A Costa Rican court has approved the extradition of former Security Minister Celso Gamboa Sánchez to the United States on charges of international cocaine trafficking. The 49-year-old, who once served as a Supreme Court judge, faces accusations of aiding traffickers in moving large shipments through Costa Rica to the U.S. He stands with two associates: …

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The Riu Guanacaste hotel in Costa Rica has reopened after a complete renovation, welcoming guests back to its beachfront spot on Matapalo Beach. The resort, known for its all-inclusive setup, finished the updates just in time for the peak travel season, with doors swinging open on October 4. Travelers heading to Guanacaste can now check …

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Costa Rica’s electoral tribunal has stepped up pressure on President Rodrigo Chaves by asking lawmakers to strip his immunity over claims of political interference in the ongoing election campaign. The move comes just two weeks after Chaves dodged a similar push from the Supreme Court tied to corruption charges. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) made …

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Peruvian researchers have identified a new poison dart frog in the Amazon rainforest, adding to the region’s rich array of wildlife. The tiny creature, called Ranitomeya hwata, stands out with its bright yellow stripes on the back, a spotted belly, and a black band across its throat that sets it apart from similar frogs. At …

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Hotels across Costa Rica face mounting pressures as tourist numbers dip and a sluggish dollar exchange rate eats into their earnings. From January to August 2025, air arrivals fell by 2.1 percent compared to the same stretch in 2024, signaling a slowdown in one of our country’s key economic drivers. This drop ties directly to …

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Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rolled out a redesigned physical identity card today. The update focuses on better protection against fraud while keeping the card practical for everyday use. The new card keeps its 10-year validity and standard size of 85.60 millimeters by 53.98 millimeters, matching international norms. It drops some older details, like …

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Fabricio Alvarado, a sitting congressman and presidential hopeful for the New Republic Party, now contends with a formal complaint accusing him of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl back in 2006. The claims surfaced in recent reports, pulling the evangelical leader into a legal storm just as his campaign gains traction in polls. The accuser, who …

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I am presently away from Costa Rica. I am in a foreign country. I was born here, but it is now a different place to me. Familiar yet strange. If you are thinking this is going to be a political screed, you are wrong. Life is better when you avoid the ideological rabbit holes. I …

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Costa Rica faces tough conditions lately from ongoing heavy rains that have sparked deadly landslides and major flooding over the last few days. In San Ramón, Alajuela, a landslide struck a home late Saturday, killing a couple and their young daughter. Rescue teams arrived quickly but confirmed the family had not survived. This event shows …

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Heavy rains triggered a deadly landslide in Piedades Sur, San Ramón, Alajuela, late Saturday night, burying a family home and killing two adults and a young girl. The Red Cross confirmed the deaths early Sunday after a grueling rescue effort that lasted over five hours. Emergency teams arrived at the scene around 11:30 p.m. following …

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