Learning Spanish in Costa Rica: Lessons Beyond the Textbook

Learning a new language later in life requires patience, perseverance, and the understanding that, no matter how fluent you become, you’ll probably never reach the level you have with your native tongue. I learned Spanish in my 30s and have worked several jobs that required as much—or more—Spanish than English. I speak Spanish with my …

Panama-Costa Rica Railway Set for 2026 Construction Start

Panama will break ground in January 2026 on a railway linking Panama City to Paso Canoas on the Costa Rica border. This 475-kilometer, $4.1-$5 billion project aims to transform travel and trade in Central America by connecting economies and slashing transit times. Here’s the latest on this ambitious plan. A Faster Way to Connect The …

El Salvador’s Bukele Says He Doesn’t Care If He’s Called a Dictator

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele declared Sunday that he “doesn’t care” if people call him a dictator, amid mounting criticism over recent arrests of human rights activists and actions against NGOs. In a nationally televised speech from the National Theater marking the first year of his second term, Bukele defended his government’s hardline policies, his …

Protecting Your Interests in Costa Rica’s Anonymous Societies

Under Costa Rican law, several types of corporations exist, with the most formal and widely used being the Sociedad Anónima (S.A.), or “Anonymous Society.” Historically, this structure allowed shareholders to remain anonymous by not disclosing their names in company records, holding shares in secret. However, modern regulations require shares to indicate the owner’s name, and …

Wildlife Trafficking Jumps in Costa Rica, Threatening Biodiversity

Costa Rica is dealing with yet another sharp rise in wildlife trafficking, now our country’s third most common environmental crime. Reports highlighted intensified efforts by authorities to curb this growing threat, which endangers our nation’s incredible array of life. Park rangers and police recently uncovered cases involving species like capybaras, parrots, and reptiles, with five …

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Erupts in Costa Rica

Yesterday, the Rincón de la Vieja volcano in northwestern Costa Rica erupted, sending a column of ash 2,000 meters above its crater. The eruption, reported by the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (Ovsicori) at 7:13 a.m. No immediate damage or injuries were reported, and local communities remain unaffected so far. Authorities are keeping …

El Salvador’s Fruit-Laden Bamboo Pole Festival in Carrizal

To the rhythm of music, the roar of fireworks, and doses of aguardiente, hundreds of Salvadorans carried massive bamboo poles laden with fruit on their shoulders during a traditional festival in the town of Santa María de Ostuma to give thanks for the harvest and pray for a more abundant one next year. The celebration …

Salvadoran Journalist Killed in Honduras Despite Protection

Salvadoran journalist Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas was shot and killed in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras, about 200 km northwest of Tegucigalpa. Gunmen ambushed him while he drove his taxi, a side job to support his family. Hércules, who worked for A Todo Noticias, had lived in Honduras for five years with his wife and …

Panama’s President Denies Requesting US Troops for Darién Migration Crisis

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino denied on Saturday that he requested U.S. military support to curb the migration crisis in the remote Darién jungle before Donald Trump returned to the White House, as claimed by a former advisor to the U.S. president. John Bolton, a former advisor during Trump’s first administration (2017–2021), told Spanish newspaper …