Costa Rica

The article identifies top sustainable travel destinations in the world. It highlights leaders like Slovenia, which offers government-certified green tourism, and Costa Rica, which has nationwide land protection policies.

The article lists ten excellent destinations in Central America. Specific places highlighted include Guatemala's Tikal ruins, Belize's Great Blue Hole, and a cloud forest in Costa Rica.

Michelle Bachelet placed fourth in the UN Security Council’s first straw poll for UN Secretary-General, receiving two encourage votes, six discourage votes, and seven no-opinion votes. Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan led with ten votes, according to Reuters.

Costa Rica now offers over 60 free guided tours operated by Guadalajara-based companies on major platforms. These tours use a tip-based payment model and are available in locations including San José, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Puerto Viejo.

Guanacaste in Costa Rica aims to expand its medical tourism sector, which accounts for 13% of all visits to the country. An estimated 70,000 patients, primarily Americans (83%) and Canadians (11%), visit annually for procedures like dental care, often accompanied by two or three companions.

Southwest Airlines plans to begin nonstop flights between Austin and San José, the capital of Costa Rica, in March. The service will start in March and connect Austin to the Costa Rican capital directly.

Pakistan's merger of the Board of Investment (BOI) and Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) presents an opportunity to reform investment promotion. The article argues that institutional changes alone cannot overcome fragmented policies on taxation, energy pricing, and regulation, citing successful models in Singapore, Ireland, Costa Rica, and Uzbekistan. It emphasizes the need for coherent economic strategies and political will to address systemic barriers to investment.

Costa Rica's tourist arrivals increased by 7.8% in the first half of 2026, with the first quarter surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Growth was driven by U.S. and Canadian visitors, though June saw a slight decline. The local currency, Colón, appreciated during the period.

Costa Rica's tourist arrivals rose 7.8% in the first half of 2026, with the first quarter surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels for the first time. North American visitors, particularly from Canada (up 32%), drove the growth, while June saw a slight decline.

Costa Rica plans to open its new San José airport e-gates to US and Canadian travelers soon, following an initial phase for Costa Rican citizens this month.

Costa Rica’s SJO Airport disruptions in July 2026 were caused by heavy fog, rain, and low clouds in the Central Valley, leading to flight delays and immigration congestion. Immigration queues were exacerbated by peak-season travel and bunched delayed arrivals. No IT system failures in the judiciary or immigration platforms were reported.

Two rivers near Costa Rica's Rincon de la Vieja volcano turned milky gray due to small eruptions and heavy rain washing volcanic material into the Azul and Pénjamo rivers. Scientists recorded 23 small steam-driven eruptions in a week, with the strongest on July 6 sending a plume into the air.

Atenas and Puriscal are two towns in Costa Rica’s western Central Valley near San José. Atenas is more established, expensive, and has a large expat community, while Puriscal offers a rural, cooler climate with more affordable land. Both are considered for home builders.

Costa Rica Angels, a network launched in May to fund startups at the seed stage, is led by ParqueTec accelerator and Marcelo Lebendiker. It targets early-stage investments of under $50,000 per company.

Costa Rica's registered small and mid-sized firms nearly doubled to 36,098 in four years, driven by a formalisation initiative spanning nearly the entire economy.

Costa Rica's daily homicide count has decreased from 2.5 to 1.9 since 2023. The president continues to accuse judges of allowing criminals to go free despite the decline in killings.

El Salvador reported 4.1 million visitors in 2025, claiming the Central American tourism lead, while the UN Tourism data shows Costa Rica ahead with 3.7 million visitors. The discrepancy highlights differing counts between national and international reports.

A Canadian resident claims they were scammed by Global Work and Travel after paying $1 to apply for a teaching position in Costa Rica, only to be charged $7,400. Despite requesting a refund, they were unable to recover the money and found legal action impractical due to international costs. The individual alleges misleading advertising and billing practices by the company.

Hernan Gil, a 43-year-old security guard, was rescued after nearly eight days trapped beneath rubble in Venezuela following one of Latin America's worst earthquakes. The operation involved rescuers from seven countries and marked a rare success in a disaster that killed nearly 2,300 people and left tens of thousands missing.

Costa Rica's foreign direct investment surged to $4.584bn in Q1 2026, a 204% increase from the prior quarter and 572% from a year earlier. The jump was driven by a food-and-drink takeover accounting for 2.9% of GDP.

Costa Rica conducted its largest anti-drug raid, codenamed Riverside, on June 23, involving 1,500 agents in nearly 100 raids. The operation resulted in over 40 arrests and the seizure of six hotels, four holiday rentals, a restaurant, a gym, a bullring, and cattle ranches.

Allyson and Andrew Rappaport moved their two sons from Connecticut to a car-free beach town in Costa Rica due to high taxes, school safety concerns, and a desire for a slower lifestyle. They sold their veterinary practice and homes, relocating permanently to Las Catalinas in 2020.

Rare back-to-back deadly earthquakes hit Venezuela, killing and injuring hundreds. The article lists some of the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America over the past century, including events in Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and others with significant death tolls.

Venezuela experienced two deadly earthquakes, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The article lists some of the most significant and deadly earthquakes in Latin America over the past century, including events in Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and other countries with varying death tolls.

The IMF has warned that Costa Rica's public health system reserves may deplete by 2029, leading to increased state financial burden. This alerts to potential funding shortages in the country's renowned healthcare system.

MorningStar Farms has voluntarily recalled two frozen food products, Buffalo Chikn’n Nuggets and Hot and Spicy Sausage Patties, due to potential plastic contamination. The FDA confirmed the recall, which affects products sold in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica, with instructions for consumers to discard affected items and seek refunds.

MorningStar Farms has voluntarily recalled two frozen food varieties—Buffalo Chikn’n Nuggets and Hot and Spicy Sausage Patties—due to potential plastic contamination, as reported by the FDA. The affected products were sold in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica, with specific UPC codes and expiration dates listed. Consumers are advised to discard the items and contact the company for a refund.

MorningStar Farms has voluntarily recalled its Buffalo Chikn’n Nuggets and Hot and Spicy Sausage Patties due to potential plastic contamination, as reported by the FDA. The affected products were sold in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica, with specific UPC codes and expiration dates listed. Consumers are advised to discard the items and contact the company for a refund.

The body of Ashley Phillips, a California woman who went missing in a remote area of Costa Rica earlier this month, has been confirmed to be hers. The tragic update was shared by her family.

Kellanova, owner of Morningstar Farms, is recalling two plant-based products in the US, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica due to potential plastic contamination. The recall was announced following concerns about plastic pieces in vegetarian and vegan food items.

Costa Rica attracted over five billion dollars in foreign investment for the second consecutive year, highlighting its success as a small country in securing global capital.

A body has been found in the area where Ashley Phillips, a California woman, went missing in Costa Rica. The discovery is related to the ongoing search for Phillips.

A California woman went missing at a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. Authorities told her father they believe she likely disappeared in a water-related accident.

A California woman has gone missing 10 days ago while hiking in Costa Rica during dangerous flash floods. Authorities are conducting a desperate search for her. The incident occurred amid severe weather conditions.

A California woman has vanished 10 days ago while hiking in Costa Rica, prompting a desperate search. Authorities are investigating her disappearance.

A 30-year-old California woman disappeared during a hike in Costa Rica amid flash flooding and mudslides. Costa Rica is under a nationwide green alert due to heavy rains and saturated soils increasing flood and landslide risks.

Armony Marival is a resort in Punta de Mita designed to blend with natural surroundings, featuring architecture that integrates with hillside and tree-covered landscapes. The resort emphasizes luxury family travel, with terraced buildings following the terrain rather than disrupting it.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the U.S. would send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica, contradicting prior DHS statements made in court.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin appears to reverse his stance, suggesting Abrego Garcia could be deported to Costa Rica. It is unclear whether this reflects a genuine policy shift or a lack of awareness about prior Trump officials' positions.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia seeks to prevent deportation to Liberia after criminal charges against him were dismissed. He requests removal to Costa Rica, where he can receive refugee status, and alleges the Trump administration is punishing him for challenging prior deportations.