Category: Blog

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commented on Costa Rica’s exchange rate, urging the country to allow greater flexibility in response to market conditions and to avoid excessive accumulation of foreign exchange reserves. According to the IMF’s mission report, the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) should limit its interventions in the foreign exchange market …

Read more “IMF Criticizes Costa Rica’s Exchange Rate Policy Amid a Stronger Colón”

I’ve had an interest in biology and ecology my whole life. For as long as I can remember, if I laid my eyes upon a forest, I’d want to get in there and see what creatures were hidden inside. If you showed me a lake, I’d immediately start imagining jumping in among the fish, turtles, …

Read more “Wildlife Wonders and Animal Teamwork in Costa Rica”

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are targets of choice for online criminals, who often exploit weaknesses in major trading platforms or individual users’ digital “wallets” to make major scores. A recent $1.5-billion heist of Ethereum from the Bybit platform — attributed by the FBI to North Korean hackers — is believed to be the largest …

Read more “Crypto Theft Hits $2.2 Billion as Hackers Target Digital Wallets”

President Donald Trump mentioned this Sunday five cryptocurrencies that his government is considering for a new “strategic reserve” of the United States, which caused their values to soar and partially reverse a recent decline. In a post on his Truth Social network, the Republican magnate said that a task force he created shortly after taking …

Read more “Trump’s Strategic Crypto Reserve Announcement Triggers Market Rally”

Costa Rica is a gardener’s paradise. With a climate that practically guarantees 365 days of gardening, locals enjoy a bounty of salad greens, tropical fruits, root crops, and corn – locally known as maíz. This year-round abundance means not a day goes by without fresh produce from the garden. A Gardener’s Paradise In many parts …

Read more “Corn, Culture, and Costa Rican Gardens”

As most travelers know, our country is a top tourist destination known for its natural beauty and friendly culture. However, many visitors to Costa Rica are now extending their stays without changing their tourist status, a practice known as “perpetual tourism” that has raised concerns among both policymakers and local residents. In response, Frente Amplio …

Read more “New Bill Aims to Curb Perpetual Tourism in Costa Rica”

The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described this Friday as a “shameful farce” the celebration on March 1 of Journalist’s Day in Nicaragua, as the government has “annihilated independent journalism” and forced about 300 communicators into exile. “It is a shameful farce,” emphasized a note signed by Artur Romeu, RSF’s director for Latin America, who …

Read more “Press Freedom Crisis: 300+ Nicaraguan Journalists Forced Into Exile”

More than 200 migrants departed this Thursday in boats from Miramar, a new exit point to Colombia via the Panamanian Caribbean, as the government still fails to manage a growing migratory flow caused by the anti-immigration policy of the United States. The government stated that so far, about 2,200 migrants have returned, mostly from Mexico …

Read more “Reverse and Chaotic Migration Increases in Panama”

Finding the right barber, the one who follows your instructions and cuts your hair as you want it, can be a challenge. Especially for us older folks. I came of age in the early to mid 1970s. Those were hard times for barbers. I only went in for the occasional trim whenever my father threatened …

Read more “Expat Hair Struggles With Young Tico Barbers in Costa Rica”

The General Directorate of Migration (DGME) confirmed the departure of the first group of migrants deported by the United States, who were temporarily hosted in Costa Rica for repatriation. This first group included an Armenian mother and her two young daughters. They arrived on February 20 and stayed at the Center for Temporary Attention of …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Role as Bridge Country for US Deportations Begins with First Repatriations”