Ileana Fernandez

Christmas is a very special celebration for Ticos (Costa Ricans, as most of the readers of the Tico Times already know, are affectionately known as Ticos). Traditional food, gatherings with friends and family, presents, and decorations make this a fantastic season in the country. “El portal” or “el pasito” (the […]

Francis Durman, a distinguished Costa Rican entrepreneur, has been honored with the prestigious Businessman of the Year Award by El Financiero. On Tuesday, December 10, El Financiero hosted the 27th edition of the EF Awards, a highly anticipated annual event recognizing exceptional contributions to Costa Rica’s business sector. The awards spotlight achievements in entrepreneurship, innovation, […]

Costa Rica continues to strive for environmental protection. The country implemented the Payment for Marine Environmental Services Program. This initiative protects marine ecosystems by providing financial recognition for environmental services in mangrove forests, benefiting 157 women and men who sustainably harvest mollusks in the Gulf of Nicoya, Guanacaste Province. The program […]

The Culebra Reef Garden project, led by Peninsula Papagayo, is celebrating its fifth anniversary of coral restoration efforts in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Since its launch in 2019, the initiative has preserved over 10,000 coral fragments with the help of 125 dedicated volunteers, working tirelessly to combat the global crisis of […]

A bill proposing dramatic cuts to regional airfares cleared Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber, advancing legislation that would cap round-trip flights within Central America at $100.The “Low-Cost Flights to Central America” bill, approved in first debate by 29 legislators on October 8, would limit one-way tickets to $50 and set airport […]

Nicaraguan activist Reinaldo Picado Miranda, who fled to Costa Rica after taking part in the 2018 anti-government protests against Daniel Ortega’s regime, now faces an uncertain future. Detained since 2023, Picado’s case raises pressing questions about Costa Rica’s role as a refuge for those escaping political persecution. Picado, accused by […]

The Spanish newspaper El País published a report on sexual violence in Costa Rica. The article, titled “Costa Rica, a Paradise of Impunity for Sexual Aggressors,” gives a voice to victims and outlines the challenges faced by the country in addressing gender-based violence. Although the beaches of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are a paradise […]

Extreme poverty in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province has surged from 1.9% in 2021 to 3.9% in 2024, doubling in just three years. Workers in construction, lodging, and food services have been hit hardest, according to a recent analysis by the Observatory of Tourism, Migration, and Sustainability (Obtur) at the Chorotega […]

Wildlife trafficking poses a grave threat to Costa Rica’s biodiversity, with species like snakes and turtles among the most targeted. Despite strict laws and international agreements, weak enforcement and systemic issues such as corruption allow this illegal trade to flourish, endangering ecosystems and wildlife populations across the country. Snakes, turtles, […]

Costa Rica is facing another round of heavy rainfall as Tropical Depression 19, now circulating in the Caribbean Sea, moves closer to the country. The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) has warned that, combined with the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the cyclone will cause ongoing stormy conditions, bringing persistent rain, high winds, […]