Category: Blog

The Banco Central de Costa Rica presented the Monedero SINPE-TP this month. This prepaid contactless card lets people pay for rides on buses and trains without needing a bank account. The card forms part of the Sistema Nacional de Pago Electrónico en el Transporte Público, or SINPE-TP. It targets users who rely on cash for …

Read more “New Prepaid Card Lets Costa Ricans Pay Bus and Train Fares Without a Bank Account”

Construction begins in May on the new bridge over the Río Coronado at Coronado de Osa on the Costanera Sur highway. Heavy rains in August 2020 eroded a pillar on the original structure and forced its closure. Drivers crossed the river on a temporary ford for a short time before crews installed the modular Bailey …

Read more “After Nearly Six Years, New Bridge Replaces Bailey at Osa on Ruta 34”

Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina advanced Friday to the final of the WTA 1000 tournament at Indian Wells, setting up another chapter in one of the fiercest rivalries in women’s tennis. Sabalenka, the world No. 1, will have a chance to settle old scores against Rybakina, who beat her in the 2023 …

Read more “Sabalenka and Rybakina Set Up Blockbuster Indian Wells Final”

Three people survived a small plane crash in La Fortuna de San Carlos this morning. The Cessna 206 registered TI-GRE lost engine power shortly after takeoff from Arenal Airport. It came down at 8:25 a.m. near the cemetery in the El Progreso neighborhood and stopped in a cassava field. The aircraft carried the pilot and …

Read more “Three Survive Cessna Crash in La Fortuna After Engine Failure on Takeoff”

Cuba confirmed on Friday that it is holding talks with the United States, while beginning the release of political prisoners as part of an agreement with the Vatican, the historic mediator between the two countries. President Donald Trump has not concealed his desire for regime change in Cuba, located just 150 kilometers from the United …

Read more “Cuba Confirms US Talks as Political Prisoner Releases Begin”

Panama’s government asked Chinese shipping giant COSCO Shipping to reconsider its suspension of operations at the Balboa port at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Minister for Canal Affairs Jose Ramon Icaza said the decision caught authorities by surprise and expressed hope the company would return. The request follows COSCO Shipping Lines’ notice to …

Read more “Panama Pushes Chinese Carrier COSCO to Restart Pacific Port Services”

One of Costa Rica’s main attractions is our plentiful wildlife. Tourists come to see monkeys, sloths, toucans and more in their natural habitats. But it is called wildlife for a reason — it sometimes strays from its natural habitat. Live here long enough and you may encounter our animal friends in untypical places. Here are …

Read more “Costa Rica Wildlife Encounters at Home”

Coffee producers in Costa Rica warn that a sharp drop in the dollar’s exchange rate against the colón, now below ₡480, threatens to ruin their operations. The exchange rate, set mainly by supply and demand under the Central Bank’s managed floating system, fell 4.3 percent between January and March, according to data from the Economic …

Read more “Costa Rican Coffee Growers Face Ruin as Dollar Drops”

The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica rejected accusations that actors linked to the country carried out cyber espionage against the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). Costa Rican officials announced the breach on March 12 during a press conference. The incident involved extraction of nine gigabytes of data from internal email accounts at the state utility. …

Read more “China Rejects Cyber Espionage Accusations Targeting Costa Rica ICE Utility”

Daniil Medvedev stopped Jack Draper from defending his Indian Wells title with a 6-1, 7-5 victory in the quarter-finals on Thursday. The 11th seed took full advantage of Draper’s fatigue after the Briton’s hard-fought win over Novak Djokovic the previous day. Medvedev dictated play from the start and looked sharp throughout. He broke serve in …

Read more “Hindrance Call Decides Draper Medvedev Match at Indian Wells”