Costa Rica’s quest for a place at the 2026 World Cup heats up on Thursday, when they face Haiti. La Sele currently sits in second place, which would see them qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs, but with a home game against table-topping Honduras after this, they have their sights firmly set on snatching top place …
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Panama has alerted Costa Rican health officials to a pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca, sparking concerns over potential spread across the shared border. The Panamanian Ministry of Health reported 16 confirmed cases along with one death linked to the disease. Officials point to seasonal worker migration as a key risk factor, …
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Guards at El Salvador’s Center for Terrorism Confinement, known as CECOT, beat Venezuelan detainees with batons and fists almost every day. They denied them medical care, fed them sparse meals, and held them in filthy cells without light or fresh air. Detainees called the place “hell,” and a new report from Human Rights Watch backs …
Read more “HRW Says Venezuelan Migrants Tortured at CECOT Prison in El Salvador”
Our national soccer team faces a defining week in their push for the 2026 World Cup, starting with a matchup against Haiti in Curacao on November 13, followed by a home clash with Honduras in San Jose on November 18. The Ticos, under coach Miguel Herrera, hold six points in Group C of the CONCACAF …
Read more “Costa Rica vs Haiti in Curacao, Then Honduras in San Jose”
The world’s largest aircraft carrier joined on Tuesday the U.S. operation against drug trafficking from Latin America, which Venezuela insists is aimed at toppling President Nicolás Maduro. The arrival of the USS Gerald Ford in the region coincided with a new Venezuelan military deployment in response to “imperial threats” and with Russia’s condemnation of the …
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A Mexican marine biologist with decades of experience studying sharks faced a life-threatening encounter in September when a Galapagos shark clamped down on his head during a tagging operation near Cocos Island. Mauricio Hoyos, 48, emerged from the ordeal with serious injuries but a firm resolve to continue his work—and even a desire to cross …
Read more “Marine Biologist Bitten by Shark in Costa Rica Aims for Reunion”
I once spent nine months on an off-the-grid farm about an hour south of San Isidro del General. Located near a river and along a high, lonely ridge in the foothills of the Talamanca/Chirripó range, it was a rough six-kilometer uphill drive from the old Pan-Am Highway. The final kilometer featured two rustic gates to …
Read more “What I Learned Living Off Grid in Costa Rica as an Expat”
Panamanian authorities seized nearly 12 tons of cocaine from a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, marking one of the country’s largest drug busts in recent years. The operation targeted a ship heading toward Mexico and ultimately the United States, with the drugs originating from Colombia. Officials discovered the haul aboard the boat near San Miguel …
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Organizers of the Envision Festival have revealed plans for the 2026 event, set for February 23 to March 2 in Uvita. The gathering will feature a reduced capacity to foster a more personal atmosphere, along with fresh efforts to boost sustainability and attendee comfort. The festival, known for blending music, art, wellness, and environmental action, …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Envision Festival Sets 2026 Dates with Smaller Size and Eco Focus”
A new report paints a stark picture of organized crime tightening its hold on Costa Rica. The 2025 Global Organized Crime Index shows our country’s criminality score climbing to 5.90, placing it 58th out of 193 nations worldwide and 13th among 35 in the Americas. This marks a notable jump from prior assessments, driven by …