Chiquita Brands Leaves Panama Amid Protests, Talks Underway to Resume

Laid-off workers from the U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands said on Monday that they are hoping for the company’s return to Panama, after it halted operations in the country due to millions in losses caused by two months of protests. Chiquita laid off more than 6,500 employees at its plant in Changuinola, in the Caribbean …

Costa Rica Identified as Key Maritime Route for Cocaine Trafficking

Costa Rica appears among the main maritime and aerial routes for cocaine trafficking between South and North America, according to the World Drug Report 2025 published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The maps included in the report, based on data from 2023 and 2024, highlight major cocaine transit routes in the Americas. …

Costa Rica to Launch Electric Air Taxis for Sustainable Travel in Guanacaste

Costa Rica is poised to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the introduction of electric air taxis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional ground travel for both tourists and residents. This innovative leap forward comes as a result of a landmark partnership between Eve Air Mobility, Aerosolutions, and Bluenest by Globalvia. The agreement, announced in June, includes …

Retired Nicaraguan Army Captain Sentenced to 50 Years for Treason

A retired military officer was sentenced to 50 years in prison in Nicaragua for the crime of “treason against the homeland,” his family denounced on Saturday, saying they had not known his whereabouts since he was detained by police in May. Retired captain Aníbal Rivas Reed, 61, “was tried in an arbitrary trial and sentenced …

Life After MS-13 in El Salvador as Residents Seek a Fragile Peace

Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighborhood, a former stronghold of the notorious MS-13 street gang in El Salvador. While she has lived more peacefully lately, she remains on alert: gang members are “hidden, but still there,” she whispered. The 10 de Octubre …

Costa Rica’s Eyelash Viper Snake Is One of the Most Beautiful

There are at least 141 different species of snakes in Costa Rica. With that large number of species packed into such a tiny nation, one would think that you’d be tripping on serpents every time you stepped out of your front door. Unfortunately for us snake-lovers, that’s not the case. The preferred habitat of many …

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched from the statue of León Cortés, in the western sector of La Sabana, toward the central building of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), in the heart of the capital. …

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of coffee—and maybe a moment to catch your breath. The match, which wrapped up just about half an hour ago, ended in a dramatic penalty shootout after a wild 2-2 draw in …

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport fishing, rich biodiversity, and deep cultural roots. Once a thriving village built on the backs of the fishing, timber, and banana industries, Barra has now shifted to eco-tourism and sport fishing. …

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are five questions related to some of Ticolandia’s biggest stories this week: 1) Will it ever stop raining? Tropical wave number 10 is presently soaking down much of the country. While that …