When we moved to Costa Rica 12+ years ago, my new job managing a small non-profit brought us to a little beach town in Guanacaste. Life here has been good. Stunning beaches. Abundant nature and wildlife. Beautiful culture. Nice people. Delicious food. An overall slower pace of life. However, there are some things that are …
Read more “A Local’s Guide to Driving Across Costa Rica: Guanacaste to San José”
El Salvador will privatize or close the cryptocurrency wallet “Chivo” created by President Nayib Bukele when he made bitcoin legal tender in 2021, an official said Thursday. The announcement came after the Central American nation’s government reached a $1.4 billion loan deal with the International Monetary Fund that addressed its controversial embrace of bitcoin. While …
Read more “El Salvador Abandons Bukele’s Bitcoin Dream as Chivo Wallet Faces Shutdown”
The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, the gateway to Costa Rica’s popular Pacific beaches, is facing a staffing crisis that threatens to derail the country’s crucial high tourism season. On Tuesday, the airport – known locally as Liberia International – suspended operations for several hours, marking yet another closure in a string …
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The treacherous Darién jungle, a crucial corridor between Colombia and Panama for migrants heading to the United States, has seen a significant decrease in crossings as Donald Trump’s January inauguration draws near. Official figures show a 41% drop in migrant crossings compared to last year, with 300,000 people making the perilous journey in 2024 versus …
Read more “US-Panama Deal Cuts Darién Crossings by 41% Amid Policy Change”
I am currently building a collection of reusable shopping bags, courtesy of my local supermarket. The bags are said to have a shelf life of about 200 uses, but I wouldn’t know, because every time I go to the store, I forget to bring one of the dozens I have stored in the cabinet below …
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Costa Rica continues to shine as a top destination for celebrities seeking relaxation, luxury, and stunning natural beauty. This time, U.S. actor and producer Morgan Freeman visited the country from December 11 to 14, as confirmed by the General Directorate of Immigration (DGME). Freeman explored Guanacaste, one of Costa Rica’s most popular provinces for A-list …
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Three new plant species have been discovered in Costa Rica following an investigation by the National Museum of Costa Rica. The plants are identified as Miconia rupicola Gleason, Phyllanthus elsiae, and Coccoloba williamsii Standl., with the latter commonly known as “papaturro.” The first two species, previously noted in Nicaragua and Panama, were mentioned in the Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica as …
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The Costa Rican fishing industry faces significant challenges as the Comptroller General’s Office (CGR) reveals serious deficiencies in the controls implemented by the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA) and the Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE). These government agencies are responsible for providing fuel at competitive prices to the national non-sport fishing fleet, …
The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste, closed yesterday at 6 p.m. due to a lack of air traffic controllers. The unexpected closure impacted passengers as flights to and from Costa Rica were canceled, causing significant disruptions. César Jaramillo, general manager of Guanacaste Airport, expressed “great concern” over the repeated occurrence of such …
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The Embassy of China in Costa Rica rejected accusations by the Costa Rican Government and the U.S. Embassy in San José regarding cyberattacks allegedly originating in China. In a joint statement, Costa Rica and the U.S. indicated that cyber intrusions by criminal groups located in China had been detected in Costa Rica’s telecommunications and technology …
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