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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 …
Read more “Costa Rica Reports Surge in Human Trafficking Cases”
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 …
Read more “What are Diatoms and how are they used in Costa Rica?”
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 …
Read more “El Salvador Sees Big Gains from Bitcoin Price Surge”
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”
Costa Rica’s flagship tourism industry, long a cornerstone of our nation’s economy, is dealing with a noticeable downturn in 2025 as rising crime, health concerns, infrastructure issues, and a strong local currency converge to challenge one of the country’s most vital economic sectors. According to new data released by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Tourism Faces Decline Amid Rising Crime and Costs”
Costa Rican authorities dismantled a human trafficking network linked to the criminal gang Tren de Aragua, which financed the travel of women from Venezuela for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The Prosecutor’s Office and the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ, police) raided three hotels and four houses in San José and other locations. “Thirty minutes after …
Read more “Costa Rica Dismantles Human Trafficking Ring Linked to Tren de Aragua”
The environmental crisis in Crucitas persists. Police discovered and dismantled an artisanal mining material processing plant in a wooded area of Tatú Hill in Crucitas, consisting of a pool made of plastic, filled with cyanide, sediments, and water, according to the regional director of the police force in the northern border, Junier Villalta Rubí. The images …
Read more “Costa Rica Police Uncover Second Cyanide-Laced Mining Operation in Crucitas”
Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship, Catholicism has a special status. The Catholic church is present anywhere you look in Costa Rica, from the streets of San José to the smallest rural villages. Not far behind are …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Religious Culture Through the Eyes of a Non-Religious Expat”
United States President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4, introducing a new surcharge for most non-immigrant US visas. The legislation adds a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” to existing charges, significantly raising the cost of entry for many Latin American travelers—including those from Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and …
Read more “US Visa Cost Increase for Travelers and Workers Under New Law”
Claudia Poll, Costa Rica’s only Olympic gold medalist, and two other former swimmers from the country, alleged on Monday that they suffered psychological, physical, and sexual abuse by well-known local coach Francisco Rivas, who has denied the accusations. “I suffered all the (psychological) abuses possible” from Rivas, said Poll, who won gold in the 200-meter …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Olympic Hero Claudia Poll Alleges Abuse by Famed Swim Coach”