Content Marketing – Todays Marketing Format In Costa Rica

A week ago, a friend, from the world-class resort Crocodila Bay published an awesome video of a sailfish jumping into a boat and in a heat of panic, the angles jumping out. Within days, the hits to the video numbered over 26,000. A while back, we published a short video on Costa Rica sportsfishing captain, Captain Bobby McGuinness, holder of over 200 world records, and within a short time over … [Read more...]

US Expats CR Petition to Stop Businesses Ads at Costa Rica Star

It has always been the policy of Tico Times® Directory to be neutral, and only on rare occasions will we write something political and/or controversial, like what we did on the release of a pedophile, the poaching of Costa Rica sea turtle eggs, and real estate scams. However, this morning we received (not one, but many) of the same cookie-cutter emails: Dear Tico Times Directory, I just … [Read more...]

Could Costa Rica Become the “Poster Child” of Bitcoins Users?

About a year and a half ago I made my first Bitcoin (the controversial digital currency) transaction and several weeks ago another one. People have asked me, "Why?" My answer was simple, "To see what it was all about." In the last several months, I have been following the outcome of the Bitcoin ETF Backers Winklevoss Twins, who were made famous by suing Facebook founder, Mark … [Read more...]

Is the U.S. Government Spying on Costa Ricans and Storing Their Personal Data?

Costa Rica is no stranger to surveillance; it has always been Central/South America's hub of eavesdropping.  Back in the early 1980s the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica was undergoing a remodeling and when finished, the roofs were covered with various sizes of satellite dishes and antennas. These CIA surveillance equipment targeted the conflict areas of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and … [Read more...]

Help Protect Yourself and Friends On Facebook

There is not a day that goes by where I/m getting emails about Facebook on whether or not this link is legit or not. Most recently many of my photographic friends are bitching about how to protect their photos from being shared etc. However, that’s a new subject matter and on to protecting oneself on Facebook. Since Facebook launched in Feb 2004, it has been the pride of Social Media. It … [Read more...]

Romney or Obama – Who Would Be Best For Costa Rica?

* Please just to not vote just because you don't like a particular party or person. Vote for the candidate you feel will help Costa Rica's Economy   Recently, a friend on Facebook wrote after the Romney/Obama debate,  “If Obama wins, Costa Rica real estate will jump and  if Romney wins, he wants to do more business with Costa Rica, either way … [Read more...]

The Tico Times Newspaper “Print Edition” Comes To An End

On Sept 28, 2012 the icon of Costa Rica news, The Tico Times Newspaper announced their English-language print edition will be their last and will now focus more on their online addition. Since its start in San José in 1956, the newspaper always had worldwide recognition in the field of journalism and had received awards for its non-bias reporting in a region that was largely marked by … [Read more...]

Costa Rica’s “New” Internet Cybercrime Law

It’s always good when some sort of controversy happens is to first sit back. So when President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica signed into law Ley 9048 [July 10, 2012], which sought to expand the definition of cybercrime, we listened before writing this post. As expected, the Costa Rica bloggers, newspapers, etc.  had a field day,  claiming a violation of internet freedom and a … [Read more...]

Costa Rica Chocolate – Cacao House

Cacao is Spanish for cocoa. It grows on a tree, which bears a fruit containing seeds that look similar to coffee beans. That’s where chocolate comes from. The farming and use of cacao has a long history in Costa Rica. The valued beans were once used as currency. It was a major Costa Rican export, until surpassed by the introduction of coffee in the late 1700′s. Still cocoa beans … [Read more...]

Vista De Sueños Investment, Legit or Scam? – Esterillos, Costa Rica

Vista De Sueños (View Of Dreams) - Experience 100 acres of rolling hills with ocean, panoramic and forest views to sooth the soul and make your dreams come true. You can live by the coast of the pacific ocean with one of the largest and most private beaches in Costa Rica. Investors who participate in the Vista De Sueños project will have the opportunity to earn land developer type … [Read more...]

Hacienda Matapalo – Legit or Scam?

Those in the real estate business know that there are three items that sell homes, Location, Location, Location. In case of the "controversy" Hacienda Matapalo development,  a "proposed" 665 acre resort style gated community, situated in a rainforest on a mountain overlooking the Pacific between two beach communities of  Quepos and Dominica, location couldn’t … [Read more...]

Costa Rica’s New Luxury Tax – Meat, Fruit and Floors Mops

I don't know what is going on with the government of Costa Rica and it seems like every day I/m feeling more sorry for the Ticos. Last January, the government hammered the people with higher traffic fines, tolls increases and corporation Tax and before that,  the cigarette tax. We all know how importing luxury items like cars, boats, electronic products are already taxed to death ... … [Read more...]