How Exchange Rate Changes Affect Costa Rica’s Tourism

As we all are aware Costa Rica’s rainforests and beaches draw countless visitors each year, but the strengthening colón now raises costs for dollar-paying tourists. Recently, the dollar exchange rate stood at ₡499.80, down from ₡535.02 in June 2024, giving travelers to our country fewer colones per dollar. This increases prices for hotels, guided tours, …

Costa Rica President’s State of Nation Address Sparks Controversy

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves delivered his third State of the Nation Address to the Legislative Assembly, employing an unconventional approach that blended multimedia presentations with sharp criticism of public institutions and political opponents. The speech, which outlined achievements in security, education, employment, and economic growth, drew polarized reactions, with supporters praising its boldness and …

Costa Rica Launches Drone Program to Monitor Crocodile Populations

In Costa Rica, the exact number of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) remains unknown, despite signs of population recovery in recent decades. To address this gap, the International Institute for Conservation and Wildlife Management (Icomvis) at the National University (UNA), in collaboration with the School of Topography, Cadastre, and Geodesy, has launched a pioneering drone-based program …

Canadian Government Issues Travel Advisory for Costa Rica

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory for Costa Rica, urging citizens to exercise a high degree of caution due to increasing crime concerns. Released on May 3, the advisory highlights risks that travelers should be aware of when visiting the country, a favored destination for Canadians drawn to its beaches, rainforests, and eco-tourism …

American Airlines Adds More Chicago-Costa Rica Flights for High Season

American Airlines has announced plans to increase its number of flights to Costa Rica from Chicago for their 2025-26 winter travel season, aligning with our peak tourism time. Starting November 2, the airline will resume daily flights from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to San José, reviving a previously operated route. Service to Liberia will increase …

Costa Rica’s Security Crisis Threatens Tourism in Key Destinations

A report prepared by the Legislative Assembly, cited by local media outlet El Observador last week, concluded that rising insecurity in Costa Rica is undermining tourism activity, a critical economic sector contributing 8.2% to GDP. If Costa Rican authorities do not take immediate action, the impact could worsen, compromising tourist arrivals and the country’s global …

Nicaragua to Leave UNESCO After Press Freedom Prize Awarded to La Prensa

Nicaragua announced Sunday its withdrawal from UNESCO, calling it “unacceptable” that the organization awarded the Press Freedom Prize to La Prensa, a staunch critic of the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, whose journalists now work from exile. The announcement of Nicaragua’s withdrawal from UNESCO, which will become effective on December 31, 2026, comes …

Costa Rica’s High Costs Push U.S. Tourists to Cheaper Destinations

Costa Rica, known as one of the best places for a relaxing vacation is losing middle-class U.S. tourists as costs climb. Higher prices for lodging, food, and transportation, driven by a stronger local currency and inflation, have shifted the country toward an exclusive, high-end market, raising alarms in the tourism sector. A Yahoo Finance report, …

Keylor Navas Set to Rejoin Costa Rican National Team for 2025 Gold Cup

Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, a Costa Rican football icon, is poised to return to La Sele for the 2025 Gold Cup, nearly a year after announcing his retirement from international duty in May 2024. The 38-year-old, currently starring for Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, reached an agreement with head coach Miguel “Piojo” Herrera following a pivotal …

UNESCO Awards Nicaragua’s La Prensa for Courageous Journalism in Exile

The UN culture agency awarded its annual press award to Nicaragua’s oldest newspaper, whose staff have been forced to publish from abroad as President Daniel Ortega tightens his grip on power. La Prensa, a title almost 100 years old, has been publishing online since Nicaraguan police in 2021 stormed its premises and arrested its manager …