All articles tagged with #costa rica
Ivanka Trump was photographed surfing during a family vacation in Costa Rica on August 23, 2026, balancing on a blue longboard, taking a tumble but quickly returning to the waves—surfing is a long-held hobby she has practiced there. The trip comes as rumors swirl that she and husband Jared Kushner could base more of their life on the West Coast, after Malibu sightings and a Nobu Malibu night out fueling the chatter.
Ivanka Trump was photographed surfing in Costa Rica with her family on August 23, 2026, staying upright and smiling after a brief tumble before returning to shore. The outing comes as reports surface that she and Jared Kushner could base more time on the West Coast, with Malibu sightings fueling talk of a possible move, though surfing remains a long-time hobby of hers during family vacations.
In 1997, ecologists Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs partnered with a juice company to dump about 12,000 tons of orange peel and pulp on a deforested pasture near Área de Conservación Guanacaste in Costa Rica. Beginning in 1998, the nutrient-rich waste transformed the barren site into a thriving forest, boosting aboveground biomass by roughly 176% in a 3-hectare study area and attracting wildlife such as tayras and a giant fig tree. The surprising ecological revival illustrates how scientifically guided waste rehabilitation can regenerate ecosystems, while researchers caution against unplanned dumping and emphasize learning how to apply such findings to waste management and restoration projects.
Researchers in Costa Rica observed a remora clinging to an olive ridley sea turtle as it left the water to nest, surviving about 19 minutes out of water—a rare, prolonged land encounter suggesting a possible longer-term host–remora relationship. The team briefly removed the remora to measure the turtle’s shell before returning it to the ocean, and the fish remained energetic, prompting questions about how remoras survive air and the dynamics of their association with hosts.
The CDC has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province due to a chikungunya outbreak centered in Playa Langosta, prompting travelers to take extra mosquito bite precautions. Four cases have been confirmed with about 17 more probable, and authorities are fumigating homes and removing mosquito breeding sites. Travelers should use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodations, and eligible travelers may be advised to get vaccinated; pregnant women are advised to reconsider travel to the area. Seek medical care if fever, joint pain, headache, or rash develops.
The U.S. Embassy has issued a health alert for Playa Langosta in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, due to local chikungunya transmission; travelers should watch for fever, joint pain, headaches, and nausea, and take bite-prevention steps since there is no vaccine. Use EPA-registered repellents (DEET, picaridin, IR3535), wear long sleeves and pants, and eliminate standing water around accommodations. Costa Rica remains broadly safe for tourists with a Level 2 State Department advisory, so review current safety advisories before traveling.
Costa Rica has confirmed a chikungunya outbreak in Playa Langosta near Tamarindo, with four confirmed and 17 probable cases; health teams have intensified mosquito-control efforts, fumigating thousands of homes and inspecting hundreds of properties to eliminate breeding sites, while authorities urge residents and visitors to use repellent, remove standing water, and follow basic precautions as surveillance continues.
Nio opened its first Costa Rica store, its first overseas location, showcasing its three-brand lineup (Nio, Onvo, Firefly) and models such as Nio ET5 Touring, EL6, EL8, and Onvo L60, with Onvo L90 pre-sales announced for EXPOMOVIL. The showroom is operated with Horizontes Cielo Azul as the national distributor, signaling a shift to an asset-light expansion in Latin America and aligning with broader overseas push (including Thailand and future Australia/New Zealand).
Costa Rica said it will accept 25 migrants deported from the United States per week under a non-binding agreement tied to the Trump administration’s push for third-country deportations, with transfers processed under Costa Rican law and subject to government approval; critics warn these deals can sideline asylum seekers and expose vulnerable migrants to uncertain conditions.
Costa Rica said it will accept 25 migrants deported from the United States each week as part of a deal tied to the Trump administration’s policy of deporting immigrants to third countries.
The U.S. military struck a boat in the eastern Pacific, sinking its vessel and leaving three men adrift. The U.S. Coast Guard recovered two dead bodies and one seriously injured survivor from the same area and handed them to Costa Rica’s Coast Guard; the survivor was transported to Golfito for medical care. While officials said the rescue operation was not explicitly tied to the strike, the event occurred in the context of a broader anti‑drug campaign that has produced numerous casualties and drawn legal criticisms, making it the 46th such strike with at least 159 deaths.
Kurt Van Dyke, a 66-year-old California-born surfing icon who settled in Costa Rica and ran Hotel Puerto Viejo, was found dead in a room in Talamanca after an apparent home invasion. Authorities say two armed men threatened him and a woman, stole items (and possibly a vehicle); Van Dyke died from strangulation and stab wounds, and an autopsy is underway. The woman was injured; the case remains under investigation, with tributes flowing from the surfing community.
Californian surfer Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was found dead with stab wounds and signs of asphyxiation in his Hone Creek, Costa Rica home after a home invasion in which his girlfriend was zip-tied and their car was stolen; authorities have not made arrests and continue investigating.
American surfer Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was found dead Feb. 14 at his Cahuita, Costa Rica, apartment in an apparent robbery. Authorities say two armed men threatened him and a woman, stole valuables, and Van Dyke died at the scene from asphyxiation with stab wounds; the woman sustained minor injuries and the case remains under investigation. Van Dyke hailed from a prominent surfing family.
Faber‑Castell, the world’s largest pencil maker, says Costa Rica misused its donated former factory (Maderin Eco/Catem site) by detaining 200 asylum seekers deported from the United States, a move HRW and rights groups say lacked legal basis. Costa Rica denies rights violations, while a court later found the detention violated fundamental rights and ordered potential compensation. The Catem facility, with a 300-person capacity, had around 60 migrants in early 2026 and none reported by late January; Faber‑Castell says it was unaware of the detention and is considering next steps.