Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2006
Óscar Arias Sánchez is elected president for the second time in his political career on a pro-Cafta
(Central American Free Trade Agreement) platform, though he wins by an extremely narrow mar-
gin.
2007
A national referendum narrowly passes Cafta. Opinion remains divided as to whether opening up
trade with the USA will be beneficial for Costa Rica in the long run.
2010
Costa Rica elects its first female president, National Liberation Party candidate Laura Chinchilla.
2010
Volcán Arenal, the country's most active volcano for over four decades, stops spitting lava and
enters a resting phase.
2011
Central American drug wars encroach on Costa Rica's borders, and the country is listed among
the USA's major drug-trafficking centers.
2013
The murder of 26-year-old environmentalist Jairo Mora Sandoval in Limón province brings inter-
national attention to the dangers and lack of police protection that conservationists face on the
Caribbean coast.
2014
Costa Rica advances to the 2014 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World
Cup in Brazil.
2014
