Costa Rica Welcomes More Tourists in November

Costa Rica saw a notable increase in tourist arrivals last month, providing a boost to an industry that has faced uneven performance throughout the year. Air arrivals reached 225,679 in November, up 12.2% from the 201,152 recorded in the same month of 2024, according to data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. This growth comes …

Influenza Variant Circulates in Costa Rica as Health Officials Urge Prevention

Health officials in Costa Rica have confirmed the presence of a new influenza A(H3N2) variant, subclade K, as cases of respiratory illnesses rise during the holiday season. The Ministry of Health reports that the virus started spreading earlier than expected this year, prompting calls for stronger protective steps among residents. The World Health Organization indicates …

Top Prize Unsold in Costa Rica’s Gordo Navideño Lottery Draw

The Gordo Navideño 2025 draw wrapped up last night with a twist that left many stunned: the top prize went unclaimed because the winning ticket stayed unsold. The Junta de Protección Social (JPS) ran the event last night at 7:30 p.m., broadcast across national channels, and confirmed the details early today. The winning combination for …

Honduras Waits Two Weeks for Final Election Result as Recount Dispute Drags On

Hondurans have now gone two weeks without knowing who their next president will be, as the country waits for a special count that will determine the winner between conservative Nasry Asfura, backed by Donald Trump, and right-wing Salvador Nasralla. Asfura, a 67-year-old businessman, leads by less than two percentage points over Nasralla, a 72-year-old television …

Costa Rica Shifts Toward Regenerative Tourism Alongside Other Nations

Costa Rica has long stood out for its commitment to protecting natural areas through tourism. Now, our country joins a growing number of nations that push beyond basic protection. They aim to restore and improve ecosystems damaged by past activities. This approach, called regenerative tourism, changes how visitors interact with places they travel to. In …

Costa Rica Faces Windy Weather from Cold Front No. 6

Costa Ricans faced brisk winds and intermittent showers when getting to work this morning, as Cold Front No. 6 positioned itself over the central Caribbean Sea. The system accelerated trade winds across Central America, drawing in moisture that led to varied conditions nationwide. The National Meteorological Institute outlined the day’s patterns, noting scattered rains of …

Mexico’s Renata Zarazua Carries Regional Hopes into Australian Open 2026

As the tennis world gears up for the 2026 Australian Open, set to kick off on January 18, Latin America stands ready to make its mark with one of its strongest showings in years. Yet for Central America, the narrative remains one of slim representation in singles, with Mexico’s Renata Zarazua emerging as the region’s …

Costa Rica Travelers Face Tighter U.S. Visa Social Media Scrutiny

The United States government has moved forward with plans to require certain international visitors to submit five years of their social media activity as part of entry applications. This step, proposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), aims to bolster security checks for travelers from countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). While Costa …

Costa Rica’s Mighty Baird’s Tapir is the Quiet Giant of the Forest

Today we discuss a creature that’s very close to my heart, the Baird’s tapir. It’s an enormous, elephant-nosed, whistling, puddle-pooper. What’s not to love? Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is known as a danta in Spanish. The Baird in the English name comes from Spencer Fullerton Baird, an American naturalist who became the first curator of …