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Source: http://www.ticotimes.net/feed

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<title>Illegal Logging Leads Environmental Crime Reports in Costa Rica</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/illegal-logging-leads-environmental-crime-reports-in-costa-rica</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tico Times]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2024 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Environment and Wildlife]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) processed 7,240 complaints related to environmental crimes between March 2023 and March 2024. These are complaints that are handled through the Integrated Environmental Complaint Processing and Response System (SITADA), where citizens can enter their environmental complaint. Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy, mentioned that through this mechanism […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/illegal-logging-leads-environmental-crime-reports-in-costa-rica">Illegal Logging Leads Environmental Crime Reports in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) processed 7,240 complaints related to environmental crimes between March 2023 and March 2024. These are complaints that are handled through the Integrated Environmental Complaint Processing and Response System (SITADA), where citizens can enter their environmental complaint.
Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy, mentioned that through this mechanism it is possible to define, expand, and improve the process of reviewing the information reported by citizens in relation to environmental complaints, making it possible to streamline the process of control, attention, and analysis of these reports.
<a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/03/27/illegal-logging-the-critical-situation-threatening-costa-ricas-environment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Illegal logging</a> accounted for 2,600 reports, the highest number overall. In addition, there were also 603 cases of illegal wood transportation. The Central Conservation Area (ACC-SINAC) leads the list with 794 cases, and the Central Pacific Conservation Area with 794 cases.
The second place belongs to wildlife rescue, which totaled 754 reports, with the Central Conservation Area leading in the attention of these environmental crimes with 384 complaints. In addition, 278 incidents of hunting in protected wildlife areas were registered. Wildlife possession reached 603 cases during the period, with the Central Conservation Area leading the list with 384 cases.
“It is worrying, according to data obtained from environmental complaints, that the phenomenon of illegal logging tops the list, which causes deforestation and illegal timber harvesting. Deforestation involves the change of use or clear-cutting of forest cover, and illegal logging involves cutting trees without eliminating the forest cover. Both are illegal,” said Franz Tattenbach.
SINAC encouraged the population to denounce any suspicious illegal activity, to help the institution protect Costa Rica’s environment through the number 1192, through SITADA’s web page <a href="http://www.sitada.go.cr/denunciaspublico">http://www.sitada.go.cr/denunciaspublico</a>/ or through any MINAE office.
“All you have to do is enter your report through the ‘enter your report’ module, and the system automatically assigns you an identification number, with which you will be able to check the status of your report in the future,” they said.
After the environmental complaint has been assessed, it is forwarded to the appropriate agency for investigation of the reported facts and to initiate necessary actions. The complainant will receive automatic notification of the investigation results, and further procedures will be communicated via email.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/illegal-logging-leads-environmental-crime-reports-in-costa-rica">Illegal Logging Leads Environmental Crime Reports in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>The Complexities of Real Estate Ownership in Costa Rica</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/the-complexities-of-real-estate-ownership-in-costa-rica</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jorge Montero]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2024 16:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Expat Living]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173268</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One can assume, in general terms, that the basic principles of property ownership or rights of possession that are prevalent in most democratic nations are also applicable in Costa Rica. Nevertheless, when one analyzes particular situations, it is clear that people can be baffled by the nuances of property rights in this country. Of course, […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/the-complexities-of-real-estate-ownership-in-costa-rica">The Complexities of Real Estate Ownership in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></description>
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One can assume, in general terms, that the basic principles of property ownership or rights of possession that are prevalent in most democratic nations are also applicable in Costa Rica. Nevertheless, when one analyzes particular situations, it is clear that people can be baffled by the nuances of property rights in this country.
Of course, as in any country that has native populations, in Costa Rica there are very specific laws that protect the lands of the native peoples, but that is a subject for another article.
The “Political Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica” is of course the most important law that regulates property rights. Article 23 of the constitution guarantees the inviolability of your private domicile which can only be searched and seized by order of a judge or to prevent a crime or some grave damage.
The Constitution also guarantees the right of private meetings under article 26 and by logical deduction one can interpret that every person has the right to use their private property as they see fit (subject to growing limitations), even as a meeting place for which no permit is required. Of course, care must be taken to analyze if the meetings take on a more commercial aspect and therefore would need a municipal permit or if a permit from the Ministry of Health is necessary.
One of the most important articles in the Constitution is article 45 which regulates the power of the state to expropriate private property or to establish limitations to property rights in general. 
This has generated an ongoing discussion as to whether this power is limited to situations in which the state must demonstrate that there is a public interest need that justifies the expropriation or if the state can cause the expropriation because it considers it can generate a larger tax base and therefore obtain greater public funds by a different use of a land area. 
Also, there is always the argument if the state should indemnify the owner based on the registered price of the property (usually much lower than market value) or the true market value.
The power of the state to impose limitations on property has been seen by many as an indirect way of expropriation without having to indemnify the property owners. For example, the state establishes certain limitations to protect certain environmental elements but does not expropriate and therefore does not indemnify. Of course, it is reasonable and necessary to establish limitations on property use, especially as we understand more and more how important it is to protect certain areas but his can lead to governmental abuse.
For example, what is the smallest lot size that should be allowed in a certain jurisdiction? That will depend on many aspects, such as water availability, roads, flora and fauna issues and many others. The implementation of Master Plans has become an important issue in many communities because different persons can feel deeply affected by certain limitations. 
For example, the consequences to property values or tax bases which are affected by declaring an area to be urban instead of rural, versus, the loss of income because the developer cannot subdivide his property into smaller lots.
The Costa Rica Civil Code is the next most basic property law. It is a code established on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Napoleonic-Code" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Napoleonic Code </a>which collected a number of rural traditions in France in the 19th century and is therefore a law that has a very rural aspect to it which was mainly based on the right of possession. Since then, a large number of property laws have been implemented, among them all laws related to agrarian property.
Perhaps the most important concept to understand is that the right of property is the accumulation of several other rights (possession- exclusion- sale- transformation- defense and others), the principal one being the right of possession. The right of possession is fundamental to property rights because it allows the person possessing the property the right to defend it legally. The best example is the case of rental.
The tenant is not the owner, but he is in possession of the property and that possession grants him the right to defend it, even against the owner. For example, by law in Costa Rica, rental contracts cannot have a term of less than 3 years and therefore the owner of that property will not be able to recover the possession for at least 3 years, with some exceptions.
In Costa Rica there is a National Registry (Registro Nacional) which is divided into various departments, such as the registry of corporations, the registry of vehicles, the registry of mortgages and others. 
The most important registry is the registry of properties. When a property is registered it immediately acquires a seal of legitimacy which is granted by the fact that the registry has verified, through various procedures, that this property truly exists, has the correct measurement indicated, is located in the proper area and belongs to the true owner or owners. 
Nevertheless, in some exceptional cases, unscrupulous individuals have been able to game the system and register properties illegally and have caused great harm to buyers and investors. This is why it is imperative a prospective buyer hire a reputable lawyer that can search and analyze the property title because the fact that a property is registered is not a total guarantee that the title is free and clear, although it should be.
When a property is registered the title is the legal registration. In other words, the owner does not need a document to demonstrate his right of ownership because his title can be searched in the registry and one can easily obtain a certification for that property. The property is given a number upon registration which is composed of three aspects: 
<ul>
<li>The province where it is located and that goes from 1 to 7</li>
<li>The property number </li>
<li>Three digits which indicate how may co-owners the property has, “000” means there is only one owner, whereas “002” means there are two co-owners and so on. </li>
</ul>
The complete property number is referred to as “Folio Real” and it will describe the nature of the property (i.e. if it is a simple lot, or a house or a farm, etc.); it will indicate the geographic location (province, county and district) but not the address; it will establish the property borders by indicating who are the neighbors; it will indicate the size of the property, the name of the owner, the percentage of ownership, the plat map number, the value of the property (contractual price paid), the type of ownership which can mean that the person has full or limited ownership, whether the property has any legal limitations, mortgages, liens or encumbrances and many other aspects.
It is also important to mention that the statute of limitations for properties can have important consequences for those parties interested. For example, if a person feels threatened or dispossessed by someone else, he has an immediate judicial course of remedy which is called <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2021/02/21/what-to-know-about-setting-up-a-corporation-in-costa-rica-2-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Interdicto”</a> which is a summary procedure to establish who has the right of possession ONLY; while a full blown ordinary lawsuit, which would take much longer, is the proper venue for discussing rights of ownership.
Costa Rica has a strong influence of agrarian law. In fact, article 69 of the Constitution establishes the rights of special property contacts for the rental of a tract of land which the property owner grants in exchange for a portion of the production. It is considered an agrarian contract of society because each party contributes an aspect of the necessary elements, land, labor, capital, knowledge, organization and others.
The law considers a property to be subject to agrarian law if there is a biological cycle that is overseen by the “empresario agrícola” in other words the agrarian businessman. That concept of “empresario” is because the production must be, at least, enough for the farmer and his family to live. These are all very relative concepts that must be argued in court and the fact that a property is subject to civil or agrarian law can have profound consequences.
As a rule of thumb, the more urban a property is, the more certain one can be of the title and the more rural a property (usually much larger, with many more natural elements), the more uncertain the title becomes.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-about-the-author">About the Author</h2>
Lic. Jorge Montero B. is an attorney educated in the U.S.A. and in Costa Rica. He holds various specialties and Master’s Degrees in Criminal, Commercial, Environmental and Agrarian Law from the University of Costa Rica and has over 30 years of litigation, contract and counsel experience.
<ul>
<li>Email: <a href="mailto:acmbalaw@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acmbalaw@gmail.com</a></li>
<li>Tel:(506)8384- 2246</li>
<li>WhatsApp (506) 8384- 2246 </li>
</ul>
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/the-complexities-of-real-estate-ownership-in-costa-rica">The Complexities of Real Estate Ownership in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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<item>
<title>Nicaraguan Miss Universe and the Cost of Fame</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/nicaraguan-miss-universe-and-the-cost-of-fame</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tico Times]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2024 13:12:14 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Latin America]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Nicaragua]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173261</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios, current Miss Universe, cannot return to Nicaragua and her family members had to go into exile, stated opposition media edited in Costa Rica on Sunday, citing a statement from the owner of the international contest.Palacios’s victory in November in San Salvador triggered the largest street mobilizations in Nicaragua since the 2018 […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/nicaraguan-miss-universe-and-the-cost-of-fame">Nicaraguan Miss Universe and the Cost of Fame</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></description>
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The Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios, current Miss Universe, cannot return to Nicaragua and her family members had to go into exile, stated opposition media edited in Costa Rica on Sunday, citing a statement from the owner of the international contest.<a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/11/19/nicaraguan-crowned-miss-universe-in-historic-pageant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palacios’s victory</a> in November in San Salvador triggered the largest street mobilizations in Nicaragua since the 2018 protests, in which she participated and which shook the government of Daniel Ortega. Since her triumph, she has not returned to her country.
“Miss Universe owner confirms the departure of <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/11/27/miss-universe-seeks-safety-from-nicaragua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sheynnis Palacios’s family</a> from Nicaragua and the impossibility of her return to her homeland,” indicated the portal of the newspaper La Prensa, which is now edited in Costa Rica.”The exile of Sheynnis Palacios and ‘her entire family’ is ‘indefinite'”, pointed out the portal 100% Noticias, which also dispatches from the neighboring country.
Both media cited as their source an Instagram post by the Thai co-owner of the Miss Universe contest, entrepreneur Anne Jakrajutatip, but the version has not been confirmed by the Ortega government. After the coronation, Nicaraguan Vice President and Ortega’s wife, Rosario Murillo, claimed that opponents were manipulating her victory, highlighting that Palacios participated in the 2018 protests.
In a message for Mother’s Day, Jakrajutatip greeted Palacios and Nicaraguan entrepreneur <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/01/08/nicaragua-exiles-pageant-directors-family" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karen Celebertti</a>, former owner of the Miss Universe franchise in Nicaragua, whom the Ortega government banned from returning after the contest in San Salvador.
Jakrajutatip wrote to Palacios: “You are brave, strong, and intelligent, but also very humble and work hard to take care of your mother and all the family who are now outside your homeland. “Miss Universe, whose mother has been residing in the United States for years, had said in January to a Mexican media outlet that she was trying to get her grandmother and brother out of Nicaragua so they could live with her abroad.
The grandmother and brother obtained a visa for the United States and left Nicaragua in April, according to opposition sources. The greeting to Celebertti says: “You made the first Miss Universe in your country, but the price of fame has a global impact where local leadership […] exiled all your family members, including our Queen, […] indefinitely.”
After the San Salvador contest, Celebertti’s husband and a son were imprisoned for two months and then expelled to Mexico. Additionally, the entrepreneur resigned from the <a href="https://www.missuniverse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miss Universe franchise</a> in Nicaragua.
The Nicaraguan police accused Celebertti and her family of “actively” participating in “terrorist actions of the failed coup attempt,” referring to the 2018 protests, which left about 300 dead, according to the UN.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/13/nicaraguan-miss-universe-and-the-cost-of-fame">Nicaraguan Miss Universe and the Cost of Fame</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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<item>
<title>ICE Announces No Power Cuts on Monday</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/12/ice-announces-no-power-cuts-on-monday</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tico Times]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2024 18:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Expat Living]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173255</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) announced that next Monday, May 13, there will be no power cuts as previously planned. The information was confirmed by Marco Acuña, President of ICE, through a video published on the institution’s social media channels. Acuña explained that recent rainfall in the country has replenished some of the reservoirs, […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/12/ice-announces-no-power-cuts-on-monday">ICE Announces No Power Cuts on Monday</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></description>
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The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) announced that next Monday, May 13, there will be no power cuts as previously planned.
The information was confirmed by Marco Acuña, President of ICE, through a video published on the institution’s social media channels. Acuña explained that recent rainfall in the country has replenished some of the reservoirs, addressing the water shortage that had hindered hydroelectric power generation.
“We have implemented additional measures within the electric system to ensure that rationing will not be necessary for Monday,” Acuña added. While energy reserves are currently sufficient to meet demand and maintain system stability on Monday, Acuña clarified that power cuts will commence on Tuesday.
The Division of Operation and Control of the Electric System (DOCSE) confirmed on Saturday that energy reserves will indeed be adequate to cover demand and ensure system protection on Monday.
Additionally, technical teams successfully restored operations at the Miravalles III Geothermal Plant, further contributing to the system’s energy generation. Acuña expressed gratitude to ICE employees for their dedication in minimizing the impact of the climatic event on the country’s inhabitants.
“I thank the workers of the institution for their tremendous daily effort, in striving to ensure that this climatic event, which affects the entire region, has the least possible impact on the country’s inhabitants,” noted Acuña. ICE encourages the public to continue reducing non-essential electricity consumption and stay updated on any developments through the institution’s website and social media platforms.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/12/ice-announces-no-power-cuts-on-monday">ICE Announces No Power Cuts on Monday</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Almost 300 animals transferred to refuge after closure of zoos in Costa Rica</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/12/almost-300-animals-transferred-to-refuge-after-closure-of-zoos-in-costa-rica</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tico Times]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2024 14:40:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Environment and Wildlife]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173251</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Police, veterinarians, and officials from the Ministry of Environment transferred nearly 300 animals to a refuge in Costa Rica this Saturday, following the closure of the last two state-run zoos after an 11-year delay since the approval of a wildlife protection law. A jaguar, crocodiles, spider monkeys, a sloth, among other species, were taken one […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/12/almost-300-animals-transferred-to-refuge-after-closure-of-zoos-in-costa-rica">Almost 300 animals transferred to refuge after closure of zoos in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></description>
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Police, veterinarians, and officials from the Ministry of Environment transferred nearly 300 animals to a refuge in Costa Rica this Saturday, following the <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/09/costa-rica-shuts-down-state-zoos-ends-animal-captivity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">closure of the last two state-run zoos</a> after an 11-year delay since the approval of a wildlife protection law.
A jaguar, crocodiles, spider monkeys, a sloth, among other species, were taken one by one by officials from the old Simón Bolívar Zoo, in the center of San José, and placed in portable cages, loaded onto trucks, and escorted by the Police to the <a href="http://Wildlife Rehabilitation Center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildlife Rehabilitation Center</a>, known as Zoo Ave, located on the outskirts of the capital.
“We have become a country without state zoos and with a vision towards sanctuaries and rescue centers only,” said the Minister of Environment, Franz Tattenbach, during the transfer operation at the Simón Bolívar site. However, there are at least 18 private zoos in the country, which are not affected by the law.
Official José Pablo Vázquez, from the conservation area of the Ministry of Environment, explained that the health status of the zoo animals is unknown and that biologists and veterinarians preliminarily examine each specimen before caging them and loading them onto trucks.
The premises of the Simón Bolívar zoo and the state-owned Santa Ana Conservation Center, adjacent to San José and also closed, belong to the State, but their management was in charge of the FundaZoo Foundation.
Both animal enclosures should have been closed in 2014, after the approval of the law in 2013, but various legal actions by FundaZoo to defend the concession delayed the closure for a decade, which finally occurred this Friday when the contract expired, and the government refused to renew it.
“State zoos in Costa Rica make no sense. Each 10-year contract cost 1,000 million colones (almost two million dollars) to Costa Ricans,” said Juan Carlos Peralta, director of the NGO Association for Animal Welfare and Protection.
Peralta agreed with the authorities that the site of the former Simón Bolívar Zoo should be transformed into a green lung in the heart of the capital in the style of a botanical garden.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/12/almost-300-animals-transferred-to-refuge-after-closure-of-zoos-in-costa-rica">Almost 300 animals transferred to refuge after closure of zoos in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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<title>Costa Rica’s Energy Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Change</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/costa-ricas-energy-crisis-a-wake-up-call-for-change</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tico Times]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Environment and Wildlife]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173247</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Costa Rica is going through an energy crisis, and the entire country will suffer power outages of approximately three hours starting next week. Businessowners, experts in the area, and politicians agree on the need to take actions to avoid power rationing or blackouts in the future. Therefore, they consider that solar and wind energy production […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/costa-ricas-energy-crisis-a-wake-up-call-for-change">Costa Rica’s Energy Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Change</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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Costa Rica is going through an energy crisis, and the entire country will suffer power outages of approximately three hours starting next week. Businessowners, experts in the area, and politicians agree on the need to take actions to avoid power rationing or blackouts in the future. Therefore, they consider that solar and wind energy production should increase its presence in the country.
“A single renewable source, by itself, cannot meet the electricity demand. We need a matrix made up of various resources, of different sizes and sources, that provide competitiveness and reliability to users,” said Mario Alvarado, executive director of the Costa Rican Association of Energy Producers.
Due to its geographical location, Costa Rica has the third-best <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/03/08/costa-rica-to-boost-clean-energy-capacity-via-solar-wind-biomass" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar electric energy </a>potential per square meter in terms of the entire American continent. However, that wealth is wasted every day due to ICE’s reluctance to allow the development of solar energy, according to Jorge Esteban Padilla, a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Distributed Generation.
ICE’s refusal is inexplicable, given that solar energy would help alleviate the country’s current crisis. However, since January, the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) has succumbed to pressure from ICE and other electricity distributors to establish a fee that discourages private solar panel generation.
“It’s like if AyA charged users for collecting rainwater with a bucket. It doesn’t make sense. If ICE were to promote private generation with solar panels, at this time, there would be less pressure on electricity demand,” Padilla stated. Since January, the cost of electricity for solar panel users has increased by up to 400% compared to previous rates due to this fee.
Distributed generation with solar panels cannot be seen as an enemy of ICE, but rather as an ally, a complement that could help the country cope with the growing demand for electricity. The possible rationing is taking place in a context in which the government of Rodrigo Chaves is promoting the law of harmonization of the electricity market. This is a long-standing demand of the productive sector.
“The situation we are experiencing today is a wake-up call for actions to be taken to avoid, reduce, and eliminate the vulnerability shown by the electricity system. To this end, we must allow as much renewable generation as possible, promote distributed generation, and strengthen the legal framework to encourage new investments,” he added.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/costa-ricas-energy-crisis-a-wake-up-call-for-change">Costa Rica’s Energy Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Change</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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<title>Boston to Costa Rica Direct Flights Launch in 2025</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/boston-to-costa-rica-direct-flights-launch-in-2025</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tico Times]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 May 2024 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Travel and Tourism]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173244</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Exciting news for U.S. travelers who want to visit Costa Rica: Vinci Airports and Delta announced the opening of a new route from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in Massachusetts. Delta’s operation will begin on Saturday, January 11, 2025 and will run through May 31, 2025. According to the itinerary, the flight is scheduled to […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/boston-to-costa-rica-direct-flights-launch-in-2025">Boston to Costa Rica Direct Flights Launch in 2025</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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Exciting news for U.S. travelers who want to visit Costa Rica: Vinci Airports and Delta announced the opening of a new route from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in Massachusetts. Delta’s operation will begin on Saturday, January 11, 2025 and will run through May 31, 2025.
According to the itinerary, the flight is scheduled to <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2021/06/26/how-to-decide-which-costa-rica-airport-to-fly-into">arrive in Guanacaste</a> (LIR) at 12:05 pm and return to Boston (BOS) at 01:35 pm. Delta will operate an A321neo with 194 seat capacity.
“We want to offer our customers more ways to vacation in paradise by increasing our number of flights to Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Agustin Durand, General Manager of <a href="https://www.delta.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deltla Air Lines </a>for Central America and the Caribbean.
This weekly seasonal flight from Boston to Guanacaste, which will operate on Saturdays, will feature First Class, Comfort+ and Main Cabin seating. First Class customers will be able to enjoy a chef-selected dining experience, as well as complimentary wine, beer and premium spirits.
“Delta Comfort+ passengers can also enjoy complimentary beverages and a little more room to relax. Passengers in all cabins will enjoy a fast and wide selection of in-flight entertainment options with more than 1,000 hours of free on-demand content through Delta Studio,” Durand added.
For its part, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) highlighted the contribution that this new route will give to the country, taking into account that the United States remains the main tourist issuing market for Costa Rica. According to ICT data, in the first quarter of 2024, 511,250 U.S. tourists arrived by air. William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism, said he is very pleased to have this new route.
“This direct connection has been a long-standing desire for us because the state of Massachusetts, and the city of Boston in particular, is one of the areas with the greatest potential for our country,” he mentioned.
According to the most recent ICT data, 46% of U.S. tourists seeking to enjoy Costa Rica’s natural beauty and unique experiences are passengers between the ages of 23 and 55 traveling from Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Washington DC, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Atlanta, San Francisco and Boston.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/boston-to-costa-rica-direct-flights-launch-in-2025">Boston to Costa Rica Direct Flights Launch in 2025</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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<title>Exploring the Realm of Boa Constrictors in Costa Rica</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/exploring-the-realm-of-boa-constrictors-in-costa-rica</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vincent Losasso]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 May 2024 16:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Environment and Wildlife]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173238</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I’ve always had a fondness for snakes. When I was young, I used to keep spare sheets of metal on the edges of the forest on our property in order to attract snakes to the metal’s warmth and cover. I’d flip the metal and grab the snakes to get a better look, usually resulting in […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/exploring-the-realm-of-boa-constrictors-in-costa-rica">Exploring the Realm of Boa Constrictors in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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I’ve always had a fondness for snakes. When I was young, I used to keep spare sheets of metal on the edges of the forest on our property in order to attract snakes to the metal’s warmth and cover. I’d flip the metal and grab the snakes to get a better look, usually resulting in them pooping on me or biting me or both. 
Pennsylvania is home to few species of venomous snakes, so my game of snake catch and release wasn’t terribly dangerous. This game is not recommended in my new home of Costa Rica due to the large number of snakes that possess a bite that can send you to the hospital. Today’s featured snake, though perfectly willing to bite you, will not inject you with any venom. Let’s meet the boa.
The boa (Boa imperator) is also known as the boa constrictor, the Mesoamerican boa constrictor, or the Central American boa in English. In Spanish, I’ve seen boa común and béquer listed as common names in literature, but I’ve only ever heard people refer to them simply as boas. There are three other species of boas in Costa Rica, but Boa imperator has the largest range and is the most well-known in the country.
The variety of snakes in Costa Rica come in a marvelous array of colors and patterns. Boas aren’t outstanding colorwise, being almost entirely brown, but they do have an attractive pattern running down their backs. What is outstanding about the boa’s appearance is its size. Boas are both the largest and heaviest snakes in Costa Rica. To get a feel for their size, average snakes are around 6 to 8 feet long. That’s average! One of my snake books claims the longest one ever found was over 14 feet long, but there’s nothing to fear because they rarely exceed 9 feet.
Boas are habitat generalists, that is, they live in a wide range of different habitats. They can be found in humid jungles as well as the tropical dry forest of Guanacaste. They’re at home in untouched, pristine, mature forests, but they’re also at home in your house or chicken coop. Since they can live just about anywhere, they’re found through the entirety of the country with the only exception being the very highest altitudes.
Boas are ambush predators. They find a good spot near a body of water or burrow and wait for some future food item to wander by. The type of animal they’re interested in eating has everything to do with how big the particular boa is. Smaller, younger boas dine on smaller animals like small lizards, birds, and small mammals. Larger, more mature boas are able to take prey items as large as monkeys, <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/03/22/costa-rica-wildlife-meet-the-northern-tamandua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tamanduas</a>, and <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/10/11/costa-rica-wildlife-meet-the-common-opossum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opossums</a>, with very large snakes eating the likes of <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/10/11/costa-rica-wildlife-meet-the-common-opossum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocelots</a> and juvenile <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/11/04/costa-rica-wildlife-meet-the-white-tailed-deer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white-tailed deer</a>.
I’ve had several interactions with boas during my time in Costa Rica. I’ve seen several slithering their way through the underbrush while checking camera traps. Once I saw one squeezing the life out of a <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/12/14/costa-rica-wildlife-meet-the-black-spiny-tailed-iguana" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black spiny-tailed iguana</a>. While working at a wildlife rehabilitation and release center, I once found a large boa with two baby duck sized bumps in its body in the baby duck enclosure rather than the ducks themselves. I also pulled one from a hole in an owl cage, an interaction that left such a mark on me that I wrote a Tico Times <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/12/16/costa-rica-wildlife-boa-extractor">article</a> about it.
Boas very infrequently grace me with their presence on my camera traps. I recorded them eating birds a few times, with the last flutters of the birds’ wings triggering the camera. In those occasions the boa was waiting patiently for unwary birds to drink from a dry season water puddle to strike. 
I also recorded one once taking a drink from a hollow tree, but the snake didn’t trigger the camera, a coati that was forced to wait his turn to drink did the triggering. Some of the boas eating birds videos were on a hard drive that died, but I have clips of the boa and coati and a boa eating a <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/03/02/costa-rica-wildlife-meet-the-squirrel-cuckoo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">squirrel cuckoo</a> to share in the video below.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-about-the-author">About the Author</h2>
Vincent Losasso, founder of <a href="https://guanacastewildlifemonitoring.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring</a>, is a biologist who works with camera traps throughout Costa Rica. Learn more about his projects on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/guanacastewildlifemonitoring" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/guanacastewildlifemonitoring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">instagram</a>. You can also email him at: <a href="mailto:vincent@guanacastewildlifemonitoring.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vincent@guanacastewildlifemonitoring.com</a>
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/exploring-the-realm-of-boa-constrictors-in-costa-rica">Exploring the Realm of Boa Constrictors in Costa Rica</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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<title>Costa Rica’s Economic Crisis Prompts Businesses to Demand Policy Changes</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/costa-ricas-economic-crisis-prompts-businesses-to-demand-policy-changes</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tico Times]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 May 2024 12:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Costa Rica]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173235</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Costa Rica’s business sector has called for a demonstration on May 15 to request measures in response to exchange rate effects. The mobilization coincides with the commemoration of National Farmer’s Day and will start at La Merced Park, pass by the Central Bank, and end at the Plaza de la Democracia. The call includes workers […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/costa-ricas-economic-crisis-prompts-businesses-to-demand-policy-changes">Costa Rica’s Economic Crisis Prompts Businesses to Demand Policy Changes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></description>
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Costa Rica’s business sector has called for a demonstration on May 15 to request measures in response to <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/03/21/exchange-rate-woes-costa-rican-coffee-industry-faces-millions-in-losses">exchange rate effects</a>. The mobilization coincides with the commemoration of National Farmer’s Day and will start at La Merced Park, pass by the Central Bank, and end at the Plaza de la Democracia.
The call includes workers from various economic sectors, including bananas, <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/11/21/experience-authentic-costa-rican-coffee-with-the-chorreador">coffee</a>, pineapples, rice, plants, flowers, citrus, free trade zones, construction, <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/04/20/costa-ricas-tourism-sector-faces-job-losses-amidst-exchange-rate-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tourism</a>, transportation, the export sector, and others affected by these issues.
Several companies had to close their operations and lay off personnel as a result of the abrupt appreciation of the colon, which made their operations unsustainable. On several occasions, company representatives have met with the Central Bank, but no agreement has been reached.
Given the situation, they have indicated their intention to demonstrate in defense of their jobs and livelihoods. They also emphasized their intent to protest in order to secure adjustments to economic, monetary, and exchange rate policies, aiming to prevent the loss of employment for one and a half million working people, particularly those who live in vulnerable areas.
“Should this situation persist, they would be compelled to cease operations in the country, leading to increased unemployment and a social crisis of unprecedented proportions,” they stated.
Shirley Calvo, executive director of the National Chamber of Tourism, explained that there is a “chain effect” since the increase in the cost of production leads to unemployment, meaning many families are unable to support themselves, and causes social problems such as insecurity, mainly in highly vulnerable rural areas.
The tourism, construction, freight transportation, and agriculture sectors together account for 47% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The indifference of the authorities with the national productive sector that generates millions in foreign currency, jobs, and stimulates the economy inside and outside the GAM, has forced thousands of people to take to the streets, change their work for protest, and demand respect for the rights of those who produce in the country,” representatives of the business sector mentioned.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/11/costa-ricas-economic-crisis-prompts-businesses-to-demand-policy-changes">Costa Rica’s Economic Crisis Prompts Businesses to Demand Policy Changes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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<title>The Bolivian Amazon Orchestra Revives a Unique Indigenous Opera in the World</title>
<link>https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/10/the-bolivian-amazon-orchestra-revives-a-unique-indigenous-opera-in-the-world</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[AFP]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2024 23:44:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bolivia]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Latin America]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ticotimes.net/?p=173231</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A rare Baroque opera written by an indigenous person, whose scores were hidden for centuries in a church in the Bolivian Amazon, came to life with a staging in Bésiro, its original and now endangered dialect. The symphony orchestra from the town of San Javier, in the Santa Cruz department with nearly 19,000 inhabitants, performed […]
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/10/the-bolivian-amazon-orchestra-revives-a-unique-indigenous-opera-in-the-world">The Bolivian Amazon Orchestra Revives a Unique Indigenous Opera in the World</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
A rare Baroque opera written by an indigenous person, whose scores were hidden for centuries in a church in the Bolivian Amazon, came to life with a staging in Bésiro, its original and now endangered dialect.
The symphony orchestra from the town of San Javier, in the Santa Cruz department with nearly 19,000 inhabitants, performed the work for the first time since its discovery in the seventies.
In front of the altar of the San Javier church, Yhorgina Algarañaz and Carla Pereyra, aged 18 and 36 respectively, embody a dialogue in Bésiro between Saint Francis and Saint Ignatius.
The singers wear false beards, black tunics, and sandals. They exchange glances before chanting in the language of the nomadic ancestors: “siromati ape, asaraimia nuxia nipoxti Tupax” (come to heaven to see how good the house of God is).
The audience rises and bursts into loud applause for what would be an unprecedented performance of the opera San Francisco Javier. Historians have not yet determined whether the work, dating from 1740, was ever performed in its time.
“It’s a small world premiere,” exclaims an excited Eduardo Silveira, a 55-year-old Cuban, the director of what is considered the only opera performed in Bésiro known so far.
Bésiro is one of the languages of the Chiquitanos, small indigenous communities that were grouped by the Jesuits in the Amazon region in the 18th century. It is part of the 37 dialects officially recognized in Bolivia, although today it is practically only spoken by the elderly.
It is also one of the seven that are at risk of disappearing, according to the government Plurinational Institute of Language and Culture Studies. There is no census on its current number of speakers.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-in-the-world">Unique in the World</h2>
A year ago, Silveira and his youth symphony orchestra undertook the task of recreating the work in its original dialect, with the help of the Polish priest and historian Piotr Nawrot.
To the violins, guitars, and cello of the Baroque music, they added drums and other native instruments like the “sananax,” a sort of bamboo trumpet.
Having “the only opera in the world with the text in the local language is already a gain,” highlights Nawrot, 69 years old. Its scores had been jealously guarded by the Chiquitanos in the church of San Rafael, about 300 km from San Javier.
In the seventies, Swiss architect Hans Roth traveled to Bolivia to restore some of the Jesuit temples in the Amazon. During his mission, he found thousands of scores in Spanish and the unique opera in Bésiro. Historians estimate that the work was written anonymously by an evangelized indigenous person.
The reconstruction process was completed in the nineties thanks to the efforts of Nawrot and other specialists. “Reconstructing the music was not as complicated as reconstructing the texts, especially in a strange language that I do not understand and few people speak,” recalls the clergyman.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-besiro">Learning Bésiro </h2>
With the work restored, the Cuban Silveira began preparing the staging. It took the two singers a year to become familiar with Bésiro.
“I asked older people how it is spoken (…) to be able to learn it, since in addition to being a soloist, I was also curious about the way they speak it,” remembers Yhorgina Algarañaz.
The performer alternated the preparation of the opera with her work in the market selling fruits and vegetables. The work finally saw the light at the end of April. San Javier organized a special evening for the launch of the indigenous Baroque opera.
And Silveira is already thinking about the next performance. “We are going to continue, that is our mission,” emphasizes the director, the unexpected promoter of a language in danger of extinction.
The post <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/10/the-bolivian-amazon-orchestra-revives-a-unique-indigenous-opera-in-the-world">The Bolivian Amazon Orchestra Revives a Unique Indigenous Opera in the World</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ticotimes.net">The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate</a>.
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