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Dreaming of a wedding in Costa Rica? You’re not alone. According to Consulting Monitoring, Guanacaste has firmly established itself in the global wedding tourism market, and it’s easy to see why. With an international airport in the province, close proximity to key markets like the United States and Canada, and top-notch hotel and logistics services, this region is a favorite for couples planning their big day. Couples traveling to Costa Rica for their weddings typically extend their stay for at least three days, with guest groups ranging from 40 to 500 people. This thriving industry generates around $80 billion in revenue worldwide—a figure expected to double by 2028. For Bernal Vargas, Manager of The Bohemian Hotel Playa Lagarto in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, the wedding market represents a “very important growth opportunity.” He points out that the comprehensive range of services required—legal assistance, event filming and photography, wedding planning, and more—not only supports loc...

The government of Nicaragua swore in 30,000 hooded civilians as “volunteer police” on Wednesday, who are considered by the opposition as paramilitaries intended to collaborate in political repression tasks. Dressed in white shirts and black pants, the hooded individuals formed lines at dusk in the Plaza de la Fe in Managua, the country’s capital, to swear with raised hands before President Daniel Ortega and his wife, “co-president” Rosario Murillo . “We swear in this heroic volunteer police, guerrillas of peace,” said Murillo. The “volunteer police” was created as part of a comprehensive reform to the Constitution, sealed on January 30 by a Congress controlled by the ruling Sandinista Front (FSLN, left). For several weeks, about 50,000 men and women from various provinces have joined this “auxiliary and support body” to the security forces. In a report published in Geneva on Wednesday on human rights in Nicaragua, a group of UN experts indicated that “the Government recruited ex-comb...

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany invites application for vacant Bachelor, Master, PhD, Postdoc and Faculty Positions,

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany invites application for vacant PhD Positions, a public research university in

The Nekajui—a Ritz-Carlton Reserve—has officially opened its doors in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Nestled within one of the world’s most biodiverse destinations, the resort offers travelers an ultra-luxury retreat amid the pristine natural beauty of Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo. This property marks the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Central and South America and is the eighth addition to the brand’s exclusive portfolio. Its name is derived from the Chorotega word for “lush garden.” Spread across 1,400 acres of dry tropical forest perched atop coastal cliffs, Nekajui features 107 ocean-facing rooms and suites, along with three luxury treetop tents that merge indoor and outdoor living. The accommodations include expansive guest rooms starting at 872 square feet, one- and two-bedroom suites, the four-bedroom Nekajui Grand Villa, and 36 private residences with two to five bedrooms. For guests seeking the utmost exclusivity, Villa Guayacán offers a 10-bedroom retreat set against a dramatic n...

Basketball legend Michael Jordan has returned to Costa Rica for the third time this year. The former NBA star and Hall of Famer has visited the Central American nation multiple times in recent months, sparking curiosity about his growing connection to Costa Rica. Jordan’s most recent arrival was recorded at 9:50 a.m. when his private jet touched down at Juan Santamaría International Airport, according to an official statement from Costa Rica’s Directorate of Immigration. In that statement, the agency confirmed, “Jordan’s arrival was duly recorded, further affirming Costa Rica’s reputation as a secure and welcoming destination for international visitors.” He then boarded another flight to Liberia, suggesting he may be heading toward the beaches in Guanacaste and the world-class fishing in that area at this time of year. The six-time NBA champion and former Chicago Bulls star first visited Costa Rica from January 6 to 12, 2025 . During that trip, he participated in the popular PELAGI...

Saudy Palacios crossed the dangerous Darién Gap jungle, on the border between Panama and Colombia, with the dream of reaching the United States, having a job, a home, and educating her son. Now she returns to Venezuela by sea with “broken dreams” due to President Donald Trump’s migration policy. Hundreds of migrants, many of them children, are boarding boats these days in Cartí, in the indigenous region of Guna Yala, on Panama’s Caribbean coast. They are heading south, a journey of about 12 hours to the port of Necoclí, in Colombia, and then continuing by land, most of them to Venezuela. They seek to bypass land controls that unsuccessfully try to manage the reverse migration flow and, above all, to avoid crossing the Darién jungle, which many traversed a few months ago when heading north and where they managed to survive criminal gangs and jungle dangers. But the danger doesn’t disappear. An eight-year-old Venezuelan girl died on Friday when one of these boats with about twenty mig...

The Jícaro reef, located in Culebra Bay, Guanacaste, has died. According to records from the Center for Marine Science and Limnology Research (Cimar-UCR), which has been monitoring the area since the 1990s, its decline is due to a combination of factors such as increasing water temperature, mass tourism, and pollution caused by urban growth. The El Niño phenomenon has led to a significant rise in sea temperature. According to experts, it reached 33°C, exceeding the tolerable thermal threshold for corals, which prefer temperatures close to 28°C. In just a few weeks of high and sustained temperatures, the reef at Jícaro beach experienced total bleaching in August. On the other hand, Bahía Culebra is situated on the Papagayo Peninsula, a locale characterized by massive tourist visitation, luxury hotels, and construction everywhere. The boats used by visitors with significant purchasing power, as well as jet skis and other activities they engage in, exert considerable pressure on the ree...

A boat carrying 19 South American migrants blocked from entering the United States sank off the coast of Panama as they returned to their home countries, leaving an 8-year-old Venezuelan girl dead, authorities said Saturday. The boat went down Friday night “due to strong waves caused by bad weather” in Caribbean waters off northeast Panama, the country’s Senafront border service said. Aboard were migrants from Venezuela and Colombia, and two crew members. Aside from the girl who died, the others were all rescued, Senafront said. “The event occurred in the context of the reverse migratory flow,” the agency said. The migrants were returning home from Mexico and Central American countries after giving up on trying to enter the United States amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal entries. They were traveling by boat to avoid crossing Panama’s treacherous Darien jungle, with dangers including fast-flowing rivers, wild animals and criminal gangs. UN children’s agency UNICEF ex...

RWTH Aachen University in Germany invites application for vacant Research Positions, a German public research university located in

A boat carrying 19 migrants from Venezuela and Colombia, along with two Indigenous Panamanian crew members, capsized in Caribbean waters off Panama on Friday night, authorities confirmed. The tragic accident, blamed on heavy swells and adverse weather conditions, claimed the life of an 8‑year‑old Venezuelan boy, according to Panama’s Senafront border service. Border police said the vessel, overloaded with 21 people, was part of a “reverse flow” of migrants returning home after facing tightened U.S. immigration policies. Once hopeful of seeking asylum in the United States, many of these migrants had seen their plans dashed when President Donald Trump’s administration shuttered the Biden-era CBP One app used for formal asylum requests. Rescue efforts by Panamanian authorities have so far saved 20 individuals, though officials expressed deep regret over the loss of the child. “We are doing everything in our power to save lives and provide assistance to those stranded at sea,” a spokesp...

Costa Rica received a group of 135 migrants, who were transferred to the Center for Temporary Attention of Migrants (CATEM) at the Southern Border after midnight on February 22.The migrants, most of whom will eventually be returned to their countries of origin, arrived in Costa Rica as part of a bilateral agreement signed with the United States to manage the increasing numbers of deported individuals. Costa Rican authorities decided to house them at this particular center, located in the Southern Zone. While there is no official explanation, CATEM is used to temporarily house migrants. A similar measure was implemented by the Panamanian government, which chose to transfer a group of migrants to the San Vicente refugee camp in Metetí, in the jungle province of Darién. Migration experts believe this is likely a cost-saving measure. The location also allows for better coordination of deportation flights, facilitating the grouping of migrants based on their different destinations. Accor...

Costa Rica recently became the latest destination for a group of 135 deported migrants—including 65 minors—from the United States. The flight, which departed from San Diego, California, arrived at a base adjacent to Juan Santamaría International Airport on Thursday, according to the Costa Rican government. Once on the ground, the deportees were transported by bus to a migrant facility approximately 360 kilometers (224 miles) from San José, near the border with Panama, where they will remain pending repatriation to their countries of origin or onward transfer to host nations such as Panama and Guatemala. Conditions and Handling on Arrival Multiple international and national organizations monitored the arrival of the migrants to ensure that their rights were respected and that conditions during transit and processing were documented. However, several flaws in the handling process have come to light. The Ombudsman’s Office reported that the reception area at Juan Santamaría Internationa...

Aalto University in Finland invites application for vacant PhD Positions, a community of bold thinkers where science and

PhD and Academic Positions at Aalto University, a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology

PhD and Postdoctoral Positions at The University of Helsinki, is a university located in Helsinki, Finland. the oldest

The Ministry of Health approved a new regulation that will facilitate the sale of medical cannabis products to help patients who urgently need them to treat their health conditions. The regulations establish registration, control, and labeling requirements, ensuring that drugs and natural products are differentiated and safe. According to the Ministry of Health, these products based on psychoactive cannabis will be available only with a medical prescription in pharmacies. In 2022, Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly approved a bill to allow the use of medical cannabis and established a regulation to create a national industry dedicated to manufacturing the products. However, almost three years after its enactment, there has been little concrete progress in terms of providing patients with access to cannabis and improving their quality of life. In view of this situation, the current administration presented the new regulations. “This will be a change in the lives of many people in this...

Technical University of Munich in Germany invites application for vacant PhD and Academic Positions, a public research university

The University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Research Positions, a public research

Howler monkeys, native to Costa Rica, are increasingly threatened by human activity. Traditionally known for swinging from branch to branch using their tails, these monkeys are now often seen navigating power lines due to uncontrolled urbanization that has reshaped many ecosystems. When these animals jump from power line to power line, they can inadvertently create an electric circuit that may injure or even kill them. The Wild Sun Rescue Center, a non-profit animal rescue organization, frequently deals with this issue. According to their data, from August 2018 to January 2019, over 50% of the monkeys admitted to the center were victims of electrocution , and 75% of those cases were fatal. The majority of survivors had to remain at the rescue center, while only a minority were eventually released back into the wild. The environmental and economic costs of these incidents are high. Rescue and treatment cost about US$1,500 per monkey, and repair expenses for damaged power lines range ...

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Salvadoran environmentalists accused President Nayib Bukele’s government this Saturday of “persecution” and “harassment” for rejecting metal mining promoted by the president and held him responsible for any potential “attacks” against their physical integrity. The environmentalists pointed out that the government and mining advocates have systematically orchestrated “smear” and “mockery” campaigns against them to “generate hatred” and criminalize protests against mining defended by Bukele. “Mining opponents are subject to persecution and harassment, so from this day forward, we directly hold the government responsible for any attack,” stated Samuel Núñez from the environmental movement Voices of the Future during a press conference. Late last year, the Salvadoran Congress, controlled by Bukele, approved a law promoted by the president to reactivate metal mining , which had been prohibited in the country since 2017. The president maintains that, according to a study whose authorship ...

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Panama said it had received a first US military plane transporting 119 deportees of various nationalities, who will now be repatriated to their own countries. President Jose Raul Mulino, who has offered his country as a stopover for migrants expelled from the United States by the Donald Trump administration, said the plane arrived Wednesday with “people of the most diverse nationalities,” many from Asia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama two weeks ago, meeting Mulino in the midst of a dispute over ownership of the Panama Canal, which Trump had vowed the United States would be “taking back.” After the visit, Rubio voiced optimism Panama would address US concerns, including over alleged Chinese influence on the operation of the critical US-built waterway. Mulino also promised to step up cooperation on the new administration’s top priority — repatriating undocumented migrants. He offered Rubio the use of an airstrip in the town of Meteti in Darien, the dense jungle that...

The iconic cypress trees that adorned the streets of San Rafael de Heredia, particularly in the residential area of El Tirol, were cut down following a lawsuit filed by a foreign resident, Irina Mijaylovna Tkachenko. She claimed that the 65 cypress trees, located on public roads at the entrance of Residencial El Monte (known as “El Tirol”), endangered her private property and life. The Municipality of San Rafael commented that while the process began in 2021, the final notification to cut down the trees was not received until December 19, 2022. The decision has sparked outrage among residents in the district of Heredia. “Today, we share the displeasure that the felling of trees at the entrance to El Tirol has caused for thousands of citizens, and we would like to question the importance of identity that certain places, such as this one, have created over the generations,” posted a social media account dedicated to showcasing the province of Heredia. While the Municipality acknowledg...

The University of Kentucky in United States invites application for vacant Postdoc and Academic Positions, a public university

Costa Rica ranks 52nd in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), published by Transparency International. The country moved up three positions compared to last year’s ranking and obtained a score of 58/100. The CPI is the most widely used global corruption ranking in the world. It measures how corrupt each country’s public sector is perceived to be, according to experts and businesspeople. Each country’s score is a combination of at least three data sources drawn from 13 different corruption surveys and assessments. These data sources are collected by various reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. According to Transparency International, leading the region this year are Uruguay (CPI score: 76), Canada (75), and Barbados (68) – all relatively stable democracies with high levels of transparency and participation. At the other end of the index, states ravaged by organized crime and human rights abuses hold the lowest scores – Haiti (16), Nic...

At least 52 people died on Monday when a bus carrying more than 70 passengers plunged into a ravine at the northern entrance to Guatemala City, according to the latest toll from authorities, a tragedy for which the government declared “national mourning.” The bus fell, for reasons under investigation, from a road next to the Belice Bridge, the main access to the capital from the country’s north and northeast regions and was destroyed with its wheels up amid vegetation and a sewage river. The capital’s Emergency Administration coordinator, Héctor Flores, specified that 52 bodies were recovered, the last being the bus driver, who was extracted with great difficulty from the twisted metal. The bodies were piled in a makeshift morgue in a community hall near the accident site, where several anxious relatives of the victims gathered. Through tears, Rosa López, 48, told journalists that four of her nephews were traveling on the bus. “When we heard about the accident on the news, we came he...

Karolinska Institute in Sweden invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Academic Positions, a research-led medical university in

Nottingham Trent University invites application for a vacant Research and Academic Positions, a research university in Nottingham, England.

Cardiff University in United Kingdom invites application for vacant Academic and Research Positions, a public research university in

I got to know Horizontes, more specifically Estación Experimental Forestal Horizontes , by accident. I had a contract to place camera traps on a few private farms in Guanacaste. Two of those farms happened to only be accessible by riding a rented horse named Superman on a six hour round trip directly through the tropical dry forest that makes up this protected area. As Superman and I slowly rode under the canopy of the forest, I thought to myself, ‘I love it here. I need to get some camera traps in this forest.’ After some starts and stops, plenty of paperwork, and with the help of the administrators who are in charge of everything that happens there, I was able to team up with the staff of Horizontes and start a wildlife monitoring program using camera traps. The unique aspect of this particular project is that you, Tico Times reader, are invited to participate. The project is set up as a wildlife tour where the general public is invited into the forest with me to review camera tra...

Costa Rica is positioning itself as a future semiconductor hub, a vision that has received strong support from the U.S. government over recent years. In an effort to secure a reliable supply chain for critical devices, U.S. officials have emphasized the strategic benefits of having semiconductor components sourced from Costa Rica. Initially, the Trump administration dispelled doubts by publicly endorsing Costa Rica as a key partner in the semiconductor industry . The Business and Economic Section of the U.S. Department of State issued a message of support that highlighted how a diversified supply chain could help avoid potential disruptions in semiconductor production. This early backing was seen as a significant vote of confidence in Costa Rica’s ability to attract investment in this high-tech sector. The momentum continued during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Costa Rica. Although Rubio did not make any direct statements on the topic during his public appeara...

Starbucks is set to invest approximately $11 million over the next five years in Costa Rica, fueling the opening of at least 15 new coffee shops and creating an estimated 250 new jobs. The expansion plan includes an investment of roughly $750,000 per new location, underscoring the company’s commitment to strengthening its footprint both within and beyond the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM). María José Gutiérrez, marketing manager for Starbucks Costa Rica, outlined the strategy to launch a minimum of three new locations each year, with the possibility of additional outlets if promising opportunities arise. “There are very good opportunities out there, and we may consider expanding further,” she explained. In 2025, Starbucks will mark its second venture outside the GAM by opening three new stores in Guanacaste. The company previously ventured beyond the metropolitan zone last year with a location in Herradura, in the Central Pacific region. The upcoming openings are scheduled at str...

University of Bristol in United Kingdom invites application for vacant Research and Teaching Positions, red brick Russell Group

The Art City Tour (ACT) returns to San José with the event “For the Love of Chepe” (“Por Amor a Chepe”), inviting the public to explore the city’s art and urban culture while celebrating Valentine’s Day. Held four times a year, this special edition of the event will take place on Thursday, February 13, starting at 5:00 p.m., with free admission for all attendees. Participants can immerse themselves in a unique experience where artistic expressions take center stage. San José will transform into a vibrant stage showcasing creativity, diversity, and local talent, promising an unforgettable night for visitors. This edition features 10 different spaces offering a variety of cultural activities, including exhibitions, guided tours, talks, and performances of famous opera arias. To help attendees navigate the event, activities are divided into two circuits: Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s Rediscover San José Route INS Group Route Among the standout activities, the Jade Museum will pre...

My Tica wife was one of 14 kids. Twelve of the fourteen, all between the ages of early 50s to mid 70s are still alive. They communicate regularly, and by regularly, I mean daily. Every day I listen to my wife doing a video call with one or more of her siblings. All are in Costa Rica except her youngest brother who lives and works legally in the Miami area. They have a Whatsapp group that includes various sons, daughters, nieces and nephews. It is not unusual for my wife to click on and hear a stream of a dozen messages. These can be divided into four types: Greetings (“Buenos dias a todos!”), Food updates (“Que ricos chicharrones comemos hoy”), Weather updates (“Mucha lluvia aca”), and family updates (“Mija ya trabaja en una oficina.”) I occasionally complain to her. ‘I love your family’, I might say, ‘it’s just that there are SO many of them’. I do not understand why they have to be in touch so regularly to discuss what are often the most mundane topics. She counters by saying tha...

The University of York is a collegiate research university, located in the city of York, England. Established in

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica has issued an urgent alert to travelers near Juan Santamaría International Airport ( SJO ) following reports of two separate car-related criminal incidents in recent weeks. According to embassy officials, both incidents occurred along a route adjacent to the DHL warehouse—a busy corridor commonly used by travelers heading toward the Santa Ana area. Criminals have been observed waiting for solitary vehicles to pass by a vacant lot, where they then launch stones or other objects at moving cars. The intent, officials say, is to force drivers to stop so that the perpetrators can commit theft. In one incident, stones struck a vehicle, causing damage to the windshield and roof. The driver, however, did not stop and was able to leave the area with only moderate damage reported. In a second incident, a driver stopped after being targeted, allowing the criminals to board the vehicle, rob the individual, and steal the car. The dangerous stretch of road loops aro...

PhD Scholarships at Lund University, one of northern Europe’s oldest universities in Sweden. PhD student in Neuroscience (PA2025/381)Neurologi,

Research and Academic Positions at University of Leicester, a public research university based in Leicester, England, United Kingdom.

In a groundbreaking achievement, Costa Rica has cemented its position as Latin America’s renewable energy champion, with an astounding 98% of its electricity generated from clean sources over the past five years. This remarkable feat, highlighted in CAF’s Economy and Development Report (RED) 2024, showcases how this small nation is redefining sustainable development in the region. The country’s commitment to renewable energy goes beyond environmental stewardship; it’s a catalyst for economic growth and social equity. Costa Rica boasts the highest rate of residential electrification in Latin America, with 70% of households using electricity for cooking and heating. This clean energy revolution has attracted international attention, spurring a 24% surge in foreign direct investment in 2023 and the launch of 59 multinational projects in 2023-2024 alone. “For the first time, we can decouple economic growth from emissions,” declares CAF Executive President Sergio Diaz-Granados. This decou...

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Bitcoin was never used by most Salvadorans, its modern city was never built, and now it will cease to be legal tender in El Salvador, the first country in the world to adopt it in 2021: a complete failed economic bet by President Nayib Bukele. Congress, dominated by the ruling party, approved last Wednesday a confusing reform to the Bitcoin Law at the request of Bukele’s government, which had no other option to receive the $1.4 billion credit agreed in December with the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ). The reform eliminated the word “currency” when referring to bitcoin, but says it is “ legal tender .” Despite the lack of clarity, it lifts, as required by the IMF, the obligation to accept it in transactions or debt payments, a key condition for it to be “legal tender,” according to economic analysts. With the change, “if someone owes you money and wants to pay you in bitcoin, you can refuse to be paid in bitcoin, but you cannot refuse if it’s legal tender,” economist Carlos Aceved...

The University of Basel in Switzerland invites application for vacant PhD and Academic Positions, offers attractive terms of employment and supports the advancement of staff. Lab Manager / Lab Technician (80 – 100%) 31.01.2025 Administrative*r Mitarbeiter*in dezentrales HR (Mutterschaftsvertretung) 60% 31.01.2025 Wissenschaftliche/r Assistent/in Nahoststudien (DOC 60%) 31.01.2025 Wissenschaftliche/r Assistent/in Nahoststudien (POSTDOC 60%) 30.01.2025 Administrative/r Assistent/in...

Postdoctoral Scholarships at ETH Zurich, one of the leading universities for technology and the natural sciences in Switzerland. Postdoctoral Position in Stimuli-Responsive Organometallic Chemistry100%, Zurich, fixed-term30.01.2025 | Department of Chemistry Postdoctoral Chemical Data Scientist100%, Zurich, fixed-term28.01.2025 | Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences Postdoctoral Fellow in Metastable Nanomaterial Synthesis100%, Zurich, fixed-term27.01.2025 | Department of Mechnical...

PhD Scholarships at ETH Zurich, one of the leading universities for technology and the natural sciences in Switzerland. PhD Positions in Stimuli-Responsive Organometallic Chemistry100%, Zurich, fixed-term30.01.2025 | Department of Chemistry PhD position Wood Materials Science – DC10: High-strength cellulose composites with enhanced flame retardency and water repellency- within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks...