Family-owned franchisee brings the “Original New York Pizza” to Costa Rica, opens two stores. San José, Costa Rica. The Sbarro brand, located in more than 28 countries all around world, opened its first two stores in the country October & December, respectively, of 2019. The “Original New York Pizza” brings the flavor of a globally known brand for New York Style XL slices, along with an Ita...

This Wed April 15th Costa Rica registered its fourth death to Covid-19, this time, the deceased was an 84-year-old man who was in the intensive care unit of the San Juan de Dios Hospital in San José. The senior citizen had been hospitalized since April 1st and had high blood pressure as an underlying condition. The three previous deaths were two 87-year-old men that both had previous underly...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Over the past ten years, there have been many exchanges between myself and clients or would-be clients about the advantages of living in Costa Rica vs other so-called popular countries recommended by such sources as International Living. The list includes but is not limited to Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and Uruguay. Inquirer...

Costa Rica begins the week with a total of 612 confirmed cases of Covid-19, 295 women and 317 men; 569 Costa Rican and 43 foreigners. There are positive cases in 59 counties of the seven provinces througout the country. According to the information given by the Ministry of Health, there are 20 patients hospitalized, 14 of which remain in the intensive care unit. On a positive note, 62 peo...

As of Friday, April 10th the Ministry of Health in Costa Rica has confirmed a total 558 positive cases of Covid-19, 269 of the patients are women while 289 are men; 524 are Costa Rican and 34 foreigners. So far 42 patients have recovered while 20 are hospitalized and 13 of them are in intensive care. The country has registered three deaths so far, 2 senior citizens both 87 years of age and a 45...

The Ministry of Health reported some positive news with the recovery of 24 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Costa Rica. The total number of Covid-19 positive patients is of 483 only 16 more than the day before. In total there are 237 women and 246 men diagnosed with the illness, 34 are foreign citizens. 25 people remain hospitalized out of which 14 are in intensive care with ages ranging ...

UPDATED April 9th 2020 Since the March 24th article about residencies being revoked for ex-pats leaving Costa Rica,  there still seems to be confusion and understandable anger over this temporary edict. This tough measure was primarily directed at Nicaraguans heading home to Nicaragua for their annual celebration of Semana Santa (Easter Week) – a week early. There were also a significant number...

Costa Rica has now confirmed 416 cases of COVID-19 in the country. The Minister of Health, Daniel Salas, showed his concern over the increase in the number of patients that are now hospitalized and those in intensive care, through this Friday, April 3 the health authorities report 23 patients in the hospital and 13 in intensive care these last ones have ages between 24 and 69. “Beyond the nu...

On April 1st The Ministry of Health confirmed to The Star that 375 patients have tested positive for coronavirus, this number includes 181 women and 194 men out of which 347 are Costa Rican and 29 are foreigners; 337 are adult, 24 are senior citizens and 14 minors. In total 15 people are currently hospitalized and 9 in intensive care with ages ranging from 36 to 69 years. With the Holy Week ...

You’ve chosen to live in Costa Rica for many good reasons, not the least of which being the breathtaking beauty, amazing weather and an idyllic life measurably better than the one you left behind. By now, you have also heard a common refrain from your realtor or other engaged professionals, neighbors, or experienced ex-pats here in Costa Rica: Get your residency! Why? There simply is no othe...

(Photo: Archive) The week in Costa Rica closes with 314 positive cases of coronavirus, but it seems that there is a large part of the population that is still taking the situation lightly, turning a blind eye on what is currently happening in Costa Rica and the consequences of the virus in other countries. The streets still look very busy, not just with those people that are forced to leave ...

The Social Security Service (C.C.S.S.) received a donation of protection equipment from the United States Embassy. Roman Macaya, executive director of the C.C.S.S. said the donated items will be used by the workers that are providing direct attention to the sanitary emergency caused by Covid-19. “We received disposable medical gowns and gloves for the protection of our workers who are in the...

The number of patients positive with coronavirus in Costa Rica went up to 295 on Saturday, March 28th, according to information provided by the Ministry of Health, 15 patients are hospitalized, 6 of them in intensive care. “With great pain and concern we have 15 people hospitalized, 6 of them in intensive care. This is not a game. The responsibility of the deaths that this emergency brings is a...

This Friday March 27th the Ministry of Health reported 32 new cases of coronavirus in Costa Rica bringing the total number of cases to 263. The patients include 121 men, 142 women; 241 Costa Ricans and 20 foreigners. Nine people remain hospitalized and 5 of them with age between 36 and 66 years remain in intensive care A third patient has been discharged; seven more are still being tested th...

Floridian native Robert Allen Wright has spent the last twelve years living as a Costa Rican, after having stolen the identity of Costa Rican, Jose Humberto Howell Brokke. Wright (50 years old), managed to marry a naturalized Costa Rican named Gloria Patricia Hernandez Navaez, and they had one child together. Navaez is originally from Colombia. She and Wright were working together in their own rea...

Costa Rica registeredo nly 4 new cases of Covid-19, putting the total confirmed cases at 117 patients. In total 1,190 cases have been discarded. Six patients remain hospitalized and two more were discharged. “This does not mean that we have won the battle, or that nothing more will happen in this country, this is a worldwide phenomenon, there are world powers like Italy, Spain, United States an...

The Ministry of Health in Costa Rica confirmed this Thursday, March 19, the second death of a patient infected with the Covid-19 Coronavirus. Coincidentally the deceased is another male also 87-years of age, same as the first victim. In addition to being a senior citizen this man had previous vascular problems. Two other people have tested positive for the virus bringing the number of people...

Based on the global crisis and what other world leaders are doing for their countries the short answer is NOT ENOUGH! President Carlos Alvarado informed of the directive to banks to readjust credits to help companies and the productive sector face the crisis, this will include: bringing down the credit interest rates according to the conditions of each client, extend the term of the credits, ex...

Costa Rica, like the rest of the world, is in a full-blown war against the coronavirus COVID-19. Officials are making every effort possible to prevent this deadly virus from entering the country, and from spreading within its borders. There have been 50 confirmed cases of infection in Costa Rica. The virus first arrived via two American tourists who visited asymptomatic in early March. They quickl...

So far in Costa Rica we have had 35 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and we were the first Central American country to report the coronavirus, brought in by an American tourist couple. We have had no deaths so far (unlike Panama), but are ramping up for a possible tsunami of COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks. Does Canada have a coronavirus vaccine being developed today? Worldwide, COVID-19 has sic...

As of 6PM Thursday, March 12th, there were 23 confirmed cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in Costa Rica up from 22 on Wednesday the 11th. Authorities assured that they were prepared for a surge in that number, as has happened in other countries, Italy being a comparable small country with a well-developed medical system. Doctors, nurses and hospitals were standing by. Then the World Health Organizatio...

The number of people infected with Covid-19 went from 13 on Tuesday to 22 this Wednesday, confirmed the Ministry of Health during a press conference. The patients range from 10 to 73 years of age and include 14 women (one of them pregnant) and 8 men, 19 Costa Rican and 3 foreigners. “The Covid-19 is a pandemic and it is highly probable that it becomes a seasonal virus as it occurred with AH1N1....

Official sources confirm a total of 13 patients that are currently infected with coronavirus in Costa Rica, however, the list of suspicious cases continues to grow, currently with 179 people under observation and testing. The Ministry of Health confirmed they are investigating 175 people that had direct contact with a 54 year-old man that is positive for Covid-19 and was working at the Alajuela...

This Sunday, March 8 the National Emergency Commission (CNE) in Costa Rica declared an interinstitutional yellow alert due to the recent rapid cases of coronavirus (Covid-19). The alert system used in Costa Rica for emergencies simply allows institutions to know how to proceed under particular circumstances. GREEN ALTERT is issued when a specific phenomenon is expected to affect or endanger ...

On Thursday, March 5th, Costa Rica reported its first suspected case of the coronavirus. A 52-year old Costa Rican woman from Pococi, Limon, returned on Tuesday from a family vacation to Italy and Tunisia, and began to experience symptoms of the virus on Thursday. Later that same day, her 47-year old niece also began to experience symptoms, causing the entire family to self-quarantine while they a...

A 52-year old Costa Rican woman has now been confirmed as the first person in the country suspected of having the coronavirus, or COVID-19. The woman is a resident of Pococi, and has recently returned from travel in Italy and Tunisia. She returned to Costa Rica on February 29, and soon thereafter manifested the symptoms of COVID-19, or perhaps a similar virus. Her first test for the coronavirus...

In January 2020, a quartet of Tico microbiologists of University of Costa Rica (UCR) announced in the Journal of Entomology, that after an absence of decades, bed bugs are definitely back in Costa Rica. Horrors. Who even remembers what they look like? Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, before they feed. They usually feed at night, and always on human or animal blood. After ten or so mi...

On Monday, the Costa Rican Minister of Health announced that he has activated protocols to combat the new coronavirus, known internationally as COVID-19. The virus has appeared so far in countries such as China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Iran, United States, Canada and Italy. The first Latin American COVID-19 patient was identified on Monday, a Brazilian who contracted the virus in Italy. Ther...

At about 5PM Saturday night, the word came from neighbors of missing American Tandra Joy Thorbeck, that they had discovered the remains of what they thought was Thorbeck, within walking distance of her home. The body was accompanied by personal belongings of hers, making it more likely that they had indeed found Tandra’s final resting spot. The remains were found on a side road perpendicular to th...

It reminds you of an American TV crime show. WHO TOOK TANDRA THORNBECK? Tandra is a friendly 72-year old retired American living in Matasanos, Perez Zeledon. She bakes. She works at the farmer’s market and does pet and house sitting for other Americans. She lives near her brother Casey, and his wife and son. She has a lovely smile and chats with everyone on the bus and at the feria. She could be ...

People have said that the best feria (farmers’ market) in Costa Rica is the Feria del Agricultor, in Perez Zeledon, or San Isidro de El General. The feria has row after row of amazing fruits and vegetables, all crisp and fresh, and right off the farm, for delicious/healthy eating. On Friday, February 7th, the last booth on the left was missing a kind familiar face: Tandra Joy Thorbeck, an American...

As the old saying goes, you don’t get to choose your family. Only your friends. And your pets. One of the perks of moving to Costa Rica is distance from certain family – or ex-family - you just as soon never see again. Good friends on the other hand will be difficult separate from. But the beloved pets? They get to come along. Based on the frequency and intensity of questions to residency ex...

In a previous article we published on July 5th, 2019 we explained about the creation of a "Registry of Transparency and Final Beneficiaries", which made becoming necessary to report to the Central Bank of Costa Rica who the stockholders on every corporation existing in Costa Rica are. A calendar was established depending on the last number of Corporate ID number, between September 2019 and January...

This is the third installment of The Costa Rica Star’s exclusives six part original series of the upcoming book, “Drug Diva”, by Carol Vaughn the story of one of Central America’s fiercest female narco-traffickers, Cristel Gomez Espinoza. You can read our previous published first installment here and the second installment here. It is well known how dangerous La Reina del Sur de Costa Rica is –...

The US Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica announced the upcoming Consular event – routine services for U.S. citizens in Golfito. The embassy's Consular staff will be on hand to provide several services in Golfito on January 30th and to answer questions. Those who wish to RSVP for passport renewals, notary services, and federal benefits inquiries, must indicate their preference by writing to ACS...

This is the second installment of The Costa Rica Star’s exclusives six part original series of the upcoming book, “Drug Diva”, by Carol Vaughn, scheduled to be released towards the end of the year. You can read the first instalment here Cristel Yariella Gomez Espinoza, aka, La Reina del Sur de Costa Rica, was born into narco aristocracy Her father, brother, uncle, husband, boyfriends and other...

Costa Rica went down one place since 2019 in International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index 2020, which is designed to be a useful tool for potential expats trying to find the place that’s right for them. "The Index is constructed of statistics but also of real-world, practical, on-the-ground intelligence, experience, and opinion provided by International Living’s editors and correspondents...

Since 1996 in Costa Rica there has been a Law Against Domestic Violence (Law #7586), which has many aspects that are important to understand in detail. When writing this article we had the collaboration of Melissa Salazar, an attorney specializing in Family Law. According to Mrs Salazar, there are various types of violence: physical, psychological, sexual and also over the assets of a person, comm...

A small religious cult calling themselves “Carbon Nation” have now been thrown out of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and on December 5th, out of Panama, for endangering and threatening the national security of those three countries. They were most recently operating in San Carlos province, in western Panama, 75 kilometers from Panama City. Their Carbon Nation leader Eligio Lee Bishop was arrested – he cal...

When we reached out to residency specialist Laura B. Gutiérrez of Immigration Help CR, she told us there is often confusion about children of ex-pats in Costa Rica and the need for them to have residency. While strictly optional for any dependent child under age 18, it is advisable for them to apply for and obtain residency at the same time as the parents. The procedures and required documentat...