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San José Municipality Cancels Zapote Fair Tender: Are Year-End Festivities at Risk?

The iconic year-end celebrations in San José, Costa Rica, face mounting uncertainty after the local government officially declared the tender process for the Zapote bullring and fairgrounds void. The decision comes after the only qualified bidder failed to present a financial offer during the scheduled online…

Brisa Hennessy Wins in Portugal, Takes Key Step Toward 2027 World Tour

Costa Rican surfer Brisa Hennessy achieved a major victory in Portugal on October 12, winning the fourth event of the qualifying series and solidifying her path toward the 2027 World Tour. With this win, Hennessy remains firmly in qualifying position for next season, currently holding fourth place in the general…

Space Week: Why Predicting Solar Storms Remains One of Science’s Biggest Challenges

The inability to accurately predict how severely a solar storm will impact Earth remains one of the greatest challenges facing scientists today. Originating from the central star of our Solar System, these massive space weather events hold the power to inflict severe damage on Earth’s infrastructure—particularly…

Pura Vida Wilderness: Exploring Guanacaste’s Volcanoes, Beaches, and National Parks

Three to five hours from San José, Guanacaste presents itself as a land of contrasts, where the warmth of the sun bathes landscapes that oscillate between tropical dry forest and montane forest, in a natural setting that beats to the rhythm of volcanoes, azure rivers, pristine beaches, and a deeply rooted culture of…

Adaptability: The True Competitive Advantage in the AI Era

Speed is no longer the primary indicator of digital maturity; adaptability has taken its place. In an environment driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), companies capable of adjusting strategies, processes, and skills in real time will be far better prepared to grow than those that simply accumulate new technologies…

Costa Rica to Have 28% Fewer School-Aged Children by 2033, Says OECD

Costa Rica is heading toward a demographic transformation that will have direct consequences for its educational system. The population between 5 and 14 years old will decline by 28% between 2024 and 2033, according to projections included in Education at a Glance 2026, published by the Organisation for Economic…

Domestic Work by the Day: The Six Key Obligations Employers Must Meet

Even when domestic workers are employed on a part-time, hourly, or daily basis, labor legislation in Costa Rica requires strict compliance with employer obligations. Below are the six key obligations that every employer must assume under this arrangement: 1. Proportional Payment of the Legal Minimum Wage Wages must be…

Interview: A Costa Rican Designer Forges a Path in New York Fashion

Producing in Costa Rica and selling in New York involves high costs and logistical challenges, but it also presents an opportunity for growth. Andrea Kader is committed to strengthening her brand without leaving her roots behind… For an independent brand, reaching New York is not just about design: it means exporting…

Iron Maiden Fans Camp Out in La Sabana Ahead of Historic Costa Rica Concert

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — Heavy metal passion has officially taken over La Sabana Park. Since Thursday, October 1st, dedicated fans of the iconic British band Iron Maiden have pitched tents outside the National Stadium, counting down every hour until the legendary group hits the stage on Thursday, October 8th. For many…

Day-by-Day Domestic Service: 6 Key Employer Obligations You Must Know

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — Hiring domestic help for cleaning, cooking, or yard work a couple of days a week—or even once every fortnight—is a common practice for many households. However, working on a part-time or hourly basis does not exempt employers from legal responsibilities under Costa Rican labor legislation. In…

Limón: A New Chapter in Costa Rica’s Wellness Story

By Nidia Zúñiga Pérez There has always been something different about Limón. The Caribbean side of Costa Rica has its own character, shaped by its history, its Afro-Costa Rican and Indigenous heritage, the sea, agriculture, food, music and an extraordinary natural environment. Anyone who has spent time there knows…

Gloria Trevi Conquers Costa Rica: Dancing, Tears, and Electric Energy at Parque Viva

After more than 15 years away, Mexican pop icon Gloria Trevi made a triumphant return to Costa Rica, converting the Parque Viva Amphitheater into a massive celebration of dance, nostalgia, and emotion. Demand for her return was so overwhelming that after the first date on October 3 sold out almost instantly…

IMN Issues Alert: Costa Rica Faces 95% Soil Saturation and Weekend Storms

The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) has issued a warning as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to create unstable weather conditions across Costa Rica. Meteorologists advise residents and local authorities to take heightened precautions due to soils reaching saturation levels above 95% in key…

Termatalia 2026: Costa Rica Showcases Sustainable Sensory Journey

OURENSE, Galicia, Spain — Costa Rica’s natural beauty is traditionally defined by its lush rainforests, volcanic landscapes, and pristine coastline. However, at Termatalia 2026 in Ourense, the Central American nation introduced international travelers and industry professionals to an entirely different way of…

UCR Student Formulates Innovative Eco-Friendly Tablet Disinfectant

Eddie Alvarado Elizondo, a Chemical Engineering student at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), has created a compact, eco-friendly tablet disinfectant solution for his graduation project at the institution’s Pilot Plant. Developed alongside the Natural Products Research Center (Ciprona) and the UCR School of…

GBP/JPY Outlook: What the Latest BoJ Decision Means for Markets

The latest Bank of Japan decision has created a fresh shift in the pound-yen market. The central bank raised its policy rate, but the Japanese yen weakened instead of gaining further strength. This has made the GBPJPY outlook more interesting, as markets are now watching what the decision means for future Japanese…

Heredia to Celebrate Its Rich Coffee Heritage with Free Community Fair

The Municipality of Heredia is hosting the Feria del Café con Memoria Herediana 2026 this Sunday, October 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Campo Ferial La Perla. The event is free, inclusive, and open to the public. Designed to connect residents and visitors with the canton’s deep-rooted coffee history, the…

Interview: When Living in Costa Rica Transforms the Way You See the World

For James Homan, Costa Rica was never just a tourist destination or a passing experience. It was the place where he learned to navigate public buses, worked as a teacher, connected with families from all walks of life, and built a life with the woman who is now his wife. Born in New Hampshire—a small

Guanacaste Airport and ICT Announce Two New Southwest Routes from Austin and Nashville

Guanacaste Airport, a member of the VINCI Airports network, announces new operations by Southwest Airlines from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Nashville International Airport (BNA) during 2027. The direct route from Austin (AUS) will operate on Saturdays and Sundays between June 5 and August 1, 2027…

IMN Announces Increased Rainfall and Humid Conditions for This Weekend

The IMN forecasts greater atmospheric instability starting this Friday and continuing over the next few days. The weekend will be marked by an increase in atmospheric instability in Costa Rica due to the approach and activation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) near the country. Starting this Friday…

Workplace wellness: 5 things companies can learn from Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula

By JW Oliver Nicoya is one of Costa Rica’s Blue Zones, a region associated with an unusually high concentration of people living long, healthy lives. While there is no single secret behind longevity, several habits are associated with high levels of well-being in the region. For companies looking to build a stronger…

CNE Raises Alert Level Due to Increased Activity at Rincón de la Vieja Volcano

The National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (CNE) has raised the alert level to yellow for districts surrounding the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, following determinations by technical and scientific authorities specializing in volcanology regarding an increase in eruptive activity, gas emissions…

UCR Creates Research Center to Study Territory and Support Risk Management

The University Council of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) approved the creation of the Center for Geographical Research (CIGeo), a new entity that will seek to transform knowledge about the national territory into information and tools to support decision-making by communities, institutions, and local governments…

Doctors in Costa Rica to Perform Unprecedented Surgery for Rare Heart Condition

A group of patients with a rare and highly complex congenital heart defect will undergo a surgical technique in Costa Rica this week that, according to the organization Heart to Heart Global Cardiac Care, has never been performed before in the country. The interventions will benefit between four and five individuals…

Alive! Panamanian Authorities Rescue 3 Costa Rican Fishermen Missing for 6 Days at Sea

PANAMA / COSTA RICA — In a dramatic offshore rescue operation, three Costa Rican fishermen who had been missing for six days in the Caribbean Sea were located and saved alive by Panamanian authorities on Sunday morning. The fishermen—identified as Eric Rolando Hernández Madriz, Dexter González, and Omar Dunkley…

Desperate Mother Who Invented a Math Game to Help Her Son Now Exports Internationally

SANTA ANA, COSTA RICA — What started as a piece of poster board and a pencil at a kitchen table in Santa Ana has transformed into an international educational business. Doña Laura Ortiz García, a Costa Rican mother facing the frustration of her son’s struggles with mathematics, created a homemade board game that would…

Flow: The Costa Rican AI Transforming How Doctors Stay Updated with Scientific Research

Staying current with modern medical science is an overwhelming challenge. Every single day, thousands of clinical trials, journal papers, and treatment guidelines are published worldwide. For a practicing physician to read every relevant update in their field, they would need to devote more than 20 hours a day purely…

A Photographic Exhibition Brings Gaudí’s Iconic Casa Batlló to Costa Rica

A photographic exhibition set up in the heart of Costa Rica’s capital aims to bring the iconic Casa Batlló by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí closer to Costa Ricans, as part of activities promoting his artistic legacy 100 years after his death. The exhibition, titled “Gaudí’s Casa Batlló: The Modernist Jewel of Catalan…

Accessibility and Tourism for All Comes to Playa Pelada in Guiones, Nosara

Playa Pelada in Guiones, Nosara, was officially inaugurated as a new accessible beach point—an initiative that combines circular economy and inclusion to help more people enjoy this public space with greater autonomy, safety, and equal opportunities. At Playa Pelada, the installed modules are removable, each measuring…

Costa Rican Hotel Origins Luxury Lodge Awarded One MICHELIN Key

Origins Luxury Lodge has been honored with One MICHELIN Key by the MICHELIN Guide—a recognition that formally places the resort within the official selection of outstanding hotels worldwide. The resort consists of two main properties: Origins Floral, focused on an immersive rainforest experience for couples, and…

Oktoberfest Festival: Costa Rica Prepares for Its 13th Edition

The Costa Rica Oktoberfest, one of the most acclaimed and anticipated festivals by the public, returns this year with its 13th edition, consolidating itself as one of the major celebrations on the national calendar. Under the concept of “the happiest festival in the world,” the proposal will bring together music…