Pictured above is the Fer De Lance Snake, one of the regions most deadly. Although the production of antivenom is at normal levels, an unexplained over demand is causing severe shortages, which worry farmers, its main consumers, who are requesting the drug’s importation. Veterinary antivenom produced in Costa Rica is produced by the Clodomiro Picado Institute, whose director Alberto Al...

The terrain here in Costa Rica varies sometimes from foot step to foot step. You can drastically change your elevation in just a few minutes. The composition of the soil is just as varied. The piece of land down by our river has a beautiful dark, wormy soil while the orange soil at the top of the hill crumbles underneath your shoes. When we plant food and flowers we have to take into considera...

Costa Rica's National Seismological Network (RSN) published a detailed report about the changes to the country's active volcanoes induced by the great M7.6 earthquake of September 5 and recommends the access closure to the craters of Rincón de la Vieja and Turrialba volcanoes, which increased activity. On September 5, 2012 at 8:42 am (local time) there was a great earthquake at 10 km south...

  The Tico Times had a long standing tradition here in Costa Rica. At one point they were regarded as a pillar of English language media for many decades. However, The Tico Times is not the oldest English language newspaper in Costa Rica, that honour goes to "The News" founded in 1897. We know how The Tico Times likes to claim they are the oldest, but that is simply not true. With the end ...

Note: this content is very detailed, reader discretion is advised. ABSTRACT Humans and other primates exchange sex for resources. In the case of humans, this exchange includes sexual work. There are few previous studies on sex work in San José, Costa Rica that include data on how much is paid for sexual services. We studied the price of female sex work, and how the profits are distribute...

As evidenced by the recent media coverage of the Summer Olympics in London and films like Magic Mike, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, the male physique is becoming sexually objectified by adoring women -including liberated Ticas. Costa Rica may seem like an unlikely place where women will gather in groups to gawk at, and very often grab a handful of, masculine hunks wearing noth...

The Board of Nutritionists of Costa Rica has threatened Home Economics high school teachers with lawsuits if they dare defy a new pilot program that favors the teaching of personal finance instead of cooking and household chores. According to a news report by Ana Amenabar of Diario Extra, the Association of Secondary School Teachers (APSE in Spanish) has filed an emergency motion for relief before...

Carlos Pascal, president of Limon F.C. -a Caribbean football team that has played in the First Division in Costa Rica- is scheduled to stand trial starting today and through the end of August. Mr. Pascal faces criminal charges of laundering more than $30 million over the last few years, according to a news report published by online newspaper Costa Rica Hoy earlier today. An investigation conduct...

Source: INBio Costa Rica People who live in the rural areas of intermediate elevation in Costa Rica, which happens to be a major portion of the country, are used to hearing a diversity of wild noises in the predawn hours, or after the sun goes down. While many of these animal calls come from the farms and forest areas surrounding residential neighborhoods, some homeowners and tenants are often a...

Costa Rica will celebrate Mother's Day on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012 with a national holiday, on the same day that the Roman Catholic faithful celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Heaven. Mother's Day in Costa Rica has always been one of the country's most important holiday celebrations, and while it has seen a number of transformations from a deeply religious eve...

Source: Casa Presidencial On the first day of her visit to the People's Republic of China, President Laura Chinchilla initiated an agreement that will allow GeSolar, a Chinese utility company work with a counterpart from Costa Rica in the development of a solar power plant. Our President was witness to the signing of the agreement between GeSolar and GreenerSys, and as the documents were execute...

The Teribe fight for this land in Costa Rica. Pablo Sibar, a grassroots leader from the Teribe native tribe of Costa Rica celebrated the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9th with a protest before the National Assembly. He has been doing so over the last ten years, sometimes at the steps of the Assembly, others just outside the Presidential Office in Zapote. Mr. Sibar...

The pretty white Marango tree flower. Source: INBIO Costa Rica There is a tree that grows in certain areas of Guanacaste and other regions of Costa Rica that -depending on who you choose to believe- could wipe out hunger on a global level, cure most diseases tied to vitamin deficiencies, boost sustainable farming practices, serve as a renewable energy source, and even make people rich in just a ...

Back in the water. Source: Ministry of Public Safety A leatherback turtle that was trapped by poachers in Costa Rica is once again swimming the waters of the Caribbean thanks to the quick action of Fuerza Public officers, who also apprehended four suspects. Tortugero National Park is a sanctuary for the sea turtles that massively arrive in the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica for nesting....

The old "cash is king" adage is losing stock in Costa Rica, and banks are cashing in on the new proclivities of Ticos who are charmed by plastic currency, online banking and mobile technologies. According to a comprehensive series of investigative articles on the prominent newspaper La Nacion, Costa Rica is a nation that is ripe for a cashless transformation, much to the delight of payment process...

Reaching out to the community in San Ramon. Source: Fuerza Publica Officials from the Ministry of Public Safety and Fuerza Publica are seeking assistance from law enforcement experts in Brazil and the Embassy of the United States of America to improve community police efforts and to combat corruption among their ranks. Costa Rica has been working towards the improvement and modernization of Fuer...

The government of Costa Rica signed an agreement with Panthera, an organization dedicated to protecting cats, to take action on behalf of the Jaguar in Latin America. The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, said the deal with Panthera commits the parties to pursue scientific and conservation initiatives that help to preserve the largest cat in the Americas, which is in d...

Amatierra is the proud winner of the 2012 TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award for Excellence. You can view HD pictures of Amatierra on The Costa Rica Star Facebook page. There is a place in Costa Rica where a unique award winning Yoga retreat awaits to provide travelers with breathtaking scenery, serenity and a holistic method to alleviate body and soul. Vacations are supposed to liberat...

Source: NASA SAN JOSE – Starting at 11:00 PM on Sunday, August 5th (0500 UTC/GMT on Monday, August 6th), TV viewers in Costa Rica will be able to watch live coverage of the latest United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission to Mars on Teletica channel 7. The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is currently just a few hours away from the Red Planet. This space vehicl...

Life in Costa Rica is supposed to be an easy endeavor for everyone; after all, how hard can it be to live in a country where "Pura Vida" is not just a motto, but rather a philosophy of being and living? Thousands of expats find themselves mystified by Pura Vida and decide to give it a try without realizing that underneath the Zen-like visage of life in Costa Rica there are a number of intricac...

Playing a Tica: Zuleyka Rivera on the set of Runner, Runner A big-budget Hollywood production based on a script about the ostentatiously shadowy world of offshore gambling in Costa Rica -starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Brad Furman- is expected to hit the box office about a year from now. "Runner, Runner" is currently in production, and it...

People in Costa Rica are being marketed a new treadmill, and not just because more Ticos are joining the ranks of the overweight and obese around the world. This treadmill is behavioral, and if its marketing forces are successful, Ticos will lose their status as citizens of the happiest country in the world. The hedonic treadmill being peddled to Ticos is a direct result of globalization and the n...

Costa Rica is filled with attractive lodging options, but when it comes to San Jose the options become narrower. The capital city has lots of potential, but it seems as if hoteliers sometimes forget about it. For this reason, backpackers are often resigned to spending scary nights at the rundown hotels near the Coca Cola bus terminal, businessmen flock to the soulless and expensive chain hotels, a...

Expats living in Costa Rica will, at some point in their lives, hear about an urban horror story about the neighborhoods that make up the populous Hatillo district of San Jose. The story will often be accompanied by a piece of unsolicited advice about how it's not a safe place for a foreigner to venture into, despite the fact the 2000 census determined that 6.5 percent of the population in Hat...

The Costa Rica Star has recently published information about receiving your permanent residency in Costa Rica to avoid border runs, wasting time, and money. A couple of months ago, a temporary permit was issued to foreigners who are illegally in the country to opt for permanent residency. These new conditions were discussed by Kattya Rodriguez, Director of Immigration to Iary Gomez and general...

One of the horses did not survive. Source: Fuerza Publica Tracking down crooks and protecting the people of Costa Rica is procedural work for the brave men and women of Fuerza Publica, but versatility has become a priority for one of our country's most visible public service organizations. Here's a recap of recent actions by Fuerza Publica officers actively involved not only in chasing down outl...

Source: Flickr News media reports in Costa Rica and Germany indicate that a high court in the state of Hesse has issued an arrest warrant for Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and star of the reality television hit show Whale Wars. Mr. Watson has failed to appear this week before court-appointed German officials assigned to his bail supervision while he awaited ex...

LIMON – Officials from the National Coast Guard Service in Costa Rica patrolling the Pacuare Inlet sector in the Caribbean Zone caught three suspects who were preparing a crude field butchery of three leatherback sea turtles. The incident occurred during the early hours of Sunday while the Coast Guard was conducting a patrol mission specifically intended to look out for sea turtle poachers and but...

Hollywood star Darryl Hannah and Paul Watson in 2008. Source: Flickr SAN JOSE – Paul Watson, the contentious environmentalist and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, may have left Germany -according to a news report written by Hulda Miranda of prominent newspaper La Nacion. Mr. Watson had been in Germany since May 13th, after he was arrested in Frankfurt by law enforcement officers...

Spend only hours in Costa Rica and you are still likely to come across the ubiquitous brand of Dos Pinos. Easily the most popular and profitable Dairy Operation in Costa Rica (and much of Central America), their milk, ice cream, yogurts, cheeses and other varied list of dairy (and other) products can be found in every Costa Rica hotel, business, restaurant and private household in the county, ...

Source: Flickr The fifth season of the Emmy-nominated reality television series Whale Wars came to an end on Friday night with "Target Acquired", its final episode. The Emmy-nominated Whale Wars features Paul Watson, the controversial founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an organization committed to protect aquatic life with direct action that is often contentious. As Paul Watson is...

Vehicles crossing Paso Canoas in 2009 President Laura Chinchilla met with her Panamanian counterpart Ricardo Martinelli at the Sixaola southern border days ago to inaugurate a new bridge that will connect both Central American nations. The initial border crossing will be a provisional Bailey bridge, and it is expected to remain in place until both nations obtain $30 million in funding for the pe...

Updated November 2017: With a total of 1228km of coastline to offer, it is no wonder Costa Rica is known for its countless beach destinations. It is also no surprise that travellers have a hard time deciding on which beach town to visit, since there are so many different options to consider. For the purpose of this post, we will focus on Costa Rica’s northern pacific beaches stretching from the...

Rare earth elements not included - for now. Author's Note: This article seeks to retract statements made in previous articles published earlier this year by The Costa Rica Star with regard to the use of rare earth metals in our country. The specific articles are: The Role of Rare Earth in Costa Rica's Future, published on Valentine's Day, and ICE Could Soon Produce 100 Megawatts of Wind Power in...

SAN JOSE – Despite being home to some of the most destitute communities in Costa Rica, a successful environmental education program runs smoothly in the Brunca region. The community leaders, however, are firm believers in development that is harmonious with environmental conservation. The Environmental Community Education Program of the La Amistad International Park and Buffer Zone (Educa-PIL...

A visitor to Madame Tussaud's Museum in Las Vegas poses next to an effigy of Daniel Craig as Agent 007. Source: Flickr San Jose – The work of legendary MI6 agent James Bond of Her Majesty's Secret Service could be made easier by the scientific talent of Costa Rica. Tico scientists, engineers and inventors interested in developing a gadget suitable for the dangerous missions of the fictitious sec...

Note: This is a creative writing article by the contributing author, graphic content, reader discretion is advised. The OIJ and other Costa Rican authorities have finally found a semblance of facts as to the cause of the bizarre zombielike and suicidal behavior which occurred in Jacó two weeks ago. A suitcase full of “Bath Salts”, the confusingly named Mephadrone and Methylenedioxypyrovalero...

TILARAN, Costa Rica – The Volcano Brewing Company, Costa Rica's First and only Microbrewery Hotel, is offering a special promotion for guests who wish to take advantage of a unique green season experience. Starting at $89 per person, based on double occupancy, guests can enjoy a full day of an all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink vacation at their farm-fresh restaurant and microbrewery lakeview h...

Note: This article is written by someone who has worked as a bartender in Jaco Beach for many years, sharing his thoughts and experiences. It contains opinion and is meant to offer you a different perspective on your trip to Jaco. Behind the shadows of the nearly ever present sun and underneath the grains of beach sand, in the eyes of the smiling faces that try to sell you a fishing trip or a 4...

Source: National Museum of Costa Rica The recent arrest of a group of suspects caught looting an archeological site and the finding of a new stone sphere illustrate the fact that Costa Rica is a nation that still possesses a rich heritage of material remains left by ancient cultures, and her treasures must be protected. Suspected Huaqueros Caught Extracting Artifacts The nefarious work of huaq...