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The war in the Middle East has prompted more ships to use the Panama Canal, a senior executive for the interoceanic waterway said Monday. Deputy administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta said that daily transits have risen sharply in recent weeks as shippers adjust to disruptions elsewhere. The month-long conflict began Feb. 28 and has seen Iran effectively blockade the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil and gas exports normally pass. “We had expected around 34 daily passages for this year, but in the last two weeks we’ve been having 38, 39, 40,” Espino de Marotta said. About 5 percent of global maritime trade passes through the Panama Canal. Its main users are the United States and China. The route primarily connects the east coast of the United States with Asia, South Korea and Japan. Espino de Marotta described the waterway as a safe, short option that delivers better economies of scale even with current fuel prices. She warned, however, that 40 daily transi...

If you have a trip to Costa Rica booked on JetBlue or you’re planning one it’s time to take a close look at what your total travel cost is actually going to be. A new round of fee increases just went into effect, and with volatile fuel prices showing no sign of easing, this likely isn’t the last adjustment travelers will face. JetBlue has raised the price to check a first piece of luggage for domestic, Caribbean, and Latin America flights to $39 for off-peak periods, up from $35. During peak periods which cover much of the summer and major holidays that fee jumps to $49, up from $40. For anyone flying from JFK, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, or Orlando to San José or Liberia, that means your baggage costs are heading up immediately. The timing matters too. Passengers who check bags within 24 hours of departure will be charged an additional $10 per bag on top of those rates. In other words, if you’re the type to handle logistics at the airport rather than in advance, that first checked bag ...

The first reaction from every friend or family member that I’ve taken to the beach in Guanacaste has been, “There’s nobody here!” Where I come from in the US the beaches are busy places. You’d better arrive early and claim your patch of sand before the crowd arrives. What is a straight path from your beach blanket to the waves in the morning, transforms to a zig-zaggy route around sunbathers, beach toys, and umbrellas by early afternoon. The tropical beaches of Guanacaste on the other hand, are often wonderfully abandoned. Most times of the year real estate on the beach is wide open, to be split between you and a few other folks whose silhouettes you see relaxing under a distant palm. That is, unless you want to go to the beach during Semana Santa. Semana Santa is Holy Week in Costa Rica, the week leading up to Easter Sunday. Just about every Tico in Ticolandia has some or all of the week off from work. For many, that means it’s time to go the beach. In Guanacaste, the swell begins ...

Costa Rica is rolling out the welcome mat this Easter Holy Week, with all 29 protected wildlife areas open and operating under regular schedules. The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), and the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism ( ICT ) are encouraging both local and international travelers to take advantage of the country’s natural attractions during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. The push is as much about economics as it is about nature. Communities surrounding Costa Rica’s national parks — hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and local shops — depend heavily on Holy Week visitors, and authorities say responsible tourism is one of the most direct ways travelers can support those local economies. Minister of Environment and Energy Franz Tattenbach summed it up simply: “The national parks offer an opportunity to enjoy diverse landscapes and recreational activities in contact with nature.” From the cloud forests o...

Nicaragua is marking Holy Week with a mix of religious devotion, family travel and local customs that give Semana Santa in the country a character all its own. As churches hold Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter observances, tourism officials have also rolled out a nationwide holiday agenda that includes more than 60 recreational, cultural, religious and beach events. For many Nicaraguans, the season is split between faith and vacation. Beach destinations and tourism centers draw heavy traffic during the holiday period, with San Juan del Sur, Granada, León, Ometepe and other popular spots expected to see strong demand. Government-linked tourism coverage has projected national hotel occupancy between 60% and 70%, with some destinations reaching 80% to 100% during the week. One of Nicaragua’s most distinctive Semana Santa traditions actually comes just before Holy Week begins. In Monimbó, Masaya, hundreds gather at the Magdalena church for the Saint Lazarus celebration, where resident...