Month: February 2026

A massive fire tore through makeshift homes and businesses in San Salvador’s historic center early Friday, killing five people. The blaze, which started in the pre-dawn hours, spread fast through buildings made of sheet metal, wood, cane, and mud, catching residents and authorities off guard. Baltazar Solano, director of El Salvador’s Fire Department, told reporters …

Read more “Fire in San Salvador Claims Five Lives in Historic District Blaze”

Dionisio “Nito” Paniagua is a renowned tour guide at Corcovado National Park, located in Osa, Puntarenas, and recently announced that he will temporarily stop working there due to difficulties renewing his guiding license. In a video shared on his TikTok profile, Paniagua described what he sees as serious management problems affecting the biodiverse park and the …

Read more “Corcovado National Park guide criticizes SINAC as illegal mining persists”

The United Nations expressed deep concern on Friday about the intensifying crisis in Cuba, worsened by the United States’ energy blockade. “We are extremely concerned about the worsening socioeconomic crisis in Cuba, in the context of decades of commercial and financial embargo, extreme climate events, and recent measures by the United States that restrict oil …

Read more “UN Warns Cuba Crisis Is Worsening as US Oil Restrictions Tighten”

Agents from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) arrested a 28-year-old man surnamed Pérez as the main suspect in the homicide of Francisco Ojeda Garcés, a 36-year-old Chilean who lived temporarily in the country. The detention happened during a raid in Dominicalito de Osa, and police still hunt for a second suspect who remains on the …

Read more “Suspect Held in Killing of Chilean Activist in Costa Rica”

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has started charging again for replacement national identity cards, known as cédulas, following a two-month halt tied to the recent national elections. Officials confirmed the move this week, ending a period where citizens could request new documents without extra costs. The pause began two months before the vote and lasted …

Read more “Costa Rica Restarts Fees for Lost or Damaged Cédulas”

Costa Rica stays under the effects of cold front push number 15, but experts say it brings no major shifts to our weather. The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) reports the system sits farther north than typical, limiting its reach. An IMN meteorologist, noted that the front keeps trade winds at moderate to strong levels today, …

Read more “Costa Rica Faces Another Cold Front—But Effects Stay Limited”

The U.S. dollar has reached its lowest levels against the Costa Rican colón in almost two decades, closing at ₡487.26 in the Monex market last month. This marks the weakest point for the dollar since the market’s inception 19 years ago. Market watchers attribute the shift to a combination of robust tourist inflows, falling global …

Read more “Why the Falling Dollar Is Testing Costa Rica’s Tourism Edge”

Lawmakers in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly passed a bill in its first debate this week that sets out heavy fines for people who enter national parks and protected areas without permission. The measure aims to stop a rise in unauthorized access that threatens both the environment and public safety. The bill, which reforms the National …

Read more “Costa Rica Lawmakers Advance Bill to Fine Illegal Park Entries”

Hospitals in the Central Valley face mounting pressure from a rise in respiratory illnesses, prompting the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) to shift pediatric patients across facilities. Officials report that seasonal viruses, including influenza A subtype H3, have driven up demand, leading to near-full occupancy in key centers. The surge began in late 2025, …

Read more “Central Valley Hospitals Overloaded by Respiratory Surge and Nurse Shortfalls”

Southwest Airlines has set plans to introduce the first direct flight linking Costa Rica with Las Vegas, Nevada. This move aims to boost travel options between the two spots. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute shared details from the airline’s press release, noting this as the initial nonstop service to the U.S. city known for its …

Read more “Southwest Airlines Unveils Direct Costa Rica-Las Vegas Route”