The Meteorological Institute (IMN) in Costa Rica warns of another cold front that will be affecting the country as of this weekend. “A strong cold front is located right now over the Gulf of Mexico, and will continue advancing towards the Central American territory today”, states the report. According to the IMN's forecast, it is expected that this phenomenon will affect the country start...

The Organism of Judicial Investigation (OIJ) in Costa Rica confirmed that the remains of the 10 U.S. tourists who died in an airplane crash back in December 31st have been properly identified and the remains have been released for their burial. On Tuesday authorities had already released the bodies of the crew members, both Costa Rican, and their funerals were held on Wednesday. The body of ...

Since the evening of Tuesday, January 9, an earthquake swarm has been affecting the area of Guanacaste, in particular to the southeast of the Tenorio Volcano. The first mild earthquake was felt on Tuesday the 9th at 8:56 p.m. (right after the earthquake that rocked the coast of Honduras), several were registered on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Seismology Network had registered a total o...

The city of San Jose, Costa Rica is included among the top destinations on the rise, by Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice 2018 listing. The Traveler’s Choice listing is created through the use of an algorithm that measures the increase in comparison to past years of positive traveler reviews with regards to restaurants, lodging options, and places of interest; it also considers the increase in...

The Department of State recently made a new system available for US travelers to have access to security information on their travel destination. In the past the Department of State only issued travel warnings and advisories which informed travelers about any particular dangerous situations in the different countries; this new option provides safety and security information for every country in...

The bodies of Juan Manuel Retana and Emma Ramos Calderon, pilot and copilot respectively of the Cessna aircraft that crashed in the mountains of Guanacaste last December 31st were properly identified and released to their family members on Tuesday. The Organism of Judicial Investigation (OIJ) informed that their identity was confirmed through dental records and forensic anthropology. The fact t...

In 2017 Costa Rica closed the year with 602 homicides, 24 more than in 2016; unfortunately,2018 is not up to a good start since in just 9 days there’s been 17 homicides. When we compare the data from last year for the first 9 days of the year, there had been 15 murders. Michael Soto, Chief of the Plans and Operations Office of the Judicial Investigative Organism, stated that their goal this yea...

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) presented a complaint this Wednesday to the General Directorate of Migration in Costa Rica for the delays that have continued to take place at the airport due to the slow migratory control; a situation that started occurring after the new system was implemented just a few months ago. IATA stated that when they received notification that the ne...

In an article published 4 days ago by Fox News, titled “Deadly Costa Rica crash highlights dangers of non-commercial tourism flights, aviation experts say” (//fxn.ws/2mdaTjd) James Hall, the former head of the National Transportation Safety Board offers Fox News’ Cristina Corbin the following remarks over a telephone interview: "These private tourist flights do not have the type of oversight a...

The Vice-President of Costa Rica Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría along with Marvin Carvajal, Legal Director for the Presidency and Eugenia Gutierrez, Legal Director for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had requested back in May 18, 2016 and advisory opinion to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights regarding same-sex marriage and transgender rights; today he Government received the official ruling....

Two freight wagons loaded with cement beams which were parked in an area of the train track in San Rafael de Alajuela, detached for reasons still unknown and dragged a vehicle that was crossing the railroad. According to witnesses the wagons dragged the car for close to 400 meters and eventually overturned crushing the car and killing the driver and passenger; a third victim which was not in t...

As surprising as it may seem, Costa Rica doesn’t have the most expensive fuel in the region. According to information by GlobalPetrolPrices.com which monitors the prices of fuel in 100 countries, the most expensive fuel was sold in Honduras and Nicaragua. The annual average price for premium gas (gasolina super as it is known in Central America) during 2017 was of US$0.98 per liter in Honduras...

The Judicial Investigative Organism (OIJ) in Costa Rica carried out three searches this Monday, January 8th to collect documents and information related to the airplane accident that took place December 31st in the area of Nandayure, Guanacaste and where 10 tourists died as well as the 2 crew members. The searches were conducted in the offices of Nature in located in the Juan Santamaria Airport an...

The Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica will increase the number of Migration control counters from 8 to 14 to speed up the process for passengers leaving the country. In the past few months travelers have faced long lines when exiting the country after the new migration system was implemented. In the past passengers filled in a paper form, and the process of checking the pass...

(Photo: Illustration Purposes Only) An African American man from the United States and his wife, a Costa Rican woman from Puerto Viejo, Limon were stopped today by the transit police because their “marchamo” (vehicle’s circulation permit, similar to the registration payment in the United States) was not visible. Apparently the marchamo was indeed paid and up to date but the sticker was place...

Masked men holding firearms stopped a tourism bus in the area known as La Platina, in La Pavona, Tortuguero and stole valuable items from the passengers aboard, a group of tourists from Germany and the United Kingdom. The incident occurred at around 11:20 a.m.  Sunday, January 7th . The items stolen included computers, cell phones, cameras and backpacks. The bus belongs to tour agency Aventu...

Weather conditions in most of the Costa Rican territory are returning to normal for this time a year, according to the National Meteorological Institute expects that the cold front will stop affecting the country entirely by this Monday. The Caribbean region has been the most affected region with moderate rains that have caused the saturation of the floor and have caused floods in some communit...

Costa Rica’s General Migration Directorate informed this Saturday that the weather conditions in the United States’ East Coast which caused the cancelation of several flights during the week is now causing heavy aerial traffic in the Juan Santamaria and Daniel Oduber International Airports in Costa Rica, saturating the services and surpassing the airports’ infrastructure capacity. In January 5t...

Costa Rican immigration authorities denied entry this Saturday, December 6 to a Canadian citizen who apparently is part of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. The man, of last name Gallant, was denied entry as he was doing immigration control at the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste and was sent home in the same flight in which he arrived. According to immigration auth...

The University of Costa Rica proudly presented the first generation of students with Down syndrome and intellectual disability that graduated as assistants (for offices, libraries, restaurants, veterinaries and preschool). In total 31 students received their degree and out of these number 14 already have a job. The higher education inclusion program for people with intellectual disabilities...

Costa Rican authorities continue to battle the illegal traffic of wild animals; today, a US tourist tried to enter the country through the Panama Frontier Migratory Control Station with a baby howler monkey on each shoulder. The women of last name Frame had no documentation or permit to justify having the two animals with her. The authorities seized the animals and coordinated with the Ministry...

Costa Rica has the most expensive electricity in Central America, according to the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2017 carried out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, known as ECLAC. The survey stated that Costa Rica has the highest rates for all types of consumption, residential, commercial and industrial in comparison to the rates...

The traffic in Costa Rica is crazy, certainly promoting other means of transportation specially clean ones such as cycling sounds like a great idea, but the problem remains that the country’s current infrastructure doesn’t make this a simple possibility, cars, buses, taxis, motorbikes and the train already have enough problems sharing the streets as it is … yet, the San Jose Municipality will be c...

A man was apprehended by Tourist Police in the center of Quepos, in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, when he was on the run with three backpacks he had stolen from a group of U.S. tourists. This was confirmed by Juan Carlos Salas, the local chief of the Tourist Police, who explained that as they were doing their routine rounds in the area they saw the suspect carrying three backpacks, they imme...

“Toros a la Tica” or Tico Style Bullfighting, is a traditional activity in Costa Rica, although most popular as part of the end of the year activities in Zapote, in reality it takes place all year round in different bullrings around the country. Even though there is no actual “bullfighting” here, this is just the term used to describe the activity, which involves rodeo style activities and “tor...

The cold front that has been affecting Costa Rica since Wednesday and that has caused winds of up to 90 km/ph in some areas, caused the death of two homeless men in San Jose. The two men, of ages 46 and 50, were taken to the San Juan de Dios Hospital with hypothermia, one on Wednesday morning and the other one on Thursday morning, but they both passed away shortly after. Both men were layi...

“Due to strong winds and whiteout conditions, flights at JFK have been temporarily suspended. Travelers are urged to contact their airline carriers for updates on resumption of service”, the information was posted in the different social media channels by JFK Airport, but prior to this notification, American Airlines, Delta, Avianca, among other airlines had already suspended or canceled their fli...

Like every year, online magazine International Living offers its Annual Global Retirement Index, this is the 26th edition of this ranking where the top 10 countries to live a healthier and happier life are listed. The ranking is done by a team of International Living contributors who cover five continents, expats that have experienced life in different countries. The list of best places to reti...

Costa Rican Treasury (Ministerio de Hacienda) reminded individuals and corporations of the health sector that as of January 15, 2018 they will have the obligation of using electronic invoices. This is the first group that by law will have to start implementing this system; the second group is the accounting-financial and administrative sector that will have to use electronic invoices as of Fe...

"Happy New Year. To happiness. Health. Love. And to the simplicity of beautiful unforgettable nature, life". With this message, Lady Gaga wished her fans a Happy 2018 from Costa Rica. As The Costa Rica Star informed just a few days ago, Lady Gaga arrived to Costa Rica this past December 28 and received the New Year in Guanacaste. Unfortunately no additional information has been leaked in...

The Ministry of Security of Costa Rica has begun the process to purchase a King Air 250 aircraft with the purpose of having more tools and resources to combat drug trafficking and illegal fishing. At this time the country’s air surveillance depends on a US Lockheed P-3 Orion, a four-engine maritime surveillance aircraft. The acquisition will be done through a direct purchase to the United ...

The Health Ministry informed through a press release and posts on their social media accounts that they shut down the San Lucas Beach Club in Puntarenas due to certain conditions found that signify health risks. According to the Health authority, they originally shut down the business in November 29, they sealed all main accesses to the Beach Club, however, apparently the seals were broken and ...

Enio Cubillo, director of Civil Aviation and Michael Soto, Chief of Plans and Operations of the Judicial Police in Costa Rica have stated that three elements are being considered as possible causes of the light aircraft crash that occurred on Sunday, December 31 in the mountains of Nandayure, Guanacaste: weather conditions, mechanical problems and human error. “We are not ruling out anything”, s...

Several members of Congress in Costa Rica presented officially the “Ley de Cinematografia y Audiovisual” or Law of Cinematography and Audiovisual” a project that seeks to promote these activities in a systemic way through all its production and creative cycle. Some of the proposals included in the Law include changing the name of the Costa Rican Cinematography Production Center to Costa Rican C...

The Costa Rican National Meteorological Institute informed that a new cold front will be affecting the country as of Wednesday, January 3, 2018. According to the information provide, this system is currently south of the Gulf of Mexico and about to enter to the north of Central America and the Caribbean Sea; the effects of the same will be felt in Costa Rica as of Wednesday and will bring stron...

A lot of car accidents take place every day in Costa Rica, the majority of them minor incidents, and many times it happens that drivers are unsure on how to act or what to do in these situations. If you have a minor accident whether it is your fault or the other driver’s fault, you have two choices, you can call the traffic cops and insurance company, which means you have to stay in the scene o...

The morning of Monday, January 1st, information posted by international media spoke of another family of four among the victims of the light aircraft crash that took place December 31st in the mountains of Nandayure, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The list provided yesterday to the Local press were records of a family of 5 and 5 other US tourists. The Ministry of Public Security stated yesterday durin...

10 US Tourists, 5 of them members of the same family, Bruce, Irene, Matthew, William and Zachary Steinberg along with Leslie Weiss, Sherry Wuu, Amanda Geissler, Thibault Astruc and Charles Palmer all found tragedy today in Costa Rica, when the Nature Air light aircraft they boarded on route to the Juan Santamaria Airport, crashed 10 minutes after takeoff in the mountains of Guanacaste and exploded...

With just a few hours left in 2017, we reflect on everything that happened this year earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tropical storms, cold fronts, cement storms, the good,the bad and the ugly, after all everything is a learning experience that should help us build a better 2018. Here are some of the main events that rattled Costa Rica this year: The Good: Costa Rica runs on almost 100% cl...

A light aircraft crashed in the mountains of Guanacaste this Sunday, December 31 at 12:16 p.m. According to initial reports by the director of Civil Aviation, Enio Cubillo, there were 12 people aboard including the crew (2), the aircraft operated a private flight apparently contracted by a group of tourists who apparently were staying in a hotel in the area. The plane took off from a local r...