MOPT Announces Route 27 Traffic Changes for January to Ease Returns

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) has set reversible lanes on Route 27 for every Sunday in January 2026. This step aims to handle the surge of vehicles returning to the Central Valley after holiday breaks. Drivers heading back from Pacific beaches will find smoother flows toward San José, while those going the …

Budget Travel Options Expand with Frontier’s Houston to Central America Flights

Frontier Airlines has launched new nonstop flights from Houston to key Central American cities, offering lower fares for U.S. travelers and stronger links across the region. The service kicked off this week, with routes to Guatemala City, San Salvador, and San Pedro Sula in Honduras. The airline began flights to Guatemala City on December 18, …

Costa Rica Police Arrest 4th Suspect in Quepos Couple Murder Case

Police arrested suspect Bryan López Villalobos, known as “Vampi,” in Turrialba, marking a key development in the investigation into the deaths of a German man and his Austrian wife in the Central Pacific region. The 30-year-old suspect faces charges in the homicides of Rüdiger Schickhaus, 60, and Manuela Daxer, 57, whose bodies turned up on …

Costa Rica’s La Vuelta returns with international teams and a descent into San Isidro

Every December Costa Rica celebrates its strong bicycling roots with La Vuelta, a 10-stage cycling race that challenges riders with its mix of hill climbs, sprints and endurance, under conditions ranging from cool and windy to stiflingly hot. This year, one of the stages concluded where I live. The downtown streets of San Isidro de …

Vote recount in Honduras advances amid mistrust and Trump reprisals

In a warehouse the size of two basketball courts, hundreds of people are manually reviewing the votes that will decide the winner of Honduras’s presidential election, unfolding like a suspense thriller. Wearing latex gloves, electoral officials and party delegates have been examining every ballot since Thursday as if it were forensic work, following the election …

US Halts Diversity Visa Program Following Deadly Campus Attacks

The United States government has stopped its diversity visa program in response to recent shootings at two top universities. Officials point to the suspect’s entry into the country through the same lottery system as a key factor in the decision. The program, which grants up to 50,000 green cards each year to people from underrepresented …

Costa Rica Approves U.S. Coast Guard Boats for 2026 Anti-Drug Operations

Lawmakers in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly have given the green light for up to 195 U.S. Coast Guard vessels to access the country’s ports next year as part of joint efforts to combat drug trafficking. The approval, passed on Wednesday with 38 votes in favor and five against, covers operations from January 1 to December …

How to Travel with Pets in Costa Rica Without Issues

Travelers who plan to bring their dogs or cats into or out of the country often face strict rules set by the National Animal Health Service, known as SENASA. These guidelines aim to protect public health and prevent the spread of diseases like rabies. Failing to follow them can lead to quarantine, denial of entry, …

Guatemala Dismantles Los Moisés Migrant Smuggling Network Targeting US Border

Guatemalan officials arrested 14 people tied to a migrant smuggling operation aimed at the United States, striking a blow to illegal crossings in Central America. The raids happened yesterday in the areas of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Sololá, and El Progreso. Prosecutors named the group Los Moisés and called the effort Operation Albuquerque. They targeted homes …

Bailey Turner Claims Gold in Peru While Costa Rica’s Juniors Make Their Mark

Huntington Beach’s Bailey Turner secured the girls’ under-16 gold at the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, posting a two-wave score of 13.07 to edge out local favorite Catalina Zariquiey by 0.20 points. The win not only etched Turner’s name among surfing’s rising elite but also spotlighted Costa Rica’s emerging talent, as young Ticos held …