Pavones, a small surfing paradise in Golfito, Costa Rica, faces a growing battle to protect its iconic wave, local community, and fragile ecosystem. Known for its 800-meter left break—one of the longest in the world—Pavones draws surfers and nature lovers to its grey-sand beaches and dense jungles. But recent actions by the Golfito Municipality have …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Pavones Resists Demolitions to Protect Its Legacy”
Costa Rica, celebrated for its rainforests and beaches, is facing sharp criticism for its treatment of migrants. The Jesuit Migrant Service of Costa Rica (SJM-CR), supported by the Spanish Jesuit organization ALBOAN, has called out the country’s harsh policies, describing it as “a paradise for tourists but a hell for migrants.” The focus is on …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Migrant Crisis: A Paradise for Tourists, a Hell for Detained Deportees”
The laughter of children running through the alleys of Gardí Sugdub is no longer heard. Everything changed a year ago when nearly all of the island’s Indigenous inhabitants fled this tiny Panamanian Caribbean island that is slowly being swallowed by the sea.The calm now contrasts sharply with the bustle of last June, when around 1,200 …
Read more “Panama’s Gardí Sugdub Becomes a Climate Migration Case as Sea Levels Rise”
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 …
Read more “Learning Spanish in Costa Rica: Lessons Beyond the Textbook”
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 …
Read more “Panama-Costa Rica Railway Set for 2026 Construction Start”
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 …
Read more “El Salvador’s Bukele Says He Doesn’t Care If He’s Called a Dictator”
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 …
Read more “Protecting Your Interests in Costa Rica’s Anonymous Societies”
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 …
Read more “Wildlife Trafficking Jumps in Costa Rica, Threatening Biodiversity”
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 …
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 …
Read more “El Salvador’s Fruit-Laden Bamboo Pole Festival in Carrizal”