Costa Rican authorities intercepted a fishing boat carrying 950 kilograms of cocaine off the country’s South Pacific coast near Golfito, the Ministry of Public Security announced. The National Coast Guard Service detained three Costa Rican nationals aboard the boat in a patrol targeting illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and marine resource protection. The operation, conducted with …

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Costa Rican and Colombian authorities have dismantled a transnational cybercrime ring that defrauded victims of over ₡35 million (about $67,000 USD) by creating fake banking websites to steal login credentials. Today the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), in coordination with Colombia’s National Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office, carried out nine raids—six in Costa Rica and three …

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One of my hiking routes around San Isidro de El General features what I think may be the world’s steepest street. Like many streets here, it has no name. One local called it La calle muy cuesta que conecta Barrio Pocito con Barrio Sinai (The very steep street that connects Barrio Pocito with Barrio Sinai), …

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In Pavones, a quiet surfing haven in Golfito, Puntarenas, recent evictions have stirred tension between residents and the local municipality. The conflict centers on properties built within the maritime-terrestrial zone (ZMT), a 200-meter coastal strip regulated by Costa Rica’s 1977 Maritime Zoning Law. The municipality claims these buildings encroach on public land, but locals argue …

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United Airlines started a new daily nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to San José, (SJO) on May 22, connecting the U.S. West Coast with Costa Rica. The first flight landed at 7:15 a.m., greeted with Costa Rican gifts and a traditional folk dance. Here is the rest of the schedule: Route Departure Arrival Frequency …

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One of the five capybaras rescued during an operation against illegal trafficking on Thursday died over the weekend due to mistreatment and malnutrition. The young male was unable to recover from the damage suffered during transport. “His digestive system was completely empty, with no gastrointestinal contents and the presence of gas, indicating that he had not …

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Costa Rica just scored a big win for its farmers and exporters. The European Union classified the country as low-risk for deforestation under its Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect December 30, 2025. This means easier access to EU markets for Costa Rican coffee, cocoa, timber, and other key exports. The EUDR targets seven …

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s party swept the board in parliamentary and regional elections that were boycotted by the opposition in protest over his disputed re-election last year. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela won 23 out of 24 state governor positions and scored 82.68 percent of the votes cast for lists of National Assembly members, the …

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The main journalists’ association in El Salvador denounced on Sunday the increase in “persecution” against media outlets and human rights defenders by the government of Nayib Bukele, accusing it of creating a climate of “fear” in the country. The complaint comes amid strong criticism from international organizations, which also accuse Bukele, an ally of U.S. …

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I remember when I was young, sometime around second grade, I was in the laundry room with my dad, and I had asked him about something that had happened to him and mom in the past. He answered whatever the question was and added “That’s before you were even a thought in our heads.” That …

Read more “Raising Kids in Costa Rica: An Expat Family Story”