Month: January 2026

Patients at San Carlos Hospital in northern Costa Rica are facing staggering delays for medical appointments, with some waits stretching as far as 26 years into the future. The situation has prompted swift action from the Defensoría de los Habitantes, our country’s ombudsman’s office, which is demanding answers from hospital officials and pushing for systemic …

Read more “Costa Rica’s San Carlos Hospital Under Fire for 26-Year Appointment Waits”

Laura Fernández, the conservative candidate backed by the ruling party, holds a commanding lead in the race for Costa Rica’s presidency, with recent polls showing her support at levels that could secure a first-round victory on February 1. Surveys from the University of Costa Rica and OPol Consultores, both released on Wednesday, place Fernández ahead …

Read more “Laura Fernández Leads Costa Rica Polls with First-Round Win in Sight Ahead”

Nicaragua’s government, led by the married couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, has released 38 detainees who celebrated on social media the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an exiled human rights NGO reported on Wednesday. The NGO Monitoreo Azul y Blanco, which compiles complaints of human rights violations in Nicaragua, recorded at least 71 …

Read more “Nicaragua releases 38 people who celebrated Maduro’s capture, NGO says”

Melbourne Park came alive on Wednesday as the second round of the Australian Open delivered a mix of straight-set cruises and grueling five-set battles. Top seeds like Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka powered through, but the day belonged in part to Latin American players who showed grit and skill on the hard courts. Francisco Cerundolo …

Read more “Australian Open 2026: Cerundolo Leads Latin Efforts as Alcaraz Progresses”

Firefighters across Costa Rica report a sharp rise in wildfire incidents this year, with dry weather and strong winds fueling larger blazes. In the first three weeks of January, emergency calls for fires have nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2025, reaching over 1,000 cases by January 19. The fire season officially began …

Read more “Costa Rica Firefighters Battle Surge in Wildfires Amid Dry Winds”

Anglers and nature enthusiasts continue to find Silver King Lodge as a prime spot for experiencing the remote northern Caribbean coast. Set on the banks of the Rio Colorado within the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, the lodge draws visitors seeking big-game fishing and close encounters with local ecosystems. The area remains accessible only by …

Read more “Giant Tarpon and Wildlife at Costa Rica’s Silver King Lodge”

Our country will transform into a hub for performing arts this April as it hosts the first Ibero-American Theater Festival, known as FITCR. Running from April 10 to 19, the event draws theater companies from across Latin America and Europe to showcase works that highlight shared cultural ties and contemporary issues. Organized by the Ministry …

Read more “Costa Rica Hosts Inaugural Ibero-American Theater Festival”

Lawmakers in Costa Rica have passed a significant reform to the Penal Code, establishing contract killing, known locally as sicariato, as a distinct crime for the first time. The measure sets prison sentences between 20 and 40 years for those involved in such acts within criminal organizations. The Legislative Assembly approved the bill in its …

Read more “Costa Rica Strengthens Fight Against Organized Crime”

The cruise ship Brilliant Lady from Virgin Voyages docked for the first time at Puerto Hernán Garrón Salazar in Limón on January 19, marking a new chapter for cruise tourism here. The arrival highlights Costa Rica’s growing appeal to premium cruise lines that prioritize adult travelers and sustainable practices. The vessel, which launched in September …

Read more “Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady Makes Debut in Costa Rica’s Limón Port”

Nicaragua’s flagship cigar-industry event, the Puro Sabor Nicaraguan Cigar Festival (now in its 13th edition), is captivating enthusiasts and international visitors with an immersive program of factory tours, tobacco farm visits, tastings, pairings, and gala celebrations. The festival runs January 18–24, 2026, with the core cigar-focused activities centered in Estelí, the undisputed capital of Nicaragua’s …

Read more “Nicaragua’s Premier Cigar Festival Puro Sabor Underway”