Costa Rica’s La Negrita Basilica Hit by Gunfire as Worshippers Attended Mass

Costa Rica’s most important Catholic pilgrimage site was struck by gunfire during Saturday morning Mass, with two bullets shattering windows on the south side of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles as worshippers gathered inside, the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) confirmed. The OIJ said agents corroborated that a window on the south …

Costa Rica Tornado Tears Roofs Off Homes in Grecia; Three Rescued, Red Cross Says

Residents of Grecia, in the province of Alajuela, captured video on Saturday afternoon of a tornado-like whirlwind tearing through their neighborhood, ripping roofs from homes, toppling trees and briefly trapping three people inside a damaged residence, according to the Cruz Roja Costarricense (Costa Rican Red Cross). The phenomenon, locally known as a torbellino, formed during …

Costa Rica Mangrove Bees Create Unique Honey in Puntarenas

Families in El Establo de Pitahaya, Puntarenas, are building a small community business around one of Costa Rica’s more unusual local products: honey made by bees living beside the mangrove. The project, known as ApiMangle, brings together beekeeping, mangrove conservation and rural tourism in a coastal community where many residents have long depended on fishing, …

Peru’s Ignacio Buse Stuns Tommy Paul in Hamburg, Ends 19-Year ATP Title Drought

Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse outlasted American sixth seed Tommy Paul 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday to win the Bitpanda Hamburg Open, capturing his first ATP Tour title and ending Peru’s longest drought between tour-level singles trophies in the Open Era. The 22-year-old from Lima became the first Peruvian to lift an ATP singles trophy since …

Costa Rican Cinema Makes History With Cannes Acting Award

Costa Rican cinema reached a new milestone Friday, May 22, when actresses Daniela Marín Navarro and Mariángel Villegas shared the Best Actress award in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section with Mexican actress Marina de Tavira for Siempre soy tu animal materno, the latest feature from Costa Rican filmmaker Valentina Maurel. The Cannes Film Festival’s official …

Costa Rica Court Keeps Papagayo Hotel Development Restrictions in Place

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber has confirmed that the moratorium on tree-felling permits in the Gulf of Papagayo Tourism Pole remains fully in force, keeping a major legal freeze in place over parts of one of Guanacaste’s most valuable resort development zones. The latest clarification came from Sala IV magistrate Anamari Garro Vargas, who confirmed that …

Costa Rica Bus and Taxi Fares Rise After Fuel Price Spike

Costa Rica approved higher bus and taxi fares this week after a rise in international fuel prices pushed up operating costs for public transport operators. The Public Services Regulatory Authority, known here as Aresep, approved a 5.43% increase for bus fares nationwide and increases ranging from 1.39% to 2.82% for taxi service. The adjustment covers …

Costa Rica Named Latin America Leader for Immigrant Well-Being

Costa Rica ranked 44th out of 82 countries in the 2026 Remitly Immigration Index, placing it in the middle of the global list of immigrant destinations but near the top of the world for happiness and social well-being. The index, which compares countries across 34 indicators in 16 categories, ranked Switzerland No. 1 overall, followed …

Chayanne Thrills Costa Rica Fans at Estadio Nacional Concert

San José welcomed Puerto Rican superstar Chayanne last night as thousands of fans filled the Estadio Nacional in La Sabana for one of Costa Rica’s most anticipated concerts of 2026. Chayanne, born Elmer Figueroa Arce, delivered a high-energy performance as part of his “Bailemos Otra Vez” tour, reminding the crowd why he remains one of …

Costa Rica Risks Losing Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring Network

Costa Rica could gradually lose part of its ability to monitor earthquakes, track volcanic activity, and issue early warnings if the country does not restore permanent funding for its scientific monitoring networks, the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica has warned. OVSICORI Director Esteban Chávez said the country’s seismic and volcanic monitoring system has …