Category: Blog

Authorities from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) have renewed their plea for residents and tourists to halt the collection of seashells from the country’s beaches. This practice, often seen as harmless, breaks wildlife laws and harms marine environments. Officials point out that removing shells counts …

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Federal authorities in New York have formally asked Costa Rica to hand over Gilberth Bell Fernández, a 62-year-old man known as “Macho Coca,” to stand trial on charges of running an international cocaine operation. The request marks a key step in U.S. efforts to dismantle networks that move drugs from Central America northward. The U.S. …

Read more “U.S. Seeks Extradition of Costa Rican Drug Leader from Limón”

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to reduce flights by 10 percent at 40 major airports starting tomorrow, as the ongoing government shutdown leads to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and security personnel. This move comes amid the longest shutdown in U.S. history, now in its third week, and threatens to create …

Read more “How the U.S. Government Shutdown Disrupts Flights to Costa Rica”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called out world leaders for missing the 1.5C climate target, labeling it a moral failure and deadly negligence during a gathering in Belém, Brazil, ahead of the COP30 summit. Leaders from dozens of countries arrived in the Amazon city this week as scientists confirmed the Paris Agreement’s safer warming limit will …

Read more “UN Chief Warns of Moral Failure as COP30 Tackles Missed Climate Goals”

Dutch media has spotlighted Costa Rica’s growing role in the global cocaine trade, pointing to increased shipments to Europe and a sharp rise in local violence tied to drug gangs. The Dutch Broadcasting Foundation, or NOS, detailed how Costa Rica, long celebrated for its traquility, now serves as a key transit hub for South American …

Read more “Dutch Report Highlights Costa Rica’s Drug Transit Role and Violence Spike”

The United States is interested in establishing offices of its Department of Homeland Security at “strategic” facilities in Ecuador, where the head of that department, Kristi Noem, arrived on Wednesday. Ecuadorians must first approve, in a referendum set for November 16, whether to allow the installation of foreign bases on their territory, something the Constitution …

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As we all probably know by now, Costa Rica produces some of the world’s best coffee, with its high-altitude farms yielding beans known for bright acidity and clean flavors. Yet travelers often stumble into shops that fall short, especially in tourist hubs like San José or beach towns where quality takes a backseat to convenience. …

Read more “How to Avoid Bad Coffee Shops While Traveling in Costa Rica”

The Costa Rican national team has a new uniform. The Costa Rican Football Federation (FEDEFUTBOL) has unveiled the kit that the national team will wear for the first time. It is the home jersey of the national team, presented ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “A piece that not only dresses the players, but …

Read more “Costa Rica Unveils New National Team Jersey”

American Airlines has started a new daily flight between Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The service began on Monday and runs through April 6, 2026, adding to the carrier’s network in Costa Rica. This route builds on American’s existing connections from San José to five other U.S. cities: …

Read more “American Airlines Adds Daily Chicago Flight to Costa Rica”

The Costa Rican government has handed a major contract to build a high-security prison to Edificadora Centroamericana Rapiparedes Sociedad Anónima, known as Edificar. The deal, worth nearly ¢17 billion or about $32 million, targets the rising threat from organized crime and drug trafficking. President Rodrigo Chaves pushed for the project as part of efforts to …

Read more “Costa Rica Fast-Tracks $32 Million Mega-Prison Contract”