A new United Nations study sheds light on the rapid spread of informal lending schemes called “gota a gota” across Costa Rica, where high-interest loans often lead to extortion and violence. These operations, once limited to certain communities, now affect a wider range of people facing financial pressures. The report, released this week by the …
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A tragic fire ripped through the Hotel Oriente in central San Jose early this morning, leaving five people dead and sparking questions about building safety in the city’s older structures. The blaze, which started on the third floor just before dawn, quickly spread, trapping residents in what many described as a chaotic scene. Firefighters arrived …
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The US government revoked the tourist and business visa of Leonel Baruch, the businessman behind Costa Rican news site CRHoy. Reports connect the move to active investigations into money laundering and tax evasion against him. Baruch confirmed the revocation in a statement. He received an email from the US Embassy’s Consular Section stating the decision …
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Costa Rica’s electoral season began yesterday with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal’s official call for the 2026 national elections. Eugenia Zamora, the TSE president, described the process as one of the country’s core traditions, emphasizing its role in maintaining peace amid growing tensions. The ceremony marked the start of a four-month campaign leading to the February …
Read more “Costa Rica 2026 Elections Kick Off: 20 Candidates Vie for Presidency”
Costa Rica’s restaurants have landed spots on TripAdvisor’s global list of top dining spots this year. Five local places made the cut in the 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best, based on traveler reviews from the past 12 months. These awards sort restaurants into groups like Hidden Gems, Romantic Date Night, Pet Friendly, …
Read more “5 Top Costa Rican Restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Best List”
One of the most challenging parts of learning a language is understanding songs in that language. In my early days of learning Spanish, I listened to the radio for hours daily. My favorite station was Radio Reloj. It was all news, read by commentators who spoke rapidly but clearly. The first time I understood an …
Read more “Learning Spanish Through Music in Costa Rica: Misheard Lyrics and Wins”
British primatologist Jane Goodall, who transformed the study of chimpanzees and became one of the world’s most revered wildlife advocates, has died at the age of 91, her institute announced Wednesday. Goodall “passed away due to natural causes” while in California on a speaking tour of the United States, the Jane Goodall Institute said in …
Read more “Jane Goodall dies at 91 after transforming chimpanzee science and conservation”
Rock fans across the country gear up for a night of hard-hitting music as Guns N’ Roses performs at the Estadio Nacional this evening. The show marks the opening date of the band’s Latin America 2025 tour, bringing Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, and the rest of the lineup to local soil for a performance …
Read more “Guns N’ Roses Kicks Off Latin Tour in Costa Rica at National Stadium”
As the US federal government enters a partial shutdown starting today October 1, travelers heading to Costa Rica face potential hurdles. The impasse stems from budget disputes in Congress, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay. While flights between the US and Costa Rica remain operational, the ripple effects touch everything from airport …
Read more “How the US Shutdown Could Disrupts Travel to Costa Rica”
Bank of America has released a fresh analysis of Costa Rica’s economy, pointing to steady conditions ahead. The report predicts the dollar exchange rate will hold firm with only slight shifts in 2026, while interest rates stay elevated due to building price pressures. Analysts at the bank highlight the colón’s recent gains against the dollar. …
Read more “Bank of America Predicts Stable Exchange Rate for Costa Rica”