Traffic Accidents are One of the Main Causes of Death in Costa Rica. Costa Rica's roads are infamous and, though often riddled with potholes, these long stretches of asphalt and dirt are the only way to wind your way through magnificent rural hills and beachside towns. However, as many tourists and new residents quickly discover, Costa [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News on June 24th, 2008 | No Comments »

I was completely incredulous when I read the lead story in Costa Rica Pages' June, 23 edition about Costa Rica's intelligence service that, according to the article, reports only to President Arias.

Filed under: Reader Opinion & Stories on June 24th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Costa Rica's Intelligence and National Security Office Answers Solely to the President. Would anyone believe that the peaceful little nation of Costa Rica has a secret police force, something similar to the United State’s Central Intelligence Agency? Costa Rica’s DIS stands for something quite similar, the Direccion de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional (Intelligence and National Security [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News on June 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »

A New Tax on Luxury Costa Rican Cars in the Works for December. Yesterday, it was announced that beginning Monday, June 23, a new Pico y Placa program would restrict vehicle usage during rush hour, depending on license plate. Today, we learn that more changes are in store for the Costa Rica travel scene, beginning with [...]

Filed under: Living on June 20th, 2008 | No Comments »

New Development Will Take its Cues from the Mediterranean. A major Costa Rica real estate development company, Watchtower CR, has selected The West Paces Hotel Group, an international hotel and resort management company, to manage their newest project: Cantomar. Watchtower CR is also responsible for constructing the property Ocean Club Costa Rica in Guanacaste. The West [...]

Filed under: Business on June 20th, 2008 | No Comments »

New Driving Law will Lessen Traffic and Gas Consumption in Costa Rica. On Sunday, June 22, an official executive decree will be published in the government newspaper La Gaceta, indicating who may travel where during hora pico, or rush hour in Costa Rica. Though plans have been in the works since the Pacheco Administration, policies previously [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News on June 19th, 2008 | No Comments »

Those Waiting to Be Approved as Refugees are Given Limited Work Options in Costa Rica. The number of Colombians who seek refuge in Costa Rica is constantly increasing and according to some reports of the High Commission of the United Nations (ACNUR in Spanish), 90% of the refugees admitted here come from that country. There are [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News on June 19th, 2008 | No Comments »

The grade of U.S. tourists in Costa Rica are not dissuaded by an economic crisis. When the U.S. economy began showing signs of weakness, many speculated as to whether American tourism to Costa Rica would also begin to decline. However, in news that reassures as much as it delights all that are involved in Costa Rican [...]

Filed under: Business on June 19th, 2008 | No Comments »

Damages to the Pirris Plant could take 6 months to reverse. Tropical storm Alma’s path of destruction is still affecting Costa Rica. The newest concern is that it has slowed down the construction of the Pirris Hydroelectric Plant, which would provide a cheap and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. It is estimated that it will be [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News on June 19th, 2008 | No Comments »

The White Sand Beaches of Guanacaste Attract Growing Numbers of Investors. The entire country of Costa Rica has been enjoying a huge amount of real estate business and transaction in the last few years, but there are some distinct towns and regions that enjoy particular interest and popularity. While there are varying opinions of the regions' [...]

Filed under: Business on June 19th, 2008 | 1 Comment »