If you are looking to enjoy some entertainment this week Costa Rica style you are in luck, the city of Palmares in Alajuela will kick off its traditional yearly festival this Thursday, January 16, this year they continue to make efforts to make this activity more family oriented and therefore some changes have taken place. “In reality, by making a change to a more familiar concept the number o...

Costa Rican surfer Brisa Hennessy took the first place at the Women Qualifying Series (WQS) 5,000 Corona Open in China by defeating Vahine Fierro from France. This is the first time in the history of the country that a Costa Rican takes a WQS 5,00. With this win Brisa took the lead of the qualifying tour. The final was very close with a difference of just 0.14, Hennessy earned 12 points (5....

Uber Costa Rica has continued its growth over the years despite the opposition of red taxi drivers and the lack of proper regulation. The company announced that since it began operations in Costa Rica in August 2015 it has accumulated over 971,000 users and 28,000 drivers. “The platform represent an important source of additional income for over 28,000 associates and their families that have f...

Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again – and expecting different results.” This week Costa Rica’s Justice Department and Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ), announced through press releases and wanted posters that they are once again on the hunt for the American widow of John Felix Bender where they are looking at putting her on trial for the 4th...

Photo Credit: Irina Shayk Instagram Sam Smith, Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Martin (Coldplay) and his girlfriend Dakota Johnson, Gina Rodríguez, Christian Bale and Irina Shayk are just some of the celebrities that chose Costa Rica as their vacation destination this December and not only does this mean they spent money in the country benefiting local businesses, but they also help put the name of ...

President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, confirmed his decision of renouncing the right to receiving the ex-Presidents’ pension after he leaves office. By law, in Costa Rica, the Presidents have the right to receive their pension once they leave office, the amount is of an approximate 4 million colones (close to $7,000 USD) a month. “On May 9. 2022, I will present my letter to the Direction...

Representatives of the Costa Rican Surf Federation, Randall Chaves and José Ureña, the Minister of Presidency, Victor Morales, the Minister of Sports, Hernán Solano and deputy Melvin Núñez, met today to discuss the interest of the government in organizing the International Surf Association (ISA) World Surfing Championship 2020. The Government is looking into the options for budget to organize t...

The United States Government elevated the travel alert for Costa Rica from a Level 1: Exercise Normal Caution to a Level 2: Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime. "While petty crime is the predominant threat for tourists in Costa Rica, violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault, occurs in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government provides additional securit...

The Ocaso Musical Festival comes back to Tamarindo, Guanacaste in its fourth edition this Thursday, January 9 and will extend through Monday, January 13th. The underground electronic music festival gathers, once again, great representatives of techno and house rythms, this year the lineup includes Doc Martin, Maceo Plex, Artbat, Magdalena, Shiba San, Justin Martin, Ame, Maetrix, Seth Troxler, D...

Costa Rica went down one place since 2019 in International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index 2020, which is designed to be a useful tool for potential expats trying to find the place that’s right for them. "The Index is constructed of statistics but also of real-world, practical, on-the-ground intelligence, experience, and opinion provided by International Living’s editors and correspondents...

Applebee’s closed its operations in Costa Rica, confirmed the franchise owner Dine Equity Applebee’s had three restaurants in the country, one in Terrazas shopping center in Lindora, Santa Ana, another one in Plaza Carolina , San Pedro and the third one in Cariari. According to Julio Villegas, operations manager of Applebee’s Costa Rica the reason the decision was made obeyed to profitabili...

The Costa Rica Star will be publishing an original exclusive six part series from the upcoming book "Drug Diva", by Star reporter Carol Vaughn, author of "Crazy Jungle Love". These sneak-preview excerpts document the astonishing saga of Cristel Gomez Espinoza, one of Central America's most dangerous and powerful drug capos. Look for the entire book to be released at the end of 2020. Tuesday, A...

The Star reported in May 2019 on the emergence of “Drug Subs”, semi-submersibles that are tooling the waters between Colombia and Costa Rica, bringing tons of cocaine en route to the USA. US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officials expressed concern that the number of drug subs was increasing, and in fact, it was reported in December that eight subs had been either abandoned on the beach in Costa R...

The Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ) confirmed the arrest of two women suspected of stealing $4,000.00 (USD)  between cash and the use of his credit card. Apparently the tourist of last name Atwood and a native of the United States met the two women in a bar in downtown San Jose and invited them to his hotel room. At some point during the night the women gave the man a sleeping pill without...

Orchid poachers are called “Materos”, from the word matas, or plants, and they operate in Costa Rica much like drug dealers, with similar profits. They live under the radar, changing their phone numbers frequently, and going into the most remote and dangerous areas of Costa Rica’s rain forests and jungles, in pursuit of rare and exotic orchids to sell on the black market. Orchid collectors’ obsess...

A Costa Rican pastor was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police in Nevada, USA as a suspect of sexually abusing a child under 14 years of age. Bramwell Bernardo Retana Reyes, age 44, a pastor of the local church Iglesia Cristiana Oasis de Paz, now faces seven counts of lewdness and one count each of sexual assault of a child under 14, luring a child with a computer to engage in a sexual ...

The United States continues to offer its support to Costa Rica in its fight against drug trafficking and transnational crimes. For the first time in history, Costa Rica purchased a Maritime Patrol Aircraft using Air Surveillance Service funds. This aircraft, thanks to the U.S. government, is also equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The King Air 250 is joining the fight against drug tr...

Costa Rica now has a law that dictates how to implement lifeguard units in national beaches and also creates the National Commission for the Prevention and Attention of Drownings, with the purpose of offering safety and protecting the live and integrity of those that vacation and enjoy the coasts. Law 9780 “Implementation of lifeguard units in national beaches” was signed this week by members ...

SKYWAY Costa Rica celebrates its second season of service by adding new destinations and a new plane. Skyway took delivery on a new plane December 1. This plane is a LET 410 aircraft, SKYWAY is the only domestic airline in Costa Rica flying two-engine aircraft. New destinations being served this year include: Tambor, Palmar Sur, Manuel Antonio, Bocas del Toro, Panama. These new routes join exis...

The U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report 2019 gives information on which countries are making improvements in tackling human trafficking, Costa Rica still placed in Tier 2, the same position it held last year. “The Government of Costa Rica does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated i...

Once again, Costa Rica will be represented this year in the annual Rose Parade that takes place every January 1st in Pasadena, California. This year the Municipal Band of Zarcero has the honor or representing the country and Latin America in this renown event. In total, 250 young members directed by Elesban Rodríguez will be traveling to Pasadena California, "In Pasadena we want to showcase to ...

When a person acquires property in Costa Rica, he or she usually performs due diligence through different advisors such as lawyers, engineers, surveyors or a home inspector. The goal is to discover the existence of possible problems related to the plot map, the title, the adjacent properties or the house itself. However, problems can always arise despite this due diligence and the possibility of e...

Costa Rica, known and loved for its pristine beaches and lush rainforests as well as its "Pura Vida" lifestyle, has become the third most popular destination for tourists from North America who are seeking top-of-the-line medical and dental services at prices that can be 30 to 50 percent more affordable. Costa Rica welcomes fans and followers of adventure tourism and sustainability and, at the ...

The Costa Rica Ministry of Environment resolved a nullity appeal that was presented by the Costa Rican Federation for the Conservation of the Environment (FECON) and in this way puts a stop to the pineapple plantation project Hacienda Doña Victoria that intended to use close to 500 hectares of land located between Palmar Sur and Olla Cero in Buenos Aires, Puntarenas and that could have potential n...

JH Biotech, a subsidiary of Jianghuai Horticulture seed Co. of Anhui, China, opened its new facilities in Guanacaste, where it will carry out research and development, quality control, marketing, and sales, as well as export and import products logistics. Costa Rica will be the company’s hub to commercialize seeds from China to other markets on the continent. The company established in Nanda...

The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) announced its 2019 performance results. CINDE's work directly contributes to the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as set by the United Nations. CINDE particularly contributes to 4 SDGs - Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equity, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Quality Education - and as such reports its Foreign D...

Coffee has been a motor for economic development in Costa Rica – now it will become one of its national symbols. The symbols we are already familiar with are: the Costa Rica flag, the national shield, the oxcart, the orchid (La Guaria Morada), the national bird (El Yiguirro), the Arbol de Guanacaste tree, and of course the national slogan “PURA VIDA”. Now, the “grano de oro” (grain of gold) will j...

American rock band Guns N’ Roses has confirmed Costa Rica as one of its stops of their Not in This Lifetime tour. The band will be live in Costa Rica on March 18, 2020 at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibas, San Jose. Production company Primo Entertainment is in charge of the show, “ For the fans of the band this will be a unique opportunity to be closer to the band and feel the power of its ...

Hospitality investment and development firm Gencom announced the acquisition of Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, a high-end resort in the mountains of Pérez Zeledón in the southern region of Costa Rica. The resort was originally conceived and developed as a family retreat and coffee farm in a storied agricultural town and has consistently ranked among the top resorts in Central Ame...

People were gobsmacked when they read that two American citizens caught smuggling over $644 thousand in cash through Juan Santamaria Airport were set free – after only 12 hours. Collin Skees (25) and Benjamin Howze (41) were detained on November 28, upon their arrival at SJO in Alajuela. They had the cash in their carry-on luggage. Drug-sniffing dogs detected cocaine residue on the money, which wa...

President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado and the Minister of Health, Daniel Salas, signed this week the "technical norm for the therapeutic interruption of pregnancy" for cases where the health or life of the pregnant women is in danger, as a guideline and in support of what Article 121 of the Criminal Code states. The Ministry of Health elaborated the text of this technical norm which was sent...

The General Directorate of Treasury in San Jose, Costa Rica, shut down the Wyndham Herradura Hotel in Belén, Heredia, this Wednesday as a result of a sanction applied for past due tax payments. The sanction is effective for five days. According to Carlos Vargas, director of the Ministry of Treasury, the process goes back for some years and the hotel was notified that they had a term to make th...

The United States Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica issued an alert for US citizens residing in Costa Rica: "American Citizen Services has received reports from U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica reporting telephone calls from individuals purporting to work for the U.S Embassy in San Jose. The callers state the Embassy is updating profiles of U.S. citizens for the Costa Rica Ministry of Hacienda...

Since 1996 in Costa Rica there has been a Law Against Domestic Violence (Law #7586), which has many aspects that are important to understand in detail. When writing this article we had the collaboration of Melissa Salazar, an attorney specializing in Family Law. According to Mrs Salazar, there are various types of violence: physical, psychological, sexual and also over the assets of a person, comm...

Costa Rica has cultivated a reputation as a medical tourism mecca. Patients come from all over the world to take advantage of the highly trained medical teams operating in Costa Rican hospitals, at prices often lower than in other countries. Now there’s a return of a problem first discovered in 2017: illegal organ trafficking. The illegal organ trafficking business was first brought to light tw...

Costa Rican authorities from the Ministry of Public Security seized over a ton of marijuana and packages of cocaine and arrested three people aboard a vessel intercepted in waters of the Pacific. The National Coastguard Service reported the interception of the suspicious fast boat close to Drake Bay in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. Officers found 46 bags which after inspection by the Drug C...

A small religious cult calling themselves “Carbon Nation” have now been thrown out of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and on December 5th, out of Panama, for endangering and threatening the national security of those three countries. They were most recently operating in San Carlos province, in western Panama, 75 kilometers from Panama City. Their Carbon Nation leader Eligio Lee Bishop was arrested – he cal...

German airline CONDOR will be offering a direct flight connecting Frankfurt, Germany to San Jose, Costa Rica, starting October 2020, reinforcing Costa Rica as a destination and eliminating the stop in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The route will operate Thursdays and Sundays in a Boeing 767-300 with capacity for 255 passengers, (18 in Business class, 35 in Premium and 202 in Coach). The pl...

The Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID), recognized by Business Insider as one of the top leading design and innovation schools globally, has chosen Costa Rica for its first permanent expansion outside Europe. CIID will offer courses and programs, such as its renowned Interaction Design Program (IDP), which will be launched in February 2020. Its presence strengthens Costa Rica’s s...

Costa Rican surfer Brisa Hennessy qualified this Sunday for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games , confirmed the National Olympic Committee. Hennessy, from Matapalo in Osa, Puntarenas, managed to qualify after ranking over Paige Hareb from New Zealand in the last WTC Championship Tour 2019 which took place in Maui, Hawaii this past weekend, she took one of the last two places on offer through the WSL. ...