at a business advertising itself as a therapeutic massage center....

Foreign Buyers Drive Costa Rican Mountain Town Land Prices Up

San Gerardo de Rivas is a small, traditional Costa Rican town situated high in the valley of the Chirripó Pacífico River in the Talamanca...

US Aid Suspension Threatens Anti-Drug and Poverty Programs

President Donald Trump's freezing of development aid has quickly paralyzed numerous programs in Latin America that rely on US funds to combat drug trafficking,...