Route 27 Sets Reversible Lanes for Sunday Return Traffic

Drivers heading back to the capital from the Pacific coast will see all lanes on Route 27 flow only toward San José this Sunday, February 22. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport put the measure in place because public schools and colleges resume classes Monday, February 23. Officials expect heavy volumes of vehicles from …

U.S. State Department Warns Old Passports Canceled Immediately Upon Online Renewal

The U.S. State Department issued a direct reminder to American travelers renewing passports online. In a recent Facebook post, officials explained that the old passport becomes automatically canceled upon submission of the application. It cannot be used for international travel, even if the new passport has not yet arrived in the mail. This policy has …

US Keeps Travel Warning for Guatemala After January Gang Attacks

The U.S. State Department keeps Guatemala at a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory due to crime. Officials issued the current version in late December 2024 and have not changed the level despite recent government actions against gangs. A wave of violence hit the country in January 2026. Members of the Barrio 18 gang staged riots …

Godfather and Apocalypse Now actor Robert Duvall dead at 95

Robert Duvall, who played the smooth mafia lawyer in “The Godfather” and stole the show with his depiction of a surfing-crazed colonel in “Apocalypse Now,” has died at the age of 95, his wife said Monday. His death Sunday was confirmed by his wife Luciana Duvall. “Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, …

Tourist arrivals to Costa Rica by air grew in January

Tourist arrivals to Costa Rica by air rose 10.3 percent in January 2026 compared to the same month last year, according to data released Monday by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). Our country welcomed 294,087 visitors by air last month. That marks an increase of 27,412 arrivals over the 266,675 recorded in January 2025. …

The ATP’s South American swing is trying to survive Saudi money

With the certainty that Saudi Arabia will have a Masters 1000 in February starting in 2028, the tournaments on South America’s clay-court swing are trying to find a solution to the Saudi arrival and prevent their events from disappearing. The “Golden Swing,” as the ATP tour held in Latin America at the beginning of the …

Museums in San José Extend Evening Hours Through March

The Central Bank of Costa Rica Museums now open their doors later on Thursday and Friday evenings to give visitors more time in the capital. The museums, located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, extend hours from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as part of the Summer at the Museum program. The schedule runs through …

Costa Rica Joins Global Lunar New Year Observances With Community Festivities

The Chinese community in Costa Rica marked the approach of the Lunar New Year with a public celebration on February 14 in the Barrio Chino of San José. The main date of the festival falls on February 17, which begins the Year of the Fire Horse. The event took place along the Paseo de los …

Popular Costa Rica Tour Guide Says License Renewal Is Back on Track

Dionisio Paniagua, known as “Nito,” shared a positive update with his followers. The well-known tour guide, who has a strong presence on social media, said the process to renew his license for Corcovado National Park has moved forward again. A few days earlier, Paniagua explained that his license had expired. Tour guides in Costa Rica …

Cuba Postpones Cigar Festival Amid Energy Crisis

Cuban organizers announced on Saturday the postponement of the Festival del Habano, the island’s signature cigar event, as the country deals with a severe energy shortage. In a message sent to participants, Habanos S.A. said it was delaying the gathering, which had been scheduled for February 24 to 27. No new dates were provided. The …