From volcanoes and jungles to jaguars and sea turtles: get back to nature in Costa Rica

The natural world really puts on a show when we leave the environment untouched – and if there’s a country which knows this more than most, it’s Costa Rica. Monkeys swing excitedly through its dense trees, and jaguars slink sensuously through its...

Keep calm in Costa Rica: discover nature, culture and wellbeing that feeds the mind, body and soul

When life gets too hectic, all we want to do is slow down. To take a moment, to step into a quiet space, to stop, disconnect, and just breathe. And there is nowhere more ideal to do this than in Costa Rica, which has become a wellness haven for...

Da Vinci Code author finds peace in Costa Rica while promoting new novel

Dan Brown, author of the famous novel The Da Vinci Code, which has sold more than 80 million copies, revealed that he lives in Costa Rica for six months of the year. In an interview with El País, on the occasion of the release of his latest book,...

Why Costa Rica became the nation with the largest increase in foreign millionaires in Latin America

Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica is the country with the largest increase in foreign millionaires in Latin America over the last decade, according to a ranking of high-net-worth individuals. According to the “Private Wealth Migration 2025” report,...

Costa Rica Permaculture Revolution Turns Waste into Water and Wealth

In Costa Rica’s Monteverde hills, a 17-hectare reserve is turning sun, rain, wind, and soil into partners instead of obstacles. Through permaculture, residents are proving that scarcity can be reshaped into design—and that resilience begins with...

Million-dollar semiconductor investment in Costa Rica is on hold due to Donald Trump’s protectionist policies

Q COSTARICA — Every time you tap your phone, start up an electric car, or get online, you’re relying on something tiny: a semiconductor, smaller than your fingernail. Costa Rica was all set to join the booming semiconductor industry. It looked...

Innovative Project Promotes Coffee Sustainability in Costa Rica

Café Plus is implementing an innovative project that includes a payment-for-results mechanism to promote regenerative practices in coffee production, aligned with international standards. Heredia, September 2025. “Espresso Van” is the first mobile...

Costa Rican banana sector records 20% drop in exports due to excessive rainfall

Costa Rica's banana sector is facing one of its most difficult periods due to the extreme weather conditions that have hit the Caribbean region. According to data from the National Banana Corporation (Corbana), during the first half of 2025,...

UNA says Costa Rica’s economy is stagnant despite the growth in free trade zones

Q COSTARICA — The Costa Rican economy is advancing at two speeds. While the special regime and free trade zones are driving growth, local production—which represents 85% of GDP—is showing worrying stagnation, according to the Second Macroeconomic...

Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique, Costa Rica, hotel review

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Tariffs, bird flu and severe weather are pushing some everyday groceries to record prices

If you’ve been to the store lately, the price of some goods may look a little different. From bananas and oranges to chicken, a handful of everyday grocery items are at or less than a cent away from record prices. The most noticeable of these?...

The “Masterminds Chess Challenge 2025” Tournament is Launched in Costa Rica

The first edition of the “Masterminds Chess Challenge 2025,” a free individual tournament designed for young strategists is launched. The event, which seeks to promote the development of analytical and critical thinking skills, will take place on...

Health Law Reform Seeks to Reduce Noise Pollution in Costa Rica

The Legislative Assembly’s Environment Committee is analyzing a reform to the General Health Law to address the growing noise pollution in Costa Rica. The initiative contemplates stricter sanctions, ranging from gradual fines to the revocation of...

Costa Rica Rental House Stories – From Doorknob Disasters to Gecko Guests

We’ve lived in a long line of rental properties over our time in Costa Rica. In sequential order, we started in a tiny apartment where we experienced an earthquake and then a small house where the dirt road out front covered everything in a fine...

Annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations make adjustments amid current political climate

Each year during Hispanic Heritage Month, huge celebrations can be expected across the U.S. to showcase the diversity and culture of Hispanic people. This year, the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns, a federally led English-only...

Waldorf Astoria Debuts in Costa Rica with Grand Opening in Punta Cacique

The Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica officially opened its doors in Punta Cacique, combining the brand’s iconic luxury with the Guanacaste identity and marking a new chapter for high-end tourism in the region. It is the first Waldorf Astoria in Costa...

Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique Celebrates its Recent Opening

Dignitaries, Hilton leadership and partners celebrate the opening of Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique on September 11. From left to right: Ruben Gabino, general manager, Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, Steve Case, chairman and...

Beyond The Checklist: Embedding Sustainability Into Hotel Strategy for Lasting Impact

Let’s start with the obvious: there is a lot going on in the world today. In a rapidly changing and increasingly unpredictable global landscape, hotels must find ways to remain competitive and resilient in the long term, even when the realities of...

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations make adjustments in current political climate

Each year during Hispanic Heritage Month, huge celebrations can be expected across the US to showcase the diversity and culture of Hispanic people. This year, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns, a federally led English-only...

Costa Rica Reaches 10 Organ Donors per Million Population

For the first time in the history of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, our country has achieved a donation rate of 10 donors per million inhabitants (dpmh), placing us among the Latin American...