Costa Rica’s government has introduced a major update to the driver’s licensing process, requiring specialized theoretical exams based on vehicle type starting next year. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced the shift this week, aiming to sharpen driver skills and cut down on road accidents. From March 2, 2026, applicants for a Class …
Read more “Costa Rica Introduces Specialized Driving Tests for 2026 Licenses”
Hundreds of flights were canceled in the United States on Friday, and passengers formed long lines at airports after the government ordered air traffic to be reduced due to staffing shortages caused by the budget impasse. The so-called “shutdown,” which forces federal public services to close, is the longest in the country’s history and has …
Read more “U.S. Shutdown Triggers Flight Cancellations and Long Airport Lines”
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have rolled out a revised baggage policy that simplifies carrying surfboards on their flights, a change that stands to benefit surfers heading to Costa Rica. The carriers, now operating under a combined network after their recent merger, allow passengers to pack multiple surfboards into one bag. Boards can reach up …
Read more “Alaska Hawaiian Airlines Revise Surfboard Policy for Costa Rican Surfers”
Authorities from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) have renewed their plea for residents and tourists to halt the collection of seashells from the country’s beaches. This practice, often seen as harmless, breaks wildlife laws and harms marine environments. Officials point out that removing shells counts …
Read more “Costa Rica Warns Against Collecting Seashells to Save Ecosystems”
Federal authorities in New York have formally asked Costa Rica to hand over Gilberth Bell Fernández, a 62-year-old man known as “Macho Coca,” to stand trial on charges of running an international cocaine operation. The request marks a key step in U.S. efforts to dismantle networks that move drugs from Central America northward. The U.S. …
Read more “U.S. Seeks Extradition of Costa Rican Drug Leader from Limón”
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to reduce flights by 10 percent at 40 major airports starting tomorrow, as the ongoing government shutdown leads to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and security personnel. This move comes amid the longest shutdown in U.S. history, now in its third week, and threatens to create …
Read more “How the U.S. Government Shutdown Disrupts Flights to Costa Rica”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called out world leaders for missing the 1.5C climate target, labeling it a moral failure and deadly negligence during a gathering in Belém, Brazil, ahead of the COP30 summit. Leaders from dozens of countries arrived in the Amazon city this week as scientists confirmed the Paris Agreement’s safer warming limit will …
Read more “UN Chief Warns of Moral Failure as COP30 Tackles Missed Climate Goals”
Dutch media has spotlighted Costa Rica’s growing role in the global cocaine trade, pointing to increased shipments to Europe and a sharp rise in local violence tied to drug gangs. The Dutch Broadcasting Foundation, or NOS, detailed how Costa Rica, long celebrated for its traquility, now serves as a key transit hub for South American …
Read more “Dutch Report Highlights Costa Rica’s Drug Transit Role and Violence Spike”
The United States is interested in establishing offices of its Department of Homeland Security at “strategic” facilities in Ecuador, where the head of that department, Kristi Noem, arrived on Wednesday. Ecuadorians must first approve, in a referendum set for November 16, whether to allow the installation of foreign bases on their territory, something the Constitution …
Read more “United States seeks Homeland Security offices in Ecuador”
As we all probably know by now, Costa Rica produces some of the world’s best coffee, with its high-altitude farms yielding beans known for bright acidity and clean flavors. Yet travelers often stumble into shops that fall short, especially in tourist hubs like San José or beach towns where quality takes a backseat to convenience. …
Read more “How to Avoid Bad Coffee Shops While Traveling in Costa Rica”