Costa Ricans Cast Ballots in Pivotal Presidential Election

Voters across the country headed to polling stations today to select the next president and reshape the Legislative Assembly. The election drew 3.7 million eligible participants who chose among 20 candidates for the top office, along with deputies for the 57-seat congress. Laura Fernández of the Sovereign People’s Party led the pack as the day …

Why Iguanas Are Falling From Trees in South Florida

Residents of South Florida are seeing something unusual this week: iguanas dropping from trees during an intense cold snap. Videos and photos have spread quickly on social media, often jokingly described as “raining iguanas.” The explanation, though, is straightforward biology mixed with uncommon weather. South Florida is going through one of its coldest stretches in …

Puma Sits for the Camera on a Pacific Cliff in Rare Costa Rica Footage

After two hundred or so articles mostly focused on wildlife for the Tico Times, I’ve written about most of the more well-known species that are walking, swimming, and flying around in Costa Rica. Every time I pick a species to write about, I get to go through my video archives and pick out the very …

Costa Rica Upholds Inmate Voting Tradition in Crime-Focused 2026 Presidential Race

Thousands of inmates across Costa Rica cast their ballots on Sunday, February 1, during the presidential and legislative elections, as authorities set up polling stations inside prisons to uphold their right to vote. This setup, in place since the late 1990s, highlights the country’s emphasis on broad suffrage, even amid a campaign dominated by debates …

Costa Rica election 2026 hinges on security, prisons, and Chaves legacy

Costa Ricans elect a president this Sunday, with ruling-party candidate Laura Fernández the clear favorite, buoyed by promises of a tough crackdown on crime that her rivals say would push the country toward authoritarianism. About 3.7 million citizens are being called to the polls to choose a president and lawmakers for four years in a …

Crowds Rush to TSE for Voter IDs Before Costa Rica’s 2026 Elections

Citizens formed long queues at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) offices across our country in the days leading up to the national elections. People waited to collect or renew their cédulas de identidad, the required document for voting. At the central office in San José, lines stretched hundreds of meters, with some waits exceeding two …

Rybakina Claims Australian Open Crown with Gritty Victory over Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina captured her first Australian Open title on Saturday, outlasting world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a tense three-set final that showcased the best of women’s tennis. The Kazakhstani player, seeded fifth, prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, securing her second major championship after her Wimbledon …

Costa Rica Mentioned Hundreds of Times in Epstein Files

The U.S. Department of Justice’s declassification of the Epstein files has uncovered repeated references to Costa Rica, with our country cited 324 times across emails, phone logs, and court records. These mentions, drawn from over three million pages released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, highlight visits by Epstein’s associates and discussions of real estate …

Infantino Says Football Is Growing Exponentially in Nicaragua

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said football is growing “exponentially” in Nicaragua, a country he visited ahead of a Concacaf congress on Sunday and where boxing and baseball have traditionally been the dominant sports. “What’s being done in Nicaragua is truly exceptional (…) Football is the king of sports in the world, and I have to …

Chile’s Kast Looks to El Salvador’s Model for Prison Security

Chile’s president-elect, José Antonio Kast, visited El Salvador’s mega-prison for gang members on Friday and asked President Nayib Bukele for “cooperation” to improve security in Chile’s prisons. Visits to the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) are part of the usual protocol for Bukele’s special guests. Bukele has turned the prison into a symbol of the crackdown …