Q COSTA RICA — Fuel prices in Costa Rica do not increase on a fixed seasonal schedule; instead, they fluctuate monthly based on global oil markets and a strict national regulatory process.
The timing of a price change—whether it is an increase or a decrease—depends on when the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (RECOP)—the state refinery that refines nothing—submits data and when the regulatory authority officially publishes the changes.
In the case of an increase, a sharp one like this event, the notice is published in the official government gazette, La Gaceta, almost immediately following approval by the regulatory authority, the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP), taking effect the following day. But not so fast when dealing with price reductions.
Thus, at 12:01 am this Saturday, at all fueling stations across the country, the price of a liter of diesel increases by ¢97 colones, going from ¢688 to ¢785; regular gasoline increases by ¢12 colones, from ¢707 to ¢719; and super gasoline increases by ¢38 colones, from ¢726 to ¢764.
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All other fuel prices, such as LPG, aviation fuel, kerosene, etc., will also see an increase.
When diesel prices jump sharply—as they do tomorrow, surpassing gasoline prices—the increase sends ripple effects throughout the country: public transportation (buses), heavy cargo fleets, and shipping trucks; the agricultural sector that relies heavily on diesel-powered machinery, tractors, and irrigation systems; construction equipment, fishing boats, and some industrial operations.
Diesel prices affect nearly every part of Costa Rica’s economy.
Q COSTA RICA — How many McDonald’s are there in Costa Rica? Soon to be 81, located in Puntarenas, announced Arcos Dorados, the franchisee operating McDonald’s in 21 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
This new opening reaffirms the company’s commitment to the Costa Rica’s socioeconomic growth, the creation of formal employment, and the implementation of initiatives that promote increasingly sustainable development.
The Puntarenas location is creating 36 new job opportunities for residents of the province; six of these are management positions, and for 19 employees, this marks their first formal job.
“We are very excited about our arrival in Puntarenas. With this restaurant, we want to offer our customers an experience featuring a varied, delicious, and high-quality menu, while also creating new job opportunities for our new neighbors,” commented Marianela Ureña, Communications Manager for Arcos Dorados Costa Rica.
The new restaurant is located in El Roble de Puntarenas, on the Costanera Highway, southwest of Alimentos Prosalud, offering Drive-Thru (AutoMac), McDelivery, self-service digital kiosks, McCafé, seating for 56 diners, and an outdoor play area, allowing customers to enjoy the various service channels that characterize the brand.
The grand opening for the Puntarenas McDonald’s will take place on Saturday, October 17.
Costa Rica has approximately 15.26 McDonald’s locations per million people, or roughly one McDonald’s for every 65,504 residents.
This density places Costa Rica among the highest per capita for McDonald’s in Latin America, driven by 80 operating outlets serving a total national population of roughly 5.17 million people.
Historically, Costa Rica holds a significant place in the franchise’s timeline, having opened its very first store in San José in 1970—making it only the third country outside of the United States and its territories to welcome the global fast-food chain.
Q COSTA RICA — The Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep)—Public Services Regulatory Authority—approved a ¢97-per-liter increase for diesel; the price will rise from ¢688 to ¢785—over US$6 a gallon—surpassing the price of gasoline once the new rate adjustment takes effect.
“Super” gasoline will increase by ¢38 per liter—from ¢726 to ¢764—while “Regular” gasoline will rise by ¢12, going from ¢707 to ¢719. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)—specifically the 70-30 blend—will increase by ¢4 per liter, rising from ¢259 to ¢263.
Regarding LPG for domestic use, the price of a 25-pound cylinder (typically used in home kitchens) will go from ¢7,071 to ¢7,172, an increase of ¢101.
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Aresep explained that the adjustment is primarily due to rising international prices for the fuels imported by RECOPE, the state refinery that refines nothing.
Costa Rica sources 100% of its consumed finished fuels from abroad, leaving domestic prices exposed to fluctuations in international markets.
The regulator noted that diesel saw greater international price increases than gasoline during the period analyzed. Although diesel historically maintained a lower price—due in part to a lower tax burden—that gap has narrowed to the point where its price now exceeds that of gasoline.
Aresep detailed that the diesel price hike could particularly impact sectors that rely on it as a key input, such as public transportation, freight transport, and electricity generation via thermal power plants.
The new pricing also accounts for the differential between the price RECOPE pays to acquire products on the international market and the time it takes to recover those costs through sales within Costa Rica. The study covered shipments handled by the refinery between August 14 and September 10.
Aresep noted that the tariff methodology takes into account variables such as international prices, the exchange rate, taxes, and other components established by regulation. The institution will submit the resolution for publication, and the new prices will take effect at midnight on the day they appear in La Gaceta, the official government gazette. This usually happens within a few days of the official announcement.
Q COSTA RICA — The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica addressed a series of social media posts claiming that the State Department had revoked the visas of currently serving Costa Rican officials.
The diplomatic mission dismissed these claims as “false rumors” and noted that only communications released through official channels represent the position of the U.S. government.
“The U.S. Embassy is aware of false posts circulating online claiming that the U.S. State Department has revoked the visas of sitting Costa Rican officials. These are false rumors,” the diplomatic mission stated in a message posted on its official X account.
La Embajada de Estados Unidos tiene conocimiento de publicaciones falsas que circulan en línea, las cuales señalan que el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos habría revocado las visas a funcionarios costarricenses en ejercicio.
The statement was issued following days of circulating reports regarding potential immigration measures against members of the Costa Rican government.
The Embassy did not identify the specific posts that prompted the denial, nor did it name the officials mentioned in them.
In its message, the U.S. mission also urged the public to carefully verify the source of any information attributed to Washington.
“Only official U.S. government accounts speak on behalf of the United States government,” the Embassy noted.
It added that “statements from unofficial or unverified sources should be considered mere rumors.”
Rumors involved government figures
Some of the stories circulating on social media referred to the alleged revocation of the U.S. visa held by former president Rodrigo Chaves, who currently heads the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Presidency in Laura Fernández Delgado’s administration.
The president addressed the issue during a formal session of the Government Council held in Puntarenas and publicly thanked the Embassy for its statement.
Fernández attributed these stories to her political adversaries and maintained that the messages were intended to sow division within her administration.
“I also take this opportunity to thank the Ambassador for her kindness in confirming—even in writing—and refuting some of the outrageous claims made by this government’s political enemies, who went around saying that his visa was being revoked,” the president stated.
Fernández also referred directly to the posts concerning Chaves.
“What a ridiculous story they made up—that Don Rodrigo was going to lose his visa, that they were going to take away his visa,” she remarked.
The president added that, in her view, the messages sought to “divide us” and questioned the dissemination of these stories via WhatsApp chains and social media posts.
Costa Rica has a history of visa revocations
This statement comes against a backdrop where the United States has indeed revoked the visas of several Costa Rican public figures since 2025, although those instances are unrelated to the reports refuted this week.
In April 2025, the United States revoked the visa of former two-time Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias. This measure had previously affected political figures such as Francisco Nicolás, Johana Obando, and Cynthia Córdoba.
Subsequently, the United States revoked the entry privileges of Ana Sofía Machuca Flores, the Auditor General of the state power and telecom, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
In July 2025, news also emerged regarding visa revocations for Rodrigo Arias, brother of Oscar and president of the Legislative Assembly from 2022 to 2026, and Constitutional Court justices Paul Rueda and Fernando Cruz.
Other cases involving Costa Rican figures also came to light during 2026. In May, members of the Board of Directors of the newspaper La Nación reported that the United States had revoked their visas—a decision that sparked public questioning regarding the criteria used by Washington.
U.S. authorities have traditionally maintained confidentiality regarding individual visa decisions. In various instances, the Embassy in San José has refrained from publicly detailing the specific reasons behind a revocation, citing the confidential nature of these immigration procedures.
The denial was issued just one day after the United States announced visa cancellations for judges, prosecutors, high-ranking officials, and business leaders from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Q COSTA RICA — Although more than 90% of Costa Rican households recognize the importance of cultivating a savings culture, only half manage to save money consistently. This is according to research by the Financial Consumer Office (OCF), which highlights the economic challenges families face in building a financial cushion to handle emergencies or prepare for retirement.
The savings survey, titled “El Ecosistema Financiero del Hogar Costarricense” (The Costa Rican Household Financial Ecosystem), identified debt, limited income, and unexpected expenses as key barriers to maintaining this habit—particularly in households where available resources barely cover basic needs.
Among those who do manage to save, seven out of ten allocate between 5% and 10% of their monthly income toward building their financial reserves.
Preparing for retirement is the primary motivation for saving, cited by 29% of respondents, followed by the need for emergency funds, mentioned by 28%.
However, the results show that recognizing the importance of saving does not necessarily mean having the resources to do so consistently.
Debt and insufficient income hinder saving
A key finding of the research is that economic barriers significantly impact families’ ability to set aside a portion of their income.
71% of respondents stated they would save if they had a higher income, while 51% acknowledged that unexpected expenses disrupt their savings plans.
Debt compounds these difficulties: 47% admitted that meeting financial obligations limits their ability to save money.
These constraints are more pronounced among individuals without a university education and in households where monthly income is barely enough to cover food, housing, utilities, and other essential needs. Danilo Montero, Executive Director of the OCF, explained that the results show that a lack of savings is not necessarily linked to a lack of interest or poor resource management.
“The fact that half of households manage to save dispels the common myth that Costa Ricans do not save; in fact, it is clear that there is a recognized cultural value placed on saving and a genuine desire for peace of mind,” Montero stated.
The OCF representative noted that financial education strategies must take into account the population’s economic disparities and be tailored to each family’s actual financial reality.
He explained that when nearly half of respondents identify debt as a barrier to saving and the majority state they need higher incomes, it is essential to address economic constraints alongside money management habits.
Established savers: 20.6% of households
The first group consists of individuals whose economic and educational circumstances foster the development of financial discipline.
This segment comprises 20.6% of households and is characterized by higher incomes, higher levels of education, and more consistent resource planning.
More than 83% of individuals in this group save regularly, providing them with a financial cushion to handle emergencies and prepare for retirement.
Organized under pressure: 20.2%
The second profile accounts for 20.2% of households and consists of individuals who face budget constraints yet maintain rigorous control over their expenses.
Despite having limited financial leeway, approximately three out of four people in this group manage to save.
The research highlights that these households offset some of their financial limitations by organizing their resources and keeping track of their obligations.
Aspirational savers: 27%
The third segment comprises 27% of the people interviewed and includes a higher proportion of young people.
Although they recognize the importance of saving money and express interest in adopting tools to facilitate this practice, they have not yet managed to establish it as a permanent habit.
According to the study, only 38% of those classified as “aspirational” currently save.
The OCF identified a particular interest within this group for simple digital tools that allow them to organize their income, set goals, and facilitate regular saving.
Financially vulnerable: 32.2%
The final group represents 32.2% of Costa Rican households and faces the greatest economic difficulties.
These are individuals with lower levels of employment and income, whose ability to save money is constrained by immediate needs.
Barely two out of ten people in this segment manage to save, while preparing financially for retirement poses a particularly difficult challenge.
The research indicates that, for these households, daily expenses and financial emergencies significantly reduce the chances of building up savings.
Saving for retirement: a concern for Costa Ricans
Financial preparation for old age is the primary reason for saving money among those who maintain this habit.
However, the results reveal significant differences between households capable of setting long-term goals and those that must focus their resources on meeting immediate needs.
This situation is also reflected in the ability to maintain an emergency fund, which ranks as the second most common motivation for saving.
For the Financial Consumer Office, these findings highlight the need to develop tailored strategies that address the specific economic circumstances of different population segments.
The organization believes that financial education policies and money management tools should be adapted to the actual conditions of households, rather than relying on a single explanation for why people do not save.
Survey results indicate that the main challenge lies not merely in promoting the importance of saving money, but in enabling more families to create the necessary conditions to turn that intention into a sustainable practice.
Q COSTA RICA — Foreigners can legally own and operate businesses in Costa Rica, even if they do not hold residency or citizenship. The country generally allows overseas entrepreneurs to establish companies, own corporate shares, purchase commercial property, and invest across much of the economy.
That openness has made Costa Rica a popular destination for entrepreneurs drawn by its political stability, educated workforce, and access to international markets.
Still, owning a company and legally working for it aren’t always the same. You cannot legally perform day-to-day frontline work (like bartending at your restaurant or checking in guests at your hotel) without permanent residency or an explicit work permit.
You must hire locals, a Costa Rican or legal permanent residents to perform any operational work.
Foreign Ownership Is Generally Permitted
Costa Rica does not usually require a local partner or impose a blanket limit on foreign ownership. A nonresident can hold 100% of the shares in a Costa Rican company and may serve as a director or corporate officer.
Two of the most common legal structures are the Sociedad Anónima (S.A.) and the Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (S.R.L.). Both offer limited liability, though their ownership and management rules differ.
An S.A. resembles a corporation and is often chosen by businesses that expect a more formal governance structure or multiple investors. An S.R.L. is closer to a limited liability company and may be simpler for small businesses, family-run operations or ventures with relatively few owners.
Choosing a structure affects far more than the name on the registration documents. It can shape voting rights, management responsibilities, recordkeeping and the process for transferring ownership. Foreign founders are often advised to speak with a Costa Rican attorney and accountant before registering.
Ownership Does Not Automatically Include the Right to Work
The biggest source of confusion involves immigration law.
A foreigner may own a Costa Rican business without residency, but ownership alone does not necessarily grant permission to perform day-to-day work in the country. Someone who enters as a tourist generally cannot take a local job or actively work in the same way as a citizen or resident with employment authorization.
An overseas investor can usually receive profits, vote as a shareholder, and make decisions at the ownership level. Directly managing staff, serving customers, providing services or handling daily operations may require an immigration status that permits those activities.
Costa Rica offers residency categories for investors, retirees, people with qualifying income, and certain family relationships. Each category comes with its own financial thresholds and work restrictions. A person planning to relocate and run a company should treat immigration approval and business registration as separate legal processes.
How a Foreign Founder Can Set Up a Company
Forming a company typically begins with a notarized deed of incorporation prepared by a Costa Rican notary public. The company must then be registered with the National Registry.
The incorporation documents generally identify the company’s name, purpose, ownership structure, management rules, and registered address. Businesses must also appoint the officers or managers required by the entity they choose.
After registration, the company may need to complete several additional steps, including:
Registering with the tax authorities;
Enrolling qualifying employees with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund;
Obtaining workers’ compensation insurance;
Securing a municipal business license;
Applying for health, environmental or industry-specific permits; and
Maintaining corporate ownership and beneficial-owner records.
The exact requirements depend on the company’s location and activities. A software consultancy, for example, will not face the same permitting process as a restaurant, hotel, medical practice or food manufacturer.
Opening a bank account can also take time. Banks commonly request incorporation records, identification, tax information, and documents showing the source of the company’s funds. Foreign shareholders and directors may face additional compliance checks.
Taxes and Ongoing Compliance Still Apply
A Costa Rican company must comply with local tax rules regardless of the nationality of its owners. Depending on its activities, it may be responsible for income tax, value-added tax, payroll charges, withholding obligations and municipal fees.
Registered companies may also face an annual corporate tax, even if they are not actively trading. Deadlines, rates and filing requirements can change, so professional accounting support is often useful from the start rather than after the first tax problem appears.
Employers must follow Costa Rican labor law when hiring workers. That includes rules covering wages, working hours, holidays, annual leave, social security contributions, workplace insurance and severance obligations.
Employment costs can therefore be higher than the salary stated in an offer letter. Founders building a budget should account for mandatory benefits and employer contributions before committing to new hires.
Are Any Industries Restricted?
Most ordinary commercial activities are open to foreign investors, but some sectors are regulated, reserved, or subject to concessions and licensing requirements. Activities involving public services, transportation, energy, natural resources, telecommunications, coastal areas and certain professions may carry additional restrictions.
The maritime zone deserves particular care. Property near the coast can fall under a concession system rather than conventional private ownership. Different rules may apply to foreign individuals and foreign-controlled companies, particularly within restricted zones.
Professional services can create another hurdle. A foreign-owned company may be permitted to offer a service, but the person performing regulated work may still need Costa Rican credentials, recognition of foreign qualifications or membership in a professional association.
Buying an Existing Business Requires Due Diligence
Foreign investors do not have to start from scratch. They can purchase shares in an existing company or acquire a business’s assets. Either route can be faster, but it may also transfer risks that are not obvious from the storefront or financial statements.
Buyers should investigate tax filings, labor liabilities, municipal permits, leases, litigation, Social Security payments, and ownership of key assets. If the transaction involves property, a title review and land-use check are essential.
It is also important to confirm what is actually included in the sale. A business name, customer list, liquor license, equipment, and lease rights may not transfer automatically merely because the buyer acquires the operating company.
Costa Rica Offers Access, Not a Shortcut
Costa Rica’s legal system gives foreign entrepreneurs broad access to business ownership. For many investors, the basic answer is straightforward: yes, a foreigner can own all or part of a Costa Rican company without becoming a citizen or permanent resident.
The harder questions arise after ownership is established. Immigration status determines what the owner may personally do in the country. Tax, labor, and licensing rules determine how the company must operate. Banking and compliance requirements determine how quickly it can begin trading.
For foreigners willing to plan carefully, Costa Rica can offer a practical base for tourism, technology, real estate, professional services and other ventures. The safest approach is to coordinate corporate, immigration, tax, and licensing advice before signing a lease, hiring employees, or investing substantial funds.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for legal, tax or immigration advice in Costa Rica.
Q COSTA RICA — As the number of Costa Ricans forced to leave the country grows each year, activists and media figures in exile hold former President Rodrigo Chaves and his political movement responsible for the violence plaguing the country.
According to official data from the Costa Rican state—compiled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)—prior to 2022 (when Rodrigo Chaves assumed the presidency), only a few dozen Costa Ricans sought refugee status abroad. However, that figure has since risen, peaking in 2024 when 890 individuals requested this status—which guarantees special protection—from other nations.
Refugee status is granted to those who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin. Such persecution may be based on ethnicity or skin color, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
Recently, media outlets have highlighted several cases involving activists, media figures, and high-profile individuals who were forced to leave the country or enroll in protection programs due to threats, abuse, and other acts of persecution directed against them.
Three of the most prominent cases involve activist and content creator Sylvia Ziesing, media personality Erick Sojo (of Radio Zurquí), and influencer Kevin López (Kevlo).
According to the individuals involved, these cases reflect rising levels of violence and polarization within Costa Rican society and demonstrate a significant decline in the country’s ability to protect all its inhabitants.
Extraordinary protection measures
Kevin López (Kevlo) is a singer and content creator who rose to prominence primarily through his satirical series, “Escuelita para jaguares” (Little School for Jaguars). The last time his followers heard from him was on August 15, when he posted the 17th episode of the series.
In the video, Kevlo explains the difference between an insult and a threat, singing: “If you insult me, you might beat me up, but if you cross the line, the OIJ is going to come knocking.”
He also explains that online threats are serious and permanent matters: “A post remains. A screenshot remains. A message remains,” he says, while displaying messages on screen that had previously been sent to him.
At the end of the video, the creator reflects on the importance of criticism, creativity, and even mockery, but urges people not to “normalize violence as political discourse.”
Since that clip was uploaded, there has been no news of him, and his social media profiles have disappeared, reported Semanario Universidad, saying it learned from a reliable source that the young man has entered a protection program and is doing well.
The Oficina de Atención y Protección a la Víctima del Delito (Office for Victim Assistance and Protection) operates within the country’s Public Prosecutor’s Office; an increasing number of Costa Ricans turn to it each year, further highlighting the escalating violence affecting the nation.
Between 2022 and July this year, 101,263 new cases were filed with that office. Furthermore, statistics show that prior to 2022, witness protection cases were few in number (88 in 2020 and 81 in 2021), but they have risen since 2022 (120 cases) and continue to climb, with 194 in 2023, 163 in 2024, 156 in 2025, and 108 in just the first seven months of 2026.
From exile
In early August, Sylvia Ziesing announced on social media that she had left the country due to political persecution.
Speaking to Semanario Universidad, she recounted that, from the start of Rodrigo Chaves’s administration, she began receiving insults and threats of all kinds from his supporters via social media; however, as time went on, the tone escalated, and she started receiving phone calls.
As she continued to publish content critical of the Chaves administration, the insults and threats intensified, and eventually, she and other colleagues began to notice they were being followed. “We would note down license plate numbers, and later, when we checked, the plate wouldn’t match the car model, for example,” she said.
Ziesing asserts that it was the Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad (DIS)—Directorate of Intelligence and Security, a state agency reporting to Casa Presidencial—following her and that the agency also infiltrated meetings. Furthermore, shortly thereafter, the agency filed a complaint against her (and other activist communicators) alleging an “attempted assassination of the head of state.”
“Finally, in January, I had to run an errand in Heredia, and two people—two men—approached me from behind and threatened me in the street.”
That was when she realized the only alternative was to leave the country. “People had advised me to leave earlier, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to wait for the elections so I could vote. I voted that morning, and by the afternoon, I had left.”
Ziesing says that exile has been difficult—not just professionally and financially, but also because of the loss of her support networks and his closeness to family and friends. “When someone migrates by choice or in search of a better life, they do so with the hope of a better future; being forced to leave is something else entirely.”
Shortly after Ziesing announced her exile, Erick Sojo—known as “Paisano”—did the same, stating that he had been forced into exile following insults, baseless accusations, and life-threatening threats.
He says the initial acts of persecution occurred during a pro-Cháves demonstration in 2024, involving insults and threats that eventually escalated into physical attacks.
Furthermore, in March 2024, the Office of the President sent a formal letter of protest to the Journalists’ Association, claiming that “we published without journalistic balance and fostered disinformation.”
He recounts that last year he was also targeted by government supporters—forcing him to move house—and faced baseless accusations on social media. He describes how, after his home address became known, he woke up one day to find his front gate plastered with signs, while utility poles and walls throughout the neighborhood read: “Erick Sojo—‘Este Paisano’—lives here: Rapist.” That same week, a content creator recorded a video revealing the location of his home; according to him, the comments on social media included things like “Let’s burn down that dump” and “We should go pay him a visit.”
“But what changed my life was when the DIS fabricated a story claiming I was part of a group plotting the assassination of Rodrigo Chaves,” the communicator recounted.
From then on, he was constantly followed and his home was kept under surveillance; on several occasions, people approached him to hurl insults or attack him—even when he was with his family.
“After that event in December, my son told me that—come what may, whether the opposition won or lost—I had to leave Costa Rica for a while.”
Sojo states that “it is deeply regrettable that Costa Rica’s image is being tarnished in this way, as more and more of us are forced to leave the country to protect our safety,” and asserts that what needs to change is “the hatred Rodrigo Chaves sowed among the people.”
Ziesing agreed, adding, “What needs to change in Costa Rica is the political project governing us. The ‘Chavismo’ political project has become the greatest threat to Costa Rican democracy.”
This article is a translated and adapted version of the original piece, “Más costarricenses piden refugio en el exterior; activistas y comunicadores huyen por persecución política”, published by SemanarioUniversidad.com.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica transferred 45 tons of seized drugs to the United States for destruction in an operation coordinated by the Ministerio Público (Public Prosecutor’s Office) and the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), with the collaboration of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The shipment left the country aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 military transport plane, which arrived in Costa Rica specifically to carry out the transfer.
A notable aspect of the procedure is that the drugs will be destroyed in the United States due to budgetary constraints facing Costa Rican authorities regarding carrying out the process domestically, explained Costa Rica’s Attorney General Carlo Díaz.
U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Melinda Hildebrand and Attorney General Carlo Díaz. Courtesy: Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“Today we are carrying out this operation—sponsored by the U.S. government, the Embassy, and the DEA—in which they are providing this plane to enable transport to the United States,” he stated.
Another notable detail is the absence of senior government officials from press reports featuring photos of Díaz with U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Melinda Hildebrand.
Díaz explained that the narcotics came from seizures made through the efforts of various Costa Rican institutions.
“This drug shipment was seized thanks to the work of various authorities—the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the OIJ—but due to budgetary constraints, we could not carry out the destruction within our own country,” Díaz noted.
The process will be subject to judicial oversight. A judge accompanied the shipment to the United States to formalize the handover and subsequently oversee the destruction of the narcotics.
The transfer takes place as Costa Rica continues to face intense pressure from international drug trafficking routes. For the 2027 fiscal year, the United States has kept the country on the list of 23 territories considered significant for the transit or production of illicit drugs—a classification that takes geographic, commercial, and economic factors into account.
A U.S. Air Force C-17 military aircraft was used to transport the 45 tons of drugs seized in Costa Rica. Courtesy: Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Costa Rica’s geographic location—situated between cocaine-producing regions in South America and consumer markets in North America and Europe—has turned its waters, ports, and land territory into points utilized by transnational organizations.
The U.S. Embassy reported that approximately 44 metric tons of illicit drugs were intercepted in 2026 alone with U.S. support for the National Coast Guard Service—a figure released just days before this latest transfer was announced.
Recent investigations have also revealed an evolution in the criminal structures operating within the country. In September, an international operation dubbed ATLAS NEXUS resulted in 375 arrests and the seizure of over 27.8 tons of drugs and 181 firearms in Costa Rica.
Additionally, Costa Rican authorities have conducted joint investigations with the DEA over the past few months targeting organizations linked to international trafficking. In June, the so-called “Riverside” case led to 97 raids across five provinces and the arrest of dozens of individuals under investigation for alleged drug trafficking, arms trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes.
Cooperation with the United States has also focused on maritime routes. In February, a joint operation near Cocos Island resulted in the seizure of over a ton of illicit drugs following three days of collaborative work between Costa Rican and U.S. authorities.
Regarding the 45 tons recently transported, authorities highlighted that the operation completes the post-seizure process for the substances.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the OIJ noted that the disposal of the shipments is part of an institutional effort to prevent seized narcotics from re-entering the illegal market, even as Costa Rica continues to strengthen cooperation with the United States in response to the growth of transnational drug trafficking operations.
Q COSTA RICA — Two women were arrested on Tuesday, suspected of defrauding individuals interested in learning to drive and obtaining a license by selling driving courses promoted on social media.
Agents from the Specialized Section against Scams and Registry Fraud of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) carried out raids as part of the investigation: two in the province of Heredia and one in Paso Ancho, San José. The arrested women are surnamed Sánchez (43) and Romero (40).
According to the investigation, the suspects posted advertisements for a driving school and offered special deals to those who paid for the service in advance. Package prices ranged from ¢185,000 to ¢220,000.
The problem began after payment was made.
Authorities preliminarily determined that, once the money was received, the women allegedly used various excuses to postpone classes or avoid delivering the contracted service.
Explanations allegedly given to clients included claims that instructors were ill or that the training vehicles had been involved in accidents, requiring lessons to be rescheduled.
Over time, some victims stopped receiving responses. According to the OIJ, in certain instances, the suspects allegedly stopped answering messages and even blocked clients, preventing them from continuing to press claims regarding the driving lessons they had paid for.
The judicial investigation began in May 2026 and has so far linked 47 criminal cases to the same modus operandi. The documented financial loss in these files exceeds ¢9 million colones.
However, the number of people potentially connected to the case is considerably higher.
According to information known to the authorities, there are another 154 complaints filed with the Consumer Protection Agency linked to the same driving school.
RICO’s Q — “I don’t have proof, but I have no doubts either.” With that admission, former Costa Rican union leader and legislator Óscar Campos released a video addressed to Attorney General Carlo Díaz, publicly urging the Attorney General to prepare information concerning Rodrigo Chaves, raising the possibility that Chaves could leave the country.
Campos, a vocal critic of Chaves and his political allies, made the remarks on Tuesday amid social media rumors about the United States revoking visas and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) potentially taking action against Costa Rican public figures.
“A message for Carlo Díaz: He should prepare information regarding the former president, who also serves as minister of finance and minister of the presidency, because the embassy has neither confirmed nor denied the situation,” Campos said.
His comments came only hours after the U.S. Embassy in San José addressed claims circulating online. The embassy said it was aware of “false posts” alleging that the State Department had revoked the visas of current Costa Rican officials and described the claims as “false rumors.” It also reminded the public that only official U.S. government accounts are authorized to speak on its behalf.
Despite the embassy’s statement, Campos suggested that Chaves might leave—or flee—the country.
“It is possible that the gentleman from Monterán (Chaves) might decide to leave the country,” Campos said. He then called on authorities to remain alert: “The Prosecutor’s Office and the DEA should be notified in case they need to carry out any proceedings beforehand, so that an operation is not thwarted.”
Campos added, “Cowards flee, and we know that well.”
Addressing Díaz once more, he said it was “quite possible” that the Monterán resident would leave Costa Rica if the situation worsened.
The remarks come amid a heated political dispute between Chaves’s supporters and opposition groups. His allies have portrayed Campos’s comments as an attempt to damage Chaves’s reputation, especially after the U.S. Embassy rejected the visa-revocation rumors.
Chaves’s supporters also argue that his direct clashes with Costa Rica’s traditional political establishment have unsettled longtime political figures and party organizations.
Campos did not present evidence that Chaves was preparing to leave the country. He also provided no proof of an arrest warrant, planned DEA action, or pending legal operation involving Chaves.
xxx“I don’t have the proof, but I have no doubts either”: Óscar Campos calls for alerting the Fiscalía (Prosecutor’s Office) and the DEA (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) regarding a suspected trip by Rodrigo Chaves.
The political stir in Costa Rica—fueled by rumors of the United States revoking visas and potential DEA action against Costa Rican figures—saw a new development on Tuesday when former legislator Óscar Campos issued a public warning to Attorney General Carlo Díaz concerning former President Rodrigo Chaves.
Campos, a critic of Chaves and the ruling administration, made these statements despite expressly acknowledging that he lacks evidence to back up his claims.
“I don’t have the proof, but I have no doubts either,” Campos stated at the start of his message, before addressing the Attorney General directly.
“A message for Carlo Díaz: he should prepare information regarding the former President—who also served as Minister of Finance and Minister of the Presidency—because the embassy has neither confirmed nor denied the situation,” he said.
However, Campos’s remarks came just hours after the U.S. Embassy in San José publicly addressed the stories circulating on social media.
The diplomatic mission noted it was aware of “false posts” claiming the State Department had revoked the visas of sitting Costa Rican officials and dismissed these claims as “false rumors.” It also reminded the public that only official U.S. government accounts speak on behalf of the government.
Despite that statement, Campos insisted on raising the possibility that Chaves might leave—or even flee—the country.
“But it is possible that the gentleman from Monterán (Chaves) might decide to leave the country,” the former legislator said, before calling on authorities to be vigilant regarding potential legal actions.
“And, well, to alert the Prosecutor’s Office and the DEA in case they need to carry out any proceedings beforehand—so that it doesn’t end up being a thwarted operation,” he stated.
Campos continued his message with a remark aimed at the president: “Because cowards flee, and we know that well.” Finally, he addressed Carlo Díaz again, stating: “So, a message for Carlo Díaz: it is quite possible that the resident of Monterán will leave the country if the situation worsens.”
These statements come amidst a fierce political confrontation between opposition factions and supporters of the administration. Pro-Chavista circles have interpreted such messages as a sign of desperation among the opposition to damage Rodrigo Chaves’s image—particularly following the U.S. Embassy’s rebuttal of rumors regarding visas.
These same circles also maintain that “Rodrigo Chaves is driving them crazy,” noting that the former president has engaged in direct confrontation with the traditional political class and has publicly challenged figures and party structures that governed Costa Rica for decades.
However, the former legislator’s own words confirm that he presented no evidence of an impending departure by Chaves, nor of any DEA action or arrest warrant.
Friction between Campos and Chaves
The political relationship between former Costa Rican legisaltor Oscar Campos and former president Rodrigo Chaves is highly confrontational, marked by severe public accusations and legal controversies.
The friction dates back significantly to early 2026, when the national intelligence services, the Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional (DIS), presented evidence of an alleged plot to harm Chaves.
Reports claimed that the plot involved hiring a hitman and establishing an “emergency” replacement government. Chaves publicly referenced the plot during a press conference, naming Campos as one of the figures involved. In response, Campos and his party, the Partido Nueva Generación (PNG), vehemently denied the claims, calling them a “montage” and a fictional “novella” designed to distract the public from crucial agricultural issues.
Q COSTA RICA — Weeks before the abrupt dismissal of Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar, the then-minister had already distanced himself from the Minister of the Presidency and Finance, Rodrigo Chaves.
This became evident in an interview Tovar gave to El País, reports Crhoy.com.
When asked about the extent of Chaves’s interference in foreign policy—considering the “strong influence” he wields beyond his official roles—Tovar replied, “I am the Foreign Minister, and Ms. Laura Fernández is the President.”
According to Tovar, Chaves could influence foreign policy as much as any other minister. However, he maintained that foreign policy was defined by him and Fernández, though this did not mean he did not receive advice from other government members.
The interview also touched upon relations with China—a country from which Chaves had made a point of distancing himself during his administration.
Tovar stated that he had held a frank conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and affirmed that the government would respect the “One China” principle. He acknowledged that, as in any bilateral relationship, there might be periods of greater or lesser closeness, but maintained that Costa Rica sought to pursue a foreign policy of friendship with all its partners.
Tovar was dismissed last Thursday by President Fernández, who argued that the Foreign Minister had failed to inform her about a meeting of the “Shield of the Americas” initiative held on Tuesday, September 22, which was attended by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the Presidency, this omission prevented Fernández from participating in the meeting and caused strategic damage.
However, in an interview with Argentina’s La Nación, President Javier Milei said Donald Trump arrived unexpectedly at a meeting held alongside the United Nations General Assembly, offering a different account of the event that led Costa Rican President Laura Fernández to remove Manuel Tovar as Foreign Minister.
Costa Ricas president-elect Laura Fernandez (R) introduces the new foreign minister, Manuel Tovar (L), in San Jose on May 5, 2026. Costa Rica' outgoing president Rodrigo Chaves will join the cabinet of his successor Laura Fernandez in a position with broad powers that will also grant him immunity from potential legal proceedings. (Photo by Ezequiel BECERRA / AFP)
Q COSTA RICA — Former Costa Rican foreign minister Manuel Tovar posted the biblical verse “Conocerán la verdad, y la verdad los hará libres” (You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free) on X several days after President Laura Fernández dismissed him.
This is the second time Tovar has made a public statement following his dismissal, which was announced on Thursday, September 24, following his attendance at the Shield of the Americas meeting in New York, via a press release issued by the Presidency.
That same day, at an event in Golfito attended by U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Melinda Hildebrand, the president stated that “there are errors that cannot be overlooked” and expressed regret over her absence from the Shield of the Americas meeting.
Casa Presidencial said he had failed to inform Fernández that U.S. President Donald Trump would attend, preventing her from taking part.
According to Milei, Trump’s attendance resulted from a last-minute schedule change, and that minutes before Trump’s arrival, Marco Rubio informed them of the unexpected visit.
Fernández also accused Tovar of appointing himself to attend the meeting rather than giving her the invitation and allowing her to decide who should represent Costa Rica, and even warned them that they would realize it was happening because journalists were going to enter the venue.
Fernández described the event as a strategic gathering intended for heads of state and warned that all ministers must consult her before making decisions of that importance.
Costa Rica’s La Nación reported that Tovar did not directly explain his post, but its timing gave it the appearance of an indirect response to his dismissal.
Despite official questioning, Tovar responded in a conciliatory tone on social media, thanking Fernández for the opportunity to serve the country. “It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve as Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Minister of the Republic,” the former minister stated, affirming that he accepts his departure “with great peace of mind.”
Following Tovar’s departure, the President appointed Indiana Trejos Gallo—the current Minister of Foreign Trade—as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs; she will take charge of the “Casa Amarilla” (Foreign Ministry) after concluding her mission at the UN.
The Shield of the Americas
The Shield of the Americas was founded last March in Florida at Trump’s initiative, bringing together his conservative allies. Peru, Chile, and Colombia have just joined the group.
The then-president, Rodrigo Chaves, and Fernández—as president-elect—traveled to the alliance’s official launch event.
On September 22, the U.S.-led Shield of the Americas alliance proposed collectively sanctioning 24 organized crime groups in the region, which they consider “an immediate and shared threat.”
RICO’s Q —There has been much talk this past week about the dismissal of Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar. The big question on many people’s minds is: what was the real reason for his firing?
No one buys the lie that he was dismissed because he failed to notify Laura Fernández about the “Shield of the Americas” summit.
In particular, when
First, because the date for that summit had been set well in advance.
Second, because the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica always coordinates visits for a presidential summit with the Presidential House in Zapote.
Therefore, no one can believe the excuse that Casa Presidencial knew nothing about the summit.
𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗔 𝗚𝗥𝗬𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗡
It turns out that Tovar was strongly backing Ms. Rebeca Grynspan’s candidacy for UN Secretary-General.
Tovar’s address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, openly advocating for Rebeca Grynspan’s candidacy for the organization’s Secretary-Generalship, was delivered by Costa Rica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Boris Vasir Marchegiani Carrero
In case you didn’t know, Grynspan is a figure very close to former presidents Óscar Arias Sánchez and José María Figueres.
Grynspan served as:
Deputy Minister of Finance under Óscar Arias (1986–1988)
Vice President of the Republic under José María Figueres(1994–1998)
She is married to Saúl Weisleder, a renowned economist who supported Figueres’ candidacy in 2022, when he ran against Rodrigo Chaves.
According to a post by Libertad Y Propiedad II on Facebook, it appears that an insider tipped off Rodrigo Chaves that Minister Tovar was actively working on Grynspan’s candidacy—not just offering lip service as Chaves does.
So, when Rodrigo Chaves realized his minister was working with someone so close to Óscar Arias and José María Figueres, he viewed it as a betrayal.
From that moment on, Minister Tovar’s days were numbered.
On this issue, the Facebook page Las Cosas como Son CR urged Costa Ricans to “judge for themselves.”
On August 13, Manuel Tovar spoke with the Spanish news outlet El País, which asked him how much influence Rodrigo Chaves has over foreign policy.
Tovar replied that he was the foreign minister and Laura Fernández was the president, adding that Chaves’s influence was no greater than that of any other minister. In the interview, Tovar contradicted the “Whisky Minister” (Chaves).
I believe that anyone with a normal IQ would ask, who gave the order to fire him?
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rican President Laura Fernández began her first official tour of Puntarenas province on Monday with a series of infrastructure announcements for Quepos and other Central Pacific communities.
A highlight is the modernization of the La Managua (Quepos) airfield, a dream where the government plans to expand capacity to accommodate private flights and build a new passenger terminal.
The agenda kicked off in the community of Londres, Quepos, with the inauguration of a modular bridge over the Naranjo River. This 95-meter-long structure represented an investment of ¢466.5 million colones (US$1 million) and will benefit more than 35,000 residents in local communities.
Minister of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) Efraín Zeledón explained that the new structure replaces a crossing that no longer met safety standards. He emphasized that it restores a vital connection used for commuting to schools and workplaces, as well as for transporting local produce and goods.
“This new crossing means being able to get to work, take children to school, or transport local products with greater safety,” Zeledón noted during the event.
The minister added that the project is part of a broader program comprising 35 road and bridge interventions under the Emergency Program for Comprehensive and Resilient Infrastructure Reconstruction (PROERI), involving investments exceeding US$70 million in the area. He also announced the launch of four-year road maintenance contracts to service various Pacific corridors.
Government targets private flights
One of the day’s key announcements concerned the La Managua airfield in Quepos—a facility the executive branch aims to leverage to boost tourism. Zeledón announced an investment of approximately ¢2.1 billion colones (US$4.5 million) to develop an apron for private flights, capable of accommodating up to nine aircraft and one helicopter.
Plans are also in place to proceed with contracting a new passenger terminal, as part of the investments intended to modernize the canton’s aviation infrastructure.
The minister stated that total investments related to the airfield would exceed ¢5 billion (US$10.9 million), taking into account the various planned works.
The modernization of La Managua has been part of state planning for years. Government budget documents include the construction of a new passenger terminal, access roads, and an aircraft apron as part of the project to improve service for airfield users.
Fernández used the announcement to directly express the intention of attracting a higher-spending tourism segment to Quepos.
“We want flights; we want flights—private jets landing in Quepos,” the president stated during her speech in London.
The president maintained that the investment could have a significant impact on tourism activity and create economic opportunities for the canton’s residents.
“I am certain that this investment of ¢2.1 billion colones will enormously boost tourism in this area,” she added.
More Bridges for the Central Pacific
Airport infrastructure was not the only announcement made. Fernández also reported that the government is allocating ¢520 million colones (US$1.1 million) for work on the Savegre River bridge—another structure that, as she explained during her speech, had reached the end of its service life.
The president also defended the investment made in the new bridge over the Naranjo River and stated that she had personally overseen the project’s execution, given its importance to nearby communities.
The new modular bridge over the Naranjo River
“I am certain that every colón of the ¢466.5 million this bridge cost was money well spent,” she declared.
Quepos Mayor Patricia Bolaños Murillo highlighted that the structure not only benefits the communities of Londres and Naranjito but also helps connect the canton with other parts of the country, including Dota and Tarrazú.
The old bridge had reached the end of its service life and had to be closed to vehicle traffic, forcing families in communities such as Lourdes and Villa Nueva to travel longer distances to access medical services, schools, jobs, and economic activities.
The tour also holds a personal significance for Fernández. The president recalled that she was born in Puntarenas and that Londres de Quepos is the hometown of her husband, Jeffrey Umaña Avendaño; during the event, he was named a “favorite son” of the Quepos canton and received honors from local community organizations.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica used its address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly to openly advocate for Rebeca Grynspan’s candidacy for the organization’s Secretary-Generalship and to raise concerns regarding the political and human rights situations in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela.
The speech was delivered by Costa Rica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Boris Vasir Marchegiani Carrero, who argued that the multilateral system is facing a period of immense pressure due to international fragmentation, armed conflicts, transnational organized crime, and the effects of climate change.
“No State—I repeat, no State—can face the challenges common to us all on its own,” the diplomat stated during his address.
Marchegiani championed multilateralism as a tool for preserving peace, fostering sustainable development, and protecting human rights, while acknowledging that the United Nations needs to demonstrate a greater capacity to deliver results.
He noted that Costa Rica advocates for an organization that is “more agile, efficient, and transparent”—one that sets priorities, eliminates duplication, manages resources responsibly, and evaluates program outcomes.
“Costa Rica firmly believes that the next Secretary-General should be a Latin American woman—specifically, Rebeca Grynspan,” Marchegiani told the assembly.
Marchegiani described Grynspan as a leader with political, economic, and multilateral experience, asserting that her insider knowledge of the United Nations could be leveraged to drive institutional change.
Warning regarding Nicaragua
Costa Rica also devoted part of its address to the situation in Nicaragua, a country with which it shares its northern border.
Marchegiani expressed the Costa Rican government’s “deep concern” regarding what he described as the erosion of fundamental freedoms, the persecution of critical voices, the closing of civic space, religious persecution, and reports of human rights violations.
Marchegiani expressed concern regarding the human rights situation and fundamental freedoms in Nicaragua and Cuba. (Illustrative image: Infobae)
“As a neighboring nation that has welcomed hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, we maintain our firm commitment to defending their rights and restoring the rule of law,” he noted.
The diplomat also linked the border with Nicaragua to another issue: illegal mining.
He stated that transnational criminal organizations have driven this activity in the border region, causing environmental damage and creating risks for public health, the economy, and regional security. This concern was also reflected in reports on Costa Rica’s statement.
“Illegal mining driven by transnational criminal organizations in our border area with Nicaragua has caused severe environmental destruction,” he asserted.
Cuba and Venezuela also featured in the speech
Costa Rica also addressed the situation in Cuba and reiterated its call for respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Regarding Venezuela, Marchegiani stated that Costa Rica continues to monitor unfolding events and expressed the hope that dialogue, respect for the will of the people, and the functioning of democratic institutions would prevail.
The remarks came against the backdrop of the country having toughened its diplomatic stance on Cuba throughout 2026.
In a previous address to the UN, Costa Rica had pointed to restrictions on fundamental freedoms and called for free and transparent elections.
Costa Rica Reaffirmed Its Abolition of the Army
In the closing remarks of his address, Marchegiani revisited a key historical element of Costa Rican foreign policy: the abolition of the army.
“Costa Rica abolished its army more than seven decades ago because it believed that international law could offer greater security than weapons,” he stated—a sentiment he chose to reiterate before the General Assembly.
Marchegiani affirmed that the country would continue to champion dialogue, international cooperation, and the pursuit of consensus.
“Dialogue will prove more powerful than confrontation, the law more enduring than force, and cooperation the only path to a truly sustainable peace,” he concluded.
Marchegiani delivered the address after assuming the role of Costa Rica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in August.
Marchegiani ultimately delivered the national statement following the departure of then-Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar, who had originally led the Costa Rican delegation in New York.
I’ve lived abroad for many years now. In all that time, it never once occurred to me that leaving the U.S. meant I got to check out of its politics too. But I keep running into fellow Americans overseas who see it differently — people who’ve decided that because they’re not planning to move back, what happens in Washington isn’t really their problem anymore.
I get the appeal of that position. It’s tempting. It’s also wrong.
The World Doesn’t Get to Opt Out of American Politics — So Neither Do You
What happens in the United States doesn’t stay in the United States. Wars, tariffs, and the parade of reckless policies coming out of the Trump administration are landing on real people’s lives everywhere — including yours, wherever you’ve built your new one.
Ask yourself a few questions:
Do you still hold a U.S. passport?
Do you have family or friends back in America?
Do you own property there?
Do you pay U.S. taxes?
Do you ever visit?
Do you own a car that needs gasoline?
I do. All of the above, actually.
A couple of weeks ago I filled up my tank here in Germany and paid 118 euros — that’s nearly 9 euros a gallon. Tariffs, trade wars, and Republican energy policy don’t stop at the U.S. border. They follow the price of everything, everywhere, including the pump I pull up to.
Distance doesn’t insulate you. It just makes it easier to forget you’re still connected.
Where This Is Heading
Where America is going under Republican rule is a genuinely dark place. And it’s not slowing down on its own.
There are a thousand different reasons to care about what’s happening in America right now — you just have to find the one that’s yours. Find your reason. Find your courage. Find your empathy. And then vote.
November is coming fast, and we need to be louder than we’ve ever been. It doesn’t matter what state you’re registered in — your ballot is needed. Change is coming to the U.S., and it’s going to take all of us, near and far, to make it happen. Talk to your friends, your colleagues, your family. Make sure they vote too.
Your Vote From Abroad Counts — Here’s How to Make It Count on Time
Every American citizen living overseas is eligible to vote in the midterms. The process is simple — but timing is everything. Vote, especially because you’re living abroad. You already know firsthand that life doesn’t have to be as hard as it currently is in America.
1. Request your ballot now. Go to VoteFromAbroad.org and submit your request today. Don’t wait until you’re staring down a deadline.
2. Choose email delivery, not postal mail. This is the single most important tip I can give you. U.S. postal mail is slow, and a ballot sent the traditional way may not arrive in time for you to fill it out and return it. Request email delivery so you get it fast and have real time to act.
3. Send it back electronically if your state allows it. Many states let you return your ballot electronically instead of relying on the mail. No fax machine? No problem — you can fax it without one.
4. Get help if you need it. Voting from abroad can feel confusing the first time — or even the fifth. Vote From Abroad’s Voter Support team offers in-person help, email support, and more. Use it.
5. Not sure who to vote for down-ballot? Local and state races rarely make national headlines, but they matter enormously. Blue Voter Guide is a great resource to help you make informed choices all the way down your ballot.
Costa Rica’s digital economy has created opportunities for entrepreneurs to build businesses around highly specialized markets. Instead of competing with large general-purpose e-commerce platforms, niche businesses can focus on a specific audience, develop specialized knowledge and create digital experiences tailored to the needs of their customers.
Peptides Costa Rica is an example of this approach. The business operates through a specialized online catalog focused on peptides and research-oriented products, combining digital commerce with a highly focused product category.
Building a business around a specialized market
One of the challenges of operating in a specialized category is that customers often require more information before making a purchase. Unlike conventional consumer products, research-oriented materials can involve technical specifications, product descriptions and distinctions regarding their intended use.
This makes the structure of an online catalog particularly important. Rather than simply displaying products, a specialized platform needs to organize information in a way that allows visitors to understand the available categories and make informed decisions about what is relevant to their research needs.
The Peptides Costa Rica catalog provides a dedicated digital destination for this purpose, allowing the business to concentrate its online presence around one specialized field rather than attempting to compete across unrelated categories.
From Costa Rican entrepreneurship to digital commerce
The development of specialized businesses in Costa Rica reflects a broader change in the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. Digital infrastructure allows smaller companies to reach audiences outside their immediate geographic market without requiring the physical footprint traditionally associated with international commerce.
For Peptides Costa Rica, this creates an opportunity to develop a recognizable niche brand while using an online platform to communicate with customers interested in research-oriented peptide products.
The model is also representative of how Costa Rican businesses can use specialization as a competitive strategy. Instead of trying to offer everything to everyone, a company can build its identity around a particular category and develop its website, content and customer communication accordingly.
Trust and transparency in the peptide market
Trust becomes especially important in a specialized market. Customers looking for research materials may want to understand product specifications, intended applications, available documentation and purchasing conditions before placing an order.
For businesses operating in this field, clear communication is therefore an important part of the digital customer experience.
It is also important to maintain a clear distinction between products intended for research purposes and medicines or treatments intended for human or veterinary use. Specialized businesses can help reduce confusion by presenting product information accurately and communicating the intended purpose of their offerings.
For Peptides Costa Rica, this focus on a specialized audience provides an opportunity to build its digital identity around information, organization and transparency rather than relying solely on conventional e-commerce advertising.
Making a niche business easier to discover
Another important aspect of specialized digital commerce is keeping customers informed about the catalog. A focused website can make it easier for returning visitors to discover new products, updated information and selected promotions.
For example, customers can visit the Deal Of The Week section to see the current featured offer within the broader catalog.
This type of organization can be useful for a niche business because it gives visitors multiple ways to interact with the website. Some may arrive looking for a particular research product, while others may be interested in exploring the latest additions or promotions.
Costa Rica and the future of specialized e-commerce
Costa Rica has established itself as an important technology and services hub in the region, creating an environment in which entrepreneurs can use digital tools to develop businesses serving specialized markets.
The experience of Peptides Costa Rica illustrates one possible direction for this evolution: combining local entrepreneurship with a highly focused online business model.
The future of specialized e-commerce will depend on more than simply creating an online catalog. Businesses will need to pay attention to customer education, transparent communication, website usability, logistics and the regulatory requirements relevant to their particular markets.
For niche companies, specialization can provide a clear identity and a defined audience. In a crowded digital marketplace, understanding a specific customer group and serving that group carefully can be just as important as achieving scale.
Peptides Costa Rica represents this broader trend toward specialized digital entrepreneurship: a Costa Rican business using e-commerce to develop a focused presence in a technical market while building a platform designed around a particular category and its audience.
Q COSTA RICA — Argentine President Javier Milei said Donald Trump arrived unexpectedly at a meeting held alongside the United Nations General Assembly, offering a different account of the event that led Costa Rican President Laura Fernández to remove Manuel Tovar as Foreign Minister.
Fernández dismissed Tovar after he represented Costa Rica at the Sept. 22 meeting in New York without informing her in advance. The gathering, known as “Shield of the Americas,” brought together regional leaders during the annual UN meetings.
Costa Rica’s presidency said Tovar’s failure to report the event prevented Fernández from attending a meeting involving Trump. Fernández later said she had never received the invitation and presented the episode as a serious breakdown in communication.
Milei’s account suggests Trump’s participation may not have been part of the original schedule. If the U.S. president arrived without prior notice, it is unclear whether Tovar knew beforehand that Trump would attend or whether there was enough time to inform Fernández.
The distinction matters because Fernández’s decision centered on the claim that her Foreign Minister had failed to alert her to a high-level diplomatic opportunity.
Tovar attended the event as Costa Rica’s representative. The session reportedly included several heads of state, among them Milei and Chilean President José Antonio Kast, while Costa Rica was represented at the ministerial level.
Fernández’s dismissal of Tovar came only days after the meeting. He had served as foreign minister for 139 days.
Neither Milei’s description nor Fernández’s explanation settles what information was available to Costa Rican officials before the gathering. Still, the Argentine president’s comments add a new element to the controversy: Trump’s presence may have been an unplanned development rather than a confirmed part of the invitation that Tovar allegedly failed to communicate.
Busy or available?
While the President says of an opportunity missed, was she really busy or available?
In July, the president had indicated she would not attend the UN because she was too busy.
“I am not going to the General Assembly. I have already made that decision with the Foreign Minister and my team because I am very busy; for me, it is more important to be in Costa Rica addressing security issues and investment projects. We have matters of such importance that I shouldn’t go off on a trip,” the president stated at the time, speaking to the program Octavo Mandamiento on Canal OPA.
On Tuesday the 22nd, while U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his annual address to the UN, the Costa Rican president was visiting Colombia. According to the Argentinian president, Trump’s attendance at a meeting of allies came as a surprise.
On Wednesday the 23rd, President Fernández went shopping with Colombia’s first lady, before returning to Costa Rica.
On Thursday, September 24, at an event in Golfito, the President stated Tovar’s representation on her behalf was something she could not overlook.
On Friday, September 25, the president admonished all her ministers regarding the incident involving Tovar.
She also argued that had she known about the meeting with Trump, she would have traveled to the U.S. and adjusted her agenda in Colombia.
Tovar issued a single social media message after leaving the government, highlighting the importance of attending the UN—contrary to what Fernández had expressed.
Q COSTA RICA — The dollar exchange rate in Costa Rica could face renewed downward pressure during the final months of 2026, driven by an increase in foreign currency availability linked to year-end payouts—such as mandatory holiday bonuses—known as “aguinaldos” in Spanish—and performance bonuses—as well as typical corporate year-end transactions, according to the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED).
Federico Quesada, Director of the university’s School of Administration Sciences (ECA), noted that the foreign exchange market warrants close monitoring starting in late October and early November, when seasonal foreign currency movements begin to intensify.
This warning comes at a time when the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) holds reserve assets exceeding US$20 billion, according to data released by the university.
The academic explained that, while the outlook suggests a degree of exchange rate stability through the end of the year, there is a possibility of further declines in the value of the US dollar against the colón.
These factors are compounded by inventory liquidation, holiday shopping, and other financial activities undertaken by companies during the final quarter.
The specialist clarified that this scenario involves potential exchange rate pressures rather than a guaranteed drop in the dollar’s value.
Tourism and exports could face further consequences
Any further drop in the dollar would have varying effects on different sectors of the Costa Rican economy.
While a cheaper US dollar can benefit those needing to purchase foreign currency to pay for imports, travel, or dollar-denominated financial obligations, it can also pose challenges for companies that generate revenue in foreign currency but incur expenses in colones.
Quesada identified tourism, exports, and companies linked to foreign investment as sectors particularly exposed to exchange rate fluctuations. The problem for these companies is that they receive fewer colones for every dollar of revenue, while maintaining obligations—such as salaries, rent, and utilities—in the local currency.
For example, a company receiving US$100,000 would obtain ¢45 million colones at the current exchange rate of ¢450 per dollar. If the rate were to drop to ¢440, that same revenue would amount to ¢44 million—a loss of ¢1 million—without any necessary decline in sales volume.
This discrepancy can impact operating budgets, profit margins, and the companies’ ability to meet their financial obligations.
The director of the ECA maintained that the discussion should not focus solely on how much the exchange rate might fall, given that some productive sectors are already grappling with the consequences of a weaker dollar.
This warning is particularly relevant as the year-end season approaches—a time when many companies must make extraordinary payments and adjust their financial projections.
Three measures proposed by the specialist to contain exchange rate pressure
In light of the potential for an increased supply of dollars in the Costa Rican market, Quesada outlined three options that could be considered as part of the monetary policy discussion.
The proposals involve adjustments to reserve requirements and potential decisions regarding the Monetary Policy Rate (TPM)—instruments managed by the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
The alternatives mentioned by Federico Quesada are:
Increasing the reserve requirement for dollar-denominated funds: this measure would reduce the availability of US currency within the financial system by requiring institutions to hold a larger proportion of certain funds as reserves.
Reducing the reserve requirement for colón-denominated funds: this would ease restrictions on the availability of the national currency and could foster greater demand for foreign currency.
Lowering the Tasa de Política Monetaria (TPM)—Monetary Policy Rate: a reduction in this rate, currently set at 3%, could diminish the relative incentive to hold funds in colones, particularly in a scenario of very low inflation.
The specialist emphasized that any modification must take into account potential consequences for other economic variables, as well as the Central Bank’s legal mandate and independence.
These measures are alternatives proposed for analysis rather than decisions announced by the monetary authority.
Would extending MONEX trading hours help drive up the dollar?
Another aspect examined by the director of the School of Administration Sciences is the operation of the Mercado de Monedas Extranjeras (MONEX)—Foreign Currency Market, a platform where currency exchange transactions take place between authorized participants.
Quesada explained that a potential extension of trading hours could allow more supply and demand signals to be reflected within a single trading day.
However, he cautioned that this change would not necessarily lead to an increase in the price of the US currency.
The specialist noted that, just as there could be transactions pushing the exchange rate upward, there is also the possibility of increased downward pressure.
For this reason, extending market hours does not guarantee that the dollar will regain value against the colón.
New Eurobonds could add pressure to the exchange rate
In addition to the seasonal movements expected for the final quarter, UNED identified another variable that could influence exchange rate behavior: the potential issuance of new Eurobonds by Costa Rica, whose primary goal is debt optimization—exchanging high-interest, short-term domestic debt for cheaper, longer-term international debt.
These instruments allow the country to secure financing by issuing debt securities in international markets.
If the government obtains new dollar-denominated funds and subsequently converts them into colones in the local market, the supply of foreign currency could increase, potentially driving its value down.
The effect will depend on, among other factors, the amount of funds obtained, the timing of their use, and how they are managed.
Quesada considered it essential to define the intended use of such financing beforehand and suggested that investment in infrastructure should be prioritized.
He explained that directing funds toward public works would allow part of the debt to be transformed into projects capable of improving the country’s productive conditions and competitiveness, while seeking to mitigate the impact on the local foreign exchange market.
This warning does not imply that a placement has been confirmed, nor that all funds raised through Eurobonds must be immediately converted into colones.
Recommendations for businesses and consumers as the year-end approaches
Amidst uncertainty regarding exchange rates, Quesada advised companies that rely on dollar-denominated revenue to review their budgets and projections for the coming months.
This recommendation is aimed particularly at companies that receive foreign currency but incur a significant portion of their operating costs in colones.
For consumers, Quesada emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary exposure to future exchange rate fluctuations.
His primary recommendation is to keep debts in the same currency in which income is received, in order to mitigate risks associated with unexpected exchange rate movements.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica has emerged as Latin America’s leading user of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with close to 30% of its population using AI-powered tools, according to a new report published by Microsoft, which analyzes the spread of this technology among the working-age population in various economies around the world.
The findings point to the rapid integration of generative AI into everyday life. Tools capable of producing text, images, and other digital content are no longer limited to technology companies or specialized professionals. They are increasingly being used by the broader public for work, education and personal tasks.
The study, titled Global AI Diffusion Report: Q2 2026 Trends and Insights, revealed that 29.7% of people aged 15 to 64 in Costa Rica use generative artificial intelligence tools—a proportion equivalent to approximately three out of every ten people in that age group.
The results correspond to the second quarter of 2026 and were published this month by Microsoft, which analyzes the adoption of these technologies based on aggregated and anonymized service usage data, adjusted using variables related to population, connectivity, and the technology market.
The percentage recorded by Costa Rica surpasses that of other Latin American economies—including Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil—placing the country 32nd in the global ranking presented in the report.
One of the study’s key findings is the growth the country experienced during the first six months of 2026: Costa Rica increased its use of artificial intelligence in just three months.
According to Microsoft’s figures, Costa Rica recorded an adoption rate of 28.5% during the first quarter of the year, a figure that rose to 29.7% by the end of the second quarter.
AI tools include applications such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, and other services that use generative artificial intelligence models.
How does Costa Rica compare to other Latin American countries?
Data published by Microsoft makes it possible to gauge the differences between Costa Rica and other economies in the region.
Colombia shows an adoption rate of 25.9%, followed by the Dominican Republic at 25.8% and Uruguay at 25.7%.
In Central America, Panama recorded 24.2%, while El Salvador reached 20.1%, Guatemala 17.3%, Honduras 14.5%, and Nicaragua 12.5%.
The difference between Costa Rica and Panama, for example, is 5.5 percentage points, whereas the gap compared to Nicaragua stands at 17.2 percentage points.
The use of artificial intelligence in Costa Rica increased by 1.2 percentage points between the first and second quarters of 2026. (Illustrative image: Infobae)
Other, larger markets also recorded lower percentages than Costa Rica.
Chile reached 24%, Argentina 23.4%, Mexico 21.4%, and Brazil 20.2%.
In the case of Brazil, the difference compared to Costa Rica is 9.5 percentage points, while the gap relative to Mexico is 8.3 points.
These comparisons refer to usage rates within the working-age population of each territory; therefore, they should not be interpreted as a comparison of the absolute number of artificial intelligence users.
The results add to evidence that AI is becoming more common across Latin America.
Costa Rica surpasses the global average for artificial intelligence adoption
The report also shows that the figure for Costa Rica is considerably higher than the global estimate.
Microsoft determined that 18.8% of the global working-age population used generative AI tools during the second quarter of 2026.
This figure represents an increase from the 17.8% recorded during the first quarter, equating to a global growth of one percentage point.
By comparison, Costa Rica exceeds the global average by 10.9 percentage points.
Microsoft highlighted that the growth in adoption was widespread and that virtually all the economies analyzed recorded increases during the period.
However, significant differences between countries remain.
The United Arab Emirates leads the global rankings with an adoption rate of 73.3%, followed by Singapore at 64.3%, followed by Ireland at 49.9%, France at 49.6%, and Norway at 49.4%.
Meanwhile, the United States recorded an adoption rate of 33%, a figure 3.3 percentage points higher than that of Costa Rica.
Still, adoption alone does not guarantee equal benefits
Governments and businesses face pressure to improve digital literacy, expand reliable internet access and establish safeguards for privacy and data security. The spread of AI also raises questions about misinformation, employment and the responsible use of automated systems.
For Costa Rica, the challenge now is to turn widespread public interest into lasting gains. That will depend on whether schools, employers and public agencies can help people use AI effectively while reducing the risks that come with it.
Editor’s note: Q Costa Rica integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its story creation; however, the publication maintains mandatory human oversight before anything goes live.
Q COSTA RICA — Medical devices accounted for 46% of Costa Rica’s goods exports between January and August, generating US$7.29 billion in overseas sales, according to figures reported.
The result underscores the growing importance of medical manufacturing to Costa Rica’s trade performance.
Once better known abroad for agricultural products, such as coffee, bananas and pineapples—the latter two the most significant agricultural products, with exports approaching US$900 million each during the first eight months of the year—Costa Rica has built a sizable industry producing specialized equipment such as catheters, cannulas, needles, prosthetic devices and heart valves.
Exports in the category reached roughly US$7.28 billion during the eight-month period. Based on its reported 46% share, Costa Rica’s total goods exports were close to US$15.84 billion.
Medical manufacturing has expanded rapidly in Costa Rica, supported by foreign investment and the country’s free-trade-zone regime. The industry’s growth has also changed the composition of national exports, placing advanced manufacturing ahead of traditional agricultural sectors.
The latest figures continue a longer-running trend.
In the first half of 2023, exports of precision and medical equipment had already reached US$3.66 billion, according to Ministerio de Comercio Exterior (COMEX)—Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Trade.
By the first eight months of 2024, the broader precision and medical equipment sector represented 42% of the country’s goods exports and had grown by 12%, adding US$579 million in annual sales, the ministry reported.
COMEX Minister Indiana Trejos described the period’s results as positive, despite the prevailing context. “4% growth is a favorable performance, particularly given an international landscape marked by geopolitical and trade uncertainty, as well as domestic conditions that also pose challenges for the export sector,” she stated in a release, as reported by EFE.
The new share suggests that Costa Rica’s export base has become even more concentrated in life-sciences manufacturing. That dependence brings substantial revenue and skilled employment, though it also ties a large portion of the country’s trade performance to global demand for medical technology.
Costa Rica’s export model now rests increasingly on its ability to retain multinational manufacturers, develop qualified workers, and sustain the conditions required for highly regulated production.
With nearly half of overseas goods sales coming from medical devices, the sector’s performance has become central to the health of the national export economy.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica has set maximum prices for 517 medicines in a move the government expects will produce reductions of close to 30% starting in December.
The price controls cover 68 active ingredients or combinations, meaning the measure applies to multiple brands and presentations sold across the country.
Costa Rica’s Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio (MEIC) — Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce — announced the decision as an effort to lower pharmaceutical costs for consumers.
MEIC Minister María del Milagro Solórzano León explained that the intervention addresses the need to protect household spending against the cost of certain medical treatments.
“We are intervening where the market fails to correct itself. It is a temporary, technical, and targeted measure with a clear objective: ensuring people pay less for the medications most critical to their health,” the minister stated.
The new ceilings establish the highest amount pharmacies and other retailers may charge for the medicines included in the regulation. Although the expected reductions are close to 30%, the change experienced by individual consumers will depend on the product and its current retail price.
The policy is due to take effect on December 23, 2026, giving businesses in the pharmaceutical supply chain time to adjust their prices. Once the rules are in force, affected products must be sold at or below the limits established by the government.
According to the MEIC, the measure encompasses 68 active ingredients—or combinations thereof—distributed across 142 pharmaceutical groupings.
These categories include 356 medications identified by their concentration and presentation. When accounting for the various brand-name products available on the domestic market, the total scope extends to 517 products.
Among the active ingredients covered by the decree are atorvastatin, enalapril, levothyroxine, pregabalin, rivaroxaban, rosuvastatin, salbutamol, and valsartan, among others.
These components are used in medications intended for the treatment of various diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, thyroid disorders, and respiratory problems.
How will the price reductions of up to 30% be applied?
A key aspect of the decree is that it does not set a single price for all medicines included in the list, but rather a maximum limit that establishments must observe.
This means a pharmacy may sell a product for less than the set amount but cannot exceed the applicable cap once the regulation takes effect.
According to MEIC estimates, medicines currently sold above the new maximum prices would see an average price reduction of close to 30%.
This percentage does not represent an across-the-board reduction, nor does it guarantee that every one of the 517 products will decrease by exactly that proportion.
To understand how the mechanism works: if a medicine currently sells for ¢10,000 and its new maximum price is set at ¢7,000, the establishment would have to adjust its price to comply with that limit.
The MEIC also expects competition among outlets and brands to trigger further price adjustments for other products within the groups under consideration.
Once the regulation takes effect, MEIC will monitor pharmacies and supply for six months so that the new prices will be mandatory for all economic agents involved in the marketing of the medicines.
For Costa Rican households, the measure could ease the recurring financial burden associated with prescription drugs and other treatments.
Its real effect will become clearer after implementation, when consumers can compare the newly regulated prices with those currently charged at pharmacies.
Q COSTA RICA — Starting October 1, a digital vaccination certificate will be mandatory for Costa Ricans and residents traveling to eight new destinations considered at risk for yellow fever transmission.
The requirement applies to travel to Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana. Travelers must carry the International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever.
Automatically exempt from the requirement are anyone younger than 9 months or older than 60 years, anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or anyone with a severe allergy to eggs or gelatin or severe immunosuppression.
The regulation stipulates that the vaccine dose must be administered at least 10 days prior to travel. Those unable to meet this timeframe must adjust their plans to ensure they have the required protection and the corresponding documentation before leaving Costa Rica.
Jennyffer González, Director of Health Surveillance, explained that the mandate applies to anyone traveling to countries or areas with a risk of transmission.
“Starting October 1, Costa Ricans and residents traveling to countries or areas at risk for yellow fever transmission must have received the vaccine at least 10 days before their trip and carry the International Certificate of Vaccination,” she stated.
The effective date was originally set for August 31. The Ministry of Health granted a one-month extension after receiving inquiries from individuals with scheduled trips who could not meet the required interval between vaccination and departure.
This change did not alter the rules those destinations already had the health requirement in place for Brazil, Colombia, Peru, or the African nations included among the at-risk territories.
Individuals planning to travel should check their vaccination status in advance and obtain the necessary proof of vaccination. The certificate can be obtained in digital format via the Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health) Virtual Office, the Caja’s EDUS, and Pura Vida Móvil—the app from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (Micitt).
González noted that yellow fever is a viral disease primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Vaccination is one of the available measures to prevent it.
“Vaccination is one of the most effective preventive measures; therefore, we encourage you to check your vaccination status well in advance and take the necessary steps before traveling,” the director stated.
The Ministry of Health also recommended checking the health requirements set by the destination country before every trip.
Costa Rica requires the vaccine to prevent the virus from finding a local vector
Although yellow fever is not transmitted within Costa Rica, the country is home to the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can transmit the virus. This situation underpins the health requirement for those visiting territories where the disease is circulating.
The vaccine aims to protect the individual during their trip and reduce the risk of the virus being introduced into Costa Rica. If a traveler contracts the virus abroad and returns while infectious, a local mosquito could bite them and spread the disease.
Roberto Salvatierra, a researcher at the Universidad Hispanoamericana (UH), explained that immunization serves both purposes. “On one hand, it protects the person visiting an area where the virus is circulating,” he noted.
The specialist added that the measure also reduces the likelihood of an infected traveler bringing the virus into the country. The presence of Aedes aegypti makes it necessary to prevent this chain of transmission, even in the absence of local yellow fever cases.
The disease is transmitted in a manner similar to Dengue and Zika: through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms can include fever, general malaise, and muscle pain, although some patients develop more severe illness.
Salvatierra also noted that the infection can affect the liver and kidneys, in addition to causing multi-organ complications. Severe cases can be fatal.
The expansion of the requirement is a response to outbreaks emerging in South American countries and parts of Africa, the researcher explained.
Prevention efforts focus on stopping the virus from reaching a territory where a mosquito capable of transmitting it is already present.
How are tourists in Costa Rica affected?
Costa Rica does not have a risk of yellow fever transmission. You do not need the vaccine if you are arriving directly from a low-risk country like the United States, Canada, or most European nations.
Costa Rica requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if you’re arriving from or have recently traveled through a country where yellow fever transmission is a recognized risk.
As a tourist utilizing Costa Rica as your hub or jumping-off point, the critical issue is your return or next entry into Costa Rica after visiting a mandatory vaccination country. You will likely need the yellow fever vaccine not to enter those countries, but to get back into Costa Rica.
Q COSTA RICA — More than 400 homes were flooded in Costa Rica following rains associated with the passage of tropical wave number 47, Alejandro Picado, president of the Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE)—National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response, reported on Sunday.
The most significant impacts were concentrated in Fraijanes, Sarapiquí, Pococí, Guatuso, and Liberia.
Picado stated that the rainfall on Saturday, September 26, caused flooding in various parts of the country and necessitated the opening of two temporary shelters. The agency continues to focus on the most heavily damaged communities while municipal committees assess homes, roads, and bridges.
Two shelters housed six people in Guatuso and Liberia
One shelter is operating in Guatuso, where four people from the Palenque del Sol community are being housed. The second was opened in Liberia after the Liberia River overflowed its banks, and it is accommodating two residents from the Buenos Aires community.
Picado noted that the institutional response this Sunday is focused on the areas affected by the storm. Municipal Emergency Committees are carrying out cleanup operations on drainage systems and inspecting homes, roads, and bridges that may have sustained damage due to water accumulation.
In Guatuso and Fraijanes, the CNE distributed humanitarian aid to families affected by the flooding.
Soil saturation increases risk ahead of further rainfall
The CNE’s president warned that the soil retains high moisture levels following Saturday’s rainfall. He explained that soil saturation has reached 100% in large parts of the Central Valley, while exceeding 80% in other areas.
“This means there is high vulnerability to further rainfall,” Picado stated, urging the public to maintain preventive measures in anticipation of potential downpours.
The warning is directed particularly at those living near streams or on hillsides, where rains could trigger overflowing, landslides, or further flooding. Picado advised these communities to follow local authorities’ instructions and remain alert to any changes in weather conditions.
The CNE recommended avoiding nighttime road travel
Picado also urged caution for those needing to travel on the country’s roads. “If you must travel by road, try to do so during the day and avoid traveling at night,” he noted.
The national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) had forecast that lingering instability from tropical wave number 47 would bring rain and thunderstorms—particularly in the afternoon—to the Pacific region, the Central Valley, the Northern Zone, and the Caribbean highlands.
The persistence of these conditions, combined with saturated soil, maintains the risk of incidents in vulnerable communities.
“Thunderstorm safety: If a storm occurs or strong wind gusts are felt near storm clouds, it is recommended to seek shelter in a safe location, as tree branches, power lines, or other objects could fall. In isolated cases, these gusts can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h,” stated the latest update from the IMN.
The official weather forecast from the IMN for this Monday, September 28, 2026:
Starting at the beginning of this week, local factors, such as daytime heating and sea and local breezes, will become the main drivers of weather conditions. A partial decrease in atmospheric moisture is expected from Monday night through the coming days; however, isolated showers and possible thunderstorms will continue over the Pacific slope.
Specifically, on Monday, mostly clear to partly cloudy conditions are expected during the morning, followed by afternoon showers associated with local factors. These will be concentrated mainly over the Central Valley, the Northern Zone, and the Central and South Pacific regions, with lesser activity expected over the Caribbean mountain ranges and parts of the North Pacific.
During the night, no significant rainfall is expected, although isolated showers may persist, particularly along the mountainous axis.
Visit the IMN website for up-to-date weather forecasts and conditions.
Q COSTA RICA — President Laura Fernández expressed regret at having missed the meeting with Donald Trump and other leaders of the “Shield of the Americas” initiative, of which Costa Rica is a member, held on Tuesday, September 22, in New York.
On the very day Trump led the Shield of the Americas meeting with heads of state and delegations from across the continent in New York, Laura Fernández was in Colombia participating in activities involving the administration of Abelardo de la Espriella and other meetings with that country’s First Lady, Ana Lucía Pineda.
On that day, Fernández also visited a clothing store in Colombia. The store, “By Liliana Meza,” posted on social media that it was “a true honor” to host a visit from both Fernández and Pineda.
On Thursday, Fernández took the opportunity of a visit by Melinda Hildebrand—the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica—to reiterate her firm commitment to the Shield of the Americas initiative.
The president stated that “there are errors that cannot be overlooked” and explained that this was the reason she dismissed Manuel Tovar Rivera as Foreign Minister. She emphasized that the then-minister had not informed her of the invitation to attend the meeting.
Fernández addressed the matter following the presentation of two interceptor vessels and three all-terrain vehicles donated by the U.S. government to Costa Rica to combat organized crime.
Casa Presidencial broadcast the event live from Marina Bahía Golfito, in the country’s southern region.
Q COSTA RICA — On the same day Donald Trump led a “Shield of the Americas” meeting in New York with heads of state and delegations from across the continent, Laura Fernández visited a clothing store in Colombia.
According to Casa Presidencial, the then-Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar did not inform his boss, President Laura Fernández, about the meeting, leading to his dismissal on Thursday, September 24.
The “By Liliana Meza” store announced on social media that it had received a visit from Fernández and Colombia’s First Lady, Ana Lucía Pineda, on Tuesday, September 22.
The business stated that it was “a true honor” to have both of them present.
During her stay in Colombia, Fernández also visited renowned chef Manuel “Mane” Mendoza.
The chef shared a photo with Fernández on his Instagram profile.
“We had the honor of welcoming the President of Costa Rica, @laura_fernandez_delgado, to our restaurant, @manuelrestaurante, during her visit to Barranquilla. It was a joy to share the flavors of our Caribbean with her,” wrote Mendoza.
“Shield of the Americas” Meeting in New York
That same Tuesday, participants in a “Shield of the Americas” meeting discussed security and development strategies in New York.
The meeting with Trump was attended by Javier Milei (Argentina), Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia), José Antonio Kast (Chile), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Irfaan Ali (Guyana), Nasry Asfura (Honduras), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), Keiko Fujimori (Peru), Luis Abinader (Dominican Republic), and Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Trinidad and Tobago).
Also participating were Colombia’s Vice President, José Manuel Restrepo, and representatives from the foreign ministries of El Salvador and Panama.
Although Costa Rica is a founding member of the “Shield of the Americas,” Fernández did not attend. Consequently, the country was not represented at the main meeting.
Tovar, who was in New York for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, participated in a separate forum at the same event led by Kristi Noem.
Photo from the White House
Laura Fernández Dismissed Manuel Tovar
President Fernández announced Tovar’s immediate dismissal as Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, September 24.
Casa Presidencial stated that the foreign minister attended a session without notifying the president beforehand or informing her of his participation. According to the government, this omission prevented Fernández from participating in the meeting and caused serious strategic harm to the country.
On Thursday, Fernández appointed Indiana Trejos Gallo, the Minister of Foreign Trade, as interim Minister of Foreign Affairs. Trejos will assume the role upon her return from her mission at the UN General Assembly.
Laura Fernández announced back in July that she would not attend the UN General Assembly
The President announced on July 21 that she would not attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York. She revealed her decision during the program “El Octavo Mandamiento”.
At the time, she said she considered it more important to remain in Costa Rica to address security issues and investment projects.
During the July television interview Fernández stated that there were “very important” matters in Costa Rica requiring her presence during the days of the UN General Assembly.
The president also stated that she “was not going to try to hide the sun with a finger” and that, in her view, the UN had “fallen short” regarding several issues.
Tovar reported on the meeting held on September 17
Former Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar publicly disclosed his participation in a high-level “Shield of the Americas” meeting—which took place on September 17—in statements made to the “Miami Herald”. On that day, speaking to the U.S. media outlet, Tovar described the meeting he held in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “extraordinary.”
On Thursday, critics of Laura Fernández’s decision to remove Tovar said the decision was made without consensus—or rather, one that was very hasty or emotional.
There is no doubt that the meeting with Trump came up unexpectedly.
By Barbara Steenstrup — An Inspiration. A combined US Embassy Town Hall and a Vote from Abroad (votefromabroad.org) assistance event showed great enthusiasm for voting in the 2026 US mid-term election. Sixty-one (61) people came to the Galeria Slow Food restaurant in Heredia.
At least 40 people received help with ballots. It was a huge success and very uplifting. The voting assistance was non-partisan. Everyone who wanted help received it.
The Atmosphere. Just being there was exciting. There were lively conversations. In the section for the Town Hall, the US Consular Official Allie Davis informed US citizens of their rights, how to renew a passport, register a birth, report a crime, report a US citizen in need of help, and where non-US citizens should look online if applying for visitor visas.
There was practical help filling out forms for passport renewals and other documents. There were answers to general questions and private sessions for individual questions. People also chatted with each other. They made new friends or rekindled old relationships.
Voting Assistance. At long rows of tables were volunteer voting assistants with computers, printers, paper forms, information about the requirements of individual states and general encouragement.
There were long lines of people waiting for help, registering to vote, actually completing their ballots that would be sent back by the US Embassy, faxed, or submitted electronically depending on the requirements of each state.
More than a few people said that they had never voted in a U.S. election all the years that they had lived in Costa Rica, BUT that it was important to vote in this election. In this section too, people got to know each other and to exchange information and contacts.
Entertainment. The event was topped off with a tasty lunch and music by Ross Tatum and singers Laureta and Robin. It was a real party atmosphere with a lot of important achievements as well.
The U.S. Embassy San José and Vote from Abroad will be holding events in other towns over the next two weeks. The next one will be in Atenas on Tuesday, October 6, with a U.S. Embassy Town Hall plus U.S. passport renewal, notarial services & voter ballot assistance.
It will be at the Baruch Café from 10 am – 1 pm. If it is anything like the past events including San Ramon and Grecia, there is a lot of help and a lot of fun to be had.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGMR), refuted the belief that the majority of foreign nationals living in Costa Rica are in the country illegally and are overburdening the services of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)—Costa Rican Social Security Fund—known as the “Caja”.
Omer Badilla, Director of the DGME, stated that approximately 600,000 foreigners currently reside in the country and that the vast majority of this population has legal status.
“People have the perception that foreigners come here to drain Costa Rica’s social services, and that is simply not true,” he said during the “El bien y el mal” (Good and Evil) podcast produced by Grupo Extra.
He explained that migrants working in the formal sector are enrolled in the Caja and make contributions, thereby entitling them to medical care.
Badilla acknowledged that some individuals remain in the country without legal status and require assistance in the event of accidents or emergencies. However, he maintained that they represent a minority within the foreign population.
Badilla also warned of prejudices against migrants fueled by the spread of information that, he noted, does not reflect reality.
“We do have a certain level of xenophobia here—we need to call it exactly what it is—because people hold false beliefs,” he stated.
Foreign-born workers help keep Costa Rica running
Before many Costa Ricans begin their working day, migrant laborers are already picking crops, preparing hotel rooms, mixing concrete and caring for children and older adults.
These workers help sustain some of the country’s most important industries, often taking physically demanding and poorly paid jobs that employers struggle to fill with Costa Ricans.
Nicaraguans account for 82% of Costa Rica’s foreign-born population, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Others have arrived from Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti and countries outside Latin America. Some moved in search of work or family reunification; others fled political persecution, violence, or economic instability.
Foreign-born workers are heavily concentrated in agriculture, construction, accommodation, commerce and domestic service. Together, those five activities account for 71% of migrant employment in Costa Rica.
Migrants are a part of Costa Rica’s economy. According to the immigration director, migrants contribute to the country through honest work.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica’s immigration authorities say they cannot remove groups of Venezuelan nationals who ask for money or sell products on public roads because many have pending asylum applications that grant them legal protection.
Omer Badilla, director of Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), said authorities encounter such groups daily in cities and other large urban areas. Some migrants have remained in Costa Rica after applying for refugee status, placing them under international protection while their cases are reviewed.
That status prevents officials from detaining them solely for the purpose of removing them from the country, Badilla explained.
“There is a group of Venezuelans who stayed in the country because they applied for, or are processing, an asylum request,” he said. “Legally, they are already protected, and we as authorities cannot carry out operations, pick them up and try to remove them from the country.”
Badilla said some people have made begging their primary means of support.
Immigration conducts regular operations alongside the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI)—National Child Welfare Agency—and the Fuerza Pública (National Police), particularly when children are present. Still, the groups frequently move between locations, making it difficult for authorities to maintain oversight.
Officials may have few options until each person’s immigration status is resolved, according to AmeliaRueda.com.
The lack of diplomatic relations between Costa Rica and Venezuela creates another obstacle. Costa Rican authorities cannot directly coordinate the return of Venezuelans who have irregular immigration status. Some lack identification documents, and Venezuelan authorities do not assist with the documentation process, Badilla said.
“We cannot, even if we want to, put them on a plane and take them to Venezuela,” he said, describing deportation as practically impossible because relations between the two countries are severed.
Migration through Costa Rica has fallen
The number of migrants passing through Costa Rica has dropped sharply from the levels recorded between 2022 and 2024, when thousands entered the country each week.
Migration patterns have also changed. Rather than continuing north, some people who did not reach the United States have begun returning toward South America after facing tighter U.S. entry restrictions. Authorities refer to the movement as “reverse migration.”
Badilla said the reverse flow has not produced a large or unmanageable movement through Costa Rica. Some migrants continue to enter the country while returning south, but coordination with Panama allows them to travel without crossing the Darién Gap again.
Venezuelans remain the largest nationality represented in migration flows through Costa Rica, though officials describe the current movement as controlled.
Official figures show that about 3,000 migrants entered or traveled through Costa Rica between January and late August 2025. That number includes only people recorded at regular immigration checkpoints and does not account for entries outside official border crossings.
Immigration is also monitoring migrant routes for suspected human trafficking, migrant smuggling and the activity of paid guides known as coyotes. Badilla said authorities open investigations and work to disrupt organized criminal groups involved in those offenses.
One of the government’s continuing concerns is that some migrants become stranded in Costa Rica rather than continuing their journeys. Among them are families and individuals who solicit money along roads while waiting for decisions on their legal status—leaving authorities to manage the situation without violating the protections attached to pending asylum claims.
Q COSTA RICA — The Constitutional Court, also known as Sala IV, unanimously endorsed a reform to Article 36 of Costa Rica’s Constitution that limits the right of family members to decline to testify in proceedings involving sexual offenses against minors.
On September 23, the court determined that the constitutional reform bill—processed under legislative file number 23.729—contains no procedural or substantive defects.
The ruling stems from the mandatory legislative consultation on constitutionality.
The Sala IV concluded that, in cases of alleged sexual offenses against minors, the protection of the minor’s best interests may take precedence over the right of the suspect’s family members to decline to testify.
According to the Court, the amendment helps prevent impunity and the revictimization of minors.
Current Constitutional Provisions
Article 36 of the Constitution currently establishes that, in criminal matters, no one is compelled to testify against themselves.
This same protection extends to spouses, ascendants, descendants, and collateral relatives up to and including the third degree of consanguinity or affinity.
The reform introduces an exception to this right to decline to testify when sexual offenses against minors are under investigation.
The substitute text approved during the legislative process maintains the general protection while adding the exception solely for these specific offenses.
Sala IV Prioritizes Minors’ Best Interests
The Constitutional Court focused its analysis on balancing the constitutional protection afforded to family ties against the rights of minors who are victims of sexual offenses.
The court’s ruling indicates that the reform prioritizes the best interests of these minors over the right of the alleged perpetrator’s family members to decline to testify.
The Sala IV holds that this amendment can help prevent impunity and further victimization within the criminal justice process. The statement uses the term “alleged perpetrator,” meaning the constitutional analysis does not imply a prior determination of guilt.
The State must guarantee comprehensive support
The reform also includes a mandate requiring the State to guarantee support and a comprehensive institutional approach throughout the criminal proceedings.
This protection must be provided to minors who are alleged victims of such crimes.
The Court’s ruling does not specify in the statement the exact mechanisms through which this support is to be provided.
Inquiry submitted by the Legislative Directorate
The decision follows a mandatory legislative inquiry—a mechanism that the Legislative Assembly’s Directorate must initiate when constitutional reforms are being processed.
This type of inquiry also applies to amendments to the Law on Constitutional Jurisdiction and to bills aimed at ratifying international treaties.
The operative part of the resolution states that File No. 23,729 contains no procedural or substantive defects and orders that the decision be communicated to the Legislative Assembly’s Directorate.
Q COSTA RICA — The Rincón de la Vieja volcano, an active volcanic complex 1,916 meters high located in the province of Guanacaste, erupted again early Wednesday morning, sending a plume rising up to 2,000 meters above the crater.
According to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (Ovsicori), the event occurred at 12:44 a.m. and reached an acoustic magnitude of 3.9.
“The eruption produced a plume that rose between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above the crater; it is composed primarily of water vapor,” explained Cyrill Müller, a volcanologist at Ovsicori.
The expert also noted that no lahars were generated during this event.
This event is part of an eruptive period that began in early July, during which the volcano has exhibited a high frequency of eruptions.
According to Ovsicori, 249 phreatic eruptions were recorded between July 2 and September 19. Nine of these generated lahars that flowed down rivers on the volcano’s northern flank.
The intensity of the eruptions has varied throughout this active period. The most energetic eruption of the year occurred on August 31, while an event with an acoustic magnitude of 4.7 was recorded last Friday.
Müller stated on Wednesday that the volcano remains in this period of heightened activity and that Ovsicori will continue to monitor the massif for any changes in behavior.
Q 24N — Photographs of Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez smiling alongside U.S. President Donald Trump have prompted frustration among Venezuelans who fear that the prospect of democratic change is being pushed aside in favor of energy agreements and political stability.
The meeting took place on the night of September 22 at a reception Trump hosted for foreign leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level week. Images released by the Venezuelan presidency showed the two leaders seated before their countries’ flags. Rodríguez flashed a victory sign in one photograph, while Trump gave a thumbs-up in another.
The White House confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also attended. The press was not granted access, and Washington did not immediately provide a detailed account of the discussion, leaving Venezuela to shape much of the public narrative.
Rodríguez described the encounter as historic. It was the first known face-to-face meeting between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in more than 11 years.
The meeting followed a major energy agreement that Washington has promoted as one of the largest oil deals in history, granting access to tens of billions of barrels of Venezuelan reserves. It also came nearly nine months after U.S. forces captured and removed Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela on January 3.
Images of the cordial encounter have fueled concerns that Washington is prioritizing energy interests over elections and democratic change in Venezuela.
For critics, the warm images from New York were especially painful because they coincided with opposition leader María Corina Machado’s seventh unsuccessful attempt to return to Venezuela. Machado is currently in exile in Panama.
Journalist Luz Mely Reyes, co-founder of the Venezuelan news outlet Efecto Cocuyo, said the contrast suggested that the Trump administration was following its own strategy, centered on controlling and profiting from Venezuela’s energy resources rather than making a democratic transition its immediate priority.
Reyes also warned that expanded oil production would not quickly improve living conditions. Rebuilding the industry would take time, she argued, while new business structures could make the redistribution of oil revenue more difficult.
Members of the Venezuelan diaspora demonstrated near the UN headquarters, rejecting Rodríguez’s presence and demanding a presidential election. Protesters were detained during the gathering.
In Miami, Venezuelans interviewed on the street expressed hurt and disbelief. “I feel frustrated, I feel wounded,” Helene Villalonga said. Another Venezuelan argued that Rodríguez should be detained like Maduro, describing her as partly responsible for abuses committed under his rule.
The reaction reflects a broader sense of an unfulfilled promise. After Maduro’s capture, many Venezuelans believed the country was entering a political transition that would restore democracy. Instead, Rodríguez—Maduro’s former vice president and the official who inherited the government apparatus—has emerged as Washington’s principal counterpart.
The Venezuelan opposition, which says voting records prove it won the 2024 presidential election, was absent from the meeting. For critics, the cordial photographs released by Venezuela convey continuity rather than political change.
Opposition politician Andrés Velásquez said the central issue for Venezuelans is the establishment of a firm date for presidential elections. Closer commercial relations, he argued, do not confer legitimacy on the current authorities.
Questions also remain about Rodríguez’s legal mandate. Her interim administration was meant to serve as a 180-day bridge toward elections, but that period expired without a vote being scheduled. The U.S. has described its policy in three stages—stabilization, recovery and transition—without setting clear deadlines.
Not every observer viewed the meeting as a turning point. Venezuelan economist Juan Nagel cautioned against attaching too much significance to the photographs, saying the encounter had not changed the country’s underlying challenges.
Some analysts in Venezuela and the United States consider negotiations with Rodríguez the only practical route for addressing the country’s long-running collapse after Maduro’s removal.
For many Venezuelans, talks that focus on oil while leaving elections off the agenda reinforce a bitter conclusion: the transition they expected has once again been postponed.
