A noticeable change in watercolor has been reported across several zones of the Gulf of Nicoya and coastal areas adjacent to the Nicoya Peninsula. This alteration is the result of an algal bloom. Satellite imagery from July 5, provided by the Marine Phytoplankton Laboratory at the Marine Biology Station of the National University (UNA), shows …
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Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the General Management Plan for the Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge is unconstitutional. The decision annuls both the plan and a 2023 directive from the Environment Ministry that allowed permits in protected areas, citing violations of the country’s constitution and international wetland protections. The court found that the plan …
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As climate change intensifies, rural communities across Costa Rica are taking concrete steps to reduce risks and adapt to increasing climate pressures. With support from the international program “Scaling Up Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Measures in Rural Latin America” (EbA LAC), Costa Rica is integrating ecosystem-based adaptation into local and national planning frameworks. Between 1980 and 2017, …
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The prestigious NGO Cristosal, which investigates corruption cases and denounces human rights violations in El Salvador, announced Thursday that it has been forced into exile due to what it called the government’s growing repression against humanitarian activists under President Nayib Bukele. Cristosal, a strong critic of Bukele’s security policies, reported being subjected to harassment, surveillance, …
Read more “El Salvador NGO Flees to Guatemala as Bukele Intensifies Crackdown on Critics”
The airline recently added two new aircraft to its fleet, bringing their total to twelve. That increase allows SANSA to boost service to smaller airstrips in places like Drake Bay, Golfito, Cobano, and Tortuguero, making regional travel more efficient and consistent. From San José’s Juan Santamaria airport, SANSA offers daily flights to many of Costa …
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A new 4K video now circulating online offers a fresh view of Costa Rica’s natural settings—one that captures our country’s popular as well as lesser-known corners with clarity and care. The video brings together footage from coastal areas, rain-fed rivers, dense forest trails, and remote stretches of shoreline. It’s a calm, steady presentation—free of flashy …
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The General Directorate of Immigration (DGME) has reported 36 confirmed victims of human trafficking for commercial or sexual purposes in Costa Rica during the first half of 2025. In recent years, more than 530 cases involving victims of various nationalities have also been documented. Omer Badilla, director of the DGME, emphasized that human trafficking is …
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Here’s a term that will soon become a household word: I’m talking about diatoms. Many gardeners are familiar with D.E., or diatomaceous earth, because it can be used to control insects in the garden and around the home. I’ve evaded writing about D.E. for the simple reason that it was difficult to find in Costa …
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El Salvador has gained $443 million from the rise in Bitcoin’s value, a cryptocurrency the country began acquiring nearly four years ago under the direction of President Nayib Bukele. In September 2021, the Central American nation became the first country in the world to purchase and legally circulate Bitcoin alongside the U.S. dollar. The country …
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A small group of overstretched and outmatched lawyers is fighting for the rights of men deported by the Trump administration and held in a notorious Salvadoran prison — a David vs. Goliath battle that may end up in international courts. In a half-empty old schoolhouse outside San Salvador, lawyer Rene Valiente is trying to determine …
Read more “Salvadoran Lawyers Fight for Rights of Trump-Deported Migrants in Secretive Prison”