Costa Rica Faces Windy Weather from Cold Front No. 6

Costa Ricans faced brisk winds and intermittent showers when getting to work this morning, as Cold Front No. 6 positioned itself over the central Caribbean Sea. The system accelerated trade winds across Central America, drawing in moisture that led to varied conditions nationwide. The National Meteorological Institute outlined the day’s patterns, noting scattered rains of …

Mexico’s Renata Zarazua Carries Regional Hopes into Australian Open 2026

As the tennis world gears up for the 2026 Australian Open, set to kick off on January 18, Latin America stands ready to make its mark with one of its strongest showings in years. Yet for Central America, the narrative remains one of slim representation in singles, with Mexico’s Renata Zarazua emerging as the region’s …

Costa Rica Travelers Face Tighter U.S. Visa Social Media Scrutiny

The United States government has moved forward with plans to require certain international visitors to submit five years of their social media activity as part of entry applications. This step, proposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), aims to bolster security checks for travelers from countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). While Costa …

Costa Rica’s Mighty Baird’s Tapir is the Quiet Giant of the Forest

Today we discuss a creature that’s very close to my heart, the Baird’s tapir. It’s an enormous, elephant-nosed, whistling, puddle-pooper. What’s not to love? Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is known as a danta in Spanish. The Baird in the English name comes from Spencer Fullerton Baird, an American naturalist who became the first curator of …

Guatemala restricts civil rights in indigenous region after deadly shootings

The government of Guatemala has restricted some civil rights for fifteen days in the Indigenous region where five people were shot dead on Saturday, President Bernardo Arévalo reported today. The area of Sololá, west of Guatemala City, has for years been the scene of clashes over a land dispute between the Indigenous communities of Santa …

What to Know About Costa Rica’s Gordo Navideño Lottery

Today marks the day thousands across the country have waited for: the draw of the Gordo Navideño 2025. Run by the Junta de Protección Social (JPS), this annual lottery brings hope to families during the holiday season. The event takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m., broadcast live on national television and radio. The Gordo Navideño …

Costa Rica Named Key Drug Hub by European People’s Party Assembly

Members of the European Parliament’s Partido Popular Europeo (EPP) have voiced serious worries about Costa Rica’s increasing position as a key hub for drug shipments heading to Europe. The group’s political assembly passed a resolution this week that highlights the country’s ports as major exit points for cocaine, calling for direct action to stem the …

Costa Rica Signals Readiness for Refugee Status For Kilmar Abrego Garcia

U.S. immigration officials released Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia from detention after a federal judge in Maryland ordered his immediate freedom, marking a key turn in a case that highlights tensions in American deportation policies. Costa Rican authorities have signaled their readiness to grant him refugee status if he chooses to seek it, providing a …

FECOP Study Reveals Shifting Trends in Costa Rica’s Sport Fishing Resources

Sailfish and companion-species fishing tourism represents a major source of income for Costa Rica, particularly for communities along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Despite its importance, information on species availability for recreational fleets has been limited. A recent study addressed this gap by estimating the catch per unit effort (CPUE) for sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna, …

US Ruling Denies Bond to Son Accused of Killing Costa Rican Mother

A Tennessee judge has bound over murder charges against the husband and son of Costa Rican Silvia Gabriela Vílchez Mora, who authorities say died from a brutal beating before her body burned in a rural fire pit. The ruling came during a preliminary hearing on December 8 in Sequatchie County, advancing the case to a …