Residents of Latin America and the Caribbean, on average, are less likely than respondents worldwide and in developing countries to have formal bank accounts and formal savings, a recent Gallup/World Bank study finds. Fewer than two in five residents in Latin America and the Caribbean (39%) report having an account at a formal financial institution, and one in 10 report having saved at a formal fi...

Fashion Week Las Vegas (FWLV) is preparing an event for August 18, 2012, for a one night private event showcasing international and national emerging designers in the Semi Finalist Competition. The semifinalists were selected June 30, 2012 out of close to 40 entrants from all over the world. Designers were asked to submit their looks in photos or sketches, and provide a brief description of th...

The Witness Matlou Trio—a Berklee student group signed to the college's label, Jazz Revelation Records—was invited by the Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano (CCCNCR) to perform at the Promising Artists of the 21st Century performance series in San Jose, Costa Rica, July 23 to 30. For over 65 years, organizers have brought talented students from prestigious universities in the United Stat...

Monster Energy is giving you chances to win adventurous vacations in Costa Rica. Enter Monster Energy's Win the Ultimate Costa Rican Adventure Sweepstakes and you could win a trip or one of 100 other prizes. Each of the five grand-prize winners will receive a trip for two to Costa Rica worth $4,750. Plus, 100 first-prize winners will each receive a Haro Flightline Sport Bike worth $...

ORONO, Minn. – David P. Grzan made a living on Wall Street as a banker and consultant. In his free time, he always had a fascination with the story of Don Quixote. He eventually realized he could learn more life lessons from that story than from his years in finance. In his new book, Don Quixote's Impossible Dream, Grzan, explores the notion of chivalric love, which Don Quixote advanced to the ...

The 4th of July was an important day for Guanacaste-based nonprofit Salvando Corazones. After two years of preparation, it received a license from the Ministry of Health to operate a safe house for young female victims of sexual enslavement. Maria Jesus Gonzalez, Area Rectora de Salud is quoted as saying, “This is an historic day for us as this is the first license of its kind ever issued in Costa...

Canadian-Costa Rican pianist, Jonathan Duarte, student of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory college in Moscow, will give a piano concert on July 17 at 8:00 p.m. at the Teatro Nacional, interpreting works of Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Liszt. Nineteen-year-old Duarte has won eight international competitions in North America and Europe. He has performed in New York, Paris, Rome, Vilnius, Kazan and M...

Costa Rica’s Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens has earned a coveted spot as one of the Top 100 Hotels in the Travel + Leisure 2012 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey, and wins the illustrious title as the No. 1 Resort in Central and South America. Once a hidden gem, Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens is fast becoming a favorite with honeymooners and couples in search of romance and adrenaline boosting adve...

DVDNow Kiosks, the world's largest network of independently owned and operated DVD rental kiosks, is launching Costa Rica's first-ever DVD rental kiosks beginning this month. With Costa Rica, the company now has operations in 15 countries. Scott McInnes, DVDNow Kiosks Founder and CEO, said, "Costa Rica is an untapped opportunity for our self-serve rental kiosks. Instead of going to a video stor...

Debenhams has launched its first foreign language website in Europe's biggest economy, Germany, to capitalise on the "Britishness" of its brand ahead of the Olympics. The department store chain went live selling more than 140,000 products from women's dresses to homewares this weekend. Simon Forster, online director at Debenhams, said: "As Britain takes the lead role on the world stage with its...

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...

Copa Airlines has added Liberia, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, to its list of destinations with the launch of a new flight from Panama. The new Tocumen (Panama) – Liberia (Costa Rica) route operates on Sundays and Thursdays, departing Panama at 09:52 and arriving in Liberia at 10:23. The return flight departs Liberia at 11:25 and arrives in Panama at 13:58 on both days. For ...

Banco BAC San José S.A., Costa Rica’s largest private bank, will get a loan of as much as $40 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to expand mortgage financing and lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The IDB loan will provide Banco BAC with longer term financing that will allow the bank to offer mortgages to middle and lower middle-income families. It will al...

Ssang Yong is back in Costa Rica again. The South Korean company utilizes Mercedes Benz drive-train technology to build off-road vehicles. In 2009-2010 Ssang Yong ceased operations in Latin America due to the global recession. Now it seems that the Korean company has reorganized its Latin American department. First they returned to their most productive foreign market (Chile) in 2011. Then, the...

When: Saturday, August 04, 2012 Where: Hotel Villa del Sueño, Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica Music: Los Piratas del Lago (The Pirates of the Lake) from 7PM - 10PM Cost: $10 per person; includes one free drink (beer, wine, well cocktail or soft drink) For tickets call Chip at 8702-8367 or Faith at 2672-4008 As you may know, the Playa Hermosa Association's Environmental Blue Flag Committ...

Working hand in hand with the Earthwatch Institute, Ernst & Young are sending 30 skilled volunteers to Costa Rica and Brazil. Their job is to research and recommend methods of sustainable development and practices, both environmental and economic. For four years in a row, Ernst & Young has been sending volunteers on weeklong excursions with Earthwatch. The Earthwatch Institute is a scientific o...

Teatro Jacó in Jacó Beach, Costa Rica will be holding a festival of insanely funny comedy productions from Texas, New York, and San José from July 5th through July 28th. There will also be comedy workshops available in English and Spanish, so take the hour drive from the central valley and make an appearance to support the art of laughter. Production showcases: July 5th- 9th at 8pm: Faye...

Walmart is doing its part as a major corporation for sustainable efforts while minimizing waste. In 2011 alone, the Walmart recycling program helped to avoid the usage of over 45 thousand cubic meters of landfill area. This was achieved by their waste management and recycling program’s ability to save and recycle 6272 tons of cardboard and around 900 tons of plastic. These numbers are presented...

Okapee started off as an idea, we wanted to give the Costa Rican market a completely new option in fashion. The name comes from the animal (Okapi) which is one of the rarest breeds on earth. We opened our doors last October becoming Costa Rica's first streetwear (shop/boutique). Our brands are not your run of the mill brands, they are very exclusive and unique to our shop. We pride ourselves o...

Grecia's Second Annual Independence Day Fiesta is planned for Sunday, July 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Organized by a group of expats and their Costa Rican neighbors, this is a day to celebrate US independence with American foods, live music and dance, and to give back to the community. Once again this event will be at the Quinta Real recreation center in San Francisco de San Isidro de Grec...

SAN JOSE - Universidad de las Ventas (Sales University) is the first academic institute dedicated to training the sales forces of businesses in Costa Rica. Do you have telephone sales personnel and account executives in Costa Rica? Do they know how to execute upon a solid script that will pique the interest of prospects and clients? Do they know how to present your product or services in an inter...

The Improsa Investment and Fund Management Company is happy to announce the recommencement of construction of the third and final stage of the Multipark project, which belongs to the Improsa Real Estate Development Fund of Costa Rica. The project is part of the first real estate development fund of its kind in Costa Rica, and it consists of a corporate park and office center located in Guachipelín...

Art Exhibit: "Eyes of the Soul" Artist: Hernan Peréz Peréz Technique: Oils On Canvas Opening: June 16 Ending: August 3 Location: Hidden Garden Art Gallery *located 5 kms west of Liberia Airport (towards the beaches) Gallery hours Tuesday - Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Phone: 8386-6872 or 8386-6968 Meet Costa Rican artist Hernan Peréz at the opening of "Eyes of the Soul" Saturday, Ju...

The Pura Vida Ride second annual standup paddle challenge will take place in Playa Danta, Costa Rica on June 23rd, 2012. This event will benefit the "Guardians of Peace" at the local La Paz Community School. According to Pura Vida Ride Adventure Tours, the distance race will unfold over 9.4 kilometers, starting at Playa Danta and racing around Isla Plata, located off Flamingo Point, and back to Pl...

SAN JOSE - The twelfth edition of Expo Hotels and Restaurants (EXPHORE) will take place at Pedregal Events in Heredia, Costa Rica, in June 2012, from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 22nd. The objective of EXPHORE is to promote the commercial development of hotels and restaurants sectors in Costa Rica and Central America.

 This event will bring together key actors in the sector, where more than 200 stan...

CARTAGO – Costa Rica Craft Beer Brewing Company, a microbrewery dedicated to limited production of known craft beers like Libertas Tropical Golden Ale and Segua Red Ale is proud to announce that a new Belgian Ale will soon be ready for tasting and enjoyment. The difference between this new beer and the company's previous seasonal offerings is in the special brewer's yeast imported directly from Be...

American Stafford Costa Rica, in conjunction with the National Service of Animal Health and Service (SENASA in Spanish) represented by regional director Allan Sanchez, recently announced the first seizure of dogs used in illegal fights. The director of AmStaff Costa Rica, Joana R, issued the following statement: “It is a continuous struggle, and we will not give up until there is a law that p...

Costa Rica Extrema 2012 is our country's first expo dedicated to ecotourism, adventure and extreme recreational activities. It brings together the best Costa Rica has to offer to people who enjoy both active and relaxing vacations. The three specific areas of interest at Costa Rica Extrema 2012 will be: extreme sports, ecotourism and adventure travel. At the fair, visitors will have a chance to...

Gecko Trail, a travel agency located in Puerto Viejo de Limon, along with the community school and the Asociación de Organizaciones del Corredor Biológico Talamanca Caribe (ACBTC), are currently working on a project to raise awareness about the growing problem of trash and debris on the beach and natural areas in their town. The entities are planning a clean-up day in Puerto Viejo, on Frida...

The Community Action Alliance, a community group composed of both foreigners and Costa Ricans in the San Ramón area are organizing their second Gran Venta de Libros Usados, a used book sale fundraiser. The Book Sale will take place on Saturday, April 28 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Museo Regional de San Ramón and will benefit the Regional Museum and the Hogar Para Ancianos (senior center) de San...

Real estate investors take note: Purchasing a new home in Las Heliconias makes more sense than a short sale or foreclosure in the United States. Puntarenas, Costa Rica – April 1, 2012. Las Heliconias is a new, one-of-a-kind residential project located just 250 yards (229 meters) from Playa Agujas in the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, right on the edge of the Carara National Park. Playa Ag...

The current globalization trend is affecting many areas of business, particularly the legal profession. Law firms and solo attorneys used to follow a strict jurisdictional pattern, but in the last few years the practice of law has been increasingly crossing boundaries. A good example is the RITEVE v. MOPT case, which is currently being mediated in the United States by powerful legal teams. Legal p...

March is shaping up to be one of the busiest and most interesting months for lovers of the arts and entertainment in Costa Rica. At the same time the Festival Internacional de las Artes unfolds around San Jose, the Arts Festival in Jaco will be taking place, and the Envision Festival gets underway in Bahia Ballena, the second International Design Festival will begin exhibiting at the former custom...

Costa Rica keeps playing the role of gracious and comely host to the international community, and to that extent we have some of the most interesting fair and conferences coming up. From May 22nd to the 25th, the Institute for Business and Finance Research will be holding a Global Conference on Business and Finance in San Jose. Presenters at the conference will read from works related to different...

Some gatherings around the world have become emblematic of the activities they showcase, the lifestyles they support, and the people who choose to form a part of them. Such is the case with the initial iterations of the Lollapalooza festival in the early 1990s, as it heralded the coming together of a new wave of counterculture in the United States and later around the world. Then there's the Toron...

A wide range of classes and monthly cultural events provide new outlets for education, culinary interests and entertainment. New on the culinary scene in Costa Rica, the Underground Cooking Club is making waves with their unique class structure and monthly cultural events. Using Okra Restaurant in Barrio Escalante as their stage, the Underground Cooking Club creates a setting where people can l...

Expats have a lot to say! And they aren’t afraid to write it down. It seems that lot of people who have moved to Costa Rica are frustrated writers who want to share what they have to say. Blogs abound, posts to bulletin boards are sometimes prolific and informative, and long letters to friends and family are common. Some people write informative pieces, others simply record the every day ev...

The 5th Annual Atenas Chili Cookoff is February 12th and is created to help the Hogar de Vida (Homes of Life) for children in Costa Rica. Please join us. You can see more information about the chili event and activities by clicking here and visiting the official website. Here is a map to find the location. I Didn't Know Beans About Chili by Patricia Diekroger. Since I am on the committee f...

In San Isidro de Penas Blancas, not far from where the Palmares festivities recently took place, a local farm located on acres of pristine rainforest land, is involved in some ancient practices that are currently and rightfully enjoying newfound interest around the world. Finca Luna Nueva Lodge is an organic and biodynamic farm involved in several activities that are essentially retooled from phi...

If you would like The Costa Rica Star to run your Press Release on our news website, check out our advertising page. Executive Summary The business plan for SALT reflects the opportunity to purchase the building, assets and leasehold improvements a restaurant currently operating in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica. The current owner is interested in selling the operations ($415,000.00), and/or ren...