Dance Classes in Costa Rica: Swing Criollo, Salsa and More
Salsa is Cuban and bachata is Dominican. The dance that is actually Costa Rican is swing criollo — born in the banana zone, shunned for decades, and national heritage since 2012.
More Costa Rica Guides
More reading from CRIE about Costa Rica and life abroad. For a focused starting point, explore our residency requirements and essential guides.
Start here: Residency requirements · Frequently asked questions · Ask CRIE
Do Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees Grow in Costa Rica? Facts and Planting Considerations
Rainbow eucalyptus grows very well in Costa Rica, but every one was planted. Here is how it arrived, why the bark is coloured, and the argument about whether it should be here at all.
Costa Rica’s Most Iconic Flowers: Native Plants and Garden Favorites
Costa Rica has 1,684 orchid species, a dry-forest tree whose whole population flowers nine days after a cold snap, and a white flower that Costa Ricans scramble with egg at Easter. Here is the real list.
Homeschooling in Costa Rica: Education Rules and Questions for Families
Home education has no legal recognition in Costa Rica. The law requires enrolment in a teaching centre, and there is no ministry pathway for a child aged six to thirteen educated at home.
Why Costa Rican Homes Have Window Bars
The bars are not a measure of danger. Residential burglary has fallen 34% since 2019 — the grilles exist so the windows can stay open all year.
When Does the Sun Set in Costa Rica? Roughly the Same Time All Year
Sunset in Costa Rica falls between about 5.11pm and 6.02pm every day of the year. Day length varies by only 69 minutes, and the clocks have not changed since 1992.
Costa Rica Public Holidays: The Current Rules
Costa Rica has twelve national holidays, nine with obligatory pay. The rule moving holidays to Mondays expired at the end of 2024 — most guides still get this wrong.
Costa Rica Prostitution Laws: Adult Sex Work and Exploitation
Selling sex by an adult is not a criminal offence in Costa Rica, but it is unregulated rather than legal — and the law on minors is severe, age-gap based and recently strengthened.
Virgen de los Ángeles Day: August 2 and the Romería in Costa Rica
Every 2 August close to two million people walk to Cartago. What the day commemorates, how the pilgrimage works, and why it is a holiday where pay is not obligatory.
Cannabis in Costa Rica: What the Law Actually Allows
Medicinal cannabis and hemp are legal under Ley 10113. Recreational use is not, home growing sits inside the trafficking offence, and there is no permitted possession quantity.