The Tico Times

Take a hard green plantain (plátano), cut it crosswise into rounds, fry them in oil, mash them flat, and fry them in oil again. If this doesn’t sound all that appetizing, you may not realize this is how you make patacones, a common and scrumptious treat in Costa Rica. As […]

Happy Easter from Costa Rica! Pictured above are the Ruins of Ujarrás. Located in a small town in the Cachí District of Paraíso canton in Cartago, the church is among Costa Rica’s oldest buildings. It’s a popular tourist spot, surrounded by beautiful gardens that are perfect for a picnic or for […]

Costa Rica’s Holy Week processions are a remarkable display of faith, tradition, and artistry that captivate onlookers regardless of their religious beliefs. These solemn events, particularly the Good Friday procession, are an integral part of the country’s cultural heritage. In 2016, Andrés Madrigal captured the essence of the Good Friday […]

Another year has come to an end, and it’s time to celebrate and give thanks. Here are a few suggestions for your Costa Rica Garden this year. You may also want to try including these plants as green gifts for neighbors and friends to express your affection. Plants can add […]

A high-speed car chase of suspected human smugglers ended in violence early Tuesday morning after the wife of the driver attacked police officers with a machete. The incident unfolded during a routine patrol by Costa Rican border police in the small northern town of Los Chiles, located near the Nicaraguan […]

The Costa Rican capital of San José has been flagged as one of the global cities with the most rapidly increasing cost of living over the past year, according to the 2023 Worldwide Cost of Living report by The Economist. Among 170 cities surveyed across the world, San José experienced […]

Costa Rica’s fishing and aquaculture agency this week moved to temper a court ruling aimed at eliminating hammerhead shark bycatch, arguing key elements prove unworkable in practice despite supporting sustainability goals overall. The Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA) petitioned for clarity around directives to totally eradicate incidental captures of […]

Costa Rican’s love a holiday like everyone else, so New Year’s is certainly no different. The season of celebrating continues throughout the holidays rolling all through Christmas right into the new year relishing in every opportunity to come together and enjoy the simplest pleasures in life. There is a sense […]

As the clock strikes midnight and the fireworks light up the night sky, thousands of Costa Rican families will have prepared for the rituals that, for generations, have marked the birth of a New Year. Some defy the choking hazard of eating 12 grapes in 12 seconds in order to […]

El Tope is a traditional Costa Rican festival celebrating their history and culture. It is an equestrian parade that is often part of local fiestas. The biggest of these celebrations takes place in the capital, San Jose and is known as El Gran Tope Nacional. We’ll take a look at […]