Costa Rica’s exchange rate has defied expectations, climbing steadily after months of stability near ¢500. Two weeks ago, the dollar traded at ¢500.16, but by Monday it reached ¢511.43—a daily rise not recently seen here. Economists warn this shift, driven by declining tourism and U.S. trade policies, could signal tougher times ahead for the colón. …
Read more “Costa Rica Currency Update: Tourism Dip Drives Dollar Surge”
Panamanian authorities rescued 11 children from a remote indigenous community in the Ngäbe Buglé region on Tuesday, uncovering what appears to be a disturbing case of abuse linked to a religious sect. The operation, conducted by the National Aeronaval Service (Senan) in Quebrada Satra, a mountainous area over 300 kilometers southwest of the capital, resulted …
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A few days ago, an old friend from the States gave me a call. He’d recently retired, gotten divorced, and was dreaming of a fresh start in Costa Rica. With his budget tight, he figured I’d be the perfect person to guide him—after all, I’ve been thriving here on a shoestring for over 30 years. …
Read more “Costa Rica Retirement Dreams and Realities: A Tale of Tin Roofs and Tough Choices”
The United States will not allow China to jeopardize the operations of the Panama Canal, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned during a visit to the Central American nation on Tuesday. Hegseth is the second senior US official to visit Panama since President Donald Trump took office in January vowing to “take back” the US-built …
Read more “Panama Canal Under U.S. Protection—No to Chinese Interference, Says Hegseth”
With over 47 years of experience as Costa Rica’s premier domestic airline, SANSA continues to solidify its role as a cornerstone of regional connectivity by adding two new aircraft to its fleet. This expansion brings the airline’s total operational fleet to 12, reinforcing its commitment to linking the country’s diverse landscapes and fostering tourism and …
Read more “SANSA Airlines Bolsters Operations with Fleet Expansion, Eyes Tourism Surge”
President Rodrigo Chaves has withdrawn Costa Rica’s support for the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, stripping institutional funding and public interest status from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to an extraordinary decree published in the official gazette on April 2, 2025. The move, if enacted, would mark a dramatic shift for a nation long hailed …
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Overwhelmed by poverty, Francisca Lares thought about emigrating from Guatemala. However, she learned tailoring and discarded that idea. Now she is glad she didn’t go to the United States, as she believes she would have been deported by the government of Donald Trump. This 30-year-old single mother learned her craft at the “Quédate” (Stay) training …
Read more “Scholarship in Tailoring Saves Guatemalan Mother from Risky Emigration”
Beginning June 1, 2025, Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia will scale back its operations from 18 to 12 hours per day, a restriction set to last four months until September 30, 2025, according to a notification from Costa Rica’s Civil Aviation Directorate. The measure, aimed at addressing staffing shortages in the control tower …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Airport to Limit Operations Starting June 2025”
Costa Rica’s Attorney General, Carlo Díaz, filed a formal accusation on Monday morning before the Supreme Court of Justice, charging President Rodrigo Chaves with concusión—a crime akin to abuse of public office for personal gain—and requesting the suspension of his presidential immunity. The move marks a significant escalation in a high-profile investigation into alleged corruption …
Read more “Costa Rica AG Seeks to Lift Chaves Immunity in Contract Scandal”
The tourism sector in Costa Rica is facing challenges as it approaches Easter Week 2025. Our country’s hotel industry is projecting moderate occupancy for this traditionally peak period, a key time for both domestic and international visitors. The Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH) recently released its occupancy survey results for Semana Santa 2025, which …