The environmental crisis in Crucitas persists. Police discovered and dismantled an artisanal mining material processing plant in a wooded area of Tatú Hill in Crucitas, consisting of a pool made of plastic, filled with cyanide, sediments, and water, according to the regional director of the police force in the northern border, Junier Villalta Rubí. The images …

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Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship, Catholicism has a special status. The Catholic church is present anywhere you look in Costa Rica, from the streets of San José to the smallest rural villages. Not far behind are …

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United States President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4, introducing a new surcharge for most non-immigrant US visas. The legislation adds a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” to existing charges, significantly raising the cost of entry for many Latin American travelers—including those from Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and …

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Claudia Poll, Costa Rica’s only Olympic gold medalist, and two other former swimmers from the country, alleged on Monday that they suffered psychological, physical, and sexual abuse by well-known local coach Francisco Rivas, who has denied the accusations. “I suffered all the (psychological) abuses possible” from Rivas, said Poll, who won gold in the 200-meter …

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Canadian visits to Costa Rica have started to drop in 2025, with crime playing a big part in the shift. Data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) shows a clear dip in arrivals from Canada, especially in recent months. For example, May saw a 5.3% decrease in Canadian tourists compared to the same month …

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The European Union and Central American nations came together for their first Association Council meeting in Brussels. They focused on growing trade and investment while tackling shared global problems. This step marks a key moment in their partnership, built on an agreement that fully kicked in on May 1, 2024. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top …

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In 2026, the U.S. government will impose a 1% tax on cash remittances sent from the United States to Latin America. Electronic transfers will be exempt, but this measure will increase the cost of traditional remittance methods that many migrants use to support their families. Experts warn of two important effects this policy could have …

Read more “Costa Rican Economists Raise Alarm Over U.S. Cash Transfer Tax”

A strong earthquake struck off Panama’s Pacific coast today, rattling the region but causing no reported injuries or destruction. Seismologists pegged the magnitude at 6.2, though some early reports listed it higher at 6.6. The tremor hit at 11:53 a.m. local time, or 16:53 GMT, with the epicenter in the ocean about 206 kilometers south …

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A team of UN human rights experts said Tuesday that involvement by the Nicaraguan government in the killing of retired major Roberto Samcam cannot be ruled out. They point to a pattern of attacks on opponents living abroad under Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo’s rule. Samcam, 66, was shot dead by assailants at his home …

Read more “UN Experts Warn of Possible Nicaraguan Government Role in Exile’s Murder in Costa Rica”

US forces teamed up with Panamanian police for fresh military drills focused on safeguarding the Panama Canal, starting amid ongoing debates about foreign influence on this key trade path. Three US Army helicopters touched down in Panama on Sunday at the National Aeronaval Service base in Arraiján, near Panama City. The lineup included two UH-60 …

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