71 m. ago Costa Rica Seizes Capybaras in Historic Wildlife Trafficking

Costa Rican police conducted a groundbreaking operation, seizing five capybaras—a non-native species—in the country’s first recorded case of capybara trafficking. The seizure occurred during a vehicle checkpoint on Route 34, Costanera Sur, in Orotina, Alajuela, along the Pacific coast. The incident began when a vehicle attempted to evade a police roadblock in the Mollejones sector. […] The post Costa Rica Seizes Capybaras in Historic Wildlife Trafficking appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

4 h. ago Punta Leona Leads the Way for Sustainable Travel in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific

Punta Leona Leads the Way for Sustainable Travel in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific  Travel And Tour World

Politics

5 h. ago Driving in Costa Rica: An Expat’s Journey Through Potholes and Patience

I was too young to drive when my family moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, but even as a passenger, I remember the comments. It went something like this: “You know when you hit the PA state line because the quality of the road immediately falls off a cliff.” As I aged into driving, I […] The post Driving in Costa Rica: An Expat’s Journey Through Potholes and Patience appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

9 h. ago Fly Direct from Detroit to Liberia, Costa Rica with Delta’s New Route

Starting on December 20, Delta Airlines will connect Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) with Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia. This new weekly flight, operating every Saturday, marks the first direct route between Detroit and Costa Rica, opening up Guanacaste’s beaches to those coming from this part of the United States. Delta will use […] The post Fly Direct from Detroit to Liberia, Costa Rica with Delta’s New Route appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

23 h. ago Cybercrime Surges in Costa Rica as Banking Fraud Hits Record

Cybercrime is hitting Costa Ricans hard, with scams and fraud becoming a daily reality for many. An average of 38 people fall victim to electronic scams every day, a number that’s climbing fast. Between 2020 and 2024, banking cyber fraud cases skyrocketed by 668%, and experts warn 2025 could set a new record. If trends […] The post Cybercrime Surges in Costa Rica as Banking Fraud Hits Record appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

33 h. ago Marriott International Announces Landmark Launch of St. Regis Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica Elevating Luxury Hospitality in Central America

Marriott International Announces Landmark Launch of St. Regis Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica Elevating Luxury Hospitality in Central America  Travel And Tour World

Politics

48 h. ago Critics Warn New Water Law in Costa Rica Threatens Biodiversity & Aquifers

Costa Rica’s push to modernize its water management with a new Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) law has hit a rough patch. Environmental groups, with over 100 organizations voicing opposition, argue the bill takes a big step backward on environmental and social fronts. While the 1942 Water Law needs an update to handle today’s population […] The post Critics Warn New Water Law in Costa Rica Threatens Biodiversity & Aquifers appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

51 h. ago Costa Rican Linked to Cartel Faces U.S. Money Laundering Charges

Elías Alberto Quirós Benavides, a 53-year-old resident of Grecia, Costa Rica, faces serious allegations from the United States for his alleged role in the Sinaloa Cartel and Beltrán Leyva group’s financial operations. U.S. authorities accuse him of leading a sophisticated cryptocurrency-based money laundering network, transferring cartel funds internationally without using regulated banking systems. The U.S. […] The post Costa Rican Linked to Cartel Faces U.S. Money Laundering Charges appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Economics

59 h. ago Costa Rica’s Housing Crisis Persists Amid High Rents and Subsidy Cuts

In Costa Rica, the dream of owning a home remains out of reach for many, as high rental costs and budget cuts to housing subsidies deepen our country’s housing crisis. The Ombudsman’s Office reports that families in poverty face significant barriers to accessing decent housing, with rising rents consuming a large portion of their income, […] The post Costa Rica’s Housing Crisis Persists Amid High Rents and Subsidy Cuts appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

3 d. ago Young Capuchins Kidnap Baby Howler Monkeys in Panama, Study Finds

A new trend is catching on among bored young male capuchins: kidnapping baby howler monkeys, in what scientists say is the first time animals have been recorded stealing another species’ infants for no apparent reason. PhD student Zoe Goldsborough first noticed something wrong in 2022 while sifting through footage captured by motion-triggered cameras on Jicaron, […] The post Young Capuchins Kidnap Baby Howler Monkeys in Panama, Study Finds appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

3 d. ago Watch Cat Caught Smuggling Drugs into Costa Rica’s Pococí Penitentiary

Prison guards at Pococí Penitentiary in Costa Rica intercepted an unlikely smuggler: a black-and-white cat carrying drugs taped to its body. The incident, which has sparked global attention, highlights the persistent challenge of contraband in the nation’s prisons amid rising organized crime. According to a Facebook statement from Costa Rica’s Ministry of Justice, officers spotted […] The post Watch Cat Caught Smuggling Drugs into Costa Rica’s Pococí Penitentiary appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

4 d. ago How US Tariffs on Imports Are Quietly Fueling a Boom in Medical Tourism: Why More Americans Are Choosing Care to Mexico, India, Thailand, and Costa Rica, What You Need To Know

How US Tariffs on Imports Are Quietly Fueling a Boom in Medical Tourism: Why More Americans Are Choosing Care to Mexico, India, Thailand, and Costa Rica, What You Need To Know  Travel And Tour World

Politics

4 d. ago Costa Rica Faces Growing Democratic Challenges, Experts Warn

The deterioration of democracy in Costa Rica is a problem that should raise alarms and draw the attention of the population, according to experts. Spanish professor José Luis Ros Medina, during a seminar organized by the National University (UNA), stated that “Costa Rica should start worrying.” The specialist pointed out that the country faces institutional […] The post Costa Rica Faces Growing Democratic Challenges, Experts Warn appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

4 d. ago Costa Rica’s Wild Side— Video Footage of Agoutis, Falcons and Tiger

Costa Rica is a wild place full of wild animals. What those animals are doing, hidden away in the depths of the forest, is mostly unknown. One method of trying to figure out what wildlife is up to is to go into the forest and sit there and watch. Whenever time allows, that’s exactly what […] The post Costa Rica’s Wild Side— Video Footage of Agoutis, Falcons and Tiger-Herons appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Culture

5 d. ago Centroamérica Cuenta Literary Festival Tackles Freedom of Expression

Guatemala is set to host the Centroamérica Cuenta literary festival from May 19 to 24, bringing together 60 writers from 15 countries, plus Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, to discuss freedom of expression, migration, and more. The event, founded in 2013 by exiled Nicaraguan writer Sergio Ramírez, will shine a light on the region’s challenges […] The post Centroamérica Cuenta Literary Festival Tackles Freedom of Expression appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Politics

5 d. ago Alcaraz downs Sinner to win Italian Open in Roland Garros warning

Carlos Alcaraz won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating rival Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the final and firing a warning shot for Roland Garros. Alcaraz, who will climb to world number two behind Sinner on Monday, won his third title of the season, eventually dominating Sinner and silencing the over 10,000 fans […] The post Alcaraz downs Sinner to win Italian Open in Roland Garros warning appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

5 d. ago Mass Fish Kill in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Lagoons Raises Alarm

In Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands, the Madre de Dios and Santa Marta lagoons are reeling from a mass fish kill that’s left local communities in Matina and Siquirres sounding the alarm. Dead fish, including snook, sea bass, rainbow bass, mojarra, and tilapia, have been washing up for days, with locals pointing to chemical runoff from […] The post Mass Fish Kill in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Lagoons Raises Alarm appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events

5 d. ago Lord of the Rings Stars Showcase Costa Rica’s Culture and Food

Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, famous for playing Pippin and Merry in The Lord of the Rings, brought their travel show Billy & Dom Eat The World to Costa Rica for an episode packed with local flavors and traditions. The actors spent five days exploring Nicoya, Alajuela, Sarapiquí, and San José, immersing themselves in the […] The post Lord of the Rings Stars Showcase Costa Rica’s Culture and Food appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Culture

6 d. ago Costa Rica May Gardening: Tips and Tricks for a Bountiful Harvest

May is perhaps the most important gardening month of the year in Costa Rica. Farmers across the country are planting their crops this month, and gardeners can also take advantage of this time to prepare for the best gardening of the year. All the elements of nature are optimal for the growth of plants. Corn […] The post Costa Rica May Gardening: Tips and Tricks for a Bountiful Harvest appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Economics

6 d. ago Venezuelan Migrants in El Salvador Gain Appeal Rights After SCOTUS Decision

Lawyers for the 252 Venezuelan migrants deported by the U.S. government under Donald Trump and held for two months in El Salvador denounced on Friday that their clients are victims of “physical” and “moral” torture. A law firm hired by the Venezuelan government has been unable to visit the migrants in the mega-prison where they […] The post Venezuelan Migrants in El Salvador Gain Appeal Rights After SCOTUS Decision appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Events