Category: Blog

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly is moving forward with a bill that aims to strengthen the rules around pretrial detention in response to growing threats from organized crime. The proposal, which reforms the Criminal Procedure Code, comes as the country grapples with increased violence tied to drug trafficking and hired killings. Legislators argue that judges need …

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Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court has stepped in to push the government on a long-delayed tuna fishing law. The court partially backed an appeal from environmental lawyer Walter Brenes, who called out the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) for not creating rules for Law 10304. …

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Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced Friday a new strike in the Caribbean off Venezuela’s coast against an alleged narco-boat, leaving 4 dead. “Following President Trump’s orders, I directed a lethal strike against a drug-trafficking vessel affiliated with organizations designated as terrorist,” the secretary of war said, which he accompanied with a video. “Four narcoterrorist men …

Read more “Venezuela Tensions Rise After U.S. Strike on Alleged Narco Vessel”

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has taken another step to reshape the country’s education system. On Thursday, he declared a complete ban on what he calls “inclusive language” across all public schools. This move targets terms that alter traditional Spanish to promote gender neutrality, such as “amigue,” “compañere,” “niñe,” “todos y todas,” “alumn@,” “jóvenxs,” and …

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Costa Rica’s electoral authorities have approved a groundbreaking shift, letting political parties accept donations in select cryptocurrencies for the first time. This move, led by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), aims to update campaign funding while keeping tight checks on every transaction. Political groups can now take contributions in Bitcoin, Ether, and USD Coin, but …

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A new United Nations study sheds light on the rapid spread of informal lending schemes called “gota a gota” across Costa Rica, where high-interest loans often lead to extortion and violence. These operations, once limited to certain communities, now affect a wider range of people facing financial pressures. The report, released this week by the …

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A tragic fire ripped through the Hotel Oriente in central San Jose early this morning, leaving five people dead and sparking questions about building safety in the city’s older structures. The blaze, which started on the third floor just before dawn, quickly spread, trapping residents in what many described as a chaotic scene. Firefighters arrived …

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The US government revoked the tourist and business visa of Leonel Baruch, the businessman behind Costa Rican news site CRHoy. Reports connect the move to active investigations into money laundering and tax evasion against him. Baruch confirmed the revocation in a statement. He received an email from the US Embassy’s Consular Section stating the decision …

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Costa Rica’s electoral season began yesterday with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal’s official call for the 2026 national elections. Eugenia Zamora, the TSE president, described the process as one of the country’s core traditions, emphasizing its role in maintaining peace amid growing tensions. The ceremony marked the start of a four-month campaign leading to the February …

Read more “Costa Rica 2026 Elections Kick Off: 20 Candidates Vie for Presidency”

Costa Rica’s restaurants have landed spots on TripAdvisor’s global list of top dining spots this year. Five local places made the cut in the 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best, based on traveler reviews from the past 12 months. These awards sort restaurants into groups like Hidden Gems, Romantic Date Night, Pet Friendly, …

Read more “5 Top Costa Rican Restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Best List”