Month: May 2026

A group of UN experts on Friday called on the Nicaraguan government, led by husband-and-wife co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, to provide proof of life for imprisoned Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera, amid fears that he may have died in custody. Rivera, 73, who is considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was detained …

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Yara Jiménez Fallas was elected president of Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly on Friday, becoming the fifth woman to lead the country’s Congress and opening a new four-year term defined by the ruling party’s consolidation of power and the most female-majority legislature in Costa Rican history. Jiménez, a 52-year-old attorney from Cartago, secured the post with …

Read more “Yara Jiménez Becomes Fifth Woman to Lead Costa Rica’s Congress”

Thousands of Salvadorans marched through the capital on May 1 to denounce what they called democratic setbacks under President Nayib Bukele and to demand the release of people they described as innocent who were detained in the government’s crackdown on gangs. The demonstration marked International Workers’ Day and highlighted persistent criticism of a state of …

Read more “Salvadorans Protest Bukele’s Policies in May Day March”

Starbucks has rolled out its 2026 summer menu at participating stores across Costa Rica, with four featured beverages now available as part of a regional launch across Latin America and the Caribbean. The lineup includes the new Iced Cherry Chai Latte, the Iced Horchata Shaken Espresso, the Horchata Frappuccino and the Tropical Butterfly Refresher. The …

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Avianca will fly stranded Spirit Airlines passengers home at no fare cost, the Colombian flag carrier announced today, becoming the first Latin American airline to extend a formal rescue plan after Spirit abruptly shut down operations earlier in the day. The offer waives the airfare itself but requires passengers to cover taxes, airport fees, and …

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Travelers heading to or from Costa Rica face sudden disruption after Spirit Airlines announced early Saturday it is shutting down all operations and liquidating, ending 34 years of service from the budget carrier known for its bright yellow planes and bare-bones fares. “It is with great disappointment that on May 2, 2026, Spirit Airlines started …

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Corcovado National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most important protected areas, is again at the center of a debate over how much tourism its ecosystems can support. The park, located on the Osa Peninsula, is one of our country’s best-known nature destinations. Costa Rica’s tourism board describes Corcovado as a protected area of forests, mangroves, …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park Faces Pressure Over Tourism Growth”

Costa Rica moved up one spot to 18th place in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released Thursday by Reporters Without Borders, reaffirming its standing as the freest country for journalists in Latin America even as press freedom hits a 25-year low globally. The country posted a score of 12.08 in the new ranking, edging …

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Costa Rica is moving to expand its payment-based conservation model into open-water marine protection, with a new program being designed to reward the protection and release of hammerhead sharks. The Ministry of Environment and Energy, through SINAC and in partnership with FUNBAM, is developing a Marine Payment for Ecosystem Services program, known as PSEM, aimed …

Read more “Costa Rica Expands Marine Conservation Payments to Protect Hammerhead Sharks”

Is it just me, or does it seem like too many people are looking too hard for something– anything– to get upset about? The internet is overloaded with whiners and nitpickers, broadcasting the latest outrage to their delicate sensibilities. While it can be tiresome, it can also be contagious. The more I watch, the more …

Read more “A Costa Rica Expat’s Funny List of Everyday Pet Peeves”