Month: December 2025

For years, Latin American tennis followers have turned to a handful of familiar names when scanning Grand Slam draws for women’s singles contenders. Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia often tops that list, followed by Colombia’s Camila Osorio or the rare strong showing from an Argentine or Mexican player. As the 2026 Australian Open approaches, however, a …

Read more “Emiliana Arango Rises as Latin American Tennis Leader at Australian Open”

Authorities in Costa Rica plan to recover archaeological artifacts from the site of the proposed Southern Zone International Airport in Palmar Sur de Osa. The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) announced that the recovery effort will start in the first half of 2026, before any construction begins on the airport project. The DGAC selected …

Read more “Pre-Columbian Treasures to Be Saved Before Costa Rica’s New Airport Build”

Independent workers across Costa Rica will soon have a simpler way to handle their income taxes. Starting January 1, 2026, a reform to the Income Tax Law lets them deduct 25% of their gross income without needing receipts or other proof. This change, part of Law No. 10667 approved earlier this year, aims to cut …

Read more “How Costa Rica’s 2026 Tax Changes Benefit Digital Nomads and Expats”

The Fiestas de Zapote draw thousands each year to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. For visitors to Costa Rica, this event offers a look at local traditions in a lively setting. Held from December 25, to January 4, at the Campo Ferial in Zapote, an area east of central …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Zapote Festival Returns: Dates, Times and Music Lineup”

The Government of Canada has updated its travel advisory for Costa Rica, placing our country under a call to exercise a high degree of caution. This change, effective as of December 15th, comes as part of a broader review of 17 popular winter destinations for Canadian travelers. Officials point to ongoing issues with crime as …

Read more “Canada Updates Travel Advisory for Costa Rica, Urging Heightened Caution”

United States forces intercepted a second oil tanker in international waters off Venezuela’s coast on Saturday, escalating tensions in the Caribbean as President Donald Trump enforces a new blockade on sanctioned vessels. The Panama-flagged tanker, carrying crude oil from Venezuela, was stopped by the US Coast Guard with military support, according to reports from US …

Read more “US Forces Seize Second Oil Tanker Amid Tightened Blockade on Venezuela”

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) has set reversible lanes on Route 27 for every Sunday in January 2026. This step aims to handle the surge of vehicles returning to the Central Valley after holiday breaks. Drivers heading back from Pacific beaches will find smoother flows toward San José, while those going the …

Read more “MOPT Announces Route 27 Traffic Changes for January to Ease Returns”

Frontier Airlines has launched new nonstop flights from Houston to key Central American cities, offering lower fares for U.S. travelers and stronger links across the region. The service kicked off this week, with routes to Guatemala City, San Salvador, and San Pedro Sula in Honduras. The airline began flights to Guatemala City on December 18, …

Read more “Budget Travel Options Expand with Frontier’s Houston to Central America Flights”

Police arrested suspect Bryan López Villalobos, known as “Vampi,” in Turrialba, marking a key development in the investigation into the deaths of a German man and his Austrian wife in the Central Pacific region. The 30-year-old suspect faces charges in the homicides of Rüdiger Schickhaus, 60, and Manuela Daxer, 57, whose bodies turned up on …

Read more “Costa Rica Police Arrest 4th Suspect in Quepos Couple Murder Case”

Every December Costa Rica celebrates its strong bicycling roots with La Vuelta, a 10-stage cycling race that challenges riders with its mix of hill climbs, sprints and endurance, under conditions ranging from cool and windy to stiflingly hot. This year, one of the stages concluded where I live. The downtown streets of San Isidro de …

Read more “Costa Rica’s La Vuelta returns with international teams and a descent into San Isidro”