Costa Rica has received another international tourism honor, being named the Best Nature Destination at the inaugural Forbes Travel Awards 2026, reinforcing its reputation as a top global travel spot.

Expats and tourists in Costa Rica are feeling the impact as the US dollar continues to set new lows against the local colón, affecting purchasing power and exchange rates.

Tens of thousands of Uber drivers in Costa Rica are facing a challenging economic environment characterized by rising operational costs and falling earnings. This situation is forcing drivers to make difficult calculations before they even begin their daily work.

US Southern Command announced that US forces conducted a 'lethal kinetic strike' on a suspected drug-smuggling boat, resulting in two deaths and one survivor, who were then turned over to the Costa Rican coast guard.

Former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and his family have filed a lawsuit against a Costa Rica resort, alleging negligence led to the carbon monoxide death of his 14-year-old son.

Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves announced that his government has ceased recognizing the Cuban regime, cutting off diplomatic relations.

Puriscal, located southwest of San José, is increasingly becoming a prime location for investors, retirees, and families seeking a better quality of life in Costa Rica without sacrificing access to the capital.

“The decision is taken in light of the country’s deep concern over the continuous worsening of human rights in Cuba." The post Costa Rica Announces Closure of Its Embassy in Havana, Cuba appeared…

Costa Rica has ordered the closure of the Cuban embassy, a move that Cuba attributes to pressure from the United States.

Unlawful operations have expanded across more than 3,000 hectares, while authorities declare themselves powerless against a plunder that could exceed $250 million annually

The theft of a cocaine shipment smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden has exposed the involvement of Albanian criminal groups in the international drug trade logistics and highlighted challenges in holding them accountable.

Three individuals survived a small plane crash in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica, after a Cessna 206 experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff from Arenal Airport.

Coffee producers in Costa Rica warn that a sharp drop in the dollar’s exchange rate against the colón, now below ₡480, threatens to ruin their operations. The exchange rate, set mainly by supply and demand under the Central Bank’s managed floating system, fell 4.3 percent between January and March, according to data from the Economic […] The post Costa Rican Coffee Growers Face Ruin as Dollar Drops appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

The International Monetary Fund has advised Costa Rica's central bank to consider further cuts to its benchmark interest rate to support economic growth and improve lending rates.

Costa Rica’s National Children’s Trust, known as PANI, reported two more TikTok creators to prosecutors yesterday over alleged grooming cases, widening a fast-moving investigation that has put…

Chinese shipping giant COSCO Shipping has halted arrivals and departures at Balboa port, the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The state-owned company from Shanghai issued the order in a client notice dated March 10. All confirmed bookings at the terminal now face cancellation. Clients must contact sales representatives for alternative arrangements. The notice, published […] The post Chinese Shipping Giant Suspends Operations at Panama Canal appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica N...

Panama recorded 3,004,266 international visitors in 2025. That total marks an 8.2 percent rise from the year before, according to figures released by the Panama Tourism Authority. Air arrivals at Tocumen International Airport led the gains, reaching 2,244,078 travelers for a 10 percent increase. Cruise ports handled 344,408 passengers, up 11.5 percent. The Paso Canoas […] The post Panama’s Tourism Surge in 2025 Puts Costa Rica on Notice appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Tra...

Women in Costa Rica continue to participate in the labor market at lower rates than men, according to the most recent statistics from the National Institute of Statistics and Census. The latest INEC data for the period covering November and December 2025 and January 2026 put female labor participation at 42.5 percent. This figure includes […] The post Women in Costa Rica Struggle More to Find Jobs Than Men appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Jungle beaches and hillside eyries, from Costa Rica to the Costa Smeralda

Costa Rican authorities conducted an anti-trafficking operation in the Northern Zone, rescuing five sloths, tapirs, and other wild animals.

Costa Rica now has its first symphony orchestra that consists exclusively of women.

Costa Rica's College of Physicians and Surgeons has installed the country's first solmáforo at its Sabana Sur headquarters as a pilot project to measure real-time UV index and promote daily protection against ultraviolet radiation.

We tend to assume the way names function in our home country is simply “normal.” Or at least I definitely did.

Costa Rica expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East after the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The government in San José condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on several neighboring countries. The attacks started yesterday when U.S. […] The post Costa Rica Urges De-Escalation as Iran Retaliates to U.S.-Israel Attack appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica New...

The United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran. President Donald Trump described the action as “major combat operations,” and news reports said the attacks targeted…

Jacó, Central Pacific, Costa Rica – Febrero 2026. In an increasingly competitive real estate environment focused on legal security, profitability, and long-term asset appreciation, Selva Coral positions itself as a solid, formal, and strategically structured investment opportunity, designed for both national and international investors seeking to acquire property in one of Costa Rica’s fastest-growing and […] The post Selva Coral: A Structured Real Estate Investment Model for National and Int...

Costa Rican courts have finalized all domestic requirements for the extradition of Celso Gamboa Sánchez and Edwin Danney López Vega, known as Pecho de Rata, who are now in preventive custody awaiting transfer to the U.S.

Costa Rica asked Nicaragua to increase police patrols along the San Juan River. The request targets the movement of gold-bearing sediments taken illegally from the Crucitas area in northern San Carlos. Public Security Minister Mario Zamora Cordero sent a formal letter to Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco on February 20. In it, Zamora called on […] The post Costa Rica Asks Nicaragua to Increase Patrols Over Illegal Gold Smuggling appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel ...

Kurt Van Dyke, a Santa Cruz native from a prominent surfing family, was found murdered inside his apartment in Cahuita Limon, Costa Rica.

Iran will compete against Nigeria and Costa Rica in Turkey.

Former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and his family have filed a lawsuit against a Manuel Antonio resort in Costa Rica, alleging negligence and wrongful death following his son's passing.

A new lawsuit blames a Costa Rica resort’s owners and operators for the carbon monoxide death of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner’s teenage son

Costa Rica has installed two U.S.-donated mobile cargo scanners at its busiest land borders, Peñas Blancas and Paso Canoas, to enhance inspections and combat drug trafficking and other illicit shipments.

A plan for a new international airport near Sierpe in Costa Rica's southern Pacific zone has stalled, reigniting debates between economic development goals and the protection of natural and cultural heritage.

Costa Rica has surprisingly ranked high on the list of the world's happiest countries, surpassing nations like Sweden, with reasons for its high happiness levels being explored.

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves has intensified his country's dispute with Cuba, using the announcement of an embassy closure to call for the eradication of communism from the hemisphere, giving the issue a strong ideological dimension.

Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the ninth consecutive time, while the Czech Republic's position in the global happiness index has declined. Other Scandinavian countries, Costa Rica, Israel, and the Netherlands also feature in the top ten.

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chavez announced the closure of the embassy in Cuba and the recall of diplomats, stating that Costa Rica does not recognize the legitimacy of the communist regime due to its mistreatment and oppression.

Six defendants have been sentenced to prison for drug trafficking in Portugal after authorities seized 300 kg of cocaine, valued at approximately nine million euros, hidden in a container from Costa Rica.

The Banco Central de Costa Rica has launched the Monedero SINPE-TP, a new prepaid contactless card enabling residents to pay for bus and train fares without needing a bank account.

After nearly six years, a new permanent bridge is set to replace the temporary Bailey bridge over the Río Coronado at Coronado de Osa on Costa Rica's Costanera Sur highway, with construction beginning in May.

One of Costa Rica’s main attractions is our plentiful wildlife. Tourists come to see monkeys, sloths, toucans and more in their natural habitats.

A Cessna 172 aircraft from Aerobell Flight School experienced a tire explosion on its left landing gear and lost power during landing at Tobías Bolaños International Airport in Pavas, Costa Rica.

Agents from Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) detained Glen Rojas Barquero and family members during raids, investigating a group accused of leading a criminal organization in the 'Strategy Case'.

An operation involving 1.5 tons of cocaine from Costa Rica to Sweden and a botched robbery expose the role of Albanian criminal groups in international drug logistics and the challenges in holding them accountable.

It’s safe to say I probably like camera trapping a little too much. My work is dedicated to that one activity. My social media feeds almost exclusively show me content from other camera trap aficionados like me. Heck, I even dream about reviewing camera traps. The part of camera trapping that has really hooked me […] The post Costa Rica Camera Trap Records Birds Far Beyond Their Expected Range appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Judicial authorities in Costa Rica are investigating a case linked to the abuse of a minor after reports surfaced that associates of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein visited the Central American country.

The term 'Therian' has entered Costa Rican political discourse after the outgoing president used it to describe a rival party, highlighting a new cultural phenomenon in the country.

The U.S. Embassy in San José, Costa Rica, has launched a dedicated WhatsApp channel to provide timely safety and security information to U.S. citizens in the country.

After decades of deforestation, Costa Rica is successfully returning to nature by implementing a program that pays farmers to swap cattle farming for conservation efforts, boosting biodiversity.

Oil prices climbed sharply this week as fighting in the Middle East intensified, with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran prompting retaliatory actions that disrupted key shipping routes.

Costa Rica is facing challenges from a massive influx of sargassum seaweed along its Caribbean coast, impacting ecosystems, fishing, and tourism. Researchers at the University of Costa Rica are investigating ways to turn this threat into a resource opportunity.

Costa Rican and Nicaraguan officials met at the Peñas Blancas border crossing today to address the growing problem of illegal gold mining along their shared boundary. The talks focused on joint efforts to stop the extraction and smuggling of gold-bearing materials from Costa Rica into Nicaragua, where processors handle the ore. Foreign Minister Arnoldo André […] The post Costa Rica, Nicaragua Strike Deal to Combat Border Gold Smuggling appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Trav...

Rebeca Grynspan, former vice president of Costa Rica, is campaigning to become the next United Nations secretary-general, having stepped down from her UNCTAD role to focus on her bid.

Passengers at Costa Rica’s two main international airports faced cancellations and long delays this week as a powerful winter storm in the northeastern United States disrupted air travel. Blizzard con

Over nearly a century, the Central Pacific Coast town Quepos has evolved from the banana-driven economy of the United Fruit Company to a popular tourist destination. Last year a quarter of all visitors to Costa Rica spent time and money in Quepos and the nearby Manuel Antonio National Park area. In recent times, Quepos has […] The post Quepos Reinvents Itself from a Costa Rican Banana Port to a Sportfishing Hub appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Authorities are investigating the death of 66-year-old Kurt Van Dyke, an American surfing legend, who was found with signs of strangulation and stab wounds in his Costa Rica home during an apparent robbery.

Treetopia Park in Monteverde Cloud Forest has unveiled Costa Rica's first glass suspension bridge, named The Glass Bridge, adding a new attraction to the region's adventure tourism.

A US strike on a suspected narcotrafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific resulted in two fatalities and one critically injured survivor, whose bodies and the survivor were later received by Costa Rican authorities.

Costa Rica is considering requiring proof of measles vaccination from some incoming travelers as health officials address renewed concerns over imported cases and declining immunization coverage.

Costa Rica is experiencing another rise in human screwworm infections, with coastal provinces being the most affected areas, prompting health officials to advise caution regarding cuts and open wounds.

New Costa Rican legal provisions regarding powers of attorney could potentially void decisions made at shareholder meetings, impacting corporate governance.

O ranking da felicidade é dominado pelos países nórdicos, mas a Costa Rica subiu ao quarto lugar, tornando-se o primeiro país da América Latina a atingir tal feito. Portugal está no 69.º posto.

An analysis examines the persistent increase in Costa Rica's murder rate, which has hovered around 17 per 100,000, highlighting daily incidents of gun violence in cities like San José, Limón, and Puntarenas.

The World Happiness Report indicates that Northern European countries are at the forefront, with Costa Rica showing a surprising performance, emphasizing that the report measures societal conditions rather than individual happiness.

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves announced his administration does not recognize the Cuban government as legitimate and will close the Cuban embassy in San José due to the regime's repression, shortly after calling for the region to be free from communism.

The Tranquilo Lodge, Bahia Drake, Costa Rica Luxury Meets Adventure in Bahía Drake  The Globe and Mail

Panama’s government asked Chinese shipping giant COSCO Shipping to reconsider its suspension of operations at the Balboa port at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Minister for Canal Affairs Jose Ramon Icaza said the decision caught authorities by surprise and expressed hope the company would return. The request follows COSCO Shipping Lines’ notice to […] The post Panama Pushes Chinese Carrier COSCO to Restart Pacific Port Services appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | T...

The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica has denied accusations that actors linked to China conducted cyber espionage against the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), following an announcement of the breach by Costa Rican officials.

Costa Rica’s dollar exchange rate has fallen to levels not seen in about two decades, and economists Fernando Naranjo and Norberto Zúñiga say one of the main reasons is the government’s heavy use of external debt since 2023. The two argued that foreign borrowing has pumped more dollars into the local market, adding to the […] The post Costa Rica Dollar Hits Two Decade Low Amid Debate Over External Debt appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Costa Rica health authorities and travel-medicine experts advise people heading to the country to review their vaccination records. They place particular focus on the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

A court in Limón, Costa Rica, rejected a U.S. request to extradite Gilberth Hernán Bell Fernández, known as ‘Macho Coca,’ a 62-year-old Caribbean drug boss.

Guatemala tourism authorities say places like El Paredón, Monterrico and Esquipulas draw growing interest ahead of Semana Santa, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year. For expats and tourists based in Costa Rica planning March–April regional trips, this shift signals potential rises in accommodation costs and booking competition in these once-quiet Guatemalan […] The post Guatemala’s New Semana Santa Destinations See High Demand appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa R...

Motorcycle accidents are responsible for the majority of road fatalities in Costa Rica, with 63 deaths in the first two months of 2026, making up 56% of total road deaths.

Costa Rica is highlighted as a true natural gem, a mosaic of small natural wonders including colorful frogs, parrots, crabs, and sea turtles, alongside its famous banana and cocoa plantations.

The government of San José announced that former Vice President of Costa Rica, Rebeca Grynspan, is officially a candidate for the leadership position of the United Nations, aiming to succeed Secretary-General António Guterres.

The New York Times has included Costa Rica in a list of five spring break destinations aimed at families looking for warm weather and outdoor activities.

Costa Rica Tourism officials have been pushing birding as a dedicated segment, leaning on two things birders care about most: species density and logistics. ICT materials cite more than 900 recorded bird species in the country and frame birdwatching as a growing tourism niche supported by observation sites and specialized routes. One of the clearest […] The post Costa Rica Birdwatching Route Network Expands appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Many Iranians took to the streets, shouting and playing music, to celebrate reports that the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in a U.S.-Israeli operation, according to verified videos. “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media, a claim not confirmed […] The post Iranians celebrate reports of Khamenei’s death appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Costa Rica Fashion Week marks its 25th edition by aligning with the International Arts Festival, blending runway shows with broader cultural offerings for the first time.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) has reported a growing accumulation of sargassum seaweed along Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coast, informing the public about its presence.

Costa Rican authorities launched a major operation, executing 51 raids in northern Costa Rica and other areas, to target a criminal group involved in migrant smuggling known as 'Los Talibanes'.

American surfer Kurt Van Dyke was found dead in his Costa Rica home in what appears to be a robbery.