All the flight routes WestJet and Air Canada are cancelling as of this weekend
Q COSTA RICA — The Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR) will add a new direct flight from Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, with the addition of a WestJet route that will begin operations on December 20, 2026.
The connection will link Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) with Guanacaste every Sunday until April 4, 2027.
The flights will be operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with a capacity of 174 passengers during the high season.
The new route strengthens connectivity with Canada, the second largest source of tourists to Costa Rica.
“This new route strengthens connections with our second largest source of tourists and will allow for job creation, economic development, and improved well-being for communities in Guanacaste and surrounding areas,” stated Marcos Borges, Executive President of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
With this addition, WestJet, a hybrid low-cost carrier and second-largest airline in Canada, consolidates its position as the Canadian airline with the most direct routes to Guanacaste. The airline connects this destination with Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, and Winnipeg.
“We are excited to offer our passengers more ways to trade their snow boots for sandals in the destinations that matter most to them,” said John Weatherill, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of WestJet.
Canada is the fastest-growing market for Guanacaste Airport. During the first half of 2026, passenger traffic from that country grew by 28% compared to the same period in 2025.
“We are pleased to welcome this new route from Ottawa, which reaffirms the preference of Canadian travelers for Guanacaste Airport as the main gateway to Costa Rica,” said Renata González, Commercial and Communications Manager of Guanacaste Airport.
Other major Canadian airlines offering service between Canada and Costa Rica are Air Canada, Air Transat and newcomer Porter Airlines.
Q COSTA RICA — In a brief press release, the Costa Rican government condemned the dictatorship in Nicaragua and Daniel Ortega’s intentions to perpetuate himself in power.
“Costa Rica has always supported and will continue to advocate for free, democratic, transparent, and pluralistic elections in the Republic of Nicaragua. Costa Rica reiterates its deep concern regarding the systematic closure of civic spaces and the persecution of dissenting voices,” said the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry.
This Sunday, Ortega asserted that no further elections will be held in the country. The dictator has ruled Nicaragua since 2007 and yesterday announced that the National Assembly, controlled by the ruling party, the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), will work to approve “laws to put up a wall, a blockade against the coup plotters, against the traitors.”
“They would love to win elections to make money from the schools. But they can forget it, there won’t be any more elections here, so they (the opposition) can’t try to seize the government, seize power,” Ortega said during an event in Managua commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution.
In its statement, the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry emphasized that “it is worth remembering that, due to the absence of the required conditions and guarantees, Costa Rica did not recognize Nicaragua’s last electoral process, held in 2021.”
“Peaceful and harmonious relationship”
Despite international concerns about human rights violations in Nicaragua, in mid-June, President Laura Fernández defended maintaining a cordial relationship with Nicaragua.
“We maintain a long-standing trade relationship… we don’t have extensive diplomatic channels, but we do have a cordial relationship between two nations that share a border,” Fernández stated during an interview with NTN24.
The president avoided elaborating on the allegations of a lack of democratic freedoms in Nicaragua, arguing that each nation defines its own political path and distinguishing Nicaragua’s situation from that of Cuba and Venezuela in economic terms.
“God be with Nicaragua, God be with Costa Rica, and God be with all of them, with their internal problems and the form of government they have chosen, and we here are maintaining our neighborly relations in a peaceful and harmonious way, in every way possible,” Fernández stated.
This handout picture released by Nicaragua's government via the official El 19 Digital news outlet shows Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega waving next to wife and co-President Rosario Murillo during an event to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the Nicaraguan Revolution in Managua, on July 19, 2026. (Photo by Cesar PEREZ / El 19 DIGITAL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / EL 19 DIGITAL / Cesar PEREZ " - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Q COSTA RICA — In his speech commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, dictator Daniel Ortega emphatically stated that there will be no new presidential elections in Nicaragua.
His objective, according to him, is to prevent the opposition from attempting to “seize power” through the ballot box.
Ortega described his adversaries as “coup plotters” and “traitors” who remain “lurking,” waiting for an opportunity. “There will be no more elections here so they can try to seize the government, to seize power,” Ortega declared.
He also announced that he will promote, along with the National Assembly, controlled by the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) — Sandinista National Liberation Front, and other state institutions, a package of new laws designed to erect “a wall” preventing the political participation of these sectors. “No matter how much money the Yankees give them, they won’t be able to,” he added, referring to the alleged external funding of the opposition in exile.
These statements come amid growing concern within the Nicaraguan regime regarding the situation of its regional allies.
Ortega criticized the imprisonment in the United States of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and rejected any possibility of similar scenarios occurring in Cuba or Nicaragua.
The message reinforces the current strategy of consolidating power, which already includes recent constitutional reforms and strengthened control of institutions. While the ruling party celebrates the anniversary of the revolution, these statements deepen the debate about the country’s democratic future and the ongoing exclusion of dissenting voices from the political process.
In his address, Ortega not only ruled out the scheduled elections but also announced a package of new laws—along with the National Assembly controlled by his party—to erect a “wall” blocking the political participation of the opposition, which he labeled “coup plotters” and “traitors” allegedly financed by the United States. These measures deepen the regime’s control following constitutional reforms that extended terms of office and consolidated the power of the ruling family.
Costa Rica demands free elections
The Government of Costa Rica firmly reaffirmed its support for holding free, transparent, and democratic elections in Nicaragua, in a clear message against the recent statements by the Daniel Ortega regime that rule out any electoral process and seek to shield power indefinitely.
In an official statement, the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry highlighted its historic commitment to democracy in the region, reiterating that the electoral path remains the only legitimate way to resolve the Nicaraguan crisis.
This Costa Rican stance aligns with its track record in multilateral forums, where it has consistently promoted the return to democratic institutions in Nicaragua. Analysts see these statements as a timely reminder that the regime’s isolation is not only an internal matter, but also a challenge for the inter-American system.
Q COSTA RICA — While thousands flock to this Central Pacific beach town for sun and surf, a darker, less talked-about industry thrives beneath the tropical allure. Prostitution in Jacó is no secret, but the raw, unvarnished reality behind this multimillion-dollar business comes to light through the voices of the women who live it day to day.
The article in La Nacion exposes the stark reality behind the thriving sex trade in Jacó, Costa Rica. While the town is widely known as a popular tourist destination for its beaches, the story peels back the layers on a lucrative, legally gray market driven by the demand of foreign visitors primarily from North America.
Jacó’s reputation as a tourist hotspot is well-earned, with its beaches drawing visitors from North America and beyond. Yet many of these visitors are not here just for the scenery. They come seeking the bodies of women who work in a legally gray area, caught in the complex machinery of the sex trade.
Women who shared their firsthand stories describe a flow of clients and money that fuels a vast market of pleasure, one that operates in shadows and on the edges of legality. Some are locals; others travel from distant places, driven by economic hardship or personal circumstances. The route to Jacó often begins far away, in North America or other regions, weaving through a network that makes this town a known destination for sex work.
The business, while lucrative, is also degrading and fraught with risks. The “desvergonzada ruta” (shameless route) points to how this trade is integrated into the local economy and social fabric, with women often caught in cycles of exploitation and economic necessity.
Women recount the pressures, the stigma, and the precarious balance they maintain while working in an environment that offers little protection. The commodification of their bodies unfolds against a backdrop of tourism and economic disparity.
The voices of those involved reveal the human side of this contentious issue — lives marked by survival, exploitation, and resilience. Their testimonies challenge the community and policymakers to confront what happens behind the postcard-perfect images of Jacó’s beaches.
Despite its scope, the sex industry in Jacó exists in a regulatory limbo. Prostitution between consenting adults is legal in Costa Rica, but all associated third-party activities—including pimping, operating brothels, human trafficking, and the exploitation of minors—are strictly illegal.
Discussions have surfaced around formalizing aspects of the trade, including proposals like creating a prostitution license or regulated zones, but these have met resistance from some local officials and lawmakers who argue such measures are simplistic or irresponsible.
As the debate continues, Jacó remains a crossroads where dreams of escape and harsh realities collide, all under the tropical sun.
The above is a brief overview of the article “De Norteamérica a Jacó: esta es la desvergonzada ruta de la prostitución revelada por quienes la viven,” published by La Nación. For a deeper look into this story and the testimonies of the women involved, visit La Nación’s full report.
RICO’s Q — In my article, I pointed out that the impeachment process against Rodrigo Chaves has hit a wall because nine alternate magistrates for the Constitutional Court haven’t been appointed.
The government claims this mess is entirely the fault of the current group of legislators.
But the truth might not be as clear-cut as our leaders want us to think.
More than a year ago, Rodrigo Chaves—now working under Doña Laura, depending on who you ask—claimed judges were taking bribes to free drug traffickers. Yet, he never named names or officially reported anything.
A few weeks back, Doña Laura claimed the Judiciary is full of corruption, but she didn’t name names, nor did she file a complaint.
Early last week, Doña Laura staged another show in Desamparados, launching another attack on the Judiciary. But no name-naming, nor a complaint filed.
Last Saturday, Doña Laura criticized judges for “letting criminals go free.” But she didn’t say a word about the judges releasing people (Chavistas) in her political orbit, even though have recently been investigated, detained, or removed from their positions over criminal and security issues.
She didn’t complain about the judges letting them go free:
Marta Esquivel, with 14 criminal cases against her, is free. Laura didn’t complain; she appointed her as a legislator.
Nogui Acosta, with 11 criminal cases against him, is free. Laura didn’t complain; she appointed him as a legislator.
Anna Katharina Müller, with eight criminal cases against her, is free. Laura didn’t complain; she appointed her as a legislator.
Stephan Brunner, with 5 criminal cases, is free. Laura didn’t complain; she appointed him as a legislator.
Francisco Gamboa, with 5 criminal cases, is free. Laura didn’t complain; she appointed him as Costa Rica’s first vice-president.
And we can’t overlook Rodrigo Chaves, who faces multiple serious criminal accusations of extortion, misappropriation of public funds, illegal campaign financing, and influence peddling, among others. Laura didn’t complain; she appointed him as a “super” minister, combining the roles of Minister of Finance and Minister of the Presidency
Put simply, for a Chavista, the “presumption of innocence” must be respected, so they can’t be held in pretrial detention.But with anyone else, they want pretrial detention to be mandatory.
Q COSTA RICA — The Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR) will offer its first direct flight to Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD). United Airlines will inaugurate the flight on December 17, 2026.
The connection will operate daily until January 4, 2027, during the peak holiday season. Flights will be operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 9.
“We are pleased to announce the arrival of the first direct flight between Guanacaste Airport and Washington, D.C. This service will strengthen air connectivity from our main source market for visitors during the peak season,” stated Marcos Borges, Executive President of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
The ICT’s strategy to attract airlines to Guanacaste also benefits nearby communities by generating employment and fostering economic development.
With this addition, United Airlines will expand its presence at Guanacaste Airport by offering flights from its seven hubs in the United States.
“United is proud to offer the only nonstop service between Washington Dulles and Guanacaste, making it easier for travelers from the U.S. East Coast to access Costa Rica during peak season,” said Tom Kozlowski, United Airlines’ senior manager of Network Planning for Latin America.
“The launch of the first nonstop route between Guanacaste and Washington, D.C., represents a milestone for the destination and reflects the airlines’ confidence in the region’s growth potential,” said Renata González, commercial and communications manager for Guanacaste Airport.
Q COSTA RICA — The national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), projects a rainfall deficit of up to 70% in July and nearly 60% between August and October in the North Pacific region of Costa Rica.
This reduction in precipitation is due to the intensification of the El Niño phenomenon, which, according to the agency, will maintain meteorological drought conditions for the rest of the year and could extend its effects until April 2027.
In the Central Pacific, the South Pacific, and the Central Valley, the IMN estimates that the rainfall deficit will be around 50% in July and approximately 40% during the following quarter.
Conversely, the Caribbean and the eastern part of the Northern Zone are expected to experience normal or above-average rainfall.
Average temperatures will also be above normal. The North Pacific will experience the greatest increase, with values forecast to be between 1.5°C and 2.0°C above average. The Central Valley and the coasts of the South and Central Pacific will show increases of between 0.5°C and 1.5°C, while the Caribbean will see rises of 0.5°C to 1.0°C.
El Niño Intensifies and Changes Rainfall Patterns
According to the IMN, the influence of a strong El Niño will dominate the second half of 2026.
Karina Hernández, a specialist in the institution’s Climatology Unit, explained that the most recent revision of the forecasts not only increased the expected rainfall deficit but also reinforces the prediction that the phenomenon will reach a very strong intensity toward the end of the year. The IMN is observing clear signs of strengthening in the behavior of the ocean and the atmosphere.
The El Niño phenomenon involves an anomalous warming of the surface waters of the equatorial Pacific for several months, altering atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns in many regions. In Costa Rica, this translates into less rainfall on the Pacific slope and in the Central Valley, while the Caribbean may experience normal or above-average rainfall.
“We are definitely seeing an intensification of El Niño. Everything points to a strong, and eventually very strong, El Niño toward the end of the year,” explained Hernández.
Extended Midsummer Dry Season and Anomalous Weather Patterns
The midsummer dry season, or canícula, began earlier than usual, at the end of June, and will extend throughout August. Hernández described this as unusual and warned that it will not only be longer but also more intense, increasing the number of consecutive days without rain, especially in the Pacific and Central Valley regions.
The IMN warns that the phenomenon not only affects the total monthly rainfall but can also cause very intense downpours in just a few days followed by several days with almost no precipitation. The reduced cloud cover facilitates the penetration of solar radiation and raises temperatures.
The peak intensity of El Niño is expected toward the end of 2026, with surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific potentially exceeding 2.0 °C above average.
Hernández noted that although the phenomenon is expected to begin weakening in early 2027, the climatic impact could persist until April.
As background, the 2015 episode reached 2.8 °C, a range that the IMN considers possible for the end of 2026.
Q24N — Former U.S. mission chief to Nicaragua, Kevin O’Reilly, stated that political change in Nicaragua is inevitable and warned that Russia will not be able to indefinitely support the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo when it faces a new internal crisis.
He also noted that the administration of President Donald Trump represents a much more unpredictable scenario for the dictatorship and did not rule out the possibility that Washington might resort to extraordinary measures similar to those recently implemented in Venezuela.
During an interview with 100% Noticias, O’Reilly explained that Trump’s return to the White House has altered the geopolitical context upon which the Nicaraguan regime had built much of its international strategy.
According to the former diplomat, Ortega and Murillo have sought Moscow’s protection for decades, first under the Soviet Union and later under the Russian Federation. However, he asserted that this support does not constitute a permanent guarantee.
“It’s a leaky roof,” he said, using a term that, he explained, comes from a Russian idiom used to describe a protective or covering structure.
He recalled that other strategic allies of the Kremlin have experienced the limitations of this support.
He cited as examples the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria and the current situation facing Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela. Executive Power
“When the crisis hit, Russia simply watched the ally collapse without being able to effectively protect it,” he stated.
O’Reilly maintained that the relationship between Moscow and Managua primarily benefits Russian strategic interests and not Nicaragua’s development.
In his opinion, Russia is using Nicaragua as a platform to expand its political influence in the Western Hemisphere and to develop intelligence and disinformation operations.
“They are taking more advantage of Nicaragua than Nicaragua benefits from it,” he stated. He added that Russian assistance has primarily strengthened the regime’s intelligence, surveillance, and repression apparatus, rather than the well-being of the population.
The former U.S. official noted that China is also seeking to expand its presence in Nicaragua, although he considered Russia’s role to be much more decisive in matters of security and intelligence.
“Nicaragua’s economic stability depends much more on access to the US market than on Russia or any other ally,” he asserted.
O’Reilly Warns of Miscalculation Regarding Trump
One of O’Reilly’s central messages was directed at the regime’s inner circle, warning that it would be a mistake to assume the Trump administration would respond in the same way as previous governments.
Although he clarified that he is currently a private citizen and no longer participates in U.S. foreign policy decisions, he explained that the decision-making process in Washington has changed considerably.
According to him, strategic decisions are concentrated in a much smaller circle around President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“If those in the dictatorship think they can simply put on a hard line indefinitely against my country’s current government, they may very well be miscalculating,” he warned.
He Doesn’t Rule Out an Action Similar to Venezuela
When asked about the possibility of the United States launching an operation similar to the one recently carried out in Venezuela to force opposition members out of power, O’Reilly avoided making predictions, but made it clear that he does not consider such a scenario impossible.
“It would be imprudent to think it’s not at least possible. It’s a factor to consider,” he responded when asked directly about potential extraordinary action by Washington regarding Nicaragua.
However, he insisted that he is no longer part of the U.S. government and is unaware of any decisions currently being considered within the Trump administration. Nicaragua News
A Call to Those Who Support the Regime
The former diplomat directed much of his reflection to military personnel, police officers, public officials, and political operatives who currently support the regime.
He recalled that when the Syrian government collapsed, Bashar al-Assad left the country with a small group of collaborators, while thousands of officials were left to their own devices.
“The advisors, the police, the intelligence… none of them.” Therefore, he suggested that those who are currently part of the state apparatus should consider a peaceful transition rather than waiting for a violent outcome.
Change Will Come
Although he avoided setting dates or making concrete predictions, O’Reilly insisted that political change in Nicaragua will eventually happen.
To illustrate this, he used a quote from the writer Ernest Hemingway. “Change comes slowly… and then suddenly,” he said.
In his view, the constant increase in repression demonstrates precisely that the regime governs from fear and not from strength.
He indicated that the closure of universities, the persecution of journalists, priests, pastors, lawyers, and other professional sectors reflects a system that tries to control more and more areas because it fears losing power.
“That is not sustainable. It is mediocrity,” he stated.
The former head of mission insisted that Nicaragua possesses sufficient human talent to rebuild itself, but considered it essential to begin debating now the principles that should govern a future democratic transition.
“The talent is there. I’ve seen it,” he said, recalling his years working in Managua.
O’Reilly also sent a message to both the opposition and those who remain in the country.
He believes that Nicaragua’s future must be built by Nicaraguans themselves and not depend exclusively on decisions made in Washington.
“The future of Nicaragua is in the hands of Nicaraguans,” he affirmed.
However, he maintained that the international community can play an important role in supporting a potential democratic transition.
Finally, he expressed his desire to one day return to a free Nicaragua.
“I hope I have the opportunity to return to a Nicaragua that breathes more freely,” he concluded.
Q COSTA RICA — The failure to appoint nine alternate magistrates (judges) to the Constitutional Court has stalled the impeachment process against Rodrigo Chaves, the former president and current super minister (Minister of Finance and Minister of the Presidency).
This situation stems from the conflict between the Supreme Court and the Legislative Assembly over filling vacancies in the Constitutional Court (Sala IV or Sala Constitucional), which prevents the formation of the full Supreme Court panel that must hear the case.
Last Thursday, Patricia Solano, president of Third Chamber, confirmed the situation during an appearance before the Congressional Committee on Security and Drug Trafficking.
Chaves is being investigated for allegedly creating an illegal campaign financing scheme during the 2022 election campaign, when he was a candidate for the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO).
If convicted, he faces a sentence of between four and six years in prison.
“Until at least one alternate magistrate is appointed to the Constitutional Court, the full Supreme Court could be formed to hear the case. So, it depends on that,” explained Magistrate Solano.
More than 120 cases stalled
As of mid-July, at least 123 cases remained unresolved due to the lack of alternate magistrates for the Constitutional Court.
The problem has persisted for more than seven months (five under the Chaves administration and the last more than two under the current President, Laura Fernandez and affects cases in which a sitting magistrate must recuse, excuse, or be absent due to potential conflicts of interest. Among these cases is the one against Chaves.
If the political deadlock continues, the number of pending cases will keep growing.
The Supreme Court promptly submitted a list of candidates to the Legislature; however, neither the previous nor the current Legislative Assembly has been able to gather the 38 votes (two-thirds majority, also known as a super majority) necessary to make the appointments.
The dispute intensified when the Court withdrew the list of 18 candidates it had sent to the Legislature. Subsequently, last Wednesday, the president of the Legislative Assembly, Yara Jiménez, returned the communication to the Judiciary and requested a new list of candidates.
Other involved
The investigation into the alleged illegal financing of the 2022 election campaign also involves other political figures, including former legislator Pilar Cisneros, former vice-president and current legislator Stephan Brunner, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arnoldo André.
“They should stop talking about political persecution; what we have here is a legitimate judicial process, with a formal accusation from the Attorney General’s Office, which cannot move forward because an appointment is missing, one that the government’s own bloc, the PPSO, with 31 legislators, refuses to vote for.
That is not persecution: it is impunity deliberately constructed,” stated legislator José María Villalta of the Frente Amplio.
If the process moves forward, the Supreme Court will have to request the Legislative Assembly to lift Chaves’s immunity, which he continues to hold given his role in the current administration, so that he can be tried. However, that effort would have little chance of succeeding, since it is estimated that the 31 pro-government legislators would vote against the removal of immunity.
Q COSTA RICA — Electric vehicles continue to gain ground in Costa Rica. During the first half of 2026, this segment reached a market share exceeding 20% of new vehicle sales, maintaining its growth trend and positioning the country among the markets with the highest penetration of electric mobility in the Americas.
In January, 698 units were registered, representing 11.58% of the market, while in February, the share increased to 20.50% with 856 vehicles.
In March, 783 units were sold, representing 21.60% of the market.
The trend continued in April with 836 vehicles and a 22.29% market share, followed by May with 1,017 units (21.22%) and June with 1,100 vehicles, equivalent to 20.38% of total new car sales.
Currently, Costa Rica has over 41,000 electric vehicles on the road, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses.
The growth of the vehicle fleet coincides with the expansion of charging infrastructure.
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) — Costa Rican Electricity Institute — reported the installation of 180 new semi-fast chargers throughout the country, in addition to the modernization of the fast-charging network through the replacement of equipment in Guápiles, Quepos, Uvita, and Palmar Norte.
These advances are complemented by the opening of the market to allow private companies to invest in public charging infrastructure.
The law authorizing private companies to operate fast-charging stations has already been signed and published, while the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE) — Ministry of Environment and Energy — is working on the regulations for its implementation.
“Costa Rica is entering a new phase of electric mobility: mass adoption. We are no longer just seeing sustained sales growth, but also significant infrastructure expansion and the opening of the market for new private companies to invest in charging stations.
“All of this strengthens consumer confidence and confirms that gasoline and diesel vehicles continue to lose ground to a more efficient, cheaper-to-operate, and cleaner technology for the country, such as 100% electric mobility,” commented Silvia Rojas, director of the Asociación Costarricense de Movilidad Eléctrican (ASOMOVE) — Costa Rican Association of Electric Mobility.
It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue during the second half of the year, although the combination of public policies, increased infrastructure investment, and an ever-expanding range of electric vehicles could be key factors in ensuring this growth continues.
RICO’s Q — Tuning in to the early morning television news, the top stories are homicides and fatal traffic accidents.
As the government and much of the public focus on drug trafficking and organized crime behind the soaring homicide rates, a silent epidemic is rapidly spreading, lightly reported, and mostly goes unnoticed: the deaths on the roads.
Costa Rica is literally experiencing a bloodbath due to traffic accidents.
At the end of last year, 903 people died as a result of fatal accidents, according to figures from the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), which, unlike the Policía de Tránsito (Traffic Police), counts those who are seriously injured and die several hours, days, or weeks later as a result of the accident.
Homicides, meanwhile, totaled 873 cases for 2025.
Although at first glance the difference seems minimal, if we consider the data from 2010 to the beginning of July of this year, it becomes clear that road deaths exceed the number of homicides by 25%, with 12,574 compared to 10,059, respectively.
The worst part is that, if past figures are any indication, Costa Rica will surpass the grim milestone of 1,000 traffic fatalities in 2026.
As of the beginning of July, a little over two weeks ago, the OIJ had already recorded 525 deaths, and half the year remains to be counted, including December, a month in which fatalities typically spike.
According to the Traffic Police, speeding is the leading cause of road deaths, followed by lane invasions, driver negligence, and pedestrian negligence. Motorcyclists head the list of fatalities.
I’ve seen at least six deadly traffic crashes this year—those grim scenes where the body is covered and police keep watch. Most of these tragedies never made headlines—just a few quick posts on local social media that barely caught anyone’s attention outside the small circle nearby.
Like in my area, the real issue is that this problem is barely being noticed in Costa Rica. It’s been drowned out, especially over the past four years, by the violent turf wars between drug cartels that have caused a sharp rise in homicide deaths.
The serious situation of fatal road accidents is going unnoticed. We’ve normalized traffic deaths as a necessary consequence of mobility, and they aren’t.
Homicides are more scandalous, but traffic deaths are there, silently adding up.
What can be done?
The time has come to enforce current traffic laws, implement technological resources such as traffic cameras, more extensive use of radar, and, of course, hire more traffic officers.
A few months back, the latest report from the Policía de Tránsito had fewer than a thousand officers on the job, all tasked with patrolling and enforcing traffic laws across the country.
When I’m riding in a car, whether I’m alone or with others, I often play a little game I call “spot the transito.” It’s a nod to a game from my younger days—“spot the punch buggy”—where passengers gently punch each other in the upper arm every time upon spotting a Volkswagen Beetle, the old ones, not the new.
Things have gotten so rough that I’ve seen people wait for hours just for a traffic officer to show up after an accident. I remember a couple who had a minor fender bender and wanted to do the right thing by getting a traffic report for their rental car. They ended up waiting over two hours in my pizzeria, but in the end, no officer ever came, and they just gave up and left.
Just last week, again in Santa Ana, around 4:00 a.m. on my way to the “feria,” I passed one of those notorious intersections. Yellow tape cordoned off the scene where an SUV and a motorcycle had collided fatally. By about 7:30 a.m., the Municipal Police were still there, holding the area until the Traffic authorities and the OIJ arrived.
Likewise, to curb fatal accidents in Costa Rica, it is essential to strengthen road safety education in schools.
It’s important to understand that without change, the situation will only deteriorate. Teaching road safety from primary school onward is absolutely essential.
We also need to launch a large-scale information campaign right away to make people aware of how serious the road safety problem really is.
One important point is that motorcyclists make up more than half of the fatalities.
The Traffic Police reported that from January to June this year, 278 people died at accident scenes. Of those, 165 were motorcyclists, accounting for 60% of the deaths. Keep in mind, the Policía de Tránsito only counts deaths that happen at the scene.
In the past few years, local (municipal) police forces have started including traffic officials. But from what my friends in the small Santa Ana police force tell me, these traffic officers mostly handle illegal parking and keep watch over accident scenes. They don’t have the authority to actively enforce traffic laws on the road.
What do you think? Post your comments on our social media channels (Facebook, X).
Q COSTA RICA — Although the Costa Rican economy is far from showing negative figures, several warning signs are raising concerns.
For example, the decline in the manufacture of medical equipment and electronic components in free trade zones has resulted in Costa Rica experiencing two consecutive months of economic growth below 4%.
This meant that, at the end of May, economic activity grew by only 3.5%, according to the most recent Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) from the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) — Central Bank of Costa Rica.
The main factor in the slowdown was the reduced dynamism of the free trade zones, whose special regimes grew by 3.8%, “but with a drop of 12.8 percentage points compared to the same month in 2015,” the report explained.
In this case, the special regime had experienced double-digit growth for years, and now, suddenly, its growth has stalled.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Ministerio de Hacienda (Ministry of Finance) announced a further decline in revenue.
Total revenue reached ¢3005 billion colones as of May 2026, representing a cumulative decrease equivalent to 0.1% of 2026 GDP, compared to May 2025.
When comparing the revenue-to-GDP ratio, it fell from 6.0% in 2025 to 5.7% in 2026, a reduction of 0.2 percentage points.
The net cumulative decrease in total revenue was ¢58.29 billion compared to the same period in 2025. This decline is mainly explained by the negative performance of tax revenue (2.5%), current transfers (2.7%), and non-tax revenue (0.8%).
As if this weren’t enough, the Economic and Social Observatory (OES) of the School of Economics at the National University (UNA) has indicated that “internal and external pressures on the Costa Rican economy make an increase in local prices imminent,” which will be felt in people’s wallets in the coming months, due to the trade war between the United States and Iran.
Finally, the employed population in Costa Rica has gone almost a year and a half without registering significant growth, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).
For the months of March, April, and May, the employed population stood at 2,176,137 people, which represents a reduction of 22,820 workers compared to the same period of the previous year, when the figure was 2,198,957.
What is happening?
The first thing to clarify is that this is not the government’s fault, but rather the result of several internal and external factors affecting the economy.
The first of these is related to the war in the Middle East, which translates into inflationary pressures.
Likewise, the potential imposition of a 15% tariff on all Costa Rican exports to the United States is generating uncertainty among investors, who, according to experts, prefer to keep their decisions on hold, thus affecting the special economic regime.
“When calculating inflation, one looks at past behavior and considers future risks, which remain significant in terms of their potential to materialize. We can’t celebrate prematurely yet; the situation in the Middle East has historically proven to be very fragile, and ceasefires are difficult to maintain in many circumstances,” said Fernando Rodríguez, a researcher at the National University (UNA).
Regarding tax revenues, Víctor Carvajal, Vice Minister of Revenue, acknowledged that the drop in the dollar exchange rate has affected tax collection, since the decline in profits for companies associated with the tourism, export, and foreign investment sectors reduces both the profits and the taxes the government can collect.
“If we have some major taxpayers who are experiencing a foreign exchange loss due to the lower exchange rate, then obviously there is lower income tax payable. The low exchange rate affects us,” Carvajal admitted.
On Thursday, July 16, the dollar closed at ¢450.31 in the Foreign Exchange Market.
Given this situation, Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves previously stated that the entire government will tighten its belt by 2027.
“The time for leniency is over. We, all of us who work for the Costa Rican government, will tighten our belts—not just the government, not just the Ministry of Transportation, not just the Ministry of Agriculture, but all state institutions: the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Executive,” Chaves said.
The Finance Minister emphasized that resolving public finance problems requires not only effective tax collection but also improved efficiency in public spending.
“There will be cuts for everyone. There are no privileges here. (…) The people of Costa Rica will not be robbed, not through bidding processes, not through tax evasion. (…) Technologies developed by Mossad in Israel are being used to detect smuggling in this country through imports,” Chaves concluded.
RICO’s Q — The headline “Italy Issues Travel Ban On Italian Americans” isn’t accurate. It is a satirical piece by The Onion meant to highlight how Italy has tightened its citizenship laws, once among the most generous in Europe.
“Effective immediately, the Italian Republic will no longer allow Italian Americans who believe themselves to be our ‘paisanos’ to set foot on our land,” the satirical article states Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia (not Georgia, which would immediately disqualify you to be Italian) Meloni, of the blanket policy passed unanimously by Parliament, which would close the European state’s borders to any U.S. resident claiming to have as little as one-eighth “Italian blood.”
The reality, though, isn’t all that different from the satire.
For decades, if you could trace your ancestry to an Italian citizen and the citizenship chain had never been broken, you could apply to be recognized as an Italian citizen. This sparked a surge in applications, especially from big Italian immigrant communities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina.
That has now changed.
Under the new law, citizenship by descent is, in most cases, limited to those with an Italian-born parent or grandparent. For most applicants, more distant ancestry will no longer be enough to qualify.
The reforms also introduce stricter rules governing the transmission of citizenship to future generations born abroad.
The impact is substantial. Millions of people who previously believed they were eligible for Italian citizenship may no longer qualify. Businesses specializing in citizenship-by-descent applications are also expected to see a significant decline in demand.
There are, however, important transitional provisions. Applications submitted, consular appointments secured, or court proceedings initiated before 28 March 2025 are generally expected to be assessed under the previous rules. Anyone beginning the process after that date will normally need to satisfy the new requirements.
For those who do not qualify through ancestry, other routes to Italian citizenship—such as through long-term residency or marriage—remain available, although some requirements have become more demanding. For example, applicants seeking citizenship through marriage must demonstrate Italian language proficiency.
Many people affected by the reform hoped that court challenges would restore the previous rules.
Several legal challenges have been brought before the Italian courts. The principal constitutional challenge was rejected by Italy’s Constitutional Court, meaning the new law remains in force. However, some additional legal questions—including aspects of how the law should be applied—are still working their way through the courts.
The new limits on citizenship by descent therefore remain in place, although some individual legal questions are still being examined.
For anyone with Italian ancestry, the message is clear: the era of claiming citizenship through distant family connections has largely come to an end.
Those who still qualify should carefully review the new requirements and begin the process with a clear understanding of the updated rules.
You can read the satirical article by The Onion here.
RICO’s Q — Russia will not save Ortega. Moscow does not have the capacity to sustain this protection indefinitely, according to former US mission chief in Managua, Kevin O’Reilly, who shook up the political landscape with stark warnings about Nicaragua’s immediate future.
In a revealing interview, the retired US official dismantled the supposed “absolute protection” of the Ortega-Murillo regime by Russia, asserting that it is a “leaky Russian ceiling” with very clear limits.
This already happened in Syria and Venezuela during their most critical moments.
In his message, O’Reilly sent a direct message to police, military personnel, and Sandinista rank and file: “The transition is inevitable, and they should not assume they will receive eternal protection from the leadership”.
O’Reilly also warned of the Trump Administration. “Unpredictable,” he warned that the regime is making a serious miscalculation if it thinks it can maintain a permanent confrontation with Washington without drastic consequences.
“Slowly… and then suddenly,” using a famous metaphor, he explained that major political changes occur unexpectedly when structures based on fear collapse.
Q COSTA RICA — Because she allegedly altered computer systems and irregularly stamped the passport of the detained individual, an official from the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), stationed at Juan Santamaría International Airport, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly facilitating the irregular entry into the country of a foreigner classified as highly dangerous and linked to a terrorist organization.
The Deputy Prosecutor’s Office for Probity, Transparency, and Anti-Corruption led three raids and ordered the arrest of the official, surnamed Barquero.
The foreigner, whose identity has not been revealed, remains in custody at the disposal of immigration authorities, who are processing the cancellation of his immigration status. Nor did authorities clarify whether this is the case of the individual arrested in recent weeks for his connection to Hamas.
Two of the raids were carried out at the airport and one at the accused’s residence, in order to seize evidence relevant to the case.
The Attorney General’s Office indicated that the investigation also seeks to dismantle the criminal organization that may be operating behind the case and prevent future irregular entries that threaten national stability.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica will experience an increase in temperatures and a reduction in rainfall due to a combination of Saharan dust, the midsummer heat wave (la canícula), and conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon.
The national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), forecasts that these conditions will begin to intensify toward the end of July and persist through much of August, when drier weather is expected across much of the country.
Adding to this scenario will be the arrival of new masses of Saharan dust during both months, a common phenomenon at this time of year that will favor clearer skies, higher temperatures, and a lower chance of precipitation.
“We are anticipating an increase in particulate matter in the atmosphere this weekend. It is normal for Saharan dust masses to arrive in both July and August. This favors clearer conditions, warmer temperatures, and less rainfall,” explained Daniel Poleo of the IMN.
Poleo explained that new pulses of Saharan dust will enter the country in the coming weeks, a phenomenon characteristic of the rainy season. “We anticipate an increase in particulate matter in the air over the weekend, exacerbated by stronger trade winds, which will also lead to a decrease in air quality,” the specialist indicated.
The presence of Saharan duct can primarily affect the most vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and people with allergies or respiratory illnesses. Although Saharan dust is a recurring phenomenon during July and August, the El Niño context can increase the frequency of these episodes.
Heat could reach 38°C
On the other hand, experts predict an increase in temperatures for the rest of the week.
“A decrease in humidity in the Caribbean Sea basin due to the arrival of a dusty air mass will reduce instability in the region. This will also intensify the high temperatures and muggy conditions characteristic of this hot and dry month, which falls within the context of this year’s El Niño,” the IMN highlighted.
By region, the following is forecast:
North Pacific: highs could reach 38°C
South Pacific: highs could reach 34°C
Central Pacific and Northern Zone: highs of up to 33°C
Central Valley and Caribbean: highs near 31°C
Second phase of the midsummer heat wave
According to the IMN, during the week of July 20-26, typical seasonal conditions will prevail in the Pacific, Central Valley, and Northern Zone.
The most significant change will begin to be felt starting July 27, when the second phase of the midsummer heat wave will intensify.
“From then on, rainfall will decrease in the Pacific, Central Valley, and Northwest Zone. The deficit could increase during the first two weeks of August,” the National Meteorological Service forecasts.
Between August 3 and 16, the North Pacific and Central Pacific could experience very dry conditions. The South Pacific and Central Valley will maintain a dry pattern.
In contrast, the North Caribbean will continue to experience rainy conditions until August 9. After that, rainfall will return to normal levels for this time of year.
Q COSTA RICA — After eight consecutive months of increasing tourism, Costa Rica experienced a 1.2% drop in air arrivals in June, marking the first month of negative growth in 2026.
The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) — Costa Rica’s tourism board – reported that 214,518 tourists visited the country last month, compared to 217,120 in June 2025.
The North American market, which makes up the largest share of travelers in the data, dropped by 1.6% in June. Arrivals from both the U.S. and Mexico fell by 3% each.
The ICT explains that this decrease in visitors is due to various factors, including the geopolitical context, the increase in jet fuel prices, and the concentration of tourists from Mexico and the United States during the World Cup.
In contrast, the Canadian market saw a 25.9% increase, a trend observed in Canadian tourism during the first half of the year. This has positioned them as Costa Rica’s second most important tourism trading partner for 2026.
Despite this overall decrease in tourist arrivals in June, ICT statistics show that the first five months of the year saw positive figures in the number of tourists arriving by air.
Increase in European Tourism
Unlike the trend observed in North American tourists last month, European visitors saw a 12.9% increase, led by Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the case of Spain, the increase between June of this year and June of last year was 23.4%.
In June, 4,669 visitors arrived in Costa Rica from Spain, 2,398 from Germany, and 2,515 from the United Kingdom.
Looking at the data accumulated throughout 2026, European tourism followed a similar pattern, with a 9.7% increase in the first six months compared to the same period in 2025.
The main European markets this semester were France, Germany, and Spain. Although Germany was the country of origin for the majority of tourists, with 40,916 arrivals, Spanish visitors showed the largest increase in 2026, at 16.8%.
Finally, tourism from South America declined for the third consecutive month, with a 2.3% drop in June, marking the first month in which Argentine tourists experienced a decline in visits.
An industry that grew slowly in 2025
At the beginning of the year, the Cámara Nacional de Turismo (Canatur) — National Chamber of Tourism 1 reported that in 2025, the growth in tourist arrivals by air was only 1% compared to 2024.
Therefore, they warned of a loss of competitiveness for Costa Rica compared to other neighboring regions. According to Canatur, countries such as the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador experienced faster growth in attracting tourists.
The ICT and the Banco Central (Central Bank) have maintained that Costa Rica has a differentiated tourism model and that recent months have shown signs of recovery, especially during the high season, except for June, when it actually saw a decline in visitation.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rican President Laura Fernández announced at her weekly press conference on Wednesday a comprehensive plan to combat smuggling and tax evasion, which will be officially presented on July 22.
The initiative, developed in conjunction with the Ministerio de Hacienda (Ministry of Finance), seeks to strengthen tax collection without creating new taxes, focusing on tackling evasion, tightening controls and penalties, and closing legal loopholes that allow illicit trade and the underreporting of income.
During her remarks, Fernández emphasized: “This government’s priority is to increase tax revenue by pursuing evasion and illicit trade, not by creating new taxes.”
According to the president, the objective is “to go after those who are evading taxes,” an instruction she reiterated to the economic team. The Deputy Minister of Finance, Víctor Carvajal, confirmed that the plan “responds to the instruction to combat tax evasion and improve control mechanisms, without resorting to new taxes.”
Furthermore, one of the plan’s key elements is the reform of the Ley General de Aduanas (General Customs Law), which seeks to strengthen control over goods entering and leaving the country, especially in containers and retail imports.
Therefore, the president stated that the Ministry of Finance is preparing a proposal to amend the General Customs Law (No. 7557) to strengthen controls on goods entering or leaving the country in containers and on retail imports made by some merchants.
Controlling Digital Tax Evasion and the Informal Trade
The plan detailed today by Fernández includes actions against digital businesses that use methods to evade taxes. Authorities have detected online stores that declare products with lower values or in different categories to pay less tax and then sell the merchandise through digital channels.
Furthermore, at the press conference, President Fernández announced that the government is making progress in cross-referencing information to identify merchants who receive payments via Sinpe Móvil and credit/debit cards but do not declare this income to the Treasury.
Two inspectors from the Costa Rican Ministry of Finance supervise seized merchandise and boxes of cigarettes at a customs warehouse, leaning on an inspection table.
“This mechanism is used to evade both Impuesto al Valor Agregado (IVA)—Value Added Tax and Income Tax,” she stated.
The strategy includes inter-institutional collaboration and technology to track transactions that currently escape tax control.
Given this situation, the Executive Branch will send draft bills to the Legislative Assembly in July as part of the legal and administrative offensive against smuggling and tax evasion. Some of the initiatives are already underway through public consultations or administrative adjustments, while the complete package will be announced on July 22.
According to the Presidency, the Policía de Control Fiscal (PCD) — Fiscal Control Police, recently seized nearly 24 million contraband cigarettes, the largest blow to this crime in the country’s history.
President Fernández emphasized that “the fight against smuggling and tax evasion is a duty to all Costa Ricans” and called for efficiency and rigor in the administration of public resources.
The importance of the comprehensive plan against smuggling and tax evasion lies in its potential to strengthen Costa Rica’s public finances without resorting to tax increases, thus responding to a societal demand for fiscal equity.
This approach allows the State to recover essential resources to finance services such as health, education, and security, while simultaneously combating criminal organizations dedicated to illicit trade.
Furthermore, the modernization of controls and digital oversight represents progress in transparency and institutional efficiency, which contributes to building trust among citizens and the productive sectors.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica’s Policía de Tránsito (Traffic Police) reported that 472 drivers were fined during the first half of the year for transporting children without a child restraint system.
The fine, in addition to endangering children’s lives, carries a fine of ¢245,000 colones (USD$544) and the accumulation of four points on the driver’s license.
The figures reflect that, on average, almost three drivers per day were stopped for violating this requirement, even though the use of child safety seats is one of the most effective measures to reduce serious injuries and deaths in the event of a traffic accident.
“It’s awful that an adult has to be told to protect their children,” said the statement
Each Age Requires a Different Device
Traffic officials reminded the public that not all child car seats are the same and that the device must be chosen according to the child’s age, weight, and height.
For babies up to approximately one year old, or up to 75 centimeters tall and weighing no more than 13 kilograms, it is recommended to use an infant carrier installed in the back seat of the vehicle, facing rearward, as this position provides better protection for the head, neck, and spine in the event of a collision.
Authorities also emphasize that this type of device should never be installed in a seat with an active airbag (ie front seat) and must be completely secure, without any movement within the vehicle.
Children approximately four to six years old, between 110 and 145 centimeters tall and weighing 15 to 25 kilograms, should travel in a child safety seat with a backrest, also located in the back seat.
In these cases, the seat belt must be positioned correctly across the child’s chest and not across their neck, to prevent injuries during sudden braking or a collision.
A life-saving measure
Several international studies have shown that child restraint devices significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in traffic accidents when used correctly.
Therefore, Costa Rican law mandates the use of these safety systems and includes fines for those who fail to comply.
However, authorities insist that the real objective is not to impose fines, but to prevent tragedies that can be avoided with a simple measure.
With increased travel due to the mid-year holidays, the Traffic Police asked families to check before leaving that the child seat is appropriate for the child’s age and needs, that it is correctly installed, and that all vehicle occupants are wearing seat belts.
The final message summarizes the spirit of the campaign: protecting children during every trip should not depend on a fine, but on the commitment of those responsible for their safety.
Q COSTA RICA — The Costa Rican government held a farewell ceremony for the ambassadors of Colombia, Peru, and Italy, who concluded their respective diplomatic missions in the country after several years of work focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The ceremony was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Manuel Tovar, in the Golden Hall of the Casa Amarilla (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), where the minister thanked the three diplomats for their work and highlighted the contributions each made to consolidating relations between Costa Rica and their nations.
The honorees were Carlos Rodríguez Mejía, Ambassador of Colombia; Carlos Guillermo Hakansson Nieto, Ambassador of Peru; and Alberto Colella, the Italian ambassador, who received official recognition before concluding their duties and returning to their respective countries.
A recognition of diplomacy
During the official ceremony, Tovar emphasized that the ambassadors’ work was crucial in strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation that Costa Rica maintains with Colombia, Peru, and Italy.
The minister indicated that, during their years of service, the diplomats promoted a broad work agenda that allowed progress on projects of common interest and consolidated spaces for dialogue between the governments.
Among the main contributions, he mentioned the boost to trade relations, the attraction of job-creating investments, the strengthening of technical cooperation, and the development of student, scientific, and artistic exchange programs.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these initiatives have contributed to strengthening the relationship between Costa Rica and the three countries, fostering not only institutional ties but also exchanges between universities, companies, cultural organizations, and research centers.
The three ambassadors are concluding an important stage in their diplomatic careers after representing their countries in Costa Rica for different periods.
The Italian ambassador, Alberto Colella, presented his credentials in 2022, becoming the official representative of the Italian government in the country. A year later, in 2023, the Colombian ambassador, Carlos Rodríguez Mejía, assumed his duties, while the Peruvian representative, Carlos Guillermo Hakansson Nieto, began his diplomatic mission in 2024.
During that time, the three diplomats participated in high-level meetings, official activities, business gatherings, cultural events, and cooperation projects that strengthened the relationship between their governments and Costa Rican institutions.
In addition to representing the interests of their countries, the ambassadors played an important role as bridges to promote investment opportunities, encourage tourism, foster academic exchanges, and facilitate political dialogue on regional and international issues.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the long history of diplomatic relations between Costa Rica and Colombia, Peru, and Italy.
The three ambassadors recalled that official ties with these nations span more than 150 years, a period during which relationships have been built on cooperation, mutual respect, and ongoing exchange in various fields.
In their farewell messages, they all expressed their confidence that the bonds between the countries will continue to strengthen, regardless of the diplomatic transition.
They also expressed their gratitude for the hospitality received during their stay in Costa Rica and stated that they will retain a deep appreciation for the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that these values have allowed for the consolidation of trusting relationships with numerous international partners and facilitate the development of joint initiatives in areas such as trade, sustainability, education, culture, and innovation.
The ceremony concluded with an official recognition from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expressed gratitude for the work carried out by the three ambassadors during their respective missions.
With their departure, Costa Rica prepares to welcome the new diplomatic representatives from Colombia, Peru, and Italy, who will be tasked with continuing a bilateral agenda built over decades and underpinned by a friendship spanning more than a century and a half.
Silhouette, family is running on beach and back view with ocean waves, sunset and bonding in nature. Energy, action people outdoor on tropical holiday and freedom, travel with trust and love
Q COSTA RICA — The Frente Amplio’s caucus leader, José María Villalta, presented a bill to the legislature seeking to guarantee that workers can choose their vacation dates.
The bill, titled “Garantizar el Ejercicio Efectivo del Derecho al Disfrute de Vacaciones por parte de la Persona Trabajadora” (Guaranteeing the Effective Exercise of the Right to Vacation by Workers), is the Frente Amplio’s proposal to amend Article 155 of the Labor Code so that, once the right to vacation is established, workers will be able to propose the dates on which they wish to exercise that right.
Currently, the selection of vacation dates is left to the employer’s discretion.
“With this bill, we seek to safeguard workers’ right to rest so they can plan their vacation days and ensure they coincide with their needs, such as their children’s vacations,” Villalta stated.
According to the legislator, there must be a balance between the needs of the company and the right to vacation, so as to safeguard the physical and mental health of workers.
Days off
Villalta drew a parallel with the Executive Branch’s decree that sent the entire public sector on vacation the previous week to reduce the number of days off accumulated by workers.
“It cannot be, as we have seen in recent days, that an employer or a high-ranking official, the authorities of an institution, simply tell the worker, ‘You’re going to take vacation on these days.’ Perhaps it doesn’t coincide with school holidays, family needs, or the workers’ ability to rest,” Villalta stated.
The legislator added that the initiative is much needed, easy to process, and technically sound.
“We hope that all of you will support us and share your experiences with this issue of vacation time so we can achieve its approval,” he said in a message to his fellow legislators.
The bill has only just begun its legislative process.
In Costa Rica, turning a legislative bill into law follows a clear path handled by the Legislative Assembly, which is made up of 57 elected members. This process mixes political discussion, expert review, and constitutional oversight.
Once the bill clears committee approval, it moves to the full assembly for debate and a first vote. Before the second and final vote, at least 10 legislators can ask the Sala IV—the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court—to review the bill’s constitutionality.
If the bill passes the first debate and any Sala IV review, it faces a final, quicker check called the Second Debate. Legislators vote again to confirm agreement. When it passes this stage, the bill becomes a “decree of law” and is sent to the President, who can either sign it into law or veto it.
Q COSTA RICA — With the aim of increasing transparency and traceability of goods in transit, the Ministerio de Hacienda (Ministry of Finance) has opened a public consultation on a project to strengthen controls on the entry of goods.
The main goal is to eliminate the smuggling business and curb tax evasion, as the control model will be based on more detailed cargo information, according to Hacienda
Essentially, it involves “substantial changes to the Declaración Única Aduanera (DUA)—Single Customs Declaration—for the Transit Regime.”
“Currently, when cargo is transferred to a customs warehouse, the transit declaration can be made using generic descriptions, without the obligation to identify all consignees or the individual value of the goods being transported. Under this system, control in customs warehouses is based primarily on the total number of packages moved, which limits the capacity for preventive oversight and creates opacity in customs management,” explained Adrián Pérez Edwards, Director General of Customs.
Therefore, the Ministry of Finance proposes the following changes:
Greater certainty and availability of information by precisely identifying the type of merchandise entering the country, its commercial value, and its consignees.
Reduction of customs fraud and the concealment of goods by using a control model based on more detailed cargo information.
Strengthening preventive and automated risk analysis by facilitating the early and targeted detection of operational inconsistencies, without disrupting the normal operations of companies that comply with regulations.
Improving controls over goods subject to sanitary requirements or other special regulations, which will facilitate more effective oversight.
Interested parties may submit their written comments to valverdemd@hacienda.go.cr and urenasl@hacienda.go.cr, from July 13, 2026, to July 24, 2026, inclusive.
The full text of the proposal can be found at the following link: https://www.hacienda.go.cr/ProyectosConsultaPublica.html
Q COSTA RICA — The Costa Rican economy is projected to experience relative stability in the second half of 2026, although several risk factors could alter the outlook before the year’s end.
This is the main conclusion of an analysis conducted by the School of Administrative Sciences at the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) —National Distance Education University, which identifies the dollar exchange rate, interest rates, fuel prices, and inflation as the variables that will shape economic performance in the coming months.
The study, presented by the director of the UNED, Federico Quesada, indicates that the dollar could maintain a stable performance until October and even during the first days of November, thanks to the strengthening of the Central Bank of Costa Rica’s (BCCR) international monetary reserves, which currently stand at around 21 billion dollars.
According to the economist, this level of reserves has helped to cushion the pressure on the exchange market, even though the international price of oil has experienced significant increases during the year.
“The expectation is that the exchange rate will remain relatively stable between June and October. Subsequently, the seasonal inflow of foreign currency resulting from Christmas bonuses and other payments could generate additional downward pressure,” explained Quesada.
The behavior of international oil prices will continue to be one of the main risk factors for inflation and the cost of living in Costa Rica.
This forecast coincides with a scenario in which the demand for dollars remains contained, while the Central Bank maintains sufficient room to maneuver to address potential fluctuations in the foreign exchange market.
Another indicator that, according to UNED, is expected to remain stable is the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR). The analysis predicts that the Central Bank will maintain a strategy similar to that adopted by the U.S. Federal Reserve, keeping the MPR around 3.5%.
The specialist believes that only a significant increase in imported inflation would justify an additional adjustment, which would bring the rate up to 3.75%.
This stability in interest rates represents relief for households and businesses with loans in colones, as it reduces the likelihood of significant increases in loan payments in the coming months.
However, the report warns that inflation remains the main source of uncertainty.
Among the factors that could raise the cost of living is the El Niño phenomenon, due to its impact on agricultural production and electricity generation. Reduced food availability or higher energy costs would ultimately be passed on to the price of household goods.
Added to this is the possibility that discussions on new tax reforms to strengthen public finances will advance in the coming months.
Quesada warned that any increases in the Impuesto al Valor Agregado (IVA) —Value Added Tax— or the creation of new taxes on essential products would have a regressive effect, disproportionately impacting lower-income families.
“These types of measures would directly impact household consumption and also national production,” he stated.
Regarding fuel prices, the university believes the domestic market has already absorbed a significant portion of the increases seen in previous months, but clarifies that the situation continues to depend on the behavior of the international oil market.
The analysis notes that, although a temporary ceasefire agreement in the Middle East had generated expectations of lower crude oil prices, the resumption of hostilities has reintroduced uncertainty.
If international conflicts persist, the country could face further increases in hydrocarbon prices, which would affect transportation, industrial production, and food costs.
Regarding economic growth, UNED notes that the Central Bank maintains a 3.5% projection for 2026, although it believes there are factors that could limit this performance.
Among the issues mentioned are the damage caused by weather events to national infrastructure, potential impacts on crops, and a possible increase in international air transport costs, affecting tourist arrivals.
The report also draws attention to the fiscal situation. According to data cited by the economist, tax revenue accumulated a drop of nearly ¢62 billion (US$124 million) through May compared to the same period of the previous year, equivalent to a 2% decrease.
This reduction, it argues, limits the State’s capacity to execute public investment and develop projects related to employment, infrastructure, and productive activity.
Furthermore, it notes that various analysts believe the tax reform approved through the Law for Strengthening Public Finances is beginning to show signs of exhaustion, which has reignited the debate on new sources of revenue for the State.
Given this scenario, UNED recommends that families adopt a conservative financial approach in the coming months.
The specialist advises maintaining a savings fund equivalent to at least 25% of the family budget to cope with potential increases in fuel prices, inflation, or other unforeseen events stemming from the international context.
He also recommends avoiding high-risk investments and postponing major financial decisions until November, when there will be a clearer picture of the global economic outlook, oil prices, and the impact of climate change on Costa Rica.
Finally, Quesada urged authorities to carefully evaluate any proposals for new indirect taxes, considering that they could negatively impact economic recovery, employment, and household purchasing power.
Q COSTA RICA — The long arm of United States justice has requested the extradition of three Costa Ricans and one Mexican citizen accused of being part of a criminal organization allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, dedicated to international cocaine trafficking via clandestine air routes from Costa Rica.
The request was issued by the Eastern District Court of Wisconsin, following an investigation conducted by several police agencies and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The four suspects remain in pretrial detention while the corresponding legal proceedings continue before the Criminal Court of the First Judicial Circuit of San José.
The investigation stemmed from an operation carried out on December 10, 2025, near the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. That day, authorities intercepted a Mexican citizen named Takashima and three Costa Ricans with the surnames Carvajal, Rodríguez, and Castillo, who were traveling in three vehicles.
During the operation, police seized approximately 400 kilograms of cocaine, which, according to the investigation, was to be transported by aircraft taking off from a clandestine airstrip with the final destination being the United States.
U.S. authorities attribute apparent crimes of conspiracy and international drug trafficking to the four detainees. In addition, two of the suspects face additional charges related to alleged violations involving the use and possession of firearms.
A Logistics Operation for Clandestine Flights
In addition to the drugs, authorities confiscated a series of items that would demonstrate the infrastructure used by the organization to facilitate illegal flights.
Among the seized items were portable lamps that, according to authorities, would have been used to illuminate clandestine airstrips during nighttime operations, communication radios, airplane tires, containers of aircraft fuel, firearms, ammunition, and cash in both colones and dollars.
For investigators, these findings strengthen the hypothesis that the organization had a pre-planned logistical operation to move cocaine shipments to the United States using aircraft operating outside official controls.
The investigation also linked the group to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the Americas, identified by U.S. authorities as operating international networks for shipping cocaine, methamphetamines, and other drugs.
Costa Rica as a strategic drug trafficking hub
The case once again highlights Costa Rica’s role as a transit point for international criminal organizations seeking to leverage its geographic location to ship drugs to North America.
In recent years, Costa Rican authorities have detected an increase in the use of clandestine airstrips, boats, and shipping containers as mechanisms for smuggling cocaine to international markets, especially the United States and Europe.
A case connected to another investigation
Authorities indicated that this case is related to another investigation conducted by the Drug Control Police in April 2025.
On that occasion, officers intercepted a yacht near the Quepos Marina in Puntarenas, where three Mexican citizens were arrested while transporting approximately 840 kilograms of cocaine.
As with the Liberia case, the three foreigners were also subsequently sought by U.S. authorities through extradition requests for crimes related to international drug trafficking.
Authorities consider both cases to be part of the joint effort between Costa Rica and the United States to dismantle international networks that use Costa Rican territory as a platform for cocaine trafficking to North America.
While the legal proceedings continue, the four suspects will remain in pretrial detention pending a decision by Costa Rican courts on the extradition request filed by the Eastern District Court of Wisconsin.
Q COSTA RICA — Between 2019 and 2026, police logs repeatedly added one name to their records, a familiar figure to law enforcement officers.
Every intervention, every arrest, was recorded. The 51-year-old Costa Rican man was stopped by police 388 times during that period, according to data from the Ministry of Public Security and as reported by Diario Extra.
The reason for each encounter varied. One day it was for carrying a bladed weapon; another, for transporting or possessing what appeared to be drugs. There were also reports of attempted theft, robbery, arrest warrants, violations of the Liquor Law, and drug use.
This year, in the Merced district alone, the police filed twenty-two reports against him: five for possession of a bladed weapon, two for violating the Liquor Law, and fifteen for drug possession.
The official documents detail each step: the officer identifies the man, approaches him, records the incident, and the process almost always ends the same way: he is released. For the police, the routine is repeated; for the system, the intervention is counted as a “pass.”
But the number, by itself, does not mean a conviction.
Lawyer Adrián Quesada clarifies: an arrest or police “pass” is only a record that the person was detained, identified, or investigated.
Quesada sums it up this way: “It doesn’t mean he’s guilty of a crime. In Costa Rica, no one can be detained simply for having a police record.” The judicial process, he reminds us, requires more: evidence, procedural risks, and a court order to justify pretrial detention.
Over the years, authorities have explained that most of these “misses” don’t lead to criminal charges. The Public Prosecutor’s Office indicates that these interventions can be due to minor situations, such as drinking alcohol in public, disturbing the peace, or possessing small amounts of drugs for personal use. Although each case is recorded, most don’t end up with the prosecutor’s office or generate a criminal record.
The frustration of police and citizens with recidivism
Repeat offenses have an impact that goes beyond statistics. Former Deputy Minister of Public Security, Walter Navarro, has described the frustration of police officers who, after arresting someone, see them soon return to the streets.
“The police arrest someone today, and the next day, or even hours later, they see them back on the street or committing another crime,” he commented. According to details from Diario Extra, this cycle also affects public trust and the perception of authority.
Navarro believes that recidivism requires a thorough review of the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to enable the system to provide a more effective response. Even so, lawyer Quesada insists that only evidence, procedural risks, and a court order can justify imprisonment.
The story of this man, recorded hundreds of times, is a reflection of how the law and everyday reality meet on the streets of Costa Rica.
Q COSTA RICA — At two months into her term, Costa Rica’s President Laura Fernández Delgado remains one of the most highly regarded leaders in Latin America.
Fernández ranks third in the July 2026 Latin American Presidents Ranking compiled by the consulting firm CB Global Data, with a 55.5% approval rating.
Fernández is surpassed only by Nayib Bukele of El Salvador and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico.
Delcy Rodríguez of Venezuela occupies the last place in the ranking.
According to the data, 31.6% of Costa Ricans consider Fernández’s image to be very good, while 23.9% rate it as good.
The survey was conducted between July 3 and 8, 2026, with a sample of 4,854 people and a margin of error of ±1.4 percentage points.
Q COSTARICA — Uber Costa Rica has opened registration for “red” taxi drivers, who can now join the platform and earn income through Uber Taxi.
This integration will allow taxi drivers to access a wider user base and combine traditional taxi service with the app’s technology.
As an incentive, those who complete their registration will receive ¢20,000 for activating their account on the platform. They can also earn up to ¢50,000 by completing at least 20 trips during their first two months of operation.
The company will also award ¢30,000 for each referred taxi driver who completes 50 trips during their first month on the app.
“The opening of Uber Taxi registration is a step towards the full integration of technology into mobility in Costa Rica. We invite red taxi drivers to register, as they will be able to increase their earnings and benefit from the app’s safety standards,” stated Laura Santillán, General Manager of Uber for Central America and the Caribbean.
The addition of the “taxi rojos” (red taxis) follows the pilot program at San José International Airport (SJO) that allows passengers to request official licensed orange taxis directly through the app.
Uber is available throughout Costa Rica, especially in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) — San José and key cities such as Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago. Although its legal status is somewhat unclear — technically operating in a legal gray area — it’s widely used, considered safe, and usually costs up to 20% less than traditional taxis.
Q COSTA RICA — The U.S. Embassy in Managua has issued a security alert in advance of the July 19 holiday in Nicaragua,
Marches, large gatherings, and demonstrations are expected in Managua and throughout the country, leading to traffic disruption, congestion, and roadblocks, which may increase the possibility of U.S. citizen encounters with police, military, and other Nicaraguan authorities.
While the activities are expected to remain peaceful, caution should be used. On its website, the Embassy recommends the following:
Avoid demonstrations or large gatherings and leave the area immediately if you are unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
Do not participate in demonstrations. Foreigners, including U.S.-Nicaraguan dual nationals, risk arrest or expulsion if they participate in protests. The Nicaraguan government may treat dual nationals as only Nicaraguan citizens, in which case the U.S. Embassy may not be notified or granted consular access.
Do not photograph or film police, military personnel, marches, or demonstrations. Doing so may attract unwanted attention from authorities and could result in detention or confiscation of your devices.
Do not attempt to drive through large groups or barricades encountered on the street.
Ensure you have an adequate supply of food and water in the event of disruptions.
Make sure you have at least six months’ validity on your U.S. passport.
Monitor local media for updates.
U.S. citizens can contact the U.S. Embassy in Managua, located at Km 5 ½ C. Sur Managua, Nicaragua, by using our U.S. citizens services navigator. For emergencies during business hours, call +505-2252-7161 (Monday to Thursday: 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday: 7:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.). For after-hours emergencies, call +505-2252-7100 and ask for the Embassy Duty Officer.
What is July 19th?
On July 19th, Nicaragua celebreated Sandinista Revolution Day (Día de la Revolución) to mark the 1979 overthrow of the Somoza family dictatorship. It is one of the nation’s most important mandatory national holidays.
The day serves as a massive political and cultural milestone, legally requiring employers to provide a paid day off for all workers.
The central government gathering takes place at Plaza de la Fe in the capital city of Managua. The main event includes massive choreographed displays, hours of revolutionary music, and keynote speeches by the country’s leadership.
Q COSTA RICA — Money laundering cases and the amounts linked to this illicit activity continue to rise in Costa Rica, posing a threat that goes beyond the criminal sphere. These illegal funds increasingly infiltrate the formal economy, distorting markets, undermining fair competition, and raising risks for businesses and the financial system.
In the first half of 2026 alone, the Organismo de Investigación Judicial’s (OIJ) Anti-Money Laundering Section reported confiscations that nearly doubled the total seized throughout 2024.
While the OIJ confiscated about ¢3.35 billion colones during all of 2024 in investigations related to money laundering, by mid-2026, authorities had already seized over ¢6.5 billion colones.
The situation becomes even more alarming when including seizures by other agencies such as the Instituto Costarricense de Drogas (ICD) —Costa Rican Drug Institute and the Policía Control de Drogas (PCD) — Drug Control Police.
Behind these figures lies increasingly sophisticated criminal networks capable of channeling illicit resources into seemingly legitimate economic activities through complex webs of businesses, financial institutions, and corporate entities.
A national risk assessment commissioned by the Superintendencia General de Entidades Financieras (SUGEF) — General Superintendency of Financial Entities – warned that some of the money flows entering Costa Rica from abroad may be tied to illegal activities, given the difficulties in tracing their origin. The report also highlighted vulnerabilities that increase the country’s exposure to money laundering.
How Criminal Networks Operate
Criminal groups involved in money laundering—also known as asset legitimization—create elaborate structures to give illegal money, often from drug trafficking, a façade of legality. Rodrigo Monge, acting head of the OIJ’s Anti-Money Laundering Section, explained that these groups often use cash-heavy businesses to gradually mix illicit funds with legitimate revenues.
Technology plays a role too. Criminals exploit the country’s Electronic Payment System (Sinpe Móvil) to move money through multiple transactions, companies, and accounts, finally integrating the funds by purchasing high-value assets that appear legal.
For example, in informal lottery stands where customers place bets via bank transfers or Sinpe Móvil, the business may serve as a front. When it’s time to pay out winnings, the criminals use illicit cash, effectively replacing illegal money with legitimate banked funds and creating a confusing blend that masks the true source.
One of the biggest known cases, dubbed “Caso Fénix,” involved laundering at least US$17 million dollars between 2015 and 2022 through a network of businesses in Pérez Zeledón. The scheme used cattle farms, restaurants, bars, auto repair shops, tire shops, and produce stores to introduce large amounts of cash into the formal economy. These were declared as legitimate commercial income before being moved through bank accounts and shell companies to hide their origin.
Common Money Laundering Schemes in Costa Rica
Among the most common tactics is the use of “testaferros” (front men), individuals who appear as owners of assets or companies but act on behalf of criminals. Some are unaware their identities are being used; others knowingly assist in opening accounts, forming companies, and acquiring property.
There are also so-called “paper companies” that exist only on paper, without real commercial activity, and “front companies” that do operate but are used to mix illicit money with genuine business revenues, creating the illusion of prosperous enterprises.
Other frequently exploited sectors include informal lotteries, vehicle sales (often underpriced with illicit funds covering the difference), motels (where cash income is hard to verify), and increasingly, crypto assets—which present extra challenges due to their traceability issues.
Monge noted that these organizations don’t mind losing part of the illicit money during laundering. If they can legitimize 60% of their funds after losing 40%, they consider it a win.
Economic and Systemic Impact
Money laundering doesn’t just threaten security; it distorts the formal economy. Front companies may operate with artificially low margins or even losses, aiming to legitimize illicit funds rather than make profits. This creates unfair competition against genuine businesses that rely on real income.
Injections of illegal capital can also push up prices in markets like real estate, livestock, and vehicle sales, driven by criminals’ need to place large cash volumes rather than market forces.
At a systemic level, the problem risks damaging Costa Rica’s reputation internationally. Increased flows of untraceable money raise scrutiny from correspondent banks and international bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This leads to higher compliance costs for financial institutions and companies, which must strengthen controls and monitoring to avoid becoming unwitting conduits for money laundering.
Why Is Detection So Hard?
Investigating money laundering is complex. Authorities must prove that illicit money exists, identify the crime generating it, and reconstruct how it was made to look legal. Criminals constantly refine their techniques, exploiting new technologies, which forces investigators to keep upgrading their skills.
A Sugef risk assessment flagged difficulties tracing some foreign-origin funds, especially remittances and transfers. Costa Rica receives nearly four times more money through remittances than it sends abroad, complicating efforts to trace origins and detect links to illicit activities.
The high circulation of foreign currency cash also raises red flags, as it might reflect untraceable money flowing into the country.
Remittance companies ranked as the highest-risk sector analyzed, given the challenges in identifying senders, verifying funds’ origins, and spotting suspicious patterns that could signal criminal networks.
Rising Numbers Reflect Growing Challenge
Data from the OIJ shows confiscations linked to money laundering rose sharply: from ¢3.35 billion colones in 2024 to over ¢9 billion in 2025. By mid-2026, seizures already matched the entire 2024 total.
When combined with data from the ICD and other agencies, the scale is staggering. Between January and October 2024, authorities seized ¢57.5 billion linked to illicit activities—a 1,300% increase over 2023.
Reports of suspicious operations detected by financial entities also doubled from 2023 to 2025, indicating intensified monitoring and possibly more illicit activity.
As criminal groups refine their methods, the growing volume of seized funds reflects the huge scale of money laundering in Costa Rica—as well as the mounting pressure on the country to safeguard its economy and financial system from corruption.
This article, originally published in Spanish in El Financiero, has been translated into English, and the content has been curated and refined with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools. Readers are encouraged to consider the original Spanish version for the most authentic representation of the source material.
Q COSTA RICA — The high temperatures caused by El Niño in Costa Rica are already generating concern in the health sector, as the temperature increase of up to 2°C in the North Pacific region could continue for the next few months and extend into the dry season of 2027, with potential impact on the health of children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses.
The national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), detailed that the Central Valley, the Central Pacific, the South Pacific, and part of the Northern Zone will experience increases of between 1°C and 1.5°C. In the North Pacific, the rise will reach 2°C above the usual average.
Dr. Marco Gómez, an internist and professor at the Universidad Hispanoamericana, explained that even a seemingly minor increase in temperature can exacerbate heat stress and lead to health problems if preventive measures are not taken.
Heatstroke, the most serious complication, can result in multiple organ failure and death if the body is not cooled quickly.
Constant hydration is essential to prevent complications.
Gómez emphasized that waiting until you feel thirsty is not advisable, as it indicates that the body has already begun to lose water. Therefore, he recommended drinking fluids regularly throughout the day, especially when engaging in outdoor activities, where it is ideal to drink a glass of water every 15 to 20 minutes.
Specific Risks and Recommendations for the Public
Direct sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. increases the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Experts suggest avoiding these hours, seeking shade, wearing light clothing, and applying sunscreen.
Children, the elderly, and pets should not be left inside closed vehicles.
Nutritionist Yorleny Chacón, director of the School of Nutrition at the Universidad Hispanoamericana, recommended drinking two liters of water daily, distributed throughout the day.
For those who don’t enjoy plain water, she suggested adding mint, spearmint, or lemon slices. She advised against sugary drinks or electrolyte solutions for people with diabetes because they can disrupt blood glucose control.
Outdoor workers and athletes are another at-risk group due to the accelerated loss of water and electrolytes in the heat. In patients with kidney disease, increased temperature can impair kidney function. In those with diabetes or hypertension, dehydration can be exacerbated by the characteristics of these conditions or by medications.
Heatstroke: Symptoms and Urgent Responses
Not all heat-related conditions are equally severe. Gómez differentiated between dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, the latter being the most severe.
The appearance of symptoms such as confusion, high fever, hot and dry skin, or loss of consciousness requires immediate medical intervention and rapid cooling measures: move the person to a cool place, remove excess clothing, and apply cold compresses to the neck, armpits, and groin, according to Dr. Gómez.
A common mistake is assuming that the risk decreases by being in the water. The specialist warned that many people spend hours in pools or at beaches without adequately hydrating, believing that the feeling of coolness is enough to protect them.
Also not recommended is the use of alcoholic or energy drinks to hydrate, nor to expose oneself to the sun for prolonged periods for cosmetic purposes.
The El Niño phenomenon requires strengthening prevention efforts and modifying habits to avoid serious health complications in the face of extreme temperatures.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. El Niño is the warm phase of a natural climate pattern known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), characterized by an abnormal warming of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
This change disrupts the balance of the trade winds, which usually blow from east to west, weakening them or even reversing their direction. As a result, temperatures and rainfall patterns are drastically altered on a global scale.
This phenomenon recurs irregularly in cycles of two to seven years, and its direct effects typically last between nine and twelve months. Its historical name comes from fishermen in Peru and Ecuador, who noticed unusually warm currents around Christmas time, associating the event with the Christ Child.
The impact of El Niño does not manifest itself in the same way everywhere, but rather generates extreme and opposing climatic conditions depending on the geography.
In Central America, a reduction in rainfall, marked increases in temperature and prolonged droughts predominate, particularly affecting the agricultural and water supply sectors.
Q COSTA RICA — Fuel prices will change starting in August, with super gasoline decreasing by ¢55 colones per liter, from ¢756 to ¢701 colones, and diesel decreasing by ¢79 colones, from ¢683 to ¢604 colones.
Regular gasoline will remain at ¢755 colones per liter.
This was announced Friday by the Refinadora Costarricense de Petroleo (Recope) — Costa Rica’s refinery that refines nothing, after submitting the adjustment request to the Public Services Regulatory Authority, the Aresep, the entity responsible for analyzing the information and setting the new prices.
According to Recope, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), using in many kitchens across the country, will also see some relief, with the 25-pound cylinder of gas, the most commonly used in homes, decreasing by 444 colones.
The price of the cylinder will drop from ¢7,440 colones to ¢6,996 colones.
Why the price reduction?
Recope attributes the price reduction to the decrease in fuel purchase prices on the international market.
“From an international analysis perspective, the drop in crude oil prices during the June-July 2026 period is due to a scenario of increased supply, and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz has helped to moderate geopolitical tensions,” the company reported.
They also justify this price reduction by citing the appreciation of the colón against the dollar.
Recope’s president, Karla Montero, warned that fuel prices could experience further fluctuations in the short term due to international factors, such as armed conflicts, wars, and decisions made by oil-producing countries.
Regarding regular gasoline, the price will remain unchanged “because no new shipments of this product were registered during the pricing period, as available inventories allowed us to meet national demand,” Recope stated.
Q COSTA RICA — The low dollar exchange comes at a price for all Costa Ricans, and the government is no exception.
The Ministry of Finance acknowledged that the historically low exchange rate has been costly, this is due to a reduction in income tax of approximately ¢98 billion colones and in the Impuesto al Valor Agregado (IVA) — Value Added Tax— of approximately ¢87 billion colones, as reported today by La Nación.
“If we have some major taxpayers experiencing a foreign exchange loss due to the lower exchange rate, then obviously there is less income tax to pay. The low exchange rate affects us,” admitted Víctor Carvajal, Deputy Minister of Revenue.
On Friday, the dollar closed at ¢452.96 colones in the Foreign Exchange Market (Forex). This represents a reduction of more than ¢50 colones per unit so far this year.
On the other hand, if the previous day’s performance is any indication, the dollar exchange rate will not exceed ¢500 colones for the remainder of the year, and according to economic experts, it is likely to close around 480 colones.
This is positive news for those with dollar-denominated debts, but it also confirms more difficult days ahead for those who receive their income in dollars, regardless of whether they are salaried employees, small businesses, or large multinational corporations.
In this sense, the war in the Middle East between the United States and Iran has not, to date, exerted enough pressure to affect the local exchange rate.
But what is causing the colón to remain appreciated against the dollar? And what can be done to mitigate the impact?
The behavior of the exchange rate is due to a set of factors that have operated simultaneously and favorably for the country, according to Elizabeth Morales, assistant manager of Coopecaja.
“Costa Rica has seen a sustained inflow of foreign currency (dollars) from its main sources: exports of goods and services, tourism, foreign direct investment, and remittances. This abundant supply of dollars in the local market puts upward pressure on the colón and downward pressure on the dollar,” the expert explained.
At the same time, the Central Bank has maintained a sound monetary policy, with interest rates in colones that have proven attractive to savers, thus reducing speculative demand for foreign currency.
Added to this is an environment of controlled inflation and public finances with a more stable outlook than in previous years, which improves investor confidence in the colón.
