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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Costa Rica Projecting Record Number of Tourists This Year

Costa Rica is projected to welcome between 2.3 and 2.5 million tourists by air in 2023, surpassing previous records. The country saw 1.85 million visitors in the first 9 months of 2023, up 16% from 2022. North America and Europe remain the top source markets. The tourism boom is creating jobs and Costa Ricans are also traveling abroad more than ever. With high global satisfaction scores, the future outlook for tourism in Costa Rica remains strong

National Bank of Costa Rica Discloses $6.4M Discrepancy

The National Bank of Costa Rica recently discovered a ¢6.4 million discrepancy between the actual cash in its vaults and what was recorded in its accounting systems. An investigation revealed the money was missing and 5 employees, including supervisors and accountants, have been charged with alleged embezzlement and neglect. While the bank says its assets and client funds are secure, it has suspended the accused workers during the probe into how the accounting records were manipulated to hide the missing money. The case highlights the need for stringent controls over cash handling in Costa Rica’s banking sector.

Sport Fishing Tourism in Costa Rica gets a win….Maybe

Costa Rica’s Incopesca reversed a regulation after pressure from lawmakers and conservationists. The rule would have allowed all commercial fleets to use live bait within 30 miles of the coast, increasing accidental sailfish deaths. The new regulation prohibits medium and large commercial boats from live bait in the 30-mile zone but allows small fleets with permits. This protects sailfish but loopholes remain. A proposed law banning sailfish sales is now in Congress, supported by conservation groups. Overall a victory for sailfish conservation but more work is needed.

Southwest Airlines to Launch Orlando-San José Route in 2024

Southwest Airlines will start daily nonstop flights between Orlando, Florida and San José, Costa Rica beginning June 4, 2024. The flights will depart Orlando at 11:30am and arrive in San Jose at 12:45pm. Return flights will leave San Jose at 8:55am and land in Orlando by 2:15pm. This new route is expected to expand travel between the US and Costa Rica.

From June to August 2024, Southwest will also increase service to two flights per week between Baltimore, Denver and San Jose. The additional air connectivity is anticipated to bring more US tourists to Costa Rica, coinciding with the start of summer vacation season. Officials say air travel is crucial for growing Costa Rica’s tourism industry. Nearly 1.1 million US tourists visited Costa Rica in the first 9 months of this year.

Today's Top News

Woman Rescued From Forbidden Zone of Costa Rica Volcano

A dramatic rescue operation ended in relief Thursday when authorities found a woman who had ventured into a restricted zone of Costa Rica's treacherous...

Tamales in Costa Rica – A Christmas Tradition

Tamales go deep in Costa Rican culture and they are one of the most accessible ways to tap into your inner Tico, especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

From Michigan to Honduras: A Peace Corps Journey in Central America

The Peace Corps recruiter visited our advanced entomology course at Michigan State University in the Fall of 1983. He was young, nervous, but gave...

No Army in Costa Rica: How a 1948 Decision Changed Central America

On December 1, 1948, José Figueres Ferrer, President of the Founding Junta of the Second Republic, officially abolished the Costa Rican army by symbolically...

Salvadoran Church Rejects Lifting Mining Ban Suggested by Bukele

The Archdiocese of El Salvador on Sunday rejected the possibility of President Nayib Bukele's government lifting the total ban on mining in the Central...

Meet the Anhinga: A Unique Wetland Bird Found in Costa Rica

Today we meet the anhinga, a long-necked bird who’s adept at swimming and spearing fish and is sometimes confused with being a snake. The...

The U.S. Dollar Decline in Costa Rica: What Does It Mean?

The U.S. dollar has been steadily losing value in Costa Rica. On Thursday, November 28, the buying rate was ₡506.55, and the selling rate...

Literary Festival in Guatemala Highlights Democracy and Human Rights

The Central America Cuenta literary festival, scheduled to take place next May in Guatemala with the presence of Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, will...

Costa Rica Reports Terror Links in Growing Migration Crisis

Costa Rica has intercepted five individuals with suspected terrorism links among the estimated 350,000 migrants passing through the country this year en route to...

Engineer Lives Underwater in Panama to Break World Record

At a depth of 11 meters off the coast of Panama, German aerospace engineer Rüdiger Koch has been living for two months in a...