Month: January 2026

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo on Sunday decreed a state of siege across the country after gangs killed eight police officers in recent hours and staged several prison riots, taking dozens of hostages. The measure will allow the suspension of certain constitutional guarantees to combat the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gangs, labeled “terrorists” by …

Read more “Guatemala Decrees State of Siege After Gangs Kill Eight Police Officers”

Last Wednesday, the carcasses of ten wild pigs were found slaughtered inside the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve on the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica. The organized group Rancho Quemado Community Biological Monitoring reported the incident on social media. Their intention is to expose the fact that hunting continues in the community of Vanegas, which …

Read more “Endangered White-Lipped Peccaries Found Slaughtered Inside Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve”

As Costa Ricans and tourists finalize plans for Semana Santa and mid-year breaks, authorities and consumer groups issue fresh alerts on a persistent scam with a fresh angle: the property is genuine, the images authentic, and the address accurate. The reservation, however, is not. This fraud came to light this week when the owner of …

Read more “How Scammers Use Real Photos to Steal Deposits on Costa Rica Getaways”

Gang members sparked riots in multiple prisons across Guatemala on Saturday, taking more than 40 guards and staff as hostages. The unrest stems from ongoing tensions after authorities shifted top leaders of the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gangs to a high-security facility last year. Officials report that inmates hold 46 people captive in …

Read more “Hostage Crisis Unfolds in Guatemala Prisons After Gang Leader Transfers”

Gang groups rioted on Saturday in several Guatemalan prisons, where they have been protesting since 2025 over the transfer of their leaders to a maximum-security facility, authorities said. The Barrio 18 gang and its rival, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) both designated as “terrorist” organizations by the United States and Guatemala are accused of contract killings, extortion, …

Read more “Gang Riots Erupt in Guatemala Prisons Over Transfer of Leaders”

The Ocaso Underground Music Festival prepares for its ninth edition, set to bring house and techno beats to the central Pacific coast from January 22 to 25. Organizers expect thousands of attendees from around the world to gather just outside Jacó for a mix of music, art, and late-night gatherings. The event takes place along …

Read more “Ocaso Music Festival Returns to Costa Rica with International Lineup”

Beatriz Haddad Maia, Brazil’s leading women’s tennis player, saw her Australian Open campaign end abruptly on Sunday with a first-round defeat to Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. The match, played under the bright lights of Melbourne Park, went three sets, with Putintseva emerging victorious 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 after nearly three hours of intense play. Haddad Maia, ranked …

Read more “Brazilian Star Beatriz Haddad Maia Falls in Australian Open First Round Upset”

Officials from Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) have raised alarms over a spike in unauthorized entries to national parks and other protected zones during the recent holiday period. Between late December 2025 and early January 2026, authorities identified 408 individuals entering these areas through unofficial routes, with volcanic sites bearing the brunt …

Read more “Costa Rica’s SINAC Sounds Alarm on Unauthorized National Park Entries”

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Costa Rica reacted strongly to statements made by the new U.S. ambassador to the country, Melinda Hildebrand, who said on January 5 that China’s economic influence represents one of the challenges facing Costa Rica. The statements that triggered the Chinese reaction were made on January 5, …

Read more “China and U.S. Trade Barbs Over Influence in Costa Rica”

The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) warned that Costa Rica’s tourism ended 2025 with a modest 1% increase in international arrivals, a figure that signals a slowdown compared to other destinations in the region. The country welcomed 2.689 million tourists by air, up from 2.661 million in 2024. While the result avoided a negative close, …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Tourism Is Losing Ground to Mexico, Guatemala and Others”