Samara Beach Unveils Retractable Walkway for Inclusive Tourism

Samara Beach launched a retractable walkway made from recycled plastic caps, a pioneering step toward inclusive tourism in Costa Rica. The project, unveiled during a special event, aims to ensure people with disabilities and seniors can safely access the sea at this popular Nicoya canton destination. The initiative unites the Chamber of Tourism of Playa …

Costa Rica Suspends Permits in Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge to Protect Environment

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber ordered the suspension of all concessions and permits in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area in Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean. The Court also suspended previously granted permits, aiming to prevent serious and irreparable environmental damage to the refuge’s maritime-terrestrial zone—a coastal area safeguarded under environmental laws. These precautionary measures …

Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano Activity Surges, Alert Raised

Poás Volcano in Costa Rica is undergoing intense and unprecedented activity, marked by persistent tremors, high gas emissions, and structural deformation, according to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVSICORI). Experts say this behavior is unlike anything seen in recent records. “We can’t predict exactly what will happen because this is a new situation for Poás. …

Costa Rica Exchange Rate Hits Historic Low, Central Bank Steps In

The exchange rate in Costa Rica has plummeted to a historic low, with the dollar reaching ₡499.90 on Thursday, March 13, in the Foreign Exchange Market (MONEX)—a level not seen since May 7, 2008, when it stood at ₡497.20. The market saw $29.52 million traded across 266 transactions, with the dollar’s selling price ranging from …

Guatemala Hosts Literary Festival Amid Free Speech Crackdowns

More than 60 authors from 15 countries will converge on Guatemala to confront the “turbulent times” facing Central America, debating freedom of expression, migration, and more at the Centroamérica Cuenta literary festival, organizers announced. “It is no secret that Guatemala, and Central America as a whole, face significant challenges” regarding freedom of expression, said festival …

Radar Failure in Honduras Disrupts Central American Flights

A radar system failure at the Area Control Center in Honduras disrupted international flights across Costa Rica and Central America on Friday, March 14. The precise cause of the failure has not been specified by authorities at this time. Luis Miranda, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation, confirmed that flight operations in Costa Rica have resumed …

Panama Allows First Quantum to Export Copper Despite Court Shutdown

The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, said on Thursday that he authorized a Canadian-owned mine, which was shut down by the courts in 2023, to export the copper concentrate it had already extracted. The mine, owned by First Quantum Minerals, had to suspend operations following a ruling by the Panamanian Supreme Court, which declared …

Costa Rica’s Medical Marijuana Rollout: Legal Relief or Just a Loophole?

Last month, the Costa Rican Ministry of Health approved a regulation to facilitate the sale of “medical cannabis products” aka weed, ganja, grass, mota, but only, in their words, to help patients in urgent need due to health problems. The so-called medical marijuana will be available by prescription only. A bill had been approved in …

Rare ‘Blood Moon’ Total Lunar Eclipse Stuns Stargazers Across the Globe

Stargazers across a swathe of the world marvelled at a dramatic red “Blood Moon” during a rare total lunar eclipse in the early hours of Friday morning. The celestial spectacle was visible in the Americas and Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the westernmost parts of Europe and Africa. The phenomenon happens when …

Costa Rica Tourism Declines in 2025: Fewer Visitors from U.S. and Europe

Costa Rica is dealing with a noticeable drop in tourism, a vital economic driver, as visitor numbers decline in 2025. The Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) reports a 1.5% decrease in arrivals in January 2025 compared to January 2024, with North American and European visitors leading the downturn despite a rise in South American travelers. …