Author: allthingspanama.net

Twenty-five volunteers hauled 381 kilos of trash—mostly plastic bottles and tires—off Cocos Beach on Costa Rica’s San Lucas Island. The cleanup, set in the Gulf of Nicoya, shines a light on our country’s growing plastic pollution problem, with debris choking mangroves and coastlines. San Lucas Island sits just 10 to 15 kilometers from Puntarenas and …

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The justice system of El Salvador has admitted a habeas corpus petition in favor of lawyer and humanitarian activist Ruth López, a critic of President Nayib Bukele’s government, but failed to address her “arbitrary detention,” according to the NGO representing her. López, head of the anti-corruption unit at the humanitarian NGO Cristosal, was arrested on …

Read more “Rights Groups Condemn El Salvador Over Arrest of Anti-Corruption Lawyer”

Yesterday, Costa Rica’s national team, La Sele, faced off against Mexico in a tense, scoreless draw at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas during the final matchday of Group A in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. From a Costa Rican perspective, this match was a testament to grit, defensive discipline, and the brilliance of Keylor Navas, …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Defense Frustrates Mexico in Hard-Fought Gold Cup Stalemate”

To the cry of “justice,” the remains of retired Nicaraguan Army Major Roberto Samcam, a staunch critic of the Daniel Ortega government who was assassinated Thursday in Costa Rica, were buried Sunday in a cemetery in the capital, San José. Samcam, 66, was killed by eight gunshots fired by hitmen who broke into his home …

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Arturo Lemmen, a Mexican food critic known as “El Arturito” to his social media fans, used to think Costa Rican cuisine was nothing to write home about. That all changed during a recent trip to San José’s Silvestre restaurant, where a “secret” tasting menu left him raving about the country’s flavors. At Silvestre, in the …

Read more “Mexican Influencer “El Arturito” Falls for Costa Rican Cuisine at Silvestre”

A new bill in Costa Rica aims to give fathers in the private sector a full month of paid paternity leave, matching the benefit public sector workers already enjoy. Right now, private sector dads get just eight days—two days a week for four weeks—to bond with their newborns. Public sector fathers, on the other hand, …

Read more “Costa Rica Aims to Close Paternity Leave Gap with Bold New Proposal”

Costa Rica’s Northern Huetar Region, a sprawling area of 9,790 square kilometers, is home to over 437,000 people across districts like San Carlos, Upala, Los Chiles, Guatuso, Sarapiquí, and parts of San Ramón and Grecia. Famous for its vast landscapes and well-visited vacation spots like La Fortuna, Arenal Lagoon, and Caño Negro wetlands, the region …

Read more “Why Costa Rica’s Northern Huetar Region Struggles Despite Its Riches”

Panamanian authorities suspended internet and mobile phone services on Saturday in the Caribbean province of Bocas del Toro, following President José Raúl Mulino’s declaration of a state of emergency after nearly two months of protests against his government, according to official sources. On Friday, Mulino suspended the rights to assembly and free movement in the …

Read more “Internet Cut in Panama Near Costa Rica Border Amid Bocas del Toro Unrest”

Costa Rica’s recent drug busts, with tons of cocaine and marijuana seized across the country, shine a harsh light on its deepening role in global drug trafficking. What was once a quiet transit point has morphed into a key warehouse for international cartels, fueled by the country’s geography and strained police resources. The Judicial Investigation …

Read more “OIJ Warns: Costa Rica Now a Key Warehouse for Drug Lords”

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica announced a new rule for anyone applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas, which cover academic students, vocational students, and exchange program participants like professors, researchers, and au pairs. Starting immediately, applicants must set all their social media profiles to “public” to allow U.S. authorities to review their …

Read more “U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica Mandates Public Social Media for Student Visas”