Costa Rica Police Find Underground Illegal Gold Mining Storage Site

Costa Rican police uncovered a hidden underground storage facility packed with equipment used for illegal gold mining during weekend operations in Cerro Conchuditas, in Cutris de San Carlos, near the Nicaragua border. The Fuerza Publica (Public Force) said specialized officers from the Operational Support Group and the Intervention Unit used metal detectors to locate the …

Costa Rica Travel Bookings Rise as U.S. Flyers Act Before Costs Climb

Travel demand to Costa Rica is rising right now in a way that reflects more than seasonal patterns. It also shows how travelers are reacting to uncertainty. Concerns about the Transportation Security Administration, expectations of higher fuel costs, and smarter timing strategies are pushing many people to book trips earlier than usual, with Costa Rica …

Yard House Opens First International Restaurant in Costa Rica

Yard House opened its first restaurant outside the United States in Costa Rica. The U.S. chain selected the country for its international expansion and set up shop at the Avenida Escazú shopping center. AR Holdings released a statement Wednesday about the new site. The company handles operations in Costa Rica. The restaurant covers about 902 …

Costa Rica Migration Chief Admits No Plan for US Migrant Deal

Confusion over Costa Rica’s new agreement with the United States to receive deported migrants grew Tuesday as the director of migration said his office has received no details and holds no implementation plan. Omer Badilla, head of the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, told lawmakers his agency lacks official information on the pact signed …

Monteverde Reserve Caps Daily Visitors with Online Timed Entry System

Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve now requires visitors to book timed-entry tickets through a new reservation system. The change took effect to limit daily numbers and safeguard the trails as high season brings more crowds to the area. The preserve, managed by the Tropical Science Center, operates with scheduled entry times for all self-guided and guided …

Miami Open Upset as Martin Landaluce stuns Sebastian Korda

Spain’s Martin Landaluce produced the biggest surprise at the Miami Open, saving a match point and rallying past Sebastian Korda 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals in Miami. The 20-year-old qualifier entered the day ranked No. 151 in the world, and ATP Tour said he became the lowest-ranked men’s quarterfinalist at the tournament since …

Costa Rica President Elect Laura Fernández Backs US Migration Deal

President-elect Laura Fernández defended Costa Rica’s new migration agreement with the United States on Tuesday, arguing that the deal gives the country flexibility while deepening cooperation with a key security partner. The agreement, announced Monday during a visit by U.S. envoy Kristi Noem, would allow Washington to transfer up to 25 non U.S. nationals per …

Costa Rica Hotels Expect High Occupancy for Easter Week

Costa Rica’s hotel sector is heading into Easter week with strong expectations, projecting average occupancy of 75% nationwide for the March 27 to April 5 holiday period. The forecast comes from a survey by the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, which said 66 hotels from across the country took part. At the time of the …

Colombian Military Aircraft Crash in Putumayo Kills 66

A Colombian Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguízamo in the southern department of Putumayo on March 23, killing at least 66 people on board. The aircraft carried 128 military personnel and crew members when it went down in a jungle area about 1.5 kilometers from the airport around …

How Costa Rica Cattle Ponds Support Birds Deer and Other Wildlife

Cattle ranching has been interwoven into the fabric of Guanacaste for centuries. Historically, enormous haciendas employed sabaneros, Tico cowboys, to raise cattle on the sparsely populated land. Recent history has seen a shift from agriculture and cattle to tourism and hospitality, but you still can’t drive very far down the road without having to maneuver …