Q COSTA RICA – Nicaraguans, Colombians, and Salvadorans top the list of naturalized citizens with the greatest presence on the 2026 electoral roll.
In total, 94,533 naturalized voters will be able to exercise their right to vote on February 1st, 2026 (and the second round vote if required) when the national elections are held.
According to data from the Statistics Unit of the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE), this group of voters is made up of 53,792 women and 40,741 men.
San José is the province with the largest number of naturalized citizens, with 41,924, followed by Alajuela with 15,266 and Heredia with 11,428.
Compared to the 2024 municipal elections, the number of naturalized citizens registered on the electoral roll grew by 10,117, representing a 10.7% increase over the 84,416 who would have exercised their right to vote in the previous election.
Costa Rica’s voter registry reflects the diverse origins of those who are now Costa Ricans: 140 different nationalities are represented.
The majority of naturalized citizens in Costa Rica come from Nicaragua, Colombia, El Salvador, and Panama. Specifically, 56.1% of naturalized citizens are originally from Nicaragua, according to the TSE. Colombians represent 11.4%, Salvadorans 5.6%, and Panamanians 2.8%.
Other naturalized voters in Costa Rica are from the Dominican Republic, the United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Chile, Taiwan, Spain, Ecuador, Argentina, Canada and Italy, among others.
As required by the country’s constitution, the deadline for naturalized citizens, that is they have been issued their ‘cedula’ (citizenship card) to participate in the 2026 presidential elections was January 31st.
For the 2026 presidential elections, the current electoral roll includes 3.6 million eligible voters, of whom 2.55% are naturalized citizens.
Transparency Note: This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence tools, with information sourced from reliable sources and reviewed for accuracy and clarity.
Q COSTARICA — It is undeniable. The Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) is facing a significant issue with its urban mobility. The roads are congested with excessive numbers of cars, and there are limited options for mass public transportation.
The Rutas 1, 2, and 27, the three major arteries in and out of the GAM, are heavily congested from early in the morning to evening. Weekends are no better. The same on the Ruta 39 (Circunvalacion). Every day. And this is without any major crashes occurring.
If she wins the 2026 presidential elections, Claudia Dobles, a pre-candidate for the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), would once again attempt to build an electric train with five routes and a cost close to US$1.5 billion dollars.
In a video posted on her Facebook account, Dobles celebrated the decision of Rodrigo Chaves’s government to move forward with the construction of two lines during this administration, to which she responded: “We will finish the other three.”
“I’m glad the electric train project is being revived. Same layout, same financing, same technology (as that introduced during her husband’s presidency). However, a considerably smaller project with 30 fewer kilometers. In the original project, we had five lines; this project has two, has fewer frequencies, less equipment, and of course, based on that, there’s a decrease in costs. Curiously, the cost per kilometer between the original project and this project hasn’t decreased,” Dobles said.
Dobles’ position marks a direct contrast with the strategy followed by the current government.
After shelving the project promoted by Carlos Alvarado’s administration (2018 and 2022) —of which Dobles was one of the main architects in this area — the Chaves administration is preparing to unveil a reduced version of the plan, which includes only the Cartago and Alajuela lines.
The cuts also affected the scope of the service: from 70 trains originally planned, the current proposal contemplates the purchase of only 28 units, while the rush-hour service frequency has been reduced from five to ten minutes. Furthermore, the overall route has been reduced by 30 kilometers, according to a report by La Nación this week.
“I am glad that after three years of shelving the project, the administration wants to move these two lines forward in the remaining 11 months. We will finish the other three,” Dobles added.
Lower cost
According to a statement made by the Costa Rican Railway Institute (Incofer) to its board of directors, the Chaves administration’s project would cost close to US$800 million dollars.
Of that, US$550 million would come from a loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), which includes US$250 million previously approved by the Green Climate Fund during the Alvarado administration, and another US$250 million would be financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The timeline proposed by Incofer projects that the financing bill will reach the Legislative Assembly in the third quarter of 2025, with bidding opening in March 2026 and the awarding of contracts finalized by the end of that year, with construction starting in 2027 and the first two lines operational by 2030.
The Alvarado administration’s original project contemplated an investment of nearly US$1.5 billion, five train lines, and an annual subsidy of between US$50 and US$150 million. In the current proposal, the government estimates that the subsidy would be approximately US$10 million annually.
More roads don’t solve traffic problems
Investing hundreds of millions of dollars in road infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion will never solve this problem, despite the temporary relief provided by the completed works, as previously stated by Emma Grün, Regional Leader of Cities and Urban Design for Gensler Latin America.
The expansion of roads generates an effect known as induced demand, which basically indicates that building more road projects encourages people to use their cars more.
“Increasing road infrastructure may temporarily alleviate congestion, but it is not a sustainable solution. Various studies show that, as roads expand, more people prefer to use their cars, often with only one occupant, encouraged by the perception that the trip will be faster and more comfortable,” said Grün.
In just over 20 years, the Costa Rican vehicle fleet has almost tripled, which has deteriorated the quality of life of Costa Ricans as they spend more and more time stuck in traffic congestion.
At the beginning of this century, the national insurer, the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) collected 607,000 Marchamos (annual circulation permit), while last year, the number was 1.8 million.
The data supports this reality. According to the 2024 Competitiveness Index, drivers in Costa Rica can lose between 3 and 8 minutes for every 100 meters traveled in road congestion. In Orotina, for example, the worst average time is recorded: 7 minutes and 33 seconds to travel just one block.
However, congestion affects almost the entire country.
Cantons such as Santa Ana, Heredia, Alajuela, Escazú, San José, and Curridabat report time losses ranging between 3 and 6 minutes for every 100 meters.
Beyond the lost time and its impact on productivity and employment, daily traffic jams also affect the physical and mental health of the population.
RICO’s Q — Let’s face it, traffic congestion in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) won’t disappear overnight.
These are 5 recommendations from experts to stay calm on the road:
Accept the reality: Costa Rica’s reality dictates that you will regularly encounter traffic congestion at any time of the day and that this circumstance is beyond your control. It may be wishful thinking to consider different routes or leave earlier, for, eventually encountering traffic congestion is inevitable. It is important to acknowledge this reality in order to avoid adding extra pressure that could potentially heighten stress levels.
Carpooling: A highly improbable solution in Costa Rica. But we can try to make your commute a pleasant affair. Several people with the same destination can share a car, which reduces traffic jams and has psychosocial implications.
Manage your breathing: The advice is to periodically close your eyes (not while moving), inhale, exhale, and let the airflow through your lungs. It’s about being more in touch with yourself through breathing.
Music: Listening to music or a podcast can help you pass the time.
Pleasurable activities: Before a planned drive like going to work, or after a long day of work, do something that gives you satisfaction, such as going for a walk, walking your pet, or any other activity that makes you feel good.
QCOSTARICA — Toronto-based Porter Airlines has been authorized by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to operate scheduled international flights to Costa Rica.
The approval also adds Jamaica and the United Kingdom to the airline’s destinations.
Removing a restriction that limited Porter to operating only through codeshares on these routes, the airline will be able to fly directly to these destinations, representing a significant expansion of its international network.
This decision, outlined in rulings A-2025-100, A-2025-101, and A-2025-102 issued on June 6, 2025, represents a key milestone in the airline’s growth strategy.
For these new routes, Porter will use its Embraer E195-E2 with a capacity for 132 passengers, no middle seats, and a range of up to 4,665 kilometers. This fleet allows it to efficiently cover routes to the Caribbean and also transatlantic flights from eastern Canada, according to international media, including aviacionline.com.
Porter, Canada’s third-largest airline, behind Air Canada and WestJet, currently operates domestic flights within Canada and to several cities in the United States. The airline also maintains codeshare agreements with other airlines to expand its international reach.
Although specific dates and arrival airports in Costa Rica have not yet been announced, the authorization marks a key step toward strengthening air connections between Canada and Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is currently a top destination for Canadians. According to Costa Rica’s Ministry of Tourism, there were 273,000 air arrivals from Canada in 2024, making Canada the country’s second-largest tourism market.
Analysts suggest that the increase in Canadian tourism to Costa Rica can be attributed to the impact of the Trump administration on travel to the United States.
QCOSTARICA — Starting today, Friday, June 13, the first adjustments to the tax exemptions applied to electric vehicles in Costa Rica will take effect.
The changes will directly affect customs duties and the selective consumption tax, which will go from being completely exempt to paying 25% of their original value.
This adjustment is part of the progressive implementation provided for in the Law of Incentives and Promotion for Electric Transportation, which contemplates a gradual reduction in tax benefits as the costs of this technology fall.
“The goal of the tax exemptions is to promote electric mobility so that the cost of an electric vehicle is equivalent to a similar combustion vehicle. We are currently seeing that the price of electric vehicles has been falling, the exemptions are fulfilling their purpose, and then they will begin to decrease in a planned and fiscally responsible manner,” said Silvia Rojas, Executive Director of ASOMOVE.
Starting today, the Selective Consumption Tax will increase from 0% to 25%. This tax corresponds to 30% of the vehicle’s value, so 25% of that 30% will be paid, equivalent to 7.5% of the vehicle’s price
Also starting today, the Customs Tax: will go from 0% to 25%. This tax corresponds to 1% of the CIF value of the vehicle delivered to port, so 25% of that 1% will be paid, i.e., 0.25% of the price.
Other incentives remain in place, such as the value-added tax (Impuesto sobre el valor agregado or IVA) remains at 3% for 2025, with gradual increases until reaching 13%; The vehicle property tax exemption included in the Marchamo, annual circular permit stays at 40% this year and will continue to decrease by 20% annually.
These changes will remain in place for the next three years, before a further reduction is implemented in June 2028.
Environmental Impact and Projections
In addition to the economic benefits, electric mobility continues to offer environmental advantages. It is estimated that by 2026, there will be 35,000 electric vehicles in circulation in Costa Rica, which would prevent the emission of approximately 117,250 tons of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to the annual capture of the same number of mature trees.
Costa Rica has established itself as the country with the highest electric vehicle penetration in the Americas, according to the latest Global EV Outlook 2025 report, published by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
According to the report, 15% of new vehicles registered in Costa Rica in 2024 will be electric, surpassing larger economies with better infrastructure such as Canada (12%), the United States (10.5%), Brazil (6.5%), and Mexico (3%). This figure positions Costa Rica as the leading benchmark for electric mobility on the continent.
2024 marked an important milestone in the transition to sustainable mobility in Costa Rica. According to data from Asomove, the country went from having 12,218 registered electric vehicles at the end of 2023 to reaching 22,731 zero-emission units by the end of this year.
By the end of 2025, Costa Rica is projected to have more than 30,000 electric vehicles in circulation.
QCOSTARICA — Legislator Pilar Cisneros announced her retirement from politics once her term in the Legislative Assembly ends in 2026.
Cisneros expressed her retirement from politics during an interview on the Punto de Encuentro program on Radio Monumental, where she stated that she has no plans to continue in public office after her current term.
“The truth is, I don’t see myself in a role like this, from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm every day in the Legislative Assembly. Politics has been a circumstantial part of my life and an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, but I doubt I’ll be involved in politics for any longer,” Cisneros stated.
The legislator, who has been a loyal advocate of President Rodrigo Chaves, also noted that, although she may provide occasional consulting services, she does not contemplate assuming high-level positions such as minister or similar positions within the government.
These statements confirm that his foray into politics was, in his own words, a one-time experience and not a long-term project.
QCOSTARICA — While representing Costa Rica at the Ocean Summit in France, President Rodrigo Chaves’ English proficiency is being openly criticized.
One of the critics is independent legislator Gloria Navas, who did not hesitate to join the criticism on social media, openly questioning the president’s pronunciation and proficiency during his speeches in English.
Navas is a staunch opponent of Chaves and has clashed with the president on several occasions over his approach to handling the country’s security.
“On social media, criticism of the president’s English has erupted since yesterday and today, and I was curious to hear what he said. He actually started a speech in English. He could have asked for a translator from Spanish to French, or from Spanish to English, but he took the risk,” Navas said, alluding to the fact that Chaves could have opted for an interpreter instead of speaking directly in a foreign language.
The legislator went further and, in an ironic tone, sent the president a message in English: “Mr. President, you don’t know how to speak English. You need some lessons. Stop talking and act.”
The accusation comes despite the president’s extensive international experience.
Rodrigo Chaves holds a PhD in Economics from Ohio State University and worked for 27 years at the World Bank, serving in more than 45 countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
In his last role before joining the Costa Rican government, he was the World Bank Country Director for Indonesia, where he routinely communicated in English.
Watch the video above or use this link and decide for yourself.
QCOSTARICA — The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) – Judicial Police, reported that on Wednesday, June 11, Costa Rica matched the same number of homicides recorded during the same period in 2024.
Thus, between January 1 and June 11, both last year and this year, there have been 394 murders.
As such, Costa Rica is on the verge of reaching 400 homicides, the number recorded on average in an entire year more than a decade ago. For example, in 2012 and 2013, both periods closed with 407 homicides.
Almost 10 years later, in 2024, Costa Rica closed with 880 homicides, and now for the current year, projections estimate the number to be even higher, close to 1,000 homicides.
The most violent year so far was 2023, with 905 homicides.
The Estado de la Justicia (State of Justice) Report published on Wednesday highlights that homicides are the crime that has grown the most in the wave of violence in the country, reaching a rate of 17 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024.
“The incidence of crime has a direct impact on the judicial institution, as it would increase workload due to the increase and complexity of cases,” the document states.
Costa Rica managed, to at least, contain the curve in 2024. At one point, projections estimated surpassing the 1,000-crime barrier in a year, which did not happen.
Why not decreasing?
There are conflicting positions among authorities and experts on the causes and how to address this wave of homicides.
For Mario Zamora, ministro de Seguridad Pública (Minister of Public Security), the homicide figures are not decreasing “because the sicarios (hitmen) are still on the streets and not in jail.”
According to Zamora, whose ministry is in charge of the Fuerza Publica (national police) the task of apprehending hitmen is the responsibility of the OIJ and the Ministerio Publico (Public Prosecutor’s Office).
“Because in addition to the number of homicides, the number of unpunished homicides has increased when the perpetrator is not identified; that didn’t happen before,” Zamora indicated.
Zamora added that, given the difficulty in determining who committed the crime, the possibility of bringing a specific murder case to trial, a process that can take more than three years due to judicial delays, decreases.
“… In the meantime, the hitman remains a hitman,” Zamora asserted.
For other security experts, the immediate measures should include providing more equipment, personnel, and resources to the various police forces, including the OIJ, the Fuerza Publica, and the Prosecutor’s Office.
Criminologist and former OIJ agent, Gerardo Castaing, has emphasized in various conversations with the media the need for more police control on the streets. He believes that changes in legislation would have long-term, but not immediate, results.
The most recent
Among the most recent cases is a triple homicide that occurred in Guararí de Heredia on Tuesday night. The alert was raised before 10 pm by neighbors who heard gunfire.
When Fuerza Publica officers arrived at the scene, they located three men with gunshot wounds. However, Costa Rican Red Cross personnel declared two of them dead, a 38-year-old man with the last name Dávila and a 17-year-old minor. The third, an 18-year-old man, was taken to San Vicente de Paúl Hospital, where he died later.
According to the OIJ’s preliminary report.
It is presumed that the victims were in public when they were approached by several individuals who shot them, and then fled the scene in a vehicle.
Online gambling worldwide has long recognized Costa Rica for its unique status. Many other nations struggle with creating laws for digital betting, but Costa Rica has turned into a key location for operating online casinos aimed at foreigners. It’s all due to a specific business registration called the data processing license.
Although it is not formally referred to as a gambling license, this recognition enables online casinos to operate smoothly and efficiently. For individuals looking to establish an online casino offering poker, blackjack, and especially online slots, Costa Rica is a suitable option due to both legal considerations and a streamlined setup.
Global audiences seeking casino games are targeted, with the online slots keyword being heavily utilized in the marketing strategies of Costa Rican gambling platforms. Because rules are relatively flexible and opportunities are abundant, these operators can introduce new services, grow, and promote their products freely.
What Is a License for Data Processing?
A data processing license for Costa Rica is not accepted outside the country as a gambling license. In other words, digital or online companies use this registration to offer services over the internet. Types of services include call centers, digital marketing companies and online gaming operators. Because it is easily accessible and subject to minimal regulation, it appeals to online operators in the casino industry.
Most jurisdictions ask for thorough background checks, detailed examinations of business software and ongoing checks, but Costa Rica’s system is somewhat laid back. Because of this, online gambling companies can start operating fast, handle teams online and offer their services worldwide. Among companies where lots of users play slots, the method has delivered excellent results.
Why Online Casino Operators are Attracted to Costa Rica
Many online casino operators are drawn to Costa Rica due to its business-friendly laws. No Costa Rican laws have been enacted to prohibit the operation of online gambling within the nation, provided the sites are not targeting its residents. Companies can use this to ensure they are following the law as they launch in various countries.
Costa Rica supports the use of modern technologies, strong privacy rules and talented workers who can speak two languages. Because of these factors, companies can set up and look after customer support teams, technical operations and marketing teams from the exact location. Many people running online slots and casino games take advantage of this centralized efficiency.
The International Perspective
Although Costa Rica is popular among online gambling firms due to its data processing license, worldwide regulators typically view it with caution. Since this type of license is not equivalent to a formal gambling license, casinos using it may appear less legitimate to certain countries with stringent gambling regulations.
Still, many companies have successfully started operating in the country. Several significant platforms begin by following the Costa Rican model. They create new operations using the data processing framework, find many customers, and eventually move to more licenses where the regulations are stricter. While going through this process, online slots remain a central part of what they offer since they are played the most and earn the highest amount of money.
Problems and Negative Reactions
The approach is often criticized, despite its widespread popularity. Many critics believe that in the absence of supervision, certain operators abuse the system. If consumer rules are not followed internally or no third-party examinations are conducted, players cannot obtain justice for suspected unfair treatment.
Because no regulatory organization oversees online casinos, players must resort to the company itself to deal with fraud, disputes and technical difficulties. Therefore, online slots rely heavily on being open and trustworthy, as players always pay close attention to fairness measures and payout rates.
Changes in the Market
With the global online gambling market evolving, Costa Rica may be compelled to update its regulatory system. Some are already discussing the creation of a formal licensing agency solely responsible for online betting. It may lead to better recognition globally, but keep the things that have made it attractive to digital casino businesses.
At the same time, the current model continues to support a large group of operators, primarily those focused on international expansion. Many businesses in the online gambling industry choose Costa Rica as their first market to establish a reputation and attract players before expanding to more regulated areas. The digital gaming world changes fast and Costa Rican companies are flexible in meeting those needs.
Whilst Costa Rica’s data processing license might not be as crucial as a gambling license, it opens the door for many online casino operators. Opportunities are easier to find, the business environment is helpful and the infrastructure supports global competition.
Ease of launching fast and running the business remotely is crucial for those who focus on online slots. When organizations act sensibly and are transparent, Costa Rica’s licensing can be a good way to compete quickly and manage changes.
Over time, Costa Rica may need to adjust its approach to remain competitive with other nations and meet international standards. As of now, it still significantly influences online casinos, thanks mainly to its data processing license.
QCOSTARICA — According to the Encuesta Nacional de Hogares (ENAHO) – National Household Survey, it was determined that 62.2% of Costa Rican households would have at least one dog or cat as a pet, meaning that approximately 1.7 million dogs and 956,185 cats live in our country.
Additionally, it was determined that there are approximately four times more dogs and cats than children under 12 years of age in Costa Rican families.
These data are striking, as they reflect that the new generations are more aware of the economic and social conditions required to have children. In this context, dogs and cats have become an integral part of the family unit, being considered an additional member of the household, what we now know as a multi-species family.
Owning a pet requires responsibility, time, and patience, but also offers several health benefits. According to the United States National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), interaction with pets increases oxytocin levels, which leads to a reduction in stress, blood pressure, and heart rate. Pets also provide other benefits such as reduced loneliness, improved mood, and emotional support.
On April 14, Royal Canin Argentina, founded in 1968 by a veterinarian with a vision: to improve the health of cats and dogs through nutrition, implemented a special day off for its employees when they adopt a cat or dog.
This allows employees to accompany their new pet during its first few hours of adaptation to the home, considering this a key period for its development and well-being. According to the company, this measure reaffirms its commitment to the health and well-being of pets, promoting responsible pet ownership.
Additionally, in countries like the United States, some companies have begun offering days off to facilitate pets’ adaptation to the home, known as ‘pawternity’ leave, a brief leave of absence for employees who are adding a new pet to their household, caring for a pet when it is sick or injured, or mourning the death of a pet.
In 2023, in an effort to find and retain talent, some employers in Canada began offering unique benefits. According to CBC News, communications agency Talk Shop Media introduced pawternity leave for its employees.
“We want to make sure that we were acknowledging the fact that families these days come in many different forms and shapes and sizes, and that includes and is extended now, often, to our family members with four legs,” said Katie Stevens, managing partner at Talk Shop Media.
Employers in Canada aren’t legally obligated to provide non-unionized staff with paid or unpaid time off work so that they can train their new pet and bond with them
These initiatives open a new debate on the need to update labor law, weighing the interests of all parties involved. We must remember that the objective of this branch is to promote a healthier, more productive work environment with a greater sense of belonging. The implementation of pet-friendly workspaces, granting insurance plans for pets, as well as leave for the adoption or death of a pet, goes beyond a simple well-being measure, as it requires a cultural shift in the way we conceive the relationship between personal and professional life.
In the specific case of Costa Rica, work leave can be granted by the decision of the employer or by agreement between the parties, provided that the leave in question is not expressly regulated by current legislation.
Currently, there are no regulations in Costa Rica that contemplate leave for the adoption or death of pets; However, their internal implementation is feasible, provided the employer decides to grant them voluntarily as part of a strategy aimed at improving the well-being and responsibility of its employees.
This would also generate a social commitment by supporting the adoption processes of many pets currently housed in shelters.
Article adapted and translated from the opinion piece by Ericka Montero Murillo published at Delfino.cr. Read the original, in Spanish, here.
In the current era of advancing healthcare, planning for unforeseen medical emergencies is not just prudent but essential. Critical illness insurance plays a crucial role in this planning. Let’s get to deeper into its significance, what it covers, and why selecting the right health insurance plan can make all the difference.
What is Critical Illness Insurance?
Critical illness insurance is a specialised financial product designed to offer coverage for life-threatening conditions such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and major organ transplants. These illnesses often come with significant medical expenses and prolonged recovery periods, making financial preparedness indispensable.
Unlike standard medical insurance plans, critical illness insurance provides a lump-sum payout upon the diagnosis of a covered illness. This benefit allows policyholders to focus on recovery without worrying about immediate financial pressures.
Key Features of Critical Illness Insurance
Lump-Sum Benefit: The payout from critical illness insurance can be used at the discretion of the insured. Whether it’s for treatment costs, household expenses, or lifestyle adjustments, the choice is yours.
Wide Range of Covered Illnesses: Policies typically cover several major illnesses, but it’s essential to review the list of covered conditions before purchasing.
No Restrictions on Usage: Unlike some health policies that only reimburse specific expenses, critical illness insurance gives you the flexibility to use the funds as needed.
Add-On or Standalone Option: You can purchase critical illness coverage as a rider to your existing health insurance plan or as an independent policy.
Why You May Need Critical Illness Insurance
Rising Healthcare Costs: Modern treatments for critical illnesses are often expensive, even with the best medical insurance plans. Having a dedicated policy can help mitigate these costs.
Lifestyle Diseases: Sedentary lifestyles and stress have increased the prevalence of critical illnesses, making insurance a wise investment.
Financial Security: The lump-sum payout ensures you’re financially supported during recovery, which could take months or even years.
Family Protection: A critical illness diagnosis doesn’t just affect the patient but the entire family. The financial cushion can help maintain stability.
What Does Critical Illness Insurance Cover?
While coverage details vary between providers, most policies include:
Cancer: Coverage often extends to major stages of cancer.
Heart Conditions: Includes heart attacks and other cardiac surgeries.
Stroke: Covers permanent neurological damage caused by strokes.
Kidney Failure: Supports those requiring dialysis or transplants.
Organ Transplants: Includes liver, lung, and heart transplants.
Other Conditions: Policies may also cover blindness, paralysis, or severe burns.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Plan
Policy Features: Look for a plan with an extensive list of covered conditions and reasonable claim payout terms.
Age of Entry: Some plans offer lower premiums if purchased at a younger age.
Renewability: Opt for plans with lifelong renewability.
Waiting Periods: Check the waiting period for specific illnesses to understand when the coverage begins.
Premium Costs: Balance affordability with coverage benefits to find a suitable plan.
Insurance Provider Reputation: Trustworthy insurers with a high claim settlement ratio are ideal choices.
Among the leading providers, Niva Bupa offers robust medical insurance plans tailored to meet diverse needs. Their critical illness insurance policies come with comprehensive coverage, ensuring policyholders receive financial support during challenging times. With transparent claim processes and a customer-centric approach, Niva Bupa has earned a reputation as a reliable partner in health insurance.
Integrating Critical Illness Insurance with Health Plans
While critical illness insurance is valuable, it works best when paired with a solid health insurance best plan. General health insurance covers hospitalisation costs, while critical illness insurance provides additional financial security for severe conditions. This combination ensures holistic protection against medical contingencies.
Who Should Opt for Critical Illness Insurance?
Primary Breadwinners: A critical illness diagnosis could disrupt family income. This coverage ensures financial stability during recovery.
Those with a Family History of Illness: If your family has a history of conditions like cancer or heart disease, this policy is especially pertinent.
Self-Employed Individuals: Without employer-provided coverage, critical illness insurance becomes a crucial safety measure.
Young Professionals: Securing a policy early often results in lower premiums and extended coverage.
Tips for Maximising Your Coverage
Review Policies Thoroughly
Take the time to carefully examine the terms and conditions of the critical illness insurance policy. Pay special attention to the list of covered illnesses, exclusions, waiting periods, and any specific requirements. Understanding these details will help you avoid unexpected surprises when filing a claim. Don’t hesitate to ask the insurer or your agent for clarification on points that seem unclear.
Disclose Medical History Honestly
Ensure you provide complete and accurate details about your medical history during the application process. Any discrepancies or omissions, whether intentional or accidental, can lead to claim denials or even policy cancellations. Full transparency ensures that your coverage is valid and reliable when you need it most.
Combine Policies Wisely
Consider pairing your critical illness insurance with other types of health coverage, such as basic medical insurance or income protection plans. This integrated approach ensures a more comprehensive safety net, covering both treatment costs and potential loss of income during recovery periods. Evaluate your options to build a balanced and financially sound insurance portfolio.
Regularly Update Coverage
Life circumstances and health conditions can change over time, so it’s crucial to periodically review your critical illness policy. Major events like marriage, the birth of a child, or significant changes in health status may require adjustments to your coverage. Keeping your policy aligned with your evolving needs ensures it remains effective and relevant when required.
Wrapping Up
Critical illness insurance offers more than financial relief; it provides peace of mind during life’s most challenging moments. With the right plan, you can focus on recovery without compromising your financial stability. Evaluate your needs, research thoroughly, and consider providers like Niva Bupa to ensure you and your loved ones are protected against unforeseen medical emergencies.
Taking proactive steps today can help secure a healthier and more secure tomorrow.
QCOSTARICA — Nearly 30 Costa Ricans who paid US$5,100 for a religious tour to the Holy Land, Rome, and Turkey ended up stranded abroad after reporting being stranded by the trip organizer.
Among the victims are elderly people, who encountered false reservations, failed immigration procedures, and the absence of a responsible guide.
According to the complainants, the tour coordinator never boarded the flight with them, citing immigration issues and promising to join the group days later. But he never showed.
Without a guide, the group faced difficulties entering Israel, as they required special permits that they were unable to properly obtain.
A priest, with no formal relationship with the agency, who was also traveling with the group took the initiative to guide them. Ironically, this same priest had promoted the trip to acquaintances.
When the group attempted to fly from Rome to Spain, they discovered that the flight reservation was fake. It’s worth noting that those affected also faced problems with hotels and food.
The organizer stopped answering calls and messages.
Relatives of the victims confirmed that the organizer reappeared to send a supposed return ticket, which hadn’t been paid for.
They also added that some are choosing to purchase tickets on their own to return from Spain.
by Beth Cady – MAJOR UNITED STATES PROTEST, SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2025, 10 AM – NOON, US EMBASSY in Pavas, San José.
Protesters are planning coordinated demonstrations against President Donald Trump on his birthday. COME AND BRING A FRIEND.
When it started in Costa Rica
It wasn’t his first protest. At 86 years old, Howard Hemsley was on the sidewalk in front of the US Embassy in San José to send a message to President Donald J. Trump: Hands Off!
April 5, 2025, marked the first mass mobilization of U.S. citizens in opposition to both the substance and the style emanating from the White House. Trump had campaigned to be a dictator on day one if re-elected, and to a lot of people, that’s exactly the tack he was taking. He leaned heavily into a conservative playbook known as Project 2025, issuing hundreds of Executive Orders to make fundamental changes to government operations.
Finding himself the lone protester that day, Hemsley relied on his Costa Rican sidekick and caregiver Danielo to stage his demonstration. “Danny led the cheer “Hands Off” and I responded each time with judges, immigrants, abortion, Social Security, and so forth until we ran out of steam.”
Meanwhile in the U.S. that day, an estimated three to five million people participated in over 1400 peaceful demonstrations across the country. For now, dispersed and persistent protests seem to be the norm as groups gather on a wide range of issues from DOGE cuts to immigration to social safety nets and treatment of veterans.
The time is now
The next US Embassy demonstration is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The theme for this one is “No Kings”, a reminder that patriots declared independence from a solitary ruler on July 4, 1776.
Democrats Abroad Costa Rica, which is sponsoring this event, reminds participants that it is a nonviolent demonstration that will comply with all rules and regulations for protesting in Costa Rica. It asks that negative or violent images, such as upside-down US flags, nooses, guillotines, etc. be avoided.
Posters and signs will be available. Also to be avoided are issues related to Costa Rica’s politics and its diplomatic relations with the U.S.
The Costa Rica contingent will be one of a growing list of 1,600 locations in the U.S. and abroad where a commitment to democracy will be renewed. Howard Hemsley saw this possibility. Even when he was the solo demonstrator on April 5, he remembered Robert F. Kennedy’s famous “Ripples and Waves” speech in 1966. “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples can build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Maybe this will be the biggest peaceful protest day ever. You don’t want to miss it. All are welcome. Join us and bring a friend. For more information, Democrats Abroad Costa Rica at democratsabroadcostarica@gmail.com.
The views and information presented in this article belong to the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Qcostarica.com or TheQmedia.com.
QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court, popularly known as Sala IV, declared admissible a constitutional action filed by the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) and annulled the fifth paragraph of Article 18 bis of the Code of Tax Norms and Procedures, which limited public access to the list of tax delinquents.
In its resolution 2025-17051, with a voting date of June 4, 2025, but released this Monday, the Constitutional Court ruled by a majority that this provision was unconstitutional because it made the disclosure of the name and amount of the taxpayer’s debt conditional on the debt being final in the administrative court and not being challenged in the contentious-administrative jurisdiction.
The Court ruled that the ruling has retroactive effect to the effective date of the annulled rule, except with respect to rights acquired in good faith.
The decision was made with the dissenting votes of Justices Fernando Castillo Víquez, Luis Fernando Salazar Alvarado, and Alternate Justice Ronald Salazar Murillo. The majority were Justices Fernando Cruz Castro, Paul Rueda Leal, Ingrid Hess Herrera, and Jorge Araya García.
The now annulled text established that the names and amounts of debts could only be disclosed if they were final in the administrative court and were not being challenged in court. This, in practice, limited access to this information, even in the case of debts already determined by the Tax Administration.
In its report as an impartial advisory body to the Sala IV, the Attorney General’s Office also recommended that the unconstitutionality action be upheld. The institution held that the challenged paragraph imposed an illegitimate restriction on the right of access to public information, enshrined in Articles 27 and 30 of the Political Constitution.
According to the Attorney General’s Office’s analysis, the information generated by the Tax Administration regarding assessed debts is not protected by tax secrecy, as it does not come directly from the data provided by taxpayers in their tax returns, but rather corresponds to administrative acts of public interest.
Furthermore, the Attorney General’s Office emphasized that administrative or judicial appeals do not suspend the effects of tax assessments, in accordance with the principle of enforceability established in the General Law of Public Administration.
With this ruling, the Ministry of Finance will no longer be able to deny access to the names and amounts of tax debts on the grounds that they are pending administrative or judicial resolution, so anyone can request and access this information.
The Court ordered that the ruling be published in full in the Judicial Bulletin and that it be reviewed in the Official Gazette (La Gaceta).
The unconstitutionality action was processed under file 19-011237-0007-CO and is pending the full drafting of the ruling.
Following the declaration of unconstitutionality of this paragraph in question, Article 115 of the Code of Tax Norms and Procedures will be applied, which establishes that “information on the names of individuals and legal entities that have tax debts with the Public Treasury and the amount of said debts shall be publicly accessible.”
This article also empowers the Tax Administration to publish lists of individuals in debt to the Public Treasury and the amounts owed, as well as the names of individuals or legal entities that have not filed their tax returns or that carry out economic activities without registering as taxpayers.
Q TRAVEL (EFE) The decision announced last Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump to ban travel to the US from 12 countries, including Haiti, and to restrict the entry of citizens of seven other nations, including Cuba and Venezuela, has just taken effect.
As planned, this order will take effect at 1:00 am local time on the US East Coast on Monday, Jun 9, 2025. It also establishes a 90-day period for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to submit a report to Trump following up on the measure and recommending whether to continue, terminate, modify, or supplement this measure.
The new presidential decree prohibits entry into the United States by citizens of 12 countries:
Afghanistan,
Burma,
Chad,
the Republic of the Congo,
Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea,
Haiti,
Iran, Libya,
Somalia,
Sudan, and
Yemen.
It also restricts entry to the United States for nationals of seven other countries:
Burundi,
Cuba,
Laos,
Sierra Leone,
Togo,
Turkmenistan, and
Venezuela
The proclamation includes several exceptions, including those who already have a valid visa and are within the United States, as well as for citizens of these countries who have permanent residence in the United States (also known as a “green card”) or dual nationality.
Additionally, those excluded are those with diplomatic visas, athletes, coaches, and members of sports teams traveling to major events such as the Olympic Games or the World Cup, and those from Afghanistan with a special visa.
Although the decree prohibits the entry of Cubans and Venezuelans holding tourist (B-2), business (B-1), study (F, M), or cultural or academic exchange (J) visas, the decree also prohibits entry to Venezuelans holding tourist (B-2), business (B-1), study (F, M), or cultural or academic exchange (J) visas, orders US embassies and consulates to “reduce the validity” of any other nonimmigrant visas for citizens of these countries, “to the extent permitted by law.”
After the announcement, Trump argued that the measure is necessary to protect the country’s “national security,” recalling a measure he took during his first term when he banned the entry of people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The affected nations, the U.S. government argues, do not share information about their citizens with Washington to “assess terrorism or public safety risks.”
In turn, the White House added, these “represent a significant risk of remaining in the US beyond the authorized time of their visas.”
Q24N (Reuters) Low voter turnout on Monday sank Italian opposition referendum proposals to ease citizenship laws and tighten job protection rules, with senior figures in the coalition of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying the outcome boosted the government.
Near-final data from polling stations in Italy showed only around 30% of eligible voters had cast their ballots at the end of two days of voting, far short of the 50% plus one of the electorate needed to make the vote legally binding.
The outcome – which will be final once votes from Italians living abroad are counted – is a blow for the coalition of center-left opposition parties, civil society groups and the CGIL trade union behind the referendum questions and a win for Meloni who strongly opposed them.
“The opposition wanted to turn the referendum into a vote on the Meloni government. The response is very clear: the government emerges from this stronger and the left is weaker,” said Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary and a close aide to Meloni.
Meloni and her right-wing allies encouraged their supporters to boycott the vote. The prime minister visited a polling station in Rome on Sunday but opted not to cast a vote.
Opposition forces had hoped that latching on to the issues of labor rights and Italy’s demographic woes could help them challenge Meloni, something they have struggled to do since she came to power in 2022.
“Our goal was to reach a quorum, it is clear that we did not reach it. Today is not a day of victory,” said CGIL union leader Maurizio Landini, who added millions of Italians went to vote and that was “a starting number” to keep fighting for change.
The Citizenship Requirements
One of the five referendums was about reducing the period of residence required to apply for Italian citizenship by naturalization to five years from 10 years, which according to organizers would have affected about 2.5 million people.
In a country suffering a sharp decline in the birth rate, some economists believe attracting more foreigners is vital to boosting an anemic economy, while rights groups campaigned for a “Yes” vote to promote the integration of migrant workers.
According to initial figures around 35% of voters were against easing the citizenship requirements, indicating the “No” vote could be much higher than in the other questions where the “Yes” looked poised for a very strong majority.
The other four referendum questions concerned a reversal of labor market liberalizations introduced a decade ago, and a broadening of liability rules on accidents at work for companies relying on contractors and subcontractors.
Editor’s note:
A significant number of Costa Ricans have Italian lineage in their family background, which allows them to potentially qualify for Italian citizenship through descent, also known as jus sanguinis.
This enables Costa Ricans with a direct line of Italian ancestry, such as parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and beyond, to obtain Italian citizenship.
As of March 27, 2025, Italy has introduced a decree restricting citizenship by descent, if they have a direct line of descent from an Italian ancestor who was born in Italy, or if a parent or grandparent was born in Italy. Individuals with ancestry further back than two generations will need to demonstrate a “real and recent link” to Italy, such as recent residence, to be eligible for citizenship.
Italy recognizes dual citizenship, allowing individuals to hold multiple citizenship, as long as the other nations involved also permit it.
QCOSTARICA — A more agile, humane, and equitable state, with responses without excuses, and where it’s not enough just to improve, but to transform, is the proposal by Costa Rica’s former first lady, Claudia Dobles Camargo, who formally announced her candidacy for the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) on Monday.
Dobles’s government plan includes modernizing education (including AI and bilingualism), strengthening state transparency, and combating organized crime and traffic congestion with structural solutions.
An architect by profession, who served as first lady in her husband’s administration (Carlos Alvarado 2018-2022), emphasizes female leadership while warning that there is a lot of polarization in Costa Rica.
Dobles made the announcement through her social media channels after completing her academic training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard.
“People are tired of things not working; it’s not enough to improve, we must transform. We need an agile, efficient, equitable, and humane state that provides responses without excuses,” Dobles stated.
The presidential candidate believes that citizens demand “a profound change” in institutions, processes, and the way politics are conducted, and insisted that “this change, with efficiency and decency, is our proposal.”
Priority Focuses
Among the priority focus areas of the PAC’s pre-candidacy are the following:
Education: This would entail the comprehensive modernization of the system.
Transparency and Public Service: With a State at the service of the people, with citizen participation, accountability, and clear management.
Public Security: Strengthening police forces to counter organized crime, drug trafficking, and cybercrime.
Infrastructure and Justice: Structural attention to road dams, reducing waiting lists, streamlining judicial processes, and increasing the efficiency of the Comptroller’s Office.
Dobles emphasized that the tools to offer democratic solutions exist, but that implementing them requires “strategy, efficiency, and decency.”
QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica has improved its business environment and is now a less complicated country in which to do business and attract foreign direct investment, according to the TMF Group ranking.
The country moved from 51st to 58th. According to the methodology, the higher the ranking, the lower the business complexity.
“The decline in the index is an encouraging sign of Costa Rica’s commitment to constantly improving its business environment. We have seen significant progress thanks to infrastructure modernization and government measures that facilitate the operation of foreign companies, strengthening the confidence of investors and trading partners. Continued investment in strategic corridors, the existence and promotion of energy from renewable sources, and free trade zones are driving market diversification,” said Adrián Owen, Director of TMF Group for Central America.
In the region, Costa Rica is only surpassed by Honduras, which is ranked 66th out of 79 countries analyzed.
In this regard, the most complex country to do business in is Greece, while the friendliest for foreign investment is the Cayman Islands.
The Challenges
Despite the good news, Costa Rica faces a series of challenges to maintain or improve its position as an ideal investment destination.
Among them are the appreciation of the colón, bureaucracy, and the human talent gap and competition in some sectors.
Another aspect affecting competitiveness is related to the quality of infrastructure.
“Although Costa Rica has two main ports, Moín in Limón and Caldera in Puntarenas, the Juan Santamaría (San Jose) Airport and the Guanacaste Airport, national highways, and the Inter-American Highway (Ruta 1 to the north and Ruta 2 to the south), there are challenges regarding their functionality for efficient mobilization, directly impacting local and international companies,” the report adds.
Marco Vinicio Ruiz, former Minister of Foreign Trade, called on the PLN and its candidate Álvaro Ramos to reconsider their opinion regarding the 4×3 work shifts, an initiative to allow for 12-hour workdays, four days a week, in exchange for three days off. The proposal is currently being held up in the legislative process due to opposition from the Frente Amplio and the PLN legislators.
For Ruiz, the tariffs promoted by the United States and the call to repatriate foreign investment should improve Costa Rica’s competitiveness.
“There is a historical debt that transcends political affiliations. It’s been more than 25 years since I was in the Ministry, and we talked about the need for a regulatory framework that would protect companies and workers in productive activities that involve continuous and uninterrupted flows of work; that is, we are talking about extremely high-productivity companies that require 24/7 work, and the 4×3 overtime workday is ideal, both for the employer and the workers (…) We have seen how the PLN, or at least an important sector that has historically supported this project, has changed its mind, possibly for political reasons,” said Ruiz.
Human Talent
In an increasingly competitive environment marked by a shortage of specialized talent, companies in Costa Rica face a critical dilemma: while they enthusiastically embrace new technologies and artificial intelligence, many are still unclear about the skills they really need.
This is the warning from Joscelyn Calderón Berrocal, Human Talent Manager at RSM Costa Rica, who points out that this disconnect exacerbates constant turnover and the lack of qualified human resources, especially in key sectors such as technology, healthcare, and financial services.
Between 2024 and the current year, Costa Rica made a significant leap in the Business Complexity Index, according to TMF Group (the higher the ranking, the lower its business complexity).
Among the Central American counties, the results are current (2025) compared to the 2024 rankings
Honduras: 66 / 60
Costa Rica 58 / 51
Nicaragua 50 / 53
El Salvador 46 / 50
Guatemala 45 / 44
Panamá 42 / 39
TMF Group is a professional services firm that publishes the Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI), which ranks countries based on the complexity of their business environment. The GBCI assesses various factors like legislation, compliance, accounting procedures, tax regimes, and HR processes.
QCOSTARICA — In light of the recent suspension of visas for foreign students in the United States, Texas Tech University – Costa Rica (TTU-CR) offers a reliable option for those seeking a U.S. degree.
Located on Avenida Escazú, TTU-CR is the satellite campus of Texas Tech University based in Lubbock, Texas, offering academic programs entirely in English, identical to those offered on the main campus.
“Given the changing geopolitical landscape, and especially regarding obtaining a U.S. visa for study, we have the opportunity to offer students the highest quality, U.S.-style education without the need to apply for a student visa. You can earn your U.S. degree right here in Costa Rica, meeting the same requirements as in the United States and enjoying the same quality of faculty, student life, and enriching experiences on our campus. All of this without having to travel abroad,” Dr. Ellen Rose, executive director of Texas Tech University Costa Rica, told La República.
TTU-CR offers programs in high-demand global areas such as Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, and Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. It also provides students the flexibility to begin their studies in Costa Rica and later relocate to the main campus, without changes to the academic content or the degree awarded.
“If at any point during your studies you want to go to the United States and circumstances allow, you don’t even need to transfer; you simply change your campus designation. It’s not a separate admissions process; once you’re a Texas Tech student, you’re a student regardless of whether you’re in Costa Rica or Texas. You can make that change after one semester, after one year, after two or three years; there’s no specific deadline. That option is always open. You can also complete the full four years here in Costa Rica and earn your U.S. degree from Texas Tech University,” added Dr. Rose.
QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica has established itself as a leader in the adoption of digital payments in Central America.
With high levels of banking access and a growing digital culture, the country is participating in a regional effort led by Mastercard that seeks to eliminate manual data entry and passwords for digital payments by 2030.
Currently, 90% of Costa Ricans over the age of 15 use formal financial services and 80% make purchases online, positioning the country as one of the most prepared in Central America to adopt new payment technologies, according to data shared by the company.
Among the innovations that will enable this change are tokenization, which replaces sensitive card data with unique codes that are more difficult to crack; the Click to Pay system, which streamlines the payment process without having to enter card data for each purchase; and passkeys, which use biometric authentication instead of traditional passwords.
These technologies have been shown to reduce fraud in digital transactions.
In Latin America, tokenization has reduced fraud by 20 basis points, and currently, more than 35% of the company’s transactions are already tokenized.
While in-person payments have improved thanks to technologies such as chip and contactless, online purchases still face challenges such as friction in the payment process and the risk of fraud, according to Kattia Montero, Country Manager for Mastercard in Costa Rica.
E-commerce in Costa Rica reached US$5.5 billion in sales in 2023, according to data from Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence.
The expectation is that more secure and simple technologies will contribute to increasing these figures in the coming years.
This process, which is already underway, could also benefit merchants with higher approval rates, fewer abandoned purchases, and an overall improvement in consumer confidence.
QCOSTARICA — The Costa Rica Cruz Roa (Red Cross) reported last week that one in five (20%) of the emergencies attended by first responders in Costa Rica are traffic accidents.
These statistics emerge as part of an urgent plea: road accidents are preventable, the Red Cross maintains.
So far in 2025 (with statistics provided through Thursday, June 5), 1,285 people involved in traffic accidents were transferred in critical condition to a medical center, and 245 died at the scene of the accident.
The Red Cross says traffic accidents are preventable. In the call for prevention, the Red Cross released a video offering the following tips:
Drive responsibly.
Do not consume substances that impair your senses.
Do not use cell phones while driving.
Always wear seatbelts (drivers and passengers) in the vehicle. Also, use appropriate safety restraints for infants and children.
Respect speed limits and road signs.
“Your family is waiting for you; don’t risk your life due to carelessness. At the Red Cross, we want you to get home safely and not find yourself in an emergency you could have avoided.
Drive safely, arrive alive,” is the message from the Red Cross.
Slight drop in May; the first in 9 months
Last week, the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) revealed that last month (May) ended with the lowest number of fatalities at the scene of traffic accidents of all of 2025 and the previous 9 months.
Authorities recorded 38 fatalities in the month. The Traffic Police described the data as a relief due to the trend that had continued since August 2024 when in that month there were 34 deaths, but since then the figures have been higher than 40.
“It’s a relief from several perspectives, not only because the numbers are going down, but because it breaks a trend that was worrying,” commented Oswaldo Miranda, director of the Policia de Transito (Traffic Police0.
In the first months of 2025, this was the pattern:
January: 52 deaths
February: 50 deaths
March: 72 deaths
April: 44 deaths
May: 38
Motorcyclists continue to be the most affected
Despite the slight decrease in the number, authorities are urging increased precautions to ensure the improvement is sustained. They also emphasize that motorcyclists and young people are the most affected.
Of the 38 deaths in May, 20 were motorcyclists, which is more than half (53%) of the monthly fatalities. So far this year, 138 of the 256 victims (54% ) have lost their lives on motorcycles.
Meanwhile, automobiles have the second highest incidence of deaths, with 30 so far this year.
Leading Causes of Fatal Accidents
The four leading causes of fatal accidents are:
Speeding – 84 deaths
Wandering into the Oncoming Lane – 58 deaths
Driver Recklessness – 37 deaths
Pedestrian Recklessness – 31 deaths
Miranda made a special appeal to pedestrians. “We also have responsibilities. We must use pedestrian overpasses, walk on sidewalks, and cross in safe areas.”
Who dies most and when?
According to official MOPT data, the most dangerous time slots are:
6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. (90 deaths)
12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. (73)
Mornings: 51
Afternoons: 42
By age, the breakdown of road accident deaths hits the younger population hardest:
21 to 30 years: 84 deaths
31 to 40 years: 52
41 to 50 years: 35
By sex, the deaths in 2025 are divided into 220 men and 36 women.
The Traffic Police called for extreme caution, especially with the approaching mid-year school holidays and the Cartago pilgrimage in August, which significantly increase vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the country’s roads.
QCOSTARICA — The most recent report from the “informe del programa Análisis de Coyuntura de la Sociedad Costarricense” (Current Situation Analysis of Costa Rican Society program), run by the School of Sociology at the National University (UNA), highlights that the confrontation between political decision-making bodies and the powers of the republic, the violence manifested in the streets, and the abandonment of agendas favoring the defense of human rights represent symptoms that the Costa Rican state is moving toward a state of structural violence “that is spreading throughout the national territory.”
This situation facilitates a gap in the generation of important agreements for the country, while economic and social inequality continues to affect the population, which is perceptible in areas such as education, the environment, social programs, and public infrastructure.
Carlos Carranza Villalobos, a UNA academic and program coordinator, was critical, noting that “through the analysis of various key issues, a situation marked by political tensions, structural challenges, and a general sense of uncertainty is exposed.”
UNA officials noted that what had been warned about in previous reports on this program became a constant in the first four months of 2025: President Rodrigo Chaves’ discursive style is marked by confrontation with other political and social sectors, as is the case with the Legislative Assembly, and particularly with the president of the legislative branch, Rodrigo Arias.
“Using confrontational messages, directing them through channels outside of formal communication, and fueled by the absence of a leader in the Ministry of the Presidency (Chief of Staff office) to serve as a bridge, are part of the relationships established during the period under review. However, this clash has gone far beyond the Zapote-Cuesta de Moras (executive and legislative branches) relationship and was amplified in the march against the Attorney General, in which the president himself and his cabinet participated,” the UNA highlighted.
Furthermore, it was noted that the continued use of the presidential veto on bills that are not in the interest of the Executive Branch and the increased tensions with other institutions such as the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) complement the government’s style.
“This attitude has contributed to an atmosphere of polarization and weakening of institutional dialogue,” Carranza added.
Structural violence is not only fueled by the government’s confrontational discourse toward other entities. It has become a recurring social phenomenon with other manifestations, such as femicides, which have reached 17 cases so far in 2025.
The report highlights that the current administration has failed to reverse “this worrying trend” of structural violence and has instead shifted its policy toward a neo-conservative approach to human rights, minority protection, and care for the migrant population.
Among other elements included in the report, the following were highlighted:
The ambiguous position maintained by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arnoldo André Tinoco, in a presentation before the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly.
The issuance of a decree restricting funding and political support for the 2030 Agenda related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Carranza concluded, “These decisions weaken Costa Rica’s position in the global context.”
Backlog in Sectors
Additionally, the report notes that the uncertainty generated by the lack of political cohesion affects other sectors:
On the social level, although there has been a slight reduction in poverty rates, this is accompanied by an increase in inequality, a result of reduced funding for social programs and insufficient attention to key institutions such as the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).
The lag in hospital infrastructure, most evident in the construction of the new hospital in Cartago, the lack of a solution to waiting lists for surgeries and appointments, the flight and resignation of specialist doctors, and the conflict generated with the management of Basic Comprehensive Health Care Teams (Ebáis) by cooperatives, are all reflections of the decline in the social security system.
Regarding environmental issues, the program questioned whether there is a clear policy in this area. Rather, it points to the doubts and criticisms generated by the public and private interests in cases such as the felling of trees in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.
In the area of infrastructure, the analysis clarifies progress and limitations, noting that there is an ongoing effort to improve the condition of some roads, but setbacks occur along the way, such as the construction of the highway to Limón and the problems caused by the roundabouts that replaced the overpasses originally proposed for the project. Similar problems arise with the overpass in La Lima, Cartago, which has not been without criticism. While the proposed electric train, road planning, and the lack of attention to hazards on roads and bridges that pose a real risk to users, according to the UCR’s Lanamme, are among the tasks that are progressing very slowly.
In terms of education, the report denounces the lack of a defined path, accompanied by an unprecedented reduction in educational investment, an organizational model within the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) that is inconsistent with current demands, and the need to improve teaching curricula to strengthen competitiveness and human talent that promote social mobility.
In foreign trade, a conflictive scenario emerges following the imposition of tariffs on Costa Rican exports by the United States government and the need to establish a long-term strategy.
The analysis concludes with an unfavorable outlook for the second half of the year:
Unless deliberate efforts are made to change course, everything indicates that this will be the prevailing trend for the rest of the year, especially if the president continues to reinforce this climate through symbolic language laden with tension.
Structural violence, a concept introduced by Johan Galtung in 1969, refers to harm caused by social structures and institutions that prevent people from meeting their basic needs or rights. Unlike direct violence, where a specific actor causes harm, structural violence is embedded in the systems of society and can be less visible but often more pervasive. From Google
The article is translated and adapted from Delfino.cr. Read the original, in Spanish, here.
QCOSTARICA — Fallout near the Poás Volcano isn’t just water. The rains are carrying gases emanating from the volcano, is generating acid rain in nearby communities.
The phenomenon occurs when gases such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), expelled by the volcano, mix with the humidity in the environment.
According to José Pablo Sibaja of the Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory, the pattern of humidity and rainfall in the area causes sulfur gases to dissolve in water droplets and return to the ground.
The Poás Volcano crater reached temperatures exceeding 700°C, according to satellite measurements and thermal records kept by the National Seismological Network (RSN).
This situation generates what is known as acid rain, a phenomenon that can affect vegetation, soil, and water sources near the crater.
The most immediate effects can be felt during the first few minutes of rain, especially if it is highly polluted.
It could also cause some type of skin irritation.
Plum-laden with Sulfur Gases
On Thursday, scientists from the UNA’s Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory, in conjunction with the School of Chemistry and the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVSICORI), conducted measurements at the volcano.
During the monitoring session, researchers observed a white plume with blue hues, indicating a high concentration of sulfur gases and water vapor.
The team is using drones equipped with special sensors that pass directly through the plume to measure the amount of gases and analyze their behavior.
“We want to know if these concentrations are increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, because that allows us to understand what is happening with the volcano’s activity,” Sibaja explained.
Gases Aren’t Dispersing Far
According to experts, the gases aren’t traveling more than 100 kilometers from the crater.
This is due to the rainfall pattern and humidity, which cause what is known as atmospheric washout.
“Humid air traps the gases and precipitates them in the same area, preventing them from accumulating in more distant locations,” the expert explained.
While this reduces the risk for distant areas, it increases the concentration of pollutants in areas west and southwest of the crater, which is the direction of the plume.
QCOSTARICA — After four failed attempts to force a vote, the government of Rodrigo Chaves has canceled the low-cost flights to Central America bill.
The Executive Branch decided to cancel the extraordinary sessions of the bill, which was approved in two debates in the Legislative Assembly and vetoed by President Rodrigo Chaves.
After four attempts to have the bill voted on the legislative floor, all unsuccessful, the government decided to set the issue aside for now.
“No, we cancel it. I’m sure it doesn’t have the votes, and we don’t want it to go to a committee and continue kicking the can down the road,” said the leader of the ruling party, Pilar Cisneros, on Thursday.
Following the approval of the bill in early February, the initiative, which would lower the cost of round-trip tickets to the isthmus countries to $100 and to the Dominican Republic to $120, was vetoed by the president.
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In ordinary sessions, the issue was brought up for discussion twice, with the intention of a majority of legislators to reseal it; However, opposition from the ruling party and Nueva Republica factions, combined with the large number of legislators in the sessions, led to its postponement.
To override a presidential veto and reseal a vetoed bill, 38 votes are required. However, the number of legislators convened in recent weeks has not exceeded 47, making it impossible for those interested in reseal to secure support.
The Executive Branch, in its veto of the bill, argued that it would significantly impact tourism in Costa Rica.
It did so in early May, canceling the entire agenda and leaving only that file on the agenda. However, on that occasion, a lack of quorum suspended the session to analyze the president’s speech and postponed it to the next day, which caused the plan to fail.
It tried the same strategy last week, canceling the entire agenda and leaving only that item to be discussed.
Since it is a special file, it must be heard before 4 pm, as it is the first part of the session. Last Thursday, legislators countered the government’s strategy by letting the deadline pass without the item being heard.
This week, on Monday, the ruling party presented a motion to extend the first part of the session to discuss the veto file until its final vote.
That motion required 38 votes, but it didn’t get them. On Tuesday, the vote was taken again, and the ruling party’s intention also failed.
After four failed attempts, the Executive branch decided to cancel the session.
“We’ll see when it’s called again,” Cisneros concluded.
If and when the reseal occurs, one-way flights to and from Costa Rica to Central America destinations would be capped at US$50; US$100 for return flights. Flights to and from the Dominican Republic would be capped at US$60 and US$120.
QCOSTARICA — The Constitutional Court, also known as Sala IV, announced that it has resolved two combined appeals filed against the government of Rodrigo Chaves Robles, alleging violations of press freedom and the right to access information.
These are files 24-025545-0007-CO and 24-27116-0007-CO, in which the Sala IV ruled in favor of the journalists, David Bolaños Acuña, David Chavarría Hernández, and Héctor Guzmán Suárez, who filed complaints against the Executive Branch.
In case 24-025545-0007-CO, the journalists said that on July 30, 2024, President Chaves held a press conference to address the Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the legislative referendum on the “Jaguar Law.” During that event, Rodrigo Chaves raised his voice and silenced one of the journalists while he asked a question.
Furthermore, in that same file, the appellants stated that, on September 11, 2024, two other journalists were surrounded by bodyguards from the Presidential Protection Unit when they attempted to question the then-Minister of the Presidency, Laura Fernández, and President Chaves.
The journalists indicated that they attempted to ask the minister further questions about the 4×3 workday bill, and that when one of them pointed out that they had not received an answer, government officials muted his microphone.
According to information provided by the press department of the Sala IV, the journalists considered that the situations described violated their right to freedom of the press.
Regarding file 24-27116-0007-CO, the complainants requested information regarding the approval of the 4×3 workweeks. However, they indicated that their inquiries were not answered by the Ministry of the Presidency, which they consider a violation of their constitutional right to access public information, enshrined in Article 30 of the Constitution.
In ruling 2025-016964, the judges, by majority, ruled to uphold both cases.
Regarding file 24-025545-0007-CO, the violation of press freedom against David Bolaños Acuña, David Chavarría Hernández, and Héctor Guzmán Suárez was recognized. The Court ordered the State to pay costs, damages, and losses incurred by the events that serve as the basis for this declaration, which will be settled in the execution of the administrative litigation judgment.
In case 24-27116-0007-CO, the appeal was granted only against the Ministry of the Presidency, with no special award of costs. The Ministry of Foreign Trade was not awarded any penalties.
The resolution sets an important precedent regarding respect for journalistic work and access to information at official events of the Executive Branch.
International market and low exchange rate motivate further reduction in fuel prices
QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica’s public services regulatory authority – Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP) – revealed that a total of 16 service stations across the country experienced operational irregularities, according to the 2024 Liquid Fuel Service Quality Report.
Among the findings, some fuels exhibited a different color, which occurs when gasoline is mixed. Gas stations were selling a mixture with regular gasoline at a premium price due to this combination.
According to the Aresep, in cases where the octane rating is met, there is no direct damage to the vehicle of the customer who refuels. However, there are always tariff consequences, since the fuel is mixed with a lower-priced product.
The results of the report were obtained after 849 inspections at 419 gas pumps across the country.
All stations undergo inspections to ensure that the products meet physical and chemical specifications, that the correct amount is dispensed per hose, that the price charged corresponds to the authorized price, that there is continuity in operations, and that physical safety is guaranteed to prevent fires or any other incidents. Compliance with regulatory guidelines is also verified, detailed the ARESEP.
List of gas stations and problems detected by Aresep
Fersol Service Station, in San Isidro de El General: They refused to allow the scheduled inspection.
Service Station Avenida 10, Hospital District, San José: They added coloring to the premium gasoline, which also had a different octane rating than established by regulations.
Costanera Veintisiete Service Station, in La Ceiba de Orotina: They added coloring to the premium gasoline.
V & J Service Station, in Sarchí Sur: The temperature recorded in the diesel was lower than established by regulations.
La Fortuna Gas Station, in La Fortuna de San Carlos: They added coloring to the premium gasoline.
Serviarmo Service Station, in Upala: Diesel temperature lower than stipulated by regulations.
Río Cuarto de Grecia Service Station, in Río Cuarto: They did not have diesel for sale to the public.
BLC & Hermanos López Service Station, in Los Chiles: They did not have diesel for sale to the public.
Transportes Hermanos Orozco Service Station, in Turrialba: Diesel temperature lower than regulated.
Molina y Robles LTDA Service Station, in San Rafael de Oreamuno: One of the hoses registered more diesel than was actually delivered to the customer.
La Tica Service Station, in San Nicolás de Cartago: They refused to allow the scheduled inspection.
El Labrador Ecological Service Station, in San Isidro de Heredia: They did not have regular gasoline for sale to the public.
Las Marías Gas Station in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí: They did not have diesel, and during a second inspection, they did not have regular gasoline for sale.
Marina Papagayo Service Station in Nacascolo, Liberia: They failed to comply with the sales price for premium gasoline and diesel.
Monteverde M.D.S. Gas Stations in Monteverde, Puntarenas: They did not have premium gasoline for sale to the public.
Special Case: Gas Station in San Pedro de Poás, Alajuela. The ARESEP highlighted the case of a service station in San Pedro de Poás, which presented multiple irregularities in different inspections:
Visit 1 (June 27, 2024): One hose registered a quantity higher than the actual amount dispensed. Furthermore, they did not have diesel for sale to the public.
Visit 2 (July 30, 2024): They did not have premium or regular gasoline.
Visit 3 (September 2, 2024): There was no regular or premium gasoline for sale.
Visit 4 (October 2, 2024): There was a persistent shortage of both types of gasoline.
Visit 5 (November 13, 2024): Diesel was not available to the public.
What are the sanctions?
The ARESEP press office explained that, after detecting the irregularities, the following process was followed:
Closure of the hose with the detected problem.
The service station must explain the situation and implement a remedial plan.
Presentation of a certification from a chemical engineer guaranteeing the correction of the problem.
New verification inspection.
Opening of an administrative sanctioning process for the recorded noncompliance.
Although all the problems have been resolved, sanctioning processes were initiated, including financial penalties to the amount of damage caused, and if this cannot be determined, the fines range from ¢2,311,000 to ¢9,244,000 colones.
Furthermore, in the event of a repeat offense, the stations risk losing their fuel sales license.
Q24N (EFE) The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the revocation of visas for several Central American government officials who collaborate with Cuban medical missions, although he did not reveal their identities.
In an official statement, the US Foreign Minister noted that these officials are involved in hiring Cuban medical missions in their countries, which, according to the Donald Trump administration, constitutes a form of forced labor.
“The Cuban labor export program abuses its participants, enriches the corrupt Cuban regime, and deprives the island’s citizens of the essential medical care they so desperately need,” Rubio stated.
With the implementation of these visa restrictions, he added, the United States sends “a clear message about its commitment to promoting human rights and respecting labor rights around the world.”
Rubio, who is of Cuban origin, also urged other countries to adopt similar measures.
In February, the United States had already expanded its visa restriction policy against individuals who benefit from what it describes as “labor exploitation” of Cuban workers abroad, including those involved in organizing medical missions.
Cuba, for its part, has categorically rejected Washington’s accusations, defending its medical cooperation program, one of the country’s main sources of foreign currency, and denouncing what it considers a “campaign” against it and its health professionals.
Along the same lines, leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), whose health systems depend heavily on Cuban medical personnel, defended the hiring of these professionals and denied that it constitutes a form of exploitation.
Q REPORTS — On Sunday, June 1, in the early hours of the morning, Ukraine delivered a stunning blow to Russian military forces many kilometers deep inside Russian territory, the likes of which no army had done perhaps since World War II.
Using strategically placed drones, after being surreptitiously introduced into Russian territory, it simultaneously attacked five military airfields housing a significant portion of the fleet of bombers equipped to carry nuclear warheads.
That same day, terrorist attacks were carried out on two bridges in the cities of Bryansk and Kursk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the airfields, announcing that they had destroyed at least a third of the Russian fleet by disabling or shooting down 41 aircraft.
The world was perplexed by the audacity of the action, even though the information was still uncertain.
Videos soon spread online showing the attack by more than 100 drones, wreaking havoc on the air bases without anyone being able to prevent it.
The spectacular attack achieved its main objective and set off all the alarm bells.
The Trigger
A day later, it became known that the figures were not as grim as those reported by Zelensky. Media outlets like the New York Times (NYT) reported that “at least a dozen aircraft were damaged, including Tu-95 bombers.”
“But the attack does not significantly alter Russia’s nuclear capabilities,” the newspaper added.
In response, the attack “will force Russian officials to consider redeploying Russia’s air defense systems to cover a much wider range of territories and possibly deploy mobile air defense groups that can react more quickly to similar Ukrainian drone attacks in the future,” the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said, according to the Reuters news agency.
But the NYT reported Tuesday that “satellite imagery captured Monday indicates that no aircraft were damaged at two of the other bases.”
“Dubbed Operation Spiderweb by Kyiv, the Ukrainian attack is part of a consistent and escalating campaign to take the war to the Russian heartland in an attempt to influence the Kremlin’s calculus,” said the NYT’s Paul Sonne.
“Biden supported it in several ways, including investing us$1.5 billion in Ukrainian drone production by the end of 2024 through a secret program spearheaded by former White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan,” the reporter reported.
The carefully planned strike could not have been carried out without the logistical support of its Western allies, but why did they choose that precise date, on the eve of the negotiators’ second meeting in Istanbul?
In May, Russian troops gained more than twice as much territory as in April, seizing approximately 449 square kilometers, according to DeepState, a Ukrainian research group that uses combat imagery to map the battlefield, the NYT reports.
According to experts, militarily, the attack makes sense as part of a direct confrontation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as it exposes a vulnerability in Russian nuclear reaction systems. But it may have other objectives.
NATO attacks, Trump and Putin remain silent
“Operation Spiderweb” was planned a year and a half ago, Zelensky said the following day, euphoric over what he called a “brilliant operation.” But that statement raised concerns.
On the one hand, it is impossible to believe that an action of this magnitude was carried out with the direct support of Western allies; therefore, they had to be informed, which would put President Trump in a very compromising position regarding his willingness to pacify the conflict and would break the trust he thus far seems to share with Putin.
The other option is that it was hidden from the president, which would provoke a security crisis in the US government.
The alliance is shifting from a strategy of a protracted war to suffocate Russia with sanctions and attrition to using all the resources allocated in the final weeks of last year by both Biden and the other allies to intensify actions beyond the battlefield, aimed at escalation, which in turn will justify further expenditures.
Provoke Escalation or War
After a blogger with a hasty and reckless mindset called this action “Russia’s Pearl Harbor,” many media outlets echoed the concept, believing it to be a possible trigger for World War III.
As has happened with other attacks that were expected to provoke an immediate, forceful, and violent reaction from Russia, such as terrorist attacks, a forceful response from Putin was expected after the June 1st attacks, but there seems to be only silence.
If Putin responds violently against his NATO aggressors, it would provoke a war in which the US would have to become involved.
So, although the attack has no effect on the war scene, it could have important political implications. One of the objectives could be to distance Trump and Putin.
It’s worth remembering that a week ago, Trump said Putin was “completely crazy” and that if it weren’t for his mediation, “very bad things could happen to Russia.”
But he also said that this isn’t his war, which could suggest he was distancing himself from the decisions of his NATO allies.
Furthermore, involving the US in a war would neutralize other Trump policies that harm the interests of his allies, such as the tariff battle.
Nuclear Threat
Last year, Putin modified his nuclear doctrine, precisely when attacks on Russian ships in the Black Sea occurred, which could mean attacks on vessels intended to transport nuclear weapons and serve as a deterrent.
The new doctrine states that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event that military assets intended to transport nuclear weapons are attacked.
“Operation Spider Web” appears to recklessly aim to test that doctrine.
Second Meeting in Istanbul
Despite the alarmism and tension the world experienced on Monday, June 1, the Kremlin’s response was to continue with what was agreed upon and send its delegation with the memorandum to the second meeting with Kyiv in Istanbul.
Representatives of both countries met for just over an hour and shared documents with a Russian delegation whose serenity disconcerted the Ukrainians, according to Zelensky himself on Tuesday.
A Kyiv envoy traveled to Washington on Tuesday to meet with President Trump, while the Ukrainian president asserted that pressure on Russia must be increased and encouraged his partners.
Polish Election
The victory of nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki is a severe setback for the pro-European commitment and support for Ukraine promoted by the current government.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that he will submit his government to a vote of confidence in Parliament on June 11 and avoid having to bring forward legislative elections, scheduled for 2027.
The president, with a five-year term, wields influence over foreign and defense policy and wields veto power at the legislative level.
The Polish process is bringing down the so-called “willing” coalition. Ukraine and Tusk, along with the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Germany, sought to become protagonists on the political scene. Poland seemed part of the backbone of a new Europe.
But if parliamentary elections are held in early 2026, current polls suggest that Law and Justice and the far-right Confederation Party could form a coalition.
“Mr. Nawrocki has said he would not support Ukraine’s future membership in either NATO or the European Union,” says NYT journalist Andrew Higgins.
Collapse in the Netherlands
Another political development at the beginning of this week that is disrupting European and Atlanticist unity is that far-right leader Geert Wilders overthrew the fragile coalition in power in the Netherlands on Tuesday by withdrawing his party, the PVV, from the government due to a disagreement over migration, a political crisis that paves the way for early elections, according to the AFP news agency.
The PVV’s departure from the government opens a period of uncertainty for the Netherlands, the fifth-largest economy in the European Union (EU), which is scheduled to host a NATO summit at the end of June, he added.
“I will remain on an interim basis (…) until a new government is formed because life in the Netherlands and abroad continues,” declared Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
US President Donald Trump will attend the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24 and 25, where his demands for increased defense spending will be the central topic of the agenda, the White House announced Tuesday.
This will be the first meeting with members of the transatlantic alliance since the Republican’s return to power in January, and Volodymyr Zelensky will also be present, suggesting tensions about the confrontation with Russia.
In Trump’s dizzying political career, three weeks is a long time, and much is yet to happen.
Britain Wants War
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday the construction of up to 12 attack submarines while announcing that he wanted to prepare his country for war and declaring that the new rearmament strategy is “a message to Moscow,” according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“This is about bringing together all the capabilities we have, from drones to artillery, intelligence and human instinct, to build a formidable, integrated fighting machine,” the British leader insisted.
The bellicose atmosphere in Europe has led to dangerous tensions, and the outlook is uncertain.
President Trump will speak with Xi this week about the tariffs, the main issue for both powers, but these developments require measures to define the Ukrainian conflict and avoid the irresponsibility of escalation.
QCOSTARICA — The national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) forecasts a more unstable atmospheric pattern starting this Wednesday.
A gradual increase in atmospheric humidity is expected starting today. “This, combined with local factors such as morning warming and the arrival of sea breezes, will enhance rainfall events, especially during the afternoons and evenings,” the IMN stated.
Specifically, this morning is expected to be partly cloudy, with warm and muggy temperatures. The possibility of rain in Pacific coastal areas during the early morning hours cannot be ruled out.
In the afternoon, there will be rain, downpours, and thunderstorms in the following regions:
Pacific
Central Valley
Northern Zone
In the Caribbean, rainfall will be limited to mountainous areas. Afternoon rain will extend into the early evening hours, especially in Pacific coastal areas.
Starting this Wednesday, a gradual increase in atmospheric humidity and a more unstable atmospheric pattern are expected. This, combined with local factors such as morning warming and the arrival of sea breezes, will enhance rainfall events, especially during the afternoons and evenings.
In particular, partly cloudy, warm temperatures, and muggy conditions are expected this morning.
The possibility of rain in Pacific coastal areas is not ruled out during the early hours. In the afternoon, there will be rain, downpours, and thunderstorms in the Pacific, Central Valley, and Northern regions.
In the Caribbean, precipitation will be limited to the mountainous areas. Afternoon rain will extend into the early evening hours, especially in Pacific coastal areas.
QCOSTARICA – The pilot project for electric taxis at Juan Santamaría Airport highlighted an uncomfortable reality: Costa Rica is not yet ready to effectively incorporate this technology into public transportation.
This was warned by operators of electric taxis, who pointed to limited charging infrastructure and a lack of financial incentives as key obstacles to implementing this system.
Since October 2023, six 100% electric taxis have been operating at the San José International airport.
“There are many unrealistic expectations, such as that the vehicles are maintenance-free, that energy is cheaper, or that they hardly require any extras, but that’s not true. Electricity is an important issue in Costa Rica, and well, it’s expensive, almost as expensive as gasoline,” said Ericka Cordero, a taxi concessionaire at the air terminal.
Cordero explained that the taxi fleet can benefit from electric mobility; however, public transportation services require fast-charging stations, which are scarce in the country.
“The lack of knowledge among mechanics in this area is also very important. In my case, it took me 22 days to repair a gear in my car. Considering the number of electric vehicles available, there are few charging stations, and these are rarely repaired. This means that, although Costa Rica is a pioneer in this area, it needs to make much more progress,” he stated.
This situation was also experienced by Luis Mariano Castro, another taxi concessionaire operating at the airport, who said he is affected by the lack of charging stations nationwide.
“The problem started when we didn’t have charging stations. There was one near the airport, but it was always full, and when it broke down, you had to go to Naranjo or Atenas to charge. Imagine the time it took to get there and back! And maybe you had to wait for other cars,” Castro said.
Institutional Work Needed
Arturo Steinvorth, coordinator of the E-Taxi CR project in charge of the pilot program, said that in order to achieve the national projections for public transport electrification, greater investment in the mobility sector is required, as well as strengthening current legislation.
“Major changes are needed in all legislation and regulations of the taxi sector to enable the conditions that allow us to achieve the goals of the Plan Nacional de Descarbonización (National Decarbonization Plan).
Currently, we have a business model that only allows one person per concession; however, part of what our roadmap promotes is to diversify the ways in which these concessions can be obtained,” he explained.
E-Taxi CR
E-taxi CR is an initiative in Costa Rica to promote electric mobility in public transportation, specifically taxi services. Since October 23, six 100% electric taxis, such as the AION S model from GAC New Energy, have been operating at the San José International Airport.
They are part of the”Accelerating the Transition to Electric Public Transport in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica” project, part of UN Environment’s Global Electric Mobility Program, contributing to Costa Rica’s position as a country at the forefront of promoting electric mobility.
The E-taxi CR project is led by the CRUSA Foundation, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment).
QCOSTARICA — The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) – National Emergency Commission. reported 17 incidents following Monday’s heavy rains.
According to the CNE, these are the most affected areas:
San Carlos
Santa Ana
Alajuela
In San Carlos, the rains caused rivers in Florencia and Aguas Zarcas to rise, as well as flooding homes due to sewage problems.
In Heredia, there was flooding due to sewage saturation in Belén, Heredia center, and Barva.
Meanwhile, in Turrialba, the communities of San Antonio en la Suiza, Tayutic, Guadalupe la Mina, and Tuis were affected, which reported the rise of the San Antonio, Tayutic, and Platanillo rivers.
Given this situation, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – National Institute of Meteorology, issued these recommendations:
Caution due to sewage saturation in areas prone to this type of flooding
Prepare for thunderstorms and seek shelter in a safe place if strong gusts of wind occur or are perceived near storm clouds, due to the possible fall of tree branches, power lines
Wind gusts can reach 80 km/h in some isolated cases
The official forecast for today, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from the IMN:
For this Tuesday, a typical day of the rainy season in the country is forecast, with a sultry morning due to the high percentage of humidity and high temperatures during this period; and in the afternoon, showers with thunderstorms throughout the national territory.
On this day, although precipitations will be isolated in the country, showers with thunderstorms are forecast along the mountain ranges of Guanacaste, Central Volcanic and the mountainous sectors of the Pacific and Caribbean regions.
These rains will extend to the lower parts of the GAM and Guanacaste plains during the afternoon. At night, the rains will be very punctual.
QCOSTARICA — Though every gasoline station across the country sell gasoline from the same supplier, the State refinery, Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (RECOPE), and as mandated by law at the same price, gasoline at some stations are not what we are paying for.
The regulator of public prices and services, the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP), reports that a total of 52 gasoline stations failed to pass the 2025 regulatory seal.
According to the ARESEP, the failed stations were found to be overcharging, using tampered meters, or not minimum quality standards, among others.
In San José, these are Service Station Avenida 10 and Fersol Service Station.
In Alajuela, there are seven stations, including Costanera Veintisiete and V & J Service Station: Fallas (see the full list in the infographic).
In Cartago, three stations were identified: Transportes Hermanos Orozco, Servicio Molina y Robles LTDA, and Service Station La Tica.
In Puntarenas and Guanacaste, Aresep reported irregularities at Gasolineras Monteverde M.D.S. and the Marina Papagayo Service Station.
One hundred percent of the gas stations in Heredia and Limón received the quality assurance seal awarded by the Regulatory Authority.
“If a facility does not receive the quality seal, it means that, throughout the year under evaluation, it exhibited some noncompliance related to excellence, quantity, price, or some administrative provision,” explained Mario Mora, Aresep’s Energy Superintendent.
These centers represent 12% of the 419 sites located in the seven provinces.
“The fact that a complaint was received does not mean that the service station had the problem throughout the year, but rather that, at a certain point, a noncompliance was detected,” Mora said.
The Energy Superintendent added that Aresep grants a maximum period of three days to correct the detected problem, so that companies can guarantee customers that the service is in compliance. In addition, the possibility of initiating a disciplinary process is being analyzed.
Costa Rica consumes more fuel
According to the Regulatory Authority’s analysis, the country has gradually increased its consumption of fossil fuels, concentrating it in areas with the highest socioeconomic activity.
Consumption of petroleum products increased by 18%, from 3.449 billion liters in 2022 to 4.099 billion in 2023. The cantons of San José, Alajuela, and San Carlos remain the main consumers.
According to the Aresept, these are the types of fuel used in Costa Rica:
