The Costa Rican press, from San José to Guanacaste

In Costa Rica, news is read in Spanish in La Nación, La República, Diario Extra or La Teja, on sites such as CRHoy and Delfino, in English in The Tico Times, and watched on Teletica, Repretel or the public channel Trece.

La Nación and the press after 1948

The modern Costa Rican press came into its own after the 1948 civil war and the abolition of the army. La Nación, founded in 1946 in San José, became the reference daily, followed by La República and then Diario Extra, launched in 1978.

Costa Rica's major dailies and editorial lines

La Nación, often seen as liberal and close to business circles, focuses on politics and investigations. La República targets the economy, while Diario Extra and La Teja, from the Nación group, take a popular tone centred on crime stories and football.

Spanish, English and the Creole of Limón

Spanish is the language of almost all media. The Tico Times, founded in 1956, informs expatriates and tourists in English. On the Caribbean coast, around Limón, part of the population speaks an English-based Creole known as Mekatelyu, rarely heard in national media.

What news is there for Guanacaste or Limón?

The national press remains heavily focused on the Central Valley. The non-profit outlet La Voz de Guanacaste follows the northern Pacific coast, tourism and the environment, while local radio stations cover Limón, Puntarenas or San Carlos for their own communities.

CRHoy, Delfino and El Observador

Digital media have upended the market: CRHoy publishes rolling news, Delfino specialises in tracking the Legislative Assembly and public data, and El Observador and El Mundo CR offer analysis and reporting, widely shared on WhatsApp and Instagram.

No national agency, but EFE and AFP

Costa Rica has no major national news agency. Newsrooms use dispatches from EFE and AFP, as well as statements from the presidency, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, which often provide the raw material of daily coverage.

Trece, Teletica, Repretel: watching the news

The public SINART system runs the Trece channel and Radio Nacional. Teletica, on channel 7, and Repretel dominate television news audiences. The University of Costa Rica also owns the Semanario Universidad, Canal UCR and its own radio stations.

Comparing with Central American neighbours

The Costa Rican diaspora, settled mainly in the United States, remains modest. To place the country in context, the press of the Americas and the Colombian press shed light on migration, drug trafficking and regional trade.

El Financiero and the passion for Saprissa

The weekly El Financiero and La República follow the Central Bank, the colón, free trade zones and tourism. In sport, La Teja and Diario Extra get excited about Deportivo Saprissa, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and the national team, which draw huge audiences.

A free press under strain in Costa Rica

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the 1949 Constitution and protected by the Constitutional Chamber, known as Sala IV. Since 2022, however, relations between the executive and several outlets, including La Nación and CRHoy, have been marked by sharp public tensions.

Costa Rican paywalls and reading in English

La Nación keeps part of its articles for subscribers, while CRHoy and Diario Extra remain free. English-speaking readers often start with The Tico Times, then compare with the Mexican press on regional topics and wider Latin American trends.

Checking a rumour in San José

During election campaigns, anonymous accounts imitate newspaper logos. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal publishes official results, and comparing La Nación, CRHoy and the Semanario Universidad makes it possible to validate a doubtful piece of information before passing it on.

Keeping up with Costa Rica from abroad

1. Start with La Nación for politics and investigations, and CRHoy for breaking news.
2. Add The Tico Times if you prefer to read Costa Rican news in English.
3. Watch the Teletica or Trece television news live online.
4. Follow Delfino to understand Legislative Assembly votes and bills.
5. Check La Voz de Guanacaste if you are travelling on the Pacific coast.
6. Check the date of every weather or volcano alert before changing an itinerary.

Access and subscriptions for Costa Rican media

Key facts for reading the Costa Rican press

• Language: Spanish, with The Tico Times in English
• Public broadcaster: SINART, Trece channel and Radio Nacional
• Reference daily: La Nación
• Business titles: El Financiero and La República
• Popular sports title: La Teja
• Time zone: UTC-6, no daylight saving
• Currency: Costa Rican colón

Frequent mistakes with Costa Rican news

• Confusing La Nación of San José with the Argentine daily of the same name during a quick search.
• Believing a fake front page imitating La Nación or CRHoy shared on WhatsApp during an election campaign.
• Taking an old video of an eruption at Poás or Turrialba volcano for today's alert.
• Treating government statements relayed without challenge as independent analysis, when they are often simply a reworded press release.
• Using sites that promise free access to La Nación's paid articles, which are often booby-trapped.

Questions about the Costa Rican press