Costa Rica Teams Up with NASA and FECOP to Transform Ocean Monitoring

A groundbreaking collaboration between NASA, the Costa Rican Fishing Federation (FECOP), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), and the National University (UNA) is revolutionizing how Costa Rica monitors its oceans, with a focus on promoting marine conservation and sustainable fishing practices. The partnership recently launched the Pacific Color Expedition (Pcolor), a multi-year project that hit …

Costa Rica Press Freedom Under Threat as Chaves Targets Journalists, Report Says

Journalism in Costa Rica and across Central America faces an increasingly hostile environment, driven by polarizing rhetoric and systematic attacks from government authorities, according to a new report released by the Freedom of Expression and Right to Information Program at the University of Costa Rica (PROLEDI UCR) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The third annual …

Tennis World No. 1 Sinner Calls Doping Ban “Unfair” Ahead of Rome Return

Jannik Sinner believes his three-month doping ban to be “unfair” as the world number one awaits his return to tennis in time to contest the French Open and put nearly a year of controversy behind him. In February, Italian star Sinner agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to accept the ban after twice testing …

How Jaguars in Costa Rica Boost Sea Turtle Numbers

It’s tempting to think of the natural world as a blissful utopia. Picture the sun peering through fluffy white clouds, pouring its golden rays onto the canopy of lush tropical forest on a mountainside. You can hear the sounds of insects buzzing and birds chirping. It’s a beautiful thing to picture in your mind’s eye …

Costa Rica Eyes El Salvador’s Mega-Prison Model as Violence Escalates

As gang-driven violence surges, Costa Rica’s Justice Minister toured El Salvador’s maximum-security mega-prison on Friday, seeking solutions in President Nayib Bukele’s controversial tactics despite their harsh conditions and human rights backlash. Costa Rica, once Central America’s safest nation, is battling a record homicide rate of 17.2 per 100,000 in 2024, fueled by drug trafficking and …

Former Panama President Claims Political Enemies Planned Assassination Plot

Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli assured on Friday that his political enemies intended to kill him once he departed for Nicaragua, in whose embassy in Panama’s capital he has been sheltered for more than a year to evade a money laundering conviction. “What they wanted to do was kill me,” Martinelli claimed, without specifying who, …

Criminal Group Targets Costa Rica’s Tourism in Guanacaste

A criminal group is extorting small and medium-sized tourism businesses in Brasilito and Potrero, demanding weekly payments of $150 to $1,500 (₡75,000 to ₡750,000) to operate without retaliation, sparking alarm across Guanacaste’s tourism companies. Restaurant owners, hoteliers, tour operators, beach vendors, and vacation rental hosts report receiving threats—ranging from property damage to personal harm—forcing many …

Costa Rica Faces Trade Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariffs Take Effect

The United States, under President Donald Trump, has imposed a new 10% tariff on all imports, including goods from Costa Rica, effective April 5, 2025. Announced on April 2 as part of Trump’s “Liberation Day” trade policy, the measure aims to address perceived global trade imbalances but has sparked concern in Costa Rica about its …

Costa Rica Cracks Down on Dangerous Poás Volcano Illegal Tours

Costa Rica Park officials are hearing reports of companies using social media to offer illegal tours to Poás Volcano through unauthorized routes, despite the national park’s closure due to ongoing volcanic activity. The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) recorded an eruption early Thursday, adding to concerns about safety in restricted areas near …