Sherman Guity Trial Postponed After Defense Requests Psychiatric Evaluation

The trial of Costa Rican Paralympic sprinter Sherman Guity, one of our country’s most decorated athletes, failed to begin as scheduled this week after judges granted a defense motion requiring a psychiatric evaluation of the accused before proceedings can move forward. Guity, a four-time Paralympic medalist and current world record holder in the T64 100m …

Costa Rica Uses WWII-Era Ship to Support Marine Patrols

A former U.S. military vessel built during World War II is now anchored in Costa Rica’s South Pacific, where it has taken on a very different mission: helping protect marine life from illegal fishing. The MODOC, a 1944 vessel originally built for the United States Navy at Levingston Shipyard in Orange, Texas, is now used …

Costa Rica Hilton-Affiliated Hotels Warn Customers About Reservation Scam

Three Hilton-affiliated hotels in San José are warning customers about a fraud scheme in which scammers are posing as hotel employees to sell event services and request payments through unofficial channels. The situation has been reported at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton in downtown San José, the Hilton Garden Inn San …

Panama’s Copa Airline Plans Major Growth with New Boeing Aircraft Order

Panamanian airline Copa Airlines has announced an agreement for up to 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, a deal valued at about $13.5 billion at list prices and one of the largest fleet expansion moves in the carrier’s history. The aircraft will be added to about 40 planes already in the delivery process, giving Copa a …

Costa Rica Enforces Seasonal Fishing Ban in Gulf of Nicoya

Costa Rica’s annual fishing ban in the Gulf of Nicoya begins May 1, closing one of the country’s most important fishing areas for three months as authorities seek to protect the reproductive cycles of key marine species. The restriction will remain in effect until July 31, 2026, and applies to a defined area of the …

Costa Rica Drug Suspect Cleared for U.S. Extradition

Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba, alias “Shock,” has been declared extraditable by authorities in the United Kingdom and is expected to be transferred to the United States aboard a DEA aircraft, Costa Rican judicial officials confirmed Wednesday. Picado, 44, has been held in British custody since late December 2024. Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, known as …

Sweden Experiments With a Café Run Entirely by AI

A café recently opened in a residential neighborhood of Stockholm that, with its avocado toast and frothy lattes, looks like a conventional spot, except for one distinctive feature: it is managed by artificial intelligence. At Andon Café, some tables are decorated with small plants, the walls are gray, and the décor is minimalist. There is …

Volaris Airlines Hikes Fares on Costa Rica Routes

Travelers flying between Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States face higher prices and fewer flight options in the coming months after Volaris confirmed it is raising fares and cutting capacity to offset rising jet fuel costs. The Mexican low-cost carrier announced the changes alongside its first-quarter 2026 financial results, which showed a $71 million …

What Costa Rica Travelers Should Know About Route 1 Closures Near San José Airport

Drivers around Costa Rica’s capital are facing new disruptions this week as the government moves forward with the demolition of toll booth structures along one of our country’s busiest road corridors. The work, which began Monday night, is changing traffic patterns on Route 1, the General Cañas Highway, near Juan Santamaría International Airport. President Rodrigo …

Nicaragua Announces Mother’s Day Prisoner Release and Visa Update

Vice President Rosario Murillo announced the measure during her daily midday address yesterday. The prisoners, who have firm sentences, will move from penitentiary centers to a family cohabitation regime in their homes. The step marks the third round of such releases this year. Officials say it will bring the total number of common prisoners sent …