This Week’s Top Costa Rica News Story
This week had two storylines running in parallel. One was policy-heavy and immediate: Costa Rica’s new role in U.S. deportations, and the basic question of who is actually prepared to carry it out. The other was more familiar: Holy Week travel pressure building, tourism headlines, and a steady drumbeat of environment and public-safety stories.
Costa Rica Becomes a Migration Hub Again
A new agreement with the United States would allow Washington to transfer up to 25 non-U.S. nationals per week to Costa Rica. The story quickly moved from headline to mechanics, with follow-up reporting showing confusion inside Costa Rica’s own institutions about how the plan would work in practice.
More News From Costa Rica This Week
Costa Rica’s Top Court Orders Urgent Action on Illegal Mining
Costa Rica ordered multiple institutions to act immediately against illegal mining activity in Crucitas, citing environmental damage and public health risks. This came as police operations in the area continued to turn up equipment and infrastructure linked to illegal extraction
Officials Block Permits for the Tárcoles Crocodile Viewing Deck
Authorities pushed back on the controversial crocodile deck proposal near the Tárcoles River bridge after questions were raised about permits and environmental risk in an area known for large crocodiles and heavy tourist foot traffic.
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Costa Rica Starts its First App to Identify Venomous Snakes
The Clodomiro Picado Institute at the University of Costa Rica released a free mobile app designed to help users identify venomous snakes and respond to bites, tying public education directly to the country’s antivenom expertise.
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Bezos’ Superyacht Koru draws attention off Guanacaste
The massive sailing yacht linked to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was reported off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast near Guanacaste, drawing attention from locals, tourists, and yacht trackers following its route around the Gulf of Papagayo.
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Costa Rica Cracks Down on Taxes for Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals
There is a law that came into effect October 2019 which aims to oversee tourist rental services such as: homes, apartments, villas, chalets, bungalows, single rooms and any other similar services and to protect the tourists that utilize these types of services.
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Travel, Politics and More
Spotlight
U.S. Travel Advisory Highlights Costa Rica as a Safer Choice in Central America
The latest U.S. State Department travel advisory update provides a fresh look at how safe American travelers are likely to be across Central America and the wider Latin American region
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