Finding Buddha in the Tropics I came to the startling realization a few days ago that I have spent the majority of my adult life in Latin America. I moved to Costa Rica in 1998 at the age of 23 and have remained here for a decade. During that time, I have adjusted to [...]

Filed under: Living on September 30th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Costa Rican Taxi Fares to Increase 16 Cents Per Kilometer. When tourists arrive to San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport, official, orange airport taxis await outside. Instead of paying per kilometer or minute, airport taxis have long functioned on a per-ride basis: walk up to a window inside the airport exit, announce your destination and prepay [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News on September 30th, 2008 | No Comments »

AOL's Steve Case Put His Costa Rican Development on Hold Due to the U.S. Financial Crisis. It's the new shot heard round the world: when the U.S. Congress rejected the proposed $700 billion Wall Street bailout, aftershocks were felt in every country around the globe. In Costa Rica, several major hotel chains announced that their impending [...]

Filed under: Business on September 30th, 2008 | No Comments »

Costa Rica's long-awaited San José-Heredia train has just gotten a step closer to realizing its creation: the Institute of Costa Rican Railways (Incofer) has begun negotiations with the Spanish Narrow Rails Railway company to acquire four model 2000 commuter trains, which will be the most modern trains in the country.

Filed under: Costa Rica News on September 29th, 2008 | No Comments »

Costa Rican Farmers to Learn the Complicated Process of Vanilla Production. Vanilla will soon be added to the ranks of Costa Rica’s agricultural exports thanks to a new business plan to produce the long bean organically in Guanacaste. Vanilla is well prized throughout the world and it is far from easy to produce. Farmers from La [...]

Filed under: Business on September 29th, 2008 | No Comments »

Cahuita's Coral Reef  is Facing the Extinction of Its Weaker Coral Species. Although the coral reef of Cahuita has kept on growing, thus giving the impression that everything is going well there under the sea, scientists recently disclosed the fact that although it is not actually shrinking, many of its species have now disappeared and it's [...]

Filed under: Travel on September 29th, 2008 | No Comments »

Costa Rica's More Elusive Species May Soon Be Non-Existent if the Country Doesn't Act Soon. Costa Rica is attracting more and more tourism and its popularity as a favorite destination is greatly thanks to its wonderful wildlife. Who has not heard of the spider monkeys and the Titi monkeys, of the anteaters and the tapir, or [...]

Filed under: Costa Rican Wildlife on September 26th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

The Villa Buena Onda is the Newest Luxury Home set on Costa Rica's Golden Coast. The newest luxury home in Playa del Coco has many similarities to other celebrity vacation homes in Costa Rica: the 2-tier infinity pool was designed by Joan Roca, just like Giselle's and Mel Gibson's; most enjoy coveted views of the sparkling [...]

Filed under: Travel on September 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

Putting CAFTA in the Hands of the People Help Earned Costa Rica this Recognition. The annual Latin American Index of Democratic Development has found that Costa Rica holds its number one spot for democratic nations. The private study collaborated with Polilat.com and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation to conduct its research, and results were released yesterday, September [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News, Travel on September 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

Critics Say ICE is Partially at Fault for its Outrageous Expenses. In the wake of the announcement that the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) may raise electricity rates by 30-80 percent, several groups have asked the Hacienda (Treasury Department) to grant the entity tax-free status for fossil fuel imports. Though only 10 percent of Costa Rica's [...]

Filed under: Costa Rica News on September 26th, 2008 | No Comments »