The National Power and Light Company (CNFL) inaugurated the first fast charge station for electric vehicles in Costa Rica. This new station, located in the facilities of the CNFL in Escazu, is actually the first fast charge station in the Central American region, and it has the capacity to charge the battery of an electric vehicle up to an 80% in 30 minutes. According to the CNFL this is ju...

Photo Credit: La Nacion/Shirley Vásquez Even though this Tuesday public institutions in Costa Rica report having been less affected than yesterday by the general labor strike, and a very low percentage of employees that joined the movement, some areas and people were still affected throughout the day mainly due to protesters marching in the middle of the roads. One of roads affected was the ...

In the midst of general labor strike that had the goal of paralyzing the country, the second cruise ship of the season docked at the Limon port with no problems; the Carnival Miracle, arrived with 2,031 passengers aboard originating from Tampa, Florida. “We are supervising that the cruise activity carries out normally”, stated Marlon Clarke, Manager of the Atlantic Zone Development and Port Adm...

In the second day of the country wide strike organized by the labor unions in Costa Rica, the number of protesters in the streets are reportedly less that yesterday. Movements have mainly affected the areas of La Sabana, Avenue 10, La Merced Park, Uruca and San Pedro in San Jose; Barranca in Puntarenas and isolated groups in Cartago, Alajuela and Limon. The actions of the Government seem to...

The leader of ANEP labor union, Albino Vargas, considered the country wide movement that started this Monday as a “success” and stated in interview that the effects suffered in institutions such as public schools and public hospitals “are necessary”. The rain forced the protesters to conclude their movement at around 1:40 p.m. Vargas also confirmed that the protests will continue this Tuesda...

In the first 7 hours of the general strike called by the labor unions in Costa Rica, the most affected services are public education and public hospitals, according to information provided by the Government during a press conference this Monday. President Carlos Alvarado along Ministers and representatives of other public institutions stated that at this point 25 public institutions are operati...

"NCI Building Systems, one of North America’s largest integrated manufacturers of metal products for the nonresidential building industry, inaugurated its new facilities in Costa Rica today. The Minister of Foreign Trade, Dyalá Jiménez, the Head of Investment Promotion, Pilar Madrigal, NCI’s executives and special invitees participated in the event", informed the Costa Rican Investment Promotion A...

The Costa Rican Social Security Service (CCSS) announced at 10:15 a.m. that some of the services at public hospitals have “unfortunately” been affected by the general strike “it’s variable, we cannot generalize”, stated Román Macaya, president of CCSS during the press conference today. “We have declared an institutional emergency, this will give us access to an emergency fund, that will facili...

At 9 a.m. this Monday, September 10, the first effects of the general strike called by the labor unions are already being felt in some areas of the country, but not as badly as expected, at least at this hour. Leaders of the labor unions called a country wide strike in protest of the fiscal plan that is currently being discussed at the Legislative Assembly, which includes going from a 13% sale...

Rafael Angel Fernández Piedra, best known as Rafa Fernández once dreamed of being a bullfighter or maybe a singer, but it was the artist in him that took over, Costa Ricans were lucky to enjoy his talent, the one captured in his paintings for many decades and until this Sunday, September 9, when he passed away at age 82. Costa Rica mourns the death of Fernández, one of the most renown artists the...

Following instructions given by President Carlos Alvarado, Costa Rica’s Public Security took control this Sunday evening of the ports of Limon and Moin of the Atlantic Zone Development and Port Administration Group (JAPDEVA), the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope) and the Juan Santamaria and Daniel Oduber international airports in Alajuela and Liberia respectively. “With these actions we are gua...

President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, described the “strike” called by members of the labor unions for this Monday, September 10th, “unjustified, improper and illegal”. Alvarado will be presenting the formal request to the court in hopes to declare the movement illegal, he stated that paralyzing the services and affecting millions of Costa Rican is not a solution, “this country must continu...

Irish bestselling author John Connolly will be visiting his fans in Costa Rica Thursday, September 20 at Librería Internacional bookstore at Multiplaza Escazú and on Saturday, September 22 at Multiplaza Curridabat Librería Internacional. Connelly published his first novel, Every Dead Thing, in 1999. In this book he introduced the character of policeman Charlie Parker, who was hunting the killer...

The company SGSV presented its proposal of a smart bike rental system for Costa Rica in the last Smart City Congress that was organized by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute; the system, that currently operates in more than 35 cities in the world, would take advantage of the existing bike lanes that exist in different parts of the country and would facilitate urban mobility by connecting with b...

STATEMENT BY HEATHER NAUERT, SPOKESPERSON The United States condemns the Ortega government’s recent arbitrary detention of six prominent student members of the National Dialogue. These students are the latest example of the thousands of citizens who are peacefully and democratically protesting government actions, only to be harassed, detained, disappeared, or even killed. Five of these students...

Saturday September 8th a whale gave the scare of a lifetime to a group of 6 tourists and their 2 guides in Sierpe de Osa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. According to tour guide César Moraga, the group of tourists were enjoying a whale watching tour in the area known as “El Paraiso”, they finished watching them and started their way back to Isla del Caño when all of a sudden about one mile from the isl...

The Municipality of San Jose, made an important investment in the adaptation of public spaces for dogs in the Bellavista Park in Rohrmoser and the Nacionalidad Costarricense Park in Mata Redonda (Sabana Sur). The areas offer a secure space and adequate infrastructure specially designed for dogs to play and socialize, while their owners also have opportunity to share with other neighbors and dog...

The Costa Rican-North American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) considers the call of labor unions an “irrational and irresponsible position”, considering the need that the country has on making decisions to recover the fiscal stability. “The Costa Rican-North American Chamber of Commerce condemns this action and asks the Government to take all the administrative and legal measures against people that...

The Costa Rican Government informed of an aggressive plan of investment on road infrastructure for a total of $4.6 billion that will cover urgent work and county road projects along the entire territory. The Government also announced the strengthening and expansion of the model of works by concession with an investment of over $8.5 million which includes the reinforcement of the National Conce...

The Ministry of Public Security through the Drug Control Police have been conducting investigations with the purpose of protecting the exports systems of the country that are being used for organized crime to send drugs from Costa Rica to European countries such as Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and England among others as well as the United States. Searches were conducted at two companie...

Despite the efforts of the Government to come to an agreement with leaders of the labor unions in Costa Rica to avoid a general strike, the “sindicatos” as they are called in the country or labor unions, confirmed today during a press conference the call to general strike beginning Monday, September 10 at 6 a.m. and for indefinite time. Public servants of several sectors: education, health, te...

The request under code sharing presented by the companies was approved by the Technical Council of Civil Aviation. A codeshare agreement between two airlines, allow these to share the same flight under their own airline designator and flight number, opening new destinations for travelers. Currently Emirates Airlines offers five flights a week from Dubai to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the same...

After the failed participation in the Russia World Cup, Costa Rica’s male national soccer team La Sele is looking for a new structure, a new strategy, new figures and a new direction. Under the temporary command of head coach Ronald Gonzalez, La Sele had its first test against South Korea this Friday September 7; without some of its known and main players (Bryan Ruiz, Keylor Navas, Celso Borges...

With the installation of “bunker style” shelters, the Poas Volcano National Park became the 8th active volcano in the world to have these types of structures in place for the protection of visitors, affirmed Guillermo Alvarado Induni, specialist at the Technical Assessment Committee of Volcanology and Seismology of the National Emergency Commission (CNE). The other volcanoes in the world that h...

The whale and dolphin watching season began in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago, but it is this Friday, September 7 that the annual whale and dolphin festival kicks off at the Marino Ballena National Park in the South Pacific. This beautiful National Park known for its rock and sand formation in the shape of a whale’s tail, is organizing the tenth edition of the Festival that will extend from ...

Thursday September 6th a metal beam section of the bridge (referred to as "La platina" in Costa Rica) of the Juan Pablo II bridge on the General Cañas highway connecting San Jose and Alajuela, detached, leaving pins uncovered that caused more than 40 vehicles to end up with flat tires. The problem is on the road from San Jose to Alajuela, the Traffic Police are already in the area informing dri...

The Interpol in Costa Rica with aid of the Judiciary Investigative Police arrested the afternoon of this Wednesday a dangerous drug dealer that was required by the United States justice. Authorities had been keeping track of the suspect closely for the past two months, they were able to determine that the suspect was making arrangements to settle in the country, apparently building a luxurious...

The Minister of Public Security, Michael Soto, affirmed during a press conference today that Costa Rica has registered a decrease in the number of homicides, robberies and burglaries over the last four months. According to Soto, the homicide rates from May to August 2018 in comparison to the same period of 2017 went from 213 cases to 193, showing an evident decrease starting in the month of Jun...

The Government of Costa Rica presented a formal request that “urges” Uber and all other similar technological platforms that enable public transportation service in the country to “abandon its operation in the country until a revision or modernization of the existing legal frame that regulates the remunerated transportation of people is completed”. This was the response of the government to the...

The Costa Rican child that was found abandoned in Luckerville, Arizona in June this year, is now back with his mother thanks to the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Children’s Welfare Agency and other national and international institutions. “Migration authorities of the United States delivered the child to his mother after spending two months in a shelte...

The Protection and Control authorities of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) in a joint operation with the Border Police, Public Security and Coast Guard Service in the Corcovado National Park and the Manuel Antonio National Park, detained 10 men this week in relation to environmental crimes. According to Enrique Obando from MINAE, three men were detained in the sector of Playa Rey...

President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega denied in an exclusive interview with EFE in Managua that his government has used repressive measures to suppress protests and said he does not feel responsible for the deaths that have resulted from the confrontations on the streets between the civil and the authorities that began back in April this year; Ortega, instead, blames the United States and internat...

What is full mouth reconstruction? "Full mouth reconstruction"  or "Full Mouth Restoration"  implies rebuilding the entire area, in other words, replacing all teeth in a patient’s mouth with the purpose of eliminating tooth decay or infections, replacing missing pieces, correcting improper bite that affects the quality of life, but in general with the objective of improving overall oral health...

The power struggle continues between the Costa Rican government and the labor unions. President Carlos Alvarado stated today in a letter to the Union leaders that he agrees to meet with them as they are requesting, as long as they call off the general strike scheduled for this upcoming Monday, September 10. The communication of the President comes after leaders of the Labor Unions responded...

Costa Rica Green Airways will begin operating domestic flights in the country in November 2018, joining the current market operators, Sansa and Aerobell. Green Airways, is being backed by CarmonAir Charter (operating in the Costa Rica since 2009) and will be offering flights to Tambor (Puntarenas), Nosara (Guanacaste) and Quepos (Puntarenas), leaving from the Juan Santamaria Airport. Initially...

Agents of the Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ) conducted 18 raids the morning Tuesday, September 4, and arrested 19 people suspected of being part of an organization that sold drugs in Batán, Limon. Many of the suspects are part of a same family and according to the investigations sold drugs in the communities nearby; some of them are also apparently related to homicides in the area. In ...

The Government of Costa Rica announced a plan geared towards promotion an economic reactivation. Part of this plan includes simplifying processes eliminating the excess of procedures that many times are an obstacle for the private sector. “We are presenting these actions, many of them we are already executing, that will allow us to be more competitive, thinking of a development that reaches ...

Costa Rican authorities carried out 40 searches this Tuesday morning in different areas of the country in relation to an international human smuggling case, an investigation that was carried out for over 2 years and involved the different entities of the Ministry of Security, the Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ), the General Directorate of Migration and the Public Ministry as well as Panamania...

Labor Unions in Costa Rica are calling for to a general strike next Monday, September 10; President Carlos Alvarado asked them to resume the dialogue with the government to find a way to avoid “worsening of the financial crisis” the country is facing; Labor Unions are putting their foot down and put conditions to establishing dialogue. Leaders of the Labor Unions in the country held a meeting t...

Every year many American Citizens choose Costa Rica as their new home, and even though the country is known for being very welcoming, moving to a different country is never easy, this is why the United States Embassy in Costa Rica decided to offer expats some tips on life in Costa Rica and what their role is in helping American citizens in the country. American Citizen Services (ACS) Chief Ben ...