Costa Rica’s subtle seasonal changes offer orientation when spring, summer, autumn and winter aren’t there to structure the passage of time. Spring is here, a season that draws out a grateful sigh for the return of light, heat and the pending harvest. At least, that is the case in northern latitudes where changes in the …
Read more “Adjusting to Expat Life in Costa Rica and Its Two Gentle Seasons”
The recent eruptions of Poás Volcano in Costa Rica have significantly disrupted tourism in nearby communities, including Poás, Poasito, Fraijanes, Vara Blanca, and Los Cartagos. Although these areas have not experienced direct effects such as ashfall or hazardous gas emissions, the volcanic activity has deterred visitors, leading to a sharp decline in local business revenue. …
Read more “Poás Volcano Eruptions Deliver Economic Blow to Costa Rican Tourism”
Costa Rica will serve as the filming location for the tenth season of ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise, with production scheduled to start this summer. The U.S. reality dating show, known for its rose ceremonies and romantic storylines, is moving from its previous location in Sayulita, Mexico, to Costa Rica, marking a new chapter for the …
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The Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, a $200 million luxury resort, opened its doors on Tuesday, marking a milestone in Costa Rica’s rise as a global high-end tourism destination. Developed by Costa Rican firm Garnier & Garnier, managed by Hilton, and owned by Revolution, Cacique Investors, and Garnier & Garnier, the project anchors the …
Read more “Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Opens, Redefining Luxury Tourism”
The Costa Rican National Emergency Commission (CNE) declared a red alert for Poás Volcano National Park, after reporting a sustained uptick in eruptive activity. Authorities noted that this week’s eruptions produced ash columns surpassing 4,000 m in height, with some plumes reaching up to 4,500 m above the crater rim—the most intense explosions of the …
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The Costa Rican Ministry of Justice and Peace has unveiled sweeping reforms to the nation’s penitentiary system, drawing inspiration from El Salvador’s hardline security model under President Nayib Bukele. The changes, announced following Bukele’s visit to Costa Rica last November and a tour by Justice Minister Gerald Campos of El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), …
Read more “Costa Rica Tightens Prison Rules, Adopts El Salvador’s Bukele Model”
Approximately 200 migrants deported from the United States to Costa Rica’s Southern Zone have been granted a special humanitarian status, offering them temporary legal protection and freedom of movement within the country, according to the General Director of Migration, Omer Badilla. The migrants, coming from countries such as Afghanistan, China, Iran, Russia, and Pakistan, arrived …
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The first book I ever tried to read in Spanish was Robert Vesco Compra una República. It was 1991 and I was a few months into my life in Costa Rica. Learning Spanish by listening to the radio, overhearing conversations on the street, making verb charts, drinking at the cantina and talking with the locals, …
Read more “Scams in Costa Rica: How Con Artists Prey on Investors”
This morning at approximately 5:15 a.m., Poás Volcano erupted yet again, producing a significant ash plume that soared 3.5 kilometers above the crater, according to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI-UNA). This event, marked by a powerful explosion and a “strong rumble” reported by local residents, underscores the volcano’s ongoing eruptive phase, …
Read more “VIDEO: Poás Volcano Erupts with 3.5 km Ash Plume, OVSICORI Reports”
Costa Rica ranks among Latin America’s most affected countries for plastic bottle pollution on its beaches, according to a new study by Chile’s Universidad Católica del Norte. The report, titled “In Search of the Origin of Plastic Bottles,” reveals that plastic bottles and caps dominate coastal waste, threatening the country’s renowned biodiversity and marine ecosystems. …
Read more “Costa Rica Among Latin America’s Worst Hit by Plastic Bottle Pollution”