Is Hunting Legal in Costa Rica? The Law, and What It Actually Bans
Costa Rica banned sport hunting in 2012 through the first citizen-initiated law in its history. Subsistence and control hunting remain lawful, and sport fishing is unaffected.
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
The Monteverde Bank Siege of 2005: Events and Aftermath
On 8 March 2005 three brothers attacked the Banco Nacional in Monteverde. Twenty-eight hours later nine people were dead, including a police officer killed in the assault the President authorised.
Navigating Costa Rica’s Postal System: A User’s Guide
Costa Rica has no working street addresses, an official postal code almost nobody uses, and published zones where post is not delivered at all. How the system actually works.
The Villalobos Brothers Case in Costa Rica: History and Investor Lessons
The Brothers took about US$405 million from more than 6,200 depositors before collapsing in 2002. What the courts found, which brother was convicted, and what depositors recovered.
Is It Safe to Walk Around Costa Rica at Night? Practical Safety Advice
Costa Rica homicides rose 60% in four years, then plateaued. But 74% are score-settling within criminal networks, and property crime has been flat. Here is where the risk actually sits.
Costa Rica Earthquake Frequency and Risks: What the Numbers Show
Costa Rica records thousands of earthquakes a year and feels a few hundred. Why the country sits where it does, which quakes actually cause damage, and what fifty years of seismic building code has changed.
Is Tap Water Safe in Costa Rica? What the Rules Actually Say
Costa Rica has a legal standard for drinking water and most of the country meets it — but coverage varies sharply by operator and by canton.
Disability Pension and Costa Rica Residency: The Pensionado Route Explained
Costa Rica’s pensionado category requires a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 a month. It does not require you to be retired, and it sets no minimum age — a disability pension can qualify.
Renewing Your DIMEX in Costa Rica: Requirements, Fines and the Three-Month Cliff
Every temporary residency renewal needs proof of Caja affiliation. Over 30 days late costs US$3 a month — but past three months expired, the renewal route closes entirely.
Costa Rica Residency and Citizenship Through Marriage: Two Different Routes
Residency through marriage comes from Migración; citizenship comes from the TSE after two years married and two years in the country. The requirements are not the same.