Q COSTARICA — Washington’s increased presence in Latin American affairs has been noticeable since President Donald Trump began his second term last January.
Meanwhile, in the political and electoral arena, Trump has already done so in Argentina and, more recently, in Honduras, with direct messages in favor of candidates and political groups during the electoral campaigns that tipped the scales in these countries.
In the case of Argentina, Trump directed messages of support toward the La Libertad Avanza party of President Javier Milei in the legislative elections last October; he also threatened to withhold millions of dollars in economic aid to the South American nation if the party lost.
A month later, a similar situation arose in the Honduran presidential elections. In this case, he ended up supporting Nasry Asfura, of the traditional right-wing conservative National Party, asserting that he “was the only true ally of freedom in Honduras,” while also pardoning former president Juan Orlando Hernández, accused of drug trafficking and belonging to the same party as Asfura.
And Costa Rica?
Three weeks before the presidential elections, the United States has remained on the sidelines of any political pronouncements regarding the elections.
However, experts at the Universidad Nacional (UNA) — National University — do not rule out the possibility that Trump will make some political statement regarding the elections.
“There is a global trend of conservative leaders influencing the electoral processes of other countries; therefore, it would not be surprising if, in the case of Costa Rica, Trump expresses some support, especially through his social network (Truth Social), in the electoral process, offering the possibility of increasing assistance or cooperation programs if the ruling party wins,” stated Carlos Murillo, an academic at the School of International Relations at the UNA.
For his part, José Andrés Díaz, from Idespo-UNA, emphasized that the second Trump administration is resuming a more interventionist policy toward Latin America.
“This new tension could translate into diplomatic, economic, or even security pressure on Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, creating the conditions to influence political processes directly or indirectly,” the academic stated.
Q COSTARICA — Under the headline, “Family seeks answers after ICE deports man in vegetative state to Costa Rica,” the prestigious UK-based newspaper The Guardian published the story of Gamboa Esquivel, the Costa Rican who was deported from the United States in a vegetative state and later died on his home soil.
Before leaving for the United States in 2024, in search of the American dream, Gamboa was in excellent health, while at the time of his deportation, his condition was deplorable.
According to The Guardian, Gamboa was initially detained at the Webb County Detention Center in Laredo, and later transferred to the Port Isabel Detention Center in Los Fresnos, both in South Texas.
Nearly ten months later, in September 2025, the Trump administration airlifted the 52-year-old to Costa Rica.
“He never regained consciousness, and five weeks later, Gamboa was pronounced dead at a hospital in Pérez Zeledón, his hometown,” the publication states.
His younger sister, Greidy Mata, said she is still trying to understand how his health deteriorated so drastically while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mata recounted that Gamboa sounded and looked healthy during video calls while he was detained, until June 12, the date of their last conversation, after which he seemed to disappear.
Mata waited for weeks for news of him, unaware that Gamboa had suffered a health crisis.
“My brother disappeared, and we had to go to agencies, lawyers, consulates, anyone who would help us. How is it possible that a man who left healthy, tall, chubby, and robust, returned dirty, looking neglected, with ulcers all over his body, in a vegetative state?” she added.
According to a document included in the medical records and issued by the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)—a service within ICE that provides medical care in immigration custody and evaluates people scheduled for deportation—Gamboa was hospitalized with an “altered mental state.”
The document also indicates that he was taking antipsychotic and antidepressant medications.
Family and friends denied that Gamboa had a history of mental illness before migrating to the United States.
Tricia McLaughlin, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency to which ICE belongs, stated in an email response when asked about Gamboa’s arrest and health status:
“While in custody, he was diagnosed with unspecified psychosis by medical professionals and hospitalized at Valley Baptist Hospital to receive appropriate medical and mental health care.”
By July 7, Gamboa had been diagnosed with at least ten conditions, according to hospital medical records.
Sepsis—a life-threatening reaction to infection—was listed as the primary diagnosis, followed by rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down rapidly.
Other conditions described in the records include protein malnutrition and toxic encephalopathy, caused by infection or prolonged exposure to drugs, radiation, or metals, which impairs brain function.
He also did not answer a series of questions, including whether any of his consular officials visited Gamboa during his hospitalization in Texas.
The infirmary of Port Isabel detention facility in Texas in 2008. Photograph: José Cabezas/AFP/Getty Images
Demanding explanations
On October 27, the government of Rodrigo Chaves announced that it would take all necessary steps to clarify Randall’s death.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deeply regrets the passing of Costa Rican citizen Randall Gamboa Esquivel and expresses its sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. The Ministry will continue to make every effort to clarify the circumstances surrounding his detention and subsequent transfer to Costa Rica,” the government said in a statement.
During the time Mr. Gamboa was in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Costa Rican Consulate General in Houston monitored his case, taking all possible actions within the framework of international law and applicable local regulations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
One political figure in Costa Rica who has expressed support for Gamboa’s family is the nation’s former president, Óscar Arias, the winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize.
“Randall Gamboa entered the [US] illegally but in perfect physical condition,” Arias wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Q COSTARICA — This Sunday, January 11, during her first national debate, Laura Fernández, the ruling party candidate from the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), had to dodge “fierce attacks” from her opponents in the event organized by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE)—the elections tribunal.
The format established by the electoral body not only allowed for the presentation of proposals but also included reproaches, counterattacks, and recriminations as part of the debate’s repertoire.
For example, Claudio Alpízar, of Esperanza Nacional, stated that if the current administration continues, homicides will rise from 3,000 to 8,000 in four years.
The leader of the emerging party also questioned “the disaster” left by former Minister of Education Anna Katharina Müller, who, despite this, was rewarded with a seat in Congress.
Alpízar also criticized Fernández’s handling of the public employment law, which, according to him, has negatively impacted the public sector.
“You know that the nation’s teachers are suffering greatly today because of you. As Minister of Planning, you were terrible; you were the one who approved the regulations that disrupted the entire national salary structure, and now the entire public sector is in a deplorable state. (…) During this administration, you had a Minister of Education who was a complete failure. She failed at everything. She couldn’t even present the education roadmap, and when she was supposed to, she ran away, she resigned. We never heard the continuity candidate speak about it, and the worst part is that she was rewarded with a candidacy for Congress,” Alpízar said.
Narco (Drug Trafficking) and the Government
Meanwhile, Eli Feinzaig, of the Partido Liberal Progresista (PLP), emphasized that continuing with ‘Chavismo’ would be handing the country over to drug trafficking.
Feinzaig even pointed out that the PPSO has nominated José Miguel Villalobos, a lawyer who is a personal advisor to the president and who has defended drug traffickers in the past, as its candidate for legislator in Alajuela.
“It would be like handing our youth over to drug trafficking… Your government, Ms. Laura, removed the coast guard service from the coast. You removed the Drug Control Police from ports and airports and turned off the radars. You haven’t just failed to combat drug trafficking, you don’t want to because you are part of it. Among your candidates for legislator is a lawyer for drug traffickers, the same one who defends Cháves,” Feinzaig stated.
To top it all off, Alpízar later pointed out that this same congressional candidate owes money to the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)—the social security fund that foreigners are required to register to and maintain funding to obtain and renew their residency—and that Marta Esquivel, the CCSS’s former president, is one of the people who has done the most damage to the institution, and yet she was nominated as a congressional candidate.
Laura: They’re trying to gang up on me.
For her part, Fernández didn’t back down from her rivals’ attacks and asserted that not even a gang could hurt her.
“You, Mr. Eli, have the audacity to speak to me here about the candidates for Congress from the PPSO, when just yesterday one of your candidates from the PLP gave her endorsement to none other than the Communist Party of this country. Oh, Mr. Eli, you have the audacity, you and all the other gentlemen here, to come here in a mob and try to kick me (…) how obvious it is that you don’t know me and that you haven’t the slightest idea of what I’m made of? This government inherited Costa Rica practically in ruins and has made a heroic effort to restore security. We installed scanners at the ports; ignorance is audacious,” Fernández said.
Fernández has positioned herself as a continuation of President Rodrigo Chaves’ policies, embracing many of his key initiatives. Supporters argue that this alignment offers stability and clear direction, while detractors view this close association as a sign that Fernández lacks independent vision, increasingly portrayed by detractors as a puppet of President Rodrigo Chaves.
Costa Ricans go to the polls on Sunday, February 1, 2026
RICO’s Q (OPINION) Laura Fernández, Costa Rica’s presidential candidate, has found herself at the center of a growing controversy as critics increasingly portray her as a puppet of President Rodrigo Chaves.
The narrative has gained traction amid mounting political tensions and a public eager to scrutinize the alliances shaping the country’s future.
Fernández, a relatively new face on the presidential stage, has positioned herself as a continuation of Chaves’ policies, embracing many of his key initiatives.
Supporters argue this alignment offers stability and clear direction for Costa Rica, especially after recent years marked by economic challenges and political uncertainty. Yet, detractors see this close association as a sign that Fernández lacks independent vision, instead serving as an extension of Chaves’ political agenda.
The criticism stems largely from Fernández’s campaign rhetoric and policy proposals, which mirror Chaves’ priorities on issues such as fiscal reform and public security.
Political analysts note how her speeches frequently echo the president’s language, and her campaign appearances often include endorsements from Chaves’ inner circle. This has fueled speculation that her rise is less about her own political merit and more about maintaining Chaves’ influence beyond his term.
Opposition leaders have been quick to capitalize on this perception, framing Fernández as a figurehead controlled by Chaves. They warn that a Fernández presidency would mean continued dominance of the current administration’s style of governance, which some view as increasingly authoritarian.
These critiques resonate with voters wary of concentrated power and eager for fresh leadership unburdened by established political ties.
Yet, Fernández’s team pushes back against the puppet accusations, insisting she is an autonomous candidate with her own ideas and commitment to Costa Rica’s progress. They point to her professional background and policy expertise as evidence of her capacity to lead independently. Still, the shadow of Chaves’ influence remains a persistent theme in the public discourse.
As Costa Rica heads toward its next election, the question of Fernández’s independence from Rodrigo Chaves will likely shape the debate. Whether voters see her as a genuine leader or merely an extension of the current presidency could determine not only her political fate but the direction of the nation’s governance in the years to come.
Laura Fernandez
Laura Virginia Fernández Delgado (Puntarenas, July 4, 1986) is a Costa Rican politician. She previously served as Ministra de la Presidencia (Chief of Staff)from 2024 to 2025 and as Ministra de Planificación Nacional y Política Económica (Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy) from 2022 to 2025, in the administration of President Rodrigo Chaves.
She is currently the presidential candidate for the right-wing Partido Pueblo Soberano Party.
Costa Ricans go to the polls on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
In Costa Rica’s presidential elections, candidates (there are 20 in this election cycle) must secure at least 40% of the vote to claim victory outright, a rule that shapes the country’s political landscape and electoral strategy. This threshold means that if no candidate reaches this mark, the top two contenders face off in a runoff in April, ensuring the eventual winner has broad support.
Q COSTARICA — Since early this Friday morning, agents from the Specialized Section Against Computer Fraud of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) have been conducting Operation Nexus.2.
The operation consists of 13 raids with the intention of arresting eight people, allegedly linked to the crime of computer fraud.
This is a continuation of Case Nexus, initiated in 2025 in conjunction with the Colombian National Police.
The project is based on the detection, since 2023, of an apparent type of computer fraud in which alleged cybercriminals created websites that mimicked the real websites of financial institutions.
By doing so, it appears that victims were tricked into accessing these websites, believing they were on the legitimate ones.
“This is how the suspects allegedly managed to obtain sensitive information from the victims and steal money from their bank accounts,” explained the OIJ.
Nexus.2 Connected Costa Rica and Colombia
The Nexus case investigation determined that several IP addresses corresponded to physical addresses in Colombia. It is presumed that the fake websites were being developed there.
Based on this, Colombian authorities conducted three raids in 2025.
On that occasion, it appears that the money obtained through the online scams was withdrawn in Costa Rica. As a result, arrests were made, destination accounts were frozen, suspected front men were detained, and nine raids were carried out on homes and businesses where, according to bank logs, connections were made to access the bank’s website and the victims’ accounts.
The financial losses from this first phase amounted to ¢35 million colones, divided among 25 related cases.
Operation Nexus 2.0 is a continuation of the Nexus case, comprised of 23 complaints filed between 2024 and 2025. This time, the thefts totaled approximately ¢34.6 million colones and US$5,000.00.
“This investigation identified account destinations, alleged front men, and IP addresses, leading to the arrest today of eight suspects,” summarized the OIJ (Judicial Investigation Agency).
Q COSTARICA — In a video, former President Carlos Alvarado (2018-2022) apologized to all of Costa Rica for bringing Rodrigo Chaves to the country and appointing him as Minister of Finance in November 2019.
He also called Chaves a liar for stating this Wednesday that he is saving his presidential pension to collect it later.
Even before leaving office, Alvarado had stated that he would not collect his pension.
“I faced a very difficult time in which very tough decisions had to be made. I believe many did good for the country; I made mistakes in others, but if I made a mistake in anything, it was bringing you to the country, and for that I apologize to all Costa Ricans for that error I made. I take responsibility. Your greatest talent is being a great liar,” Alvarado said.
Por medio de un video, el expresidente Carlos Alvarado pidió disculpas a toda Costa Rica “por haber traído” al país a Rodrigo Chaves y nombrarlo como ministro de Hacienda en noviembre de 2019, a la vez que lo llamó mentiroso. pic.twitter.com/wsp9pFV7KV
Chaves, who worked for the World Bank before returning to Costa Rica after being abroad for more than 30 years, was dismissed by Alvarado from his position as Minister of Finance just six months after taking office.
The former president’s remarks come three weeks before the elections, in which Claudia Dobles, former first lady and Alvarado’s wife, is the candidate for the Coalición Agenda Ciudadana.
Dobles is going up against 19 other candidates, including Laura Fernandez, of the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), who has found herself at the center of a growing controversy as critics increasingly portray her as a puppet of President Rodrigo Chaves.
“Today, education is worse, the Social Security System is in dire straits, and security is at rock bottom; drug trafficking has infiltrated the entire country with its money, with homicides, with insecurity. And what is your response? You don’t respond; you shift blame.
“When you’re a former president, you go out into the street, without bodyguards carrying high-caliber weapons, and answer directly to the Costa Rican people; some thank you, and others don’t like you. But that’s what you have to do when you’re a former president, not hide behind immunity or make excuses. You are a big liar,” Alvarado concluded.
China’s president Xi Jinping meets representatives of national role models at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing this month. Photograph: Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock
Q REPORTS (EFE) — The U.S. intervention in Venezuela is testing China’s influence in Latin America and has left the region’s countries between a rock and a hard place, pressured by Washington but reluctant to turn their backs on Beijing due to the enormous commercial interests at stake.
Hours before being captured by U.S. troops, Maduro met with China’s top diplomat for Latin American affairs, Special Envoy Qiu Xiaoqi, whose presence in Venezuela at that precise moment suggests that the Asian giant was completely unaware of what was about to happen.
However, what does surprise China is the US’s irritation at its growing influence in the region, where direct Chinese investment increased sevenfold between 2010 and 2019, compared to the previous decade, reaching US$14.71 billion in 2024 alone, according to data from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
These are strategic investments that have alleviated Latin America’s endemic deficit in transportation, communications, and technology infrastructure: the port of Chancay in Peru, electric car factories in Mexico and Brazil, and the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal are some examples.
A Historic Setback
“For Latin American countries, the situation is ruinous, a tragedy. The U.S. will never be able to meet the expectations arising from its economic or commercial relationship with China. Nor does it intend to. We will witness a peculiar kind of ‘acupuncture’ in which the U.S. will dictate what can and cannot be done with China,” argues Xulio Ríos, former director of the Observatory of Chinese Politics.
In his opinion, “it is not only a humiliating affront to national dignity and sovereignty but also a historic setback for the region, whose right to development will be sacrificed on the altar of submission to the empire.”
However, several diplomatic sources consulted by EFE believe that there is no “Donroe Doctrine” (as US President Donald Trump has dubbed his new crusade for regional dominance) that can reverse two decades of Chinese progress in a matter of months or undo the strong trade ties forged during that period, including Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru, and others currently under negotiation.
Beijing is now Latin America’s second-largest trading partner, with trade reaching US$518.47 billion in 2024, a 6% increase over the previous year. Soybeans and mining products imported by China, and electric vehicles, industrial machinery, and technology sold by the Asian giant, account for a significant portion of this trade.
Economic Pragmatism Over Ideology
Most Latin American countries have strengthened their embassies in China in recent years, illustrating how these ties are governed by pragmatism rather than political alignment, the same sources agree. For example, consider the diluted campaign promises of Argentina’s Javier Milei, who pledged to sever ties with Beijing but has failed to do so.
Furthermore, the Chinese market is one of the main alternatives for Latin America in the face of the US trade war, and the same is true in the opposite scenario.
Politically, and despite the increasingly evident rightward shift in the region, China still has powerful allies like Brazil and Colombia, countries that have unequivocally condemned US actions. However, according to Ríos, “the neoliberal wave represents a growing alignment of the region’s governments with US interests.”
“Left-wing governments could respond by forging closer ties with China, but this doesn’t solve their main problem: security,” an area where China’s influence in the region is practically nonexistent. Xi’s Nightmare
In the short term, some analysts don’t expect Beijing to opt for open confrontation with Washington, but rather to use what has happened to try to reassert itself as the undisputed leader of the Global South in the face of Washington’s intimidating tactics.
“Beijing will maintain a high diplomatic profile but will tend to avoid confronting the US over Latin America because it could bring greater pressure in East Asia,” says Song Luzheng, an International Relations researcher at Fudan University, quoted by local media.
Xulio Ríos believes that “China will try to secure its interests and investments and limit the damage,” although he doesn’t rule out active self-defense “because this dynamic won’t stop in Latin America, and it knows it.”
“Once Trump disciplines his partners and allies, including Europeans, he will go even more decisively after China, which is his great strategic rival. And Trump’s dream of ‘making America great again’ will become Xi’s nightmare,” he predicts.
Q COSTARICA — The renowned Spanish lifestyle magazines and platforms Men’s Health and Women’s Health awarded Costa Rica the “Best International Destination” prize in their “Healthy Places 2025” awards.
This recognition distinguishes destinations and brands that are committed to health, active living, and holistic well-being.
The award ceremony took place in Spain in December, and the award remains valid throughout 2026.
Costa Rica was selected as the ideal setting to enjoy wellness and improve physical and mental health, allowing visitors to disconnect in direct contact with nature.
William Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, noted that the Spanish media based this award on the country’s iconic “Pura Vida” lifestyle, its commitment to biodiversity protection, and its wide range of outdoor activities.
“This award highlights our unforgettable experiences and the unparalleled beauty of our National Parks as cornerstones of a healthy tourism offering,” he stated.
These awards feature six categories designed to recognize the world’s healthiest and most adventurous destinations. Selection criteria are based on the destination’s ability to combine wellness with the latest longevity trends, such as daily exercise in natural environments, quality rest and digital detox, as well as a balanced diet of locally sourced ingredients.
Spain is the sixth largest source of tourists to Costa Rica. In 2025, Costa Rica welcomed more than 50,000 Spanish travelers, according to the most recent data from the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT). The total flow of European travelers reached just over 400,000 visitors by the end of last year, reaffirming Costa Rica’s position as a leading destination in Europe.
Costa Rica, a desirable destination in 2026
Additionally, during December 2025 and January 2026, destinations such as the Osa Peninsula, in the province of Puntarenas, Nosara in the province of Guanacaste, and the province of Limón were included as trending destinations in prestigious lists of must-see places to visit during the year, published by specialized tourism media outlets such as The New York Times Travel, Forbes, and Travel & Leisure.
The Osa Peninsula ranked fourth in the world and first in Latin America on the New York Times list of “52 Places to Visit in 2026,” published on Wednesday, January 7. According to the prestigious publication, Osa was selected for its beaches, unexplored forests, the biodiversity of Corcovado National Park, the abundant marine life of Isla del Caño, and the revitalized tourism offerings of Uvita and Ojochal.
Meanwhile, Nosara was included in Forbes Magazine’s Top 10 list of the best adventure destinations “worth considering.” The publication highlighted the scenic beauty of the beach and its diverse tourist activities, as well as its status as a must-visit spot for surfing.
Finally, the province of Limón was listed—according to Travel & Leisure, based on a Skyscanner study—as the number one trending destination for travelers who love dreamy beaches and rainforest hikes in 2026.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica’s president, Rodrigo Chaves, issued a strong statement following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States.
Rodrigo Chaves on Maduro’s capture: “Venezuela wasn’t invaded by a U.S. military force, but there are laws that consider drug trafficking a very serious crime.”
Chaves emphasized that “my government declared from the beginning that Maduro committed electoral fraud – therefore, he was never a legitimate president, and now he must answer for his crimes in Venezuela and abroad.”
“May God bless the brave Venezuelan people and help them recover the democracy and the rule of law that the deposed dictator Maduro stole from them,” he declared.
“Let us celebrate this new opportunity for our Venezuelan brothers and sisters,” the president concluded.
Costa Rica’s president has so far avoided commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will manage Venezuela.
La Nacion reports that President Chaves stated that he is ashamed that Costa Rican political figures are defending Nicolás Maduro, reiterating on Wednesday that Venezuela was not invaded by any U.S. military force, but rather that “there are American laws” upon which the Donald Trump administration based its decision to arrest Maduro.
Q24N (Nicaragua Investiga) Thousands of Sandinistas are active throughout the country following the overthrow of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, according to information obtained by Nicaragua Investiga through several independent sources.
This surveillance includes neighborhoods, municipalities, departments, and, of course, Managua.
The order includes monitoring social media, the last remaining bastion of dissent within Nicaragua.
⚠️ ROSARIO MURILLO ENTRA EN PÁNICO AL VER A MADURO ENFRENTANDO A EEUU ⚠️
🇳🇮❌ Tras la captura de Nicolás Maduro por parte de Estados Unidos, Murillo rompió su silencio para denunciar lo que considera un “secuestro” y una violación a la paz continental, exigiendo un trato digno… pic.twitter.com/S79UeKXUlF
The regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo has launched a large-scale deployment of armed forces and police throughout Nicaragua. This measure, which includes joint patrols in urban and coastal areas, was activated in response to the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, with the aim of preventing unrest and silencing dissenting voices.
“Be careful, they’re watching those who post in favor of Maduro’s capture in Venezuela,” reads a WhatsApp message obtained by this news outlet.
Other reported actions include targeted arrests of individuals who posted on social media about Maduro’s arrest. Key leaders such as the police chief, Francisco Díaz, and Julio César Avilés, the army commander, coordinate these operations under direct orders from Ortega and Murillo from their headquarters in El Carmen, the residence and informal presidential offices of the dictatorship.
In this way, the regime aims to eliminate any chance of internal betrayal or resistance amid regional turmoil sparked by the possible fall of ‘Chavismo,’ a left-wing ideological current and a Venezuelan political movement inspired by the ideals of Hugo Chávez.
Furthermore, the Sandinistas are preparing for a march on January 10, 2026, to commemorate 19 years in power, with the participation of party structures and paramilitary groups.
Q24N (Nicaragua Investiga) The detention of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas, following a U.S. military incursion into Venezuela last weekend, raises questions about how the Sandinista regime may be affected in various ways, including economically.
During the government of the late Hugo Chávez, the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo was one of the main beneficiaries of Venezuelan petrodollars, which flooded Nicaragua’s economy and enriched the personal wealth of the dictators, their inner circle of Sandinista businesspeople, and even the children of the ruling couple.
But with Nicolás Maduro’s rise to power after Chávez’s death in April 2013, the fall in oil prices, and an internal crisis that ultimately led to his downfall due to U.S. intervention, relations between Maduro and the Ortega-Murillo duo became more ideological and political than economic.
Political and Ideological Support
Nicaragua remained and continues to be part of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), but Petrocaribe stopped funding the regime that, in recent years, cemented its economic stability with exports to the United States. This is despite sharing with Chavismo widespread human rights violations and persecution of dissent, the difference being that, despite Sandinista rhetoric, they did not engage in a major conflict with the northern giant.
Nicaraguan economist Enrique Sáez, currently in exile, reports that, in economic terms, Nicaraguan exports to Venezuela in 2025 barely reached US$4 million, while those of the Chavista regime to Nicaragua did not exceed US$2 million, figures that date back to October of last year.
In the case of oil, the Sandinista regime’s dependence on crude oil is on the United States, its vital support in the economy, both in this matter and in other minerals such as gold and manufactured products that come from the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic (DR-CAFTA).
Nicaragua in Suspense Due to Its Affinity with Russia and China
However, it remains a concern that the regime’s political affinity with major U.S. rivals like China and Russia might not be affected by Maduro’s fall. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (UST) already signaled this, deciding after a year of investigations to impose gradual tariffs on the country. Although they went into effect on January 1, 2026, they will take full effect starting in 2027, beginning at 10% and rising to 15% in 2018, following the decision adopted last December.
Perhaps for this reason, Ortega and Murillo have been more restrained in their solidarity with Maduro’s Venezuela, although both called for his release, both in an internal statement to the country and during the extraordinary session of the UN Security Council held on Monday, January 5, where they also advocated for the freedom of the former Chavista leader’s wife, Cilia Flores.
For now, they have not yet endorsed the continuation of Chavismo with Delcy Rodríguez at the helm as interim president, nor have they commented on the oversight of Donald Trump and his administration over Caracas.
But in general terms, the economic impact of Maduro’s ouster is negligible, and for now, Ortega and Murillo can breathe easy, although anything can be expected from the Republican leader.
Translated and adapted from “Cuál será el impacto económico de la caída de Nicolás Maduro en Nicaragua” published at Nicaraguainvestiga.com. Read the original in Spanish here.
Q COSTARICA — The Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR)—Central Bank of Costa Rica —established the new maximum annual interest rates that financial institutions can charge for loans and microloans during the first half of 2026, following their official publication this Tuesday.
For loans in general, the cap was set at 36.27% annually in colones and 30.39% in U.S. dollars. For microloans, the maximum permitted rates will be higher: 51.21% in colones and 43.03% in U.S. dollars.
Additionally, for loans denominated in other currencies, the annual interest rate limit was set at 7.50%.
These rates are calculated based on the average of the active rates negotiated during the last 12 months, specifically between January and December 2025.
The caps are in accordance with the Ley de Promoción de la Competencia y Defensa Efectiva del Consumidor (Law for the Promotion of Competition and Effective Consumer Protection), which empowers the Central Bank to define these caps twice a year, in the first week of January and July.
The Central Bank reiterated that these limits aim to prevent excessive charges and apply to all contracts, business deals, or lending transactions signed during the six months following their publication, that is, until June 2026.
The maximum rates can be consulted on the Central Bank’s website, in the economic indicators section, where they are updated semi-annually.
Q COSTARICA — Presidential candidate Claudia Dobles, of the Agenda Ciudadana,, questioned Laura Fernández’s decision on Tuesday to boycott several presidential debates organized by media outlets, asserting that this stance reflects a lack of courage and commitment to accountability.
Dobles reacted after Fernández’s campaign team confirmed that the ruling party candidate would not participate in the debates organized by Teletica Canal 7, Canal OPA, and Grupo Extra.
A total of ten debates are scheduled for this month.
“Attending only four debates demonstrates a lack of courage. Governing requires facing the public and being accountable to Costa Ricans. Those who shy away from debate today will flee from problems tomorrow. I respectfully ask Laura Fernández’s campaign team to grant her permission to debate,” Dobles stated.
The Campaign Command’s Decision
This Tuesday, Francisco Gamboa, campaign manager and vice-presidential candidate for Pueblo Soberano, confirmed that Fernández will participate in ONLY four debates.
He explained that the decision is part of a strategy to “put Costa Ricans at the center of the campaign” and avoid, in his view, spaces that have become stages for attacks and malicious spectacles.
The news came hours after Douglas Sánchez, director of Canal OPA, publicly announced that the candidate would not participate in the debate organized by that channel, which raised eyebrows given the channel’s alleged close ties to the current government and the ruling party’s candidate.
“Since October 1, 2025, Laura Fernández’s presidential campaign has made a clear, firm, and strategic decision: to put the people of Costa Rica at the heart of the campaign. Our priority has been and will continue to be being with the people, listening to them, supporting them, and walking alongside them in every corner of the country. In response, some rivals—desperate for attention and struggling with their poll numbers—have tried to turn certain “debate” spaces into platforms for attack, lies, and spectacle. We will not play their game,” Gamboa stated.
Q COSTARICA — With three weeks to the presidential elections, Laura Fernández, the candidate for Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), is on track to win the presidency.
According to the polling firm CID Gallup, which revealed on Tuesday that the candidate has surpassed the 40% threshold for the first time in voting intentions, thus avoiding a runoff with the second-place candidate.
The polling firm gives the candidate 41% support, while her rivals trail far behind.
Furthermore, if those who said they are very likely to vote for Fernández are included, the candidate would reach 51% support.
Electoral law stipulates that to avoid a runoff two months after the election, at least one candidate must obtain more than 40% of the valid votes.
On the other hand, Álvaro Ramos, the presidential candidate for the Partido Liberacion Nacional (PLN), has only 9% of the vote intention, and Fabricio Alvarado, the perennial presidential candidate for the Nueva República, would garner 6% of the electorate’s support.
Finally, Ariel Robles, of the Frente Amplio, and Claudia Dobles, of the Coalición Agenda Ciudadana, each register 4%. The other candidates have 2% or less support.
The survey was conducted between December 29, 2025, and January 5, 2026, among 1,200 people, with a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.
Furthermore, 63% of voters indicated that they were “very likely” to vote on February 1st; 12% indicated that it was “somewhat likely,” and 24% stated that it was “not very likely or not at all likely.”
Polls in presidential elections
Presidential election polls have become a regular part of the political scene in Costa Rica, giving a snapshot of who voters are leaning toward as the race unfolds. Essentially, polls try to capture public opinion at a specific moment by surveying a sample of likely voters about their preferred candidate.
Early polls often reflect the immediate reactions to big events, but those feelings can shift a lot by the time Election Day arrives. Things like scandals, debates (which Laura Fernandez is choosing to avoid in her campaign), or changes in the economy can turn the tide in ways that polls taken weeks earlier just can’t predict.
Back in 2022, Jose Maria Figueres Olsen, a well-known figure in Costa Rican politics, threw his hat in the ring aiming to guide the country through economic recovery and social progress.
Polls initially showed Figueres—a former president from 1994 to 1998—as the clear frontrunner. But despite his experience and strong name recognition, he ended up losing to Rodrigo Chaves.
Q COSTARICA — Former president of Costa Rica, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, commented on the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States in a video posted on social media.
Rodríguez stated that he does not celebrate an invasion, but believes the action is justified given the prolonged breakdown of the democratic order in Venezuela.
“It is very difficult for me to congratulate or support the invasion, but I justify it,” the former president said at the beginning of his public statement on the Venezuelan situation.
He indicated that the justification is based on the violation of the human right to live in a democracy, recognized in the Carta Democrática Interamericana (CDI)—Inter-American Democratic Charter—a fundamental agreement of the OAS adopted in 2001 that defines democracy as a right of the people and a collective obligation of member states to strengthen it.
Rodríguez, who was Secretary General of the organization for a brief period in 2004, maintained that the region and the international community failed to support Venezuela against a narco-dictatorship that violated human rights for years.
“The organizations of the inter-American and global institutions were not able to provide the necessary support,” he stated in his reflection.
The former president lamented that military action was necessary after years of documented denunciations by continental and extra-continental human rights organizations.
“It’s heartbreaking that things have come to this!” Rodríguez exclaimed, recalling the failed attempts at international support since 2015.
He added that the focus now must be on restoring Venezuelan sovereignty, its productive capacity, and the country’s democratic reconstruction.
“What is needed now is for Venezuelans, united, to rebuild their democracy and their lives in their own sovereignty,” the former president stated.
Rodríguez concluded his message with a call for peace, unity, and respect for the election results in Venezuela.
“For Venezuela, my prayer is with God, that it may find peace and that those who won the elections may assume power,” he concluded.
Q24N (100% Noticias) The indictment filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Nicolás Maduro not only targets the Venezuelan power elite but also includes direct references to Nicaragua within the charges outlined. Specifically, subsection (h) of the document declassified on Saturday, January 3, mentions the country as part of a route used for international cocaine trafficking.
According to the official file, around 2009, Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and Hugo Armando Carvajal allegedly held a meeting with a representative of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in which they discussed a shipment of four tons of cocaine that the guerrilla group was preparing to transport to the so-called Cártel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns).
“Cabello ordered the FARC to deliver the cocaine to a specific location in Venezuela, where a jet would be waiting to transport the drugs to Nicaragua, for subsequent shipment to Mexico and importation into the United States,” the prosecution’s indictment details.
The official document also alleges that, following that meeting, Maduro traveled to Honduras, supposedly in his capacity as Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, with the objective of intervening on behalf of the Cartel of the Suns and preventing political events in that country from affecting the group’s drug trafficking operations.
Juan Sebastián Chamorro stated that the allegations contained in the indictment could have direct implications for the Daniel Ortega regime if the investigations are expanded.
“This administration can charge Cuba and Nicaragua for whatever they find in these accusations. It’s entirely feasible, because all it would take is a judge’s order to arrest the people involved, as was done today in Caracas,” Chamorro told 100% Noticias.
The analyst emphasized that the document explicitly mentions Nicaragua as the destination of one of the shipments. “On page 12, it says that Nicaragua received that shipment. If there is evidence to support that testimony, it will lead to charges,” he warned.
Chamorro added that, although Nicaragua is mentioned only once in the 28-page indictment, this allegation could have serious legal consequences: “This will have serious consequences for whoever provided access to that cocaine shipment. And with the head of the entire cartel in prison and cooperating to reduce his sentence, he will probably have to make some interesting confessions against Cuba and Nicaragua, and that could lead a judge to issue arrest warrants,” he concluded.
To date, the Nicaraguan regime has not commented on the allegations contained in the U.S. Department of Justice indictment. Meanwhile, the case remains under investigation and could lead to further legal action against alleged accomplices in the region.
Article translated and adapted from the article “Régimen de Nicaragua figura en acusación contra Maduro en EEUU” published at www.100noticias.tv. Read the original article in Spanish here.
Q COSTARICA (OPINION) The removal of Nicolás Maduro following a US military operation in Venezuela last Saturday will undoubtedly send shockwaves through Latin America. But the question on many minds in Costa Rica is whether such a major political event in its northern neighbor would ripple into its own economy.
In the case of Costa Rica, the impact would be practically nil. This is because trade relations between Costa Rica and Venezuela are minimal, so there are no direct channels for economic contagion.
Venezuela’s economy has been locked in crisis for years under Maduro’s rule, marked by hyperinflation, shortages, and sanctions that have isolated it from much of the global economy. Meanwhile, Costa Rica’s economy is more diversified, relying on tourism, technology, agriculture, and services.
Still, Venezuela has historically been an important player in regional politics and economics. Any significant upheaval in Caracas could unsettle markets and investor confidence across Latin America.
Costa Rica’s currency, the colón, and its stock market might experience short-term volatility driven by regional uncertainty. Businesses with supply chains or investments linked to Venezuela could face disruptions or reassess risks.
On the flip side, Costa Rica could see opportunities in the wake of political change in Venezuela. If Maduro’s removal leads to a stabilization and reopening of Venezuela’s economy, Costa Rican exporters might find a new market for their goods. Additionally, Costa Rica’s image as a stable democracy might attract investors and migrants seeking refuge from turmoil.
Economists caution that the immediate impact would likely be limited and indirect. Costa Rica’s economy is not heavily dependent on Venezuela, and the country has managed to maintain steady growth despite regional instability. The key factors will be how the removal influences broader geopolitical dynamics, international relations, and regional trade agreements.
For now, Costa Rica’s government and businesses are watching closely but focusing on domestic priorities. Venezuela’s situation is important for Latin America, but Costa Rica’s economy is strong enough to handle it without serious impact.
Regarding the Venezuelan community residing in the country, estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 people, any effects on domestic consumption are ruled out.
In the short term, no one is going to leave, and if someone were to, the impact on consumption would be so low as to be imperceptible to the Costa Rican economy.
The removal of Nicolás Maduro has been a headline-grabbing event with far-reaching consequences. But its effect on Costa Rica’s economic health is expected to be subtle rather than seismic—at least in the short term.
Q COSTARICA — A large group of Venezuelans living in Costa Rica gathered on Sunday, January 4th, in the Plaza de la Democracia, in downtown San José, to celebrate the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States, confirmed in the early hours of Saturday.
Throughout the morning, hundreds of people arrived at the plaza with Venezuelan flags, tricolor shirts, banners, and messages calling for the release of political prisoners.
The event unfolded in a mostly festive atmosphere, with applause, hugs, and chants, as attendees continued to share information about the events in Caracas and the international reactions.
On the streets of the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), cars with flags and beeping horns made their way through communities.
In the Plaza, entire families, seniors, and the young alike waved Venezuelan flags in celebration of what they consider a turning point in their home country’s political crisis. Some participants carried signs with slogans such as “Libertad para los presos políticos” and “Venezuela libre,” (Freedom for political prisoners and Free Venezuela) while others embraced each other, visibly moved.
Internationally, the reaction is one of high uncertainty about the political future of the South American country. The scenario unfolding after these events is complex and still uncertain, with multiple variables at play both inside and outside Venezuela.
For many Venezuelans presence in the Plaza, the day held symbolic significance: to celebrate an event from exile they consider historic, while awaiting profound changes in their country of origin.
Seismograph with paper in action and earthquake - 3D Rendering
Q COSTARICA — The South Pacific and Guanacaste are among the six areas where the highest seismic activity was recorded in Costa Rica during 2025, this is according to an analysis by the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of the National University (OVSICORI-UNA).
According to the institution, the six areas with the highest seismicity were:
Northern Guanacaste
Dominical-Uvita
Quepos
Coto Brus
Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco
Tilarán
These six regions stood out for the number of recorded events, their frequency, and their contribution to the seismic momentum released during the year.
“Furthermore, each of these areas reflects different tectonic processes, ranging from plate subduction to internal crustal faulting,” the experts emphasized.
“The differences between these zones are due to the geometry of the plates, the type of active faults, and the way in which tectonic deformation is released in each region,” they added.
Map courtesy of Ovsicori
Northern Guanacaste
According to OVSICORI, this area is primarily associated with the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the continental margin, as well as with the internal deformation of the overriding block.
The earthquakes were distributed between shallow and intermediate depths, demonstrating the interaction between crustal faults and the subducted plate.
“Throughout the year, the region exhibited persistent activity, with monthly fluctuations linked to specific seismic sequences, superimposed on a background seismicity regime,” they explained.
Although low- to moderate-magnitude earthquakes predominated, some events contributed significantly to the regional energy balance.
Dominical–Uvita
In the South Pacific, the Dominical–Uvita seismogenic zone stood out for its particularly complex tectonic dynamics.
The report explains that this region reflects the interaction between the Cocos Plate, the Panama Microplate, and a fragmented continental margin.
“This situation favors the occurrence of dense and highly concentrated seismic swarms,” the institution noted.
Throughout the year, activity was not uniform. A very significant increase was recorded in November, associated with a seismic sequence off the coast of Uvita and Dominical.
Although not characterized by large individual earthquakes, this zone stood out for the accumulation of energy released through multiple earthquakes.
Quepos
The Quepos area maintained significant seismic activity throughout the year, although July was the most active month.
“This region of the Central Pacific is associated with both the subduction of the Cocos Plate and crustal faulting of the upper block,” the report states.
Most earthquakes were concentrated at shallow and intermediate depths, a condition that favors the perception of moderate-magnitude events by the population.
During 2025, Quepos registered persistent activity, with temporary increases linked to specific sequences.
Although small earthquakes predominated, some events contributed disproportionately to the regional seismic moment.
“This behavior highlights Quepos’s role as an area capable of generating regionally significant earthquakes, even though the total number of large-magnitude events is limited,” the specialists emphasized.
Coto Brus
The Coto Brus area was distinguished by a complex tectonic regime, where subduction, internal deformation of the upper block, and crustal faulting converge.
“Because of this, it becomes one of the most relevant areas in terms of seismic moment release during the year analyzed,” Ovsicori highlighted.
The region is closely linked to the interaction between the Cocos Plate, the Panama Microplate, and the country’s southern continental margin.
Although it did not present an exceptional number of large earthquakes, Coto Brus concentrated events that contributed a significant fraction of the seismic energy released. October was the most active month.
Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco
In the north of the country, the seismogenic zone associated with Juan Castro Blanco National Park showed a pattern clearly distinct from that of the Pacific regions.
According to Ovsicori, this area is dominated by active crustal faulting, with mostly shallow earthquakes at depths of less than 10 kilometers.
Furthermore, the activity is linked to volcanic-tectonic processes in the vicinity of the Platanar-Porvenir-Viejo Volcano massif.
“Throughout the year, short-duration seismic swarms with a high frequency of small events were recorded. Although each earthquake released little energy individually, their frequency made this area a significant source of local seismicity,” the report states.
August was the month with the highest number of recorded events.
Tilarán
Finally, the Tilarán area stood out for its predominantly shallow seismicity, associated with active crustal fault systems.
The report indicates that this region, located in the north-central part of the country, is controlled by volcanic arc processes. Seismic activity during 2025 was clearly episodic.
“A marked increase in events stood out during October, associated with a local sequence that included one of the most significant earthquakes of the year, widely felt in the region,” Ovsicori stated.
Although small earthquakes predominated, some events concentrated tectonic deformation in specific locations.
Q COSTARICA — If the outcome is any indication of what’s to come, the 2026 presidential elections could see the highest abstention rate in Costa Rican history.
Rónald Alfaro, director of the Center for Political Research and Studies (CIEP) at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), detailed the signs on the program “Café Política” on Channel 7.
“It is possible that there will be even more abstention or that the high level of four years ago will be maintained (…). The results we are observing point to a lack of interest from the electorate, low motivation, and that people are not discussing these political issues with their families. This combination of factors, plus the fact that we have political parties that are absent—completely absent—from the campaign, very weakened, and without financial resources, leads us to predict or suggest the possibility that abstention will be at least 40% or even much higher, as happened in 2022,” Alfaro said.
By November, 45% of Costa Ricans were undecided, while 39% said there wasn’t enough information available on the topic and 29% indicated they hadn’t had time to learn about it.
At the same time, 54% said they never or rarely talk about the issue. Furthermore, 45% of the undecided voters couldn’t identify a candidate they would never vote for.
“It’s very strange to put it this way, but this is an electoral process in which we haven’t had a campaign; that is, there hasn’t been a single issue that has been decisive and relevant in this discussion.”
Finally, Alfaro warned that one of the elements that distinguishes this campaign is the fact that the ruling party’s candidate, in this case Laura Fernández, is leading in the polls and doing so “with a strong lead.”
“The question remains whether she can consolidate that lead and win in the first round, but that’s a possibility, and in politics, even when things have a very high probability of happening, sometimes they don’t,” he stated.
Abstention Facilitates Victory
Furthermore, according to the polls, the fewer people who vote on February 1st, the easier it will be for Laura Fernández to win in the first round without needing a runoff.
To be declared the winner of the election, any candidate must obtain at least 40% of the valid votes.
That is why the electoral calculators are starting to add up and estimate projections based on the current level of undecided voters and the likely abstention rate.
In other words, reaching that percentage of valid votes is not the same if only 70%, 60%, or 50% of registered voters cast their ballots.
For example, in the hypothetical—but unrealistic—case that no one abstains from voting, Fernández, or any other candidate with sufficient support, would need to secure 1,492,715 votes to win without a runoff in April, given that the electoral roll totals 3,731,788.
However, if only 65% of registered voters cast their ballots, assuming a 35% abstention rate—a figure close to the historical average—the threshold drops considerably to just 970,264 valid votes.
Protesters hold signs in support of Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and against Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez during a demonstration demanding freedom for Venezuela, following the US military operation in Venezuela to capture the Venezuelan president, in Madrid on January 4, 2026. Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail today after a shock US snatch-and-grab raid to remove him from power and assert Washington's control over the oil-rich South American nation. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Q COSTARICA — The Organization of American States (OAS)—Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) in Spanish—announced an extraordinary Permanent Council meeting on Venezuela this Tuesday at 10:00 AM, following the US military incursion that resulted in the capture and departure of Nicolás Maduro.
The meeting was convened by the current presidency of the OAS’s highest body, currently held by Colombia, according to the agenda consulted by AFP on Sunday.
The military incursion, which included bombings in Caracas and its surrounding areas, took place early Saturday morning and ended with the exile of Maduro and his wife, both of whom are now in a New York jail awaiting trial.
The military operation provoked unrest in Latin America and the Caribbean, and protests from leftist countries such as Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared after the military operation that his country would “govern” Venezuela from afar.
The Chavista government reacted by appointing then-Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president.
Separately, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Spain (an observer country at the OAS) rejected “any attempt to control” Venezuela in a public letter released by Bogotá on Sunday.
Venezuela withdrew from the OAS in April 2017, but the opposition-controlled National Assembly subsequently rejected Maduro’s decision.
Although the Washington-based organization continues to consider the country a member, Venezuela has ceased participating in OAS affairs.
The organization’s Permanent Council, in turn, did not recognize the 2024 presidential elections won by Maduro, a result also contested by the United States and the European Union.
OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin called on Saturday for a “peaceful solution” to the Venezuelan crisis.
Q COSTARICA — In light of recent events, the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by United States forces on January 3, 2026, the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) issued recommendations for Costa Ricans planning to travel to or residing in Venezuela.
The Ministry advises canceling all travel to Venezuela due to the risk of border closures and airspace restrictions. Those currently visiting Venezuela are urged to return to Costa Rica as soon as possible, while departure options remain available.
The Ministry warns that potential flight and border suspensions could hinder evacuations in the event of an emergency.
Costa Ricans residing in Venezuela are urged to exercise extreme caution and stay informed only through official channels.
Furthermore, it is recommended to consider a temporary relocation to Costa Rica or other countries until the regional situation stabilizes.
The Ministry has provided emergency contacts to offer consular assistance to those who require it.
Emergency Contacts
As there is no current Costa Rican consular staff physically in Venezuela, services are being managed through neighboring missions:
WhatsApp (Emergency): +506 2359-5360
Consulate in Colombia: +57 313 841 3850 / concr-co@rree.go.cr
Department of Consular Affairs: hespinoza@rree.go.cr
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica has quietly become the go-to getaway for Hollywood’s biggest names looking to escape the spotlight without losing the luxury.
In recent months, an impressive roster of A-listers has been spotted soaking up the sun, riding waves, and indulging in the lush natural beauty that Costa Rica offers.
From secluded beachfront villas tucked into the jungle to eco-friendly resorts with all the high-end trappings, Costa Rica’s unique blend of adventure and privacy is clearly hitting the right note.
One can’t help but notice the surge in star-powered visits—from actors to musicians and even directors—all drawn by the country’s mix of stunning coastlines, excellent surfing, and a welcoming vibe that feels a world away from the usual Hollywood hustle.
In the last couple of weeks, high-profile celebrities such as Hugh Jackman, Jimmy Fallon, and Nathan Fillion have been spotted in Costa Rica.
In the case of Jimmy Fallon, the actor and television host visited Costa Rica with his family, combining relaxation with outdoor activities in Guanacaste. Fallon was in the country from December 19 to 23, confirmed the Costa Rica immigration service, where, during his stay, he went zip-lining and shared a humorous and grateful message on Instagram with his fans.
Canadian and American actor Nathan Fillion was spotted in Costa Rica, according to a TikTok video where he appears dining and taking photos with fans. Fillion is known for his work in television, film, and video games, with roles in Castle, The Rookie, The Suicide Squad, Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Fillion entered Costa Rica on December 20, and according to data from the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, his visits have been frequent. In July of this year, he declared “his love” for Costa Rica.
“I’m a big fan of Costa Rica. In my free time, you’ll find me in Costa Rica,” Fillion stated in an interview with Pero Like.
In the case of Hugh Jackman, as we reported, the eternal Wolverine arrived in Costa Rica last week, and his first stop was the paradisiacal district of Cóbano, in Puntarenas, to vacation and enjoy the Costa Rican “pura vida”. See: From X-Men to Cóbano: Hugh Jackman, the eternal Wolverine, enjoys Costa Rica
In the past, celebrities like Chris Hemsworth and Jennifer Aniston have been rumored to spend their downtime exploring the rainforests and zip-lining through the canopy. Meanwhile, surfers such as Kelly Slater are making waves on Costa Rica’s renowned breaks, where the Pacific and Caribbean coasts offer some of the best swells in the world.
As Costa Rica’s popularity grows, the locals remain gracious hosts, balancing tourism with cultural preservation.
So next time you hear about another blockbuster star slipping away to a secret Costa Rican hideaway, just remember: sometimes, even the biggest names need to hit pause and find a little peace in paradise.
Speed limit during the reversilibity is maximum 60 km/h
Q COSTARICA — Ruta 27, between Orotina and Ciudad Colon, will be one-way to San José every Sunday in January. “Reversible lanes” are expected to facilitate the return of the vacationers from the Pacific coast during the peak holiday season.
The reversible lanes will be in effect on Sundays, January 4, 11, 18, and 25.
The Policia de Transito (Traffic Police) will close off all access to westbound lanes at 1:00 pm and reopen at 7:00 pm. Important to note that it will take about an hour for the closure and reopening processes, meaning eastbound traffic will be able to use all lanes between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
During the operation, the maximum speed limit will be 60 kp/h. Globalvia, the road concessionaire, will make temporary changes to the road’s vertical signage, and speed controls will be implemented by the Traffic Police.
Authorities reminded the public that those needing to travel toward Caldera during the reversible lane hours should use alternate routes:
Route 3, via Atenas–Aguacate–Orotina;
Route 1, via Cambronero;
Route 239, which connects Ciudad Colón with Puriscal, San Pablo, and Turrubares to Orotina.
A police presence on the alternate routes will facilitate traffic flow.
Users can consult the complete schedule of reversible lane operations planned throughout the year, which may vary depending on requests from the relevant authorities, at www.globalviaruta27.com.
Q COSTARICA — A reduction of between ¢58 and ¢1,300 colones in traffic fines was applied starting January 1st.
The Superior Council of the Judiciary upheld the fee schedule for sanctions included in the Law on Traffic on Public Roads, Land Transportation, and Road Safety for 2026.
The reduction in fees is approximately 0.22% and will remain in effect throughout the year.
For example, violating vehicle restrictions, driving with an expired license, or failing to yield to a pedestrian will now cost ¢58 colones less, with the fines decreasing from ¢26,063 to ¢26,005 as a result of the update.
In the case of Category A fines, applicable to infractions such as driving under the influence, the amount decreases from ¢363,639 to ¢362,839, a drop of ¢800.
The highest penalty, applied to commercial establishments for non-compliance with the use of preferential parking spaces, decreases from ¢614,339 to ¢612,988, representing a reduction of ¢1,300.
A young Costa Rican votes in the referendum to approve a free trade agreement with the United States 07 October, 2007 in the morning at a polling center in Cartago, 12 km southeast from San Jose. Voting opened in Costa Rica Sunday on a free trade treaty with the United States, officials said, as polls showing central America's richest state may turn down closer ties with the economic superpower. Costa Rica is the only country to hold a referendum on the deal, which has been ratified by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, opening them up to free trade with the United States. AFP PHOTO/Mayela LOPEZ (Photo by MAYELA LOPEZ / AFP)
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica enters the final stretch of the 2026 National Elections this Friday, January 2nd. According to the schedule established by the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciónes (TSE)—Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the year-end holidays truce period, which expired this Thursday, is no longer in effect.
With this, presidential candidates will be able to resume their campaigns and advertise in various media outlets and social networks.
During the truce, candidates were prohibited from disseminating campaign materials and were only permitted to issue one Christmas message on social media or traditional media.
In fact, they were allowed to issue three messages, according to the regulations issued by the TSE, and allowed to continue visiting communities.
Political analyst Sergio Araya told El Observador that, after the break, the final stretch of the electoral campaign is underway, and January is crucial.
According to Araya, greater participation is now expected from the candidates leading in the polls in various debates. Likewise, high participation from the candidates is projected in different forums organized by various media outlets and some universities.
According to the analyst, Laura Fernández, the official candidate of the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), will seek to consolidate her position and try to increase the number of votes she needs to win in the first round, which requires a candidate to obtain at least 40% of the popular vote, to avoid a run-off vote in April.
Meanwhile, the other candidates will try to prevent this scenario from occurring.
“We will likely see an aggressive campaign against the current leader (Fernandez), aiming to highlight what they perceive as their weaknesses, shortcomings, and limitations.
“On the other hand, the other candidates will try to differentiate themselves so that one of them can stand out and at least secure second place, potentially leading to a runoff election,” Araya stated.
According to polls conducted by specialized centers and institutes at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the Universidad Nacional (UNA), the Fernandez, known as the Chavista candidate, has nearly 30% support, well above the other candidates, but with a high number of undecided voters, according to data from December.
According to Araya, this January will be a campaign focused on increasing advertising spending in traditional media, with a particular emphasis on analog formats.
Anticipated also is the continuation of the digital media strategy through aggressive campaigns. aimed at maintaining the polarized tone observed so far.
“The great challenge is to somehow minimize the role of the President this month, who, despite being unable to actively intervene in the process, has been a central figure.
“Media and public attention will focus precisely on the candidates, especially the presidential candidates, but there will also be a special emphasis on the congressional candidates,” Araya explained.
The analyst indicated that the ruling party’s proposal for a robust majority in the Legislative Assembly has generated greater appeal and interest compared to previous electoral processes.
The national elections are scheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026.
If, for any reason, there is a second round of voting, it would take place on April 5, Easter Sunday.
Approximately 3.7 million Costa Ricans are eligible to vote to choose the next president, two vice-presidents, and the 57 legislators of the Legislative Assembly that will serve for the 2026-2030 term.
Q COSTARICA — The new mayor of San José is standing firm that the “Tope”, the year-end annual horse parade, will not return to the capital during his administration. The young mayor stated, “An activity where the nobility exhibited their wealth to people who did not have access.”
The mayor addressed the issue through a video on his social networks, before Gilberto Santa Rosa’s free concert in La Sabana, an activity that, according to Miranda, strengthens citizen access to culture.
“It is a time to enjoy as a family, to enjoy our traditions, new and old, and also change some. We have changed traditions such as the tope, which is a rather outdated activity,” he said in the video.
“It is an activity from times past where the nobility exhibited their wealth in front of people who did not have access to them. We are offering other options to people, other traditions that are more in line with the idiosyncrasy of our country, for example, having access to culture and leisure as part of a public government policy,” he added.
In 2024, Miranda justified the decision due to the high cost of carrying out these types of events.
“The Tope has become an event that produces a million-dollar deficit for the municipal coffers. For this and other reasons, I have made the decision not to carry out this activity. We will seek to redirect the resources previously allocated to this activity toward community and infrastructure works that are necessary in our neighborhoods,” he published on the social network X (formerly Twitter) at that time.
Miranda, a Costa Rican historian and politician, and the younger mayor of San José, taking office in May 2024 at the age of 34, has been criticized for eliminating the Tope and in the name of modernizing the city.
“There are public decisions that are announced as gestures of modernity, but that in reality reveal a fragile—if not superficial—understanding of the social history of the country or region that is governed,” writes Ricardo Salas in an opinion piece published at El Observador.
“The National Tope was never simply a horse parade. For decades it functioned as a civic ritual: a space where the city reunited, even if only symbolically, with the rural country from which much of its identity comes. Describing it as an “outdated” or “elitist” practice means projecting onto Costa Rican history categories that are foreign to it,” writes Salas.
The Tope, until last year, had been held for decades on December 26 in the streets of the capital.
The recognition appears in position #21 on the list published by the American newspaper, which highlights that the change in category occurred after multiple years of solid economic growth.
21. Costa Rica became the newest country to earn the status of being a “high-income” country, according to the World Bank, thanks to multiple years of strong growth.
According to the World Bank, Costa Rica moved from the upper-middle income category to high income, after registering an average growth of 4.7% in the last three years.
In 2024, the Costa Rican economy grew 4.3%, a performance that consolidated the progress, driven mainly by private consumption and investment.
The organization also pointed out that in 2023, the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, measured under the Atlas method, was already close to the upper threshold of the medium-high category, which left the country on the verge of the change that took place this year.
The promotion implies greater international recognition of the country’s productive capacity, its macroeconomic stability and the dynamism of key sectors of the economy.
This improves the perception of Costa Rica as a destination for foreign investment, facilitates access to credit under better conditions and reinforces its positioning before international organizations.
However, specialists have pointed out that the challenge now is to translate this growth into greater well-being for the population, through improvements in the quality of services, the reduction of inequalities and the strengthening of formal employment.
As it is a classification that is reviewed every year, Costa Rica’s permanence in this category will depend on its ability to sustain economic growth and improve per capita income over time.
After the publication of the Washington Post, the Minister of Foreign Trade, Manuel Tovar, reacted on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
El Editorial del @washingtonpost menciona la declaratoria de Costa Rica 🇨🇷 como país de renta alta como una de “las 25 buenas cosas que ocurrieron en el 2025”. Nadie es profeta en su tierra. pic.twitter.com/LMywvgn0vn
Q24N (MercoPress) The Economist has chosen two countries for outstanding/impressive achievements during 2025. A controversial selection based on particular criteria to measure them, but since The Economist is a global leading voice, very knowledgeable and respected, in international affairs, it is also a great merit for those countries named.
In the case of Argentina, changes in the political-economic environment have been radical, impressive achievements in the economic field with liberal president Javier Milei and his chainsaw policies, plus the latter help of president Trump and the Treasury Department, but also despite painful measures, the midterm electoral astounding victory over the Peronist movement which has dominated Argentine politics for the last eighty years.
In Syria, a new team has dramatically changed the geopolitical situation, improving conditions for a possible new scenario in the volatile area, since Syria is a crucial piece of the Middle East jigsaw puzzle and clash of religious dogmas. Follows the article.
Each Christmas, The Economist names a country of the year. Not the happiest: that would nearly always be Scandinavian, making for a dull, predictable contest. Nor the most influential: that would always be a superpower. Rather, we try to identify the country that has improved the most, whether economically, politically or in any other way that matters.
The year was a turbulent one, with President Donald Trump disrupting global trade and horrific conflicts scarring places such as Gaza and Sudan. But several countries navigated choppy waters well. Canada elected a sober technocrat as prime minister, rather than a populist, and stood up to American bullying. Voters in Moldova rejected a pro-Russian party despite threats and disinformation from Moscow. Mr. Trump brokered a shaky truce between Israel and the Palestinians.
South Korea recovered from a serious threat to its democracy. A year ago, President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to impose martial law, sending troops to shut down parliament. But lawmakers, protesters, and institutions held firm, and this year the disgraced ex-president was put on trial for insurrection.
Another exemplar of how to deal with violent attempts to upend the constitutional order was Brazil. In September, a Brazilian court imposed a 27-year jail term on Jair Bolsonaro, a former president who lost an election in 2022, claimed he was cheated, and tried to mount a coup to stay in power.
Brazil was plagued by coups for much of the 20th century; this is the first time a ‘putschist’ has been suitably punished. The government also managed in 2025 to slow the pace of deforestation in the Amazon, thus doing its bit to slow climate change. However, its Kremlin-cuddling foreign policy badly blotted its record.
The two strongest contenders this year are very different: Argentina and Syria.
Argentina’s improvement has been economic. Its president, Javier Milei, began far-reaching free-market reforms in 2023, hoping to jolt his country out of more than a century of statism and stagnation. Such reforms—abolishing price controls, curbing spending, and ditching distorting subsidies—are exceptionally hard because they are exceptionally painful; many previous reformers have failed.
Yet Mr Milei stuck to his chainsaw in 2025, and voters stuck with him. So did America, offering a US$ 20bn lifeline to avert a financial crisis. The results have been impressive. Inflation has fallen from 211% in 2023 to around 30% now. The poverty rate is down by 21 percentage points since last year. The budget has been wrestled under control. Mr Milei has moved towards a floating peso, and removed most capital controls.
Argentina could still fail. The Peronists who misruled it for generations are itching to return, should Mr Milei stumble. And the president has many flaws: he is intolerant of critics and beset by corruption scandals. But if his reforms are sustained, they could permanently alter Argentina’s trajectory—and give hope to economic reformers everywhere.
Syria’s improvement, by contrast, has been political. Little more than a year ago, it was ruled by Bashar al-Assad, an odious dictator backed by Iran and Russia. His jails were stuffed with political prisoners, and dissent was punished with torture or death.
Thirteen years of civil war had claimed more than half a million lives. Mr Assad’s forces had used chemical weapons and barrel bombs indiscriminately on civilians. More than 6m people had fled from the country.
Then, in early December 2024, the tyrant was himself forced to flee as rebels seized power. When we were choosing that year’s country of the year, it was too soon to have an idea of how the new Syria might look. Its ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was a jihadist. Many feared he would impose a grim Islamist theocracy, or that Syria would collapse into chaos. In fact, neither has happened. Women are not obliged to cover up or stay at home. Entertainment and, yes, alcohol are allowed. Mr Sharaa has brought about a series of positive surprises, holding the country together and forging good relations with America and the Gulf states. As Western sanctions are relaxed, the economy is starting to recover, too.
Huge problems remain. Militias carried out two atrocious local massacres of minorities, in which 2,000 people died. Mr Sharaa rules in a clannish way, and in such a fragile country much could still go wrong.
Nonetheless, Syria in 2025 is far happier and more peaceful than it was in 2024. Fear is no longer universal. Life is not easy, but it is more or less normal for most people. Voting with their feet, many Syrians have returned home.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica’s economy is expected to face 2026 with a scenario of generalized stability, without significant shocks to the main macroeconomic indicators, despite the country being in an election year.
This is the prediction of analysts and others in the financial sector, who foresee orderly exchange rate behavior, a prudent monetary policy, contained inflation, and moderate economic growth.
Projections indicate that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow between 3.5% and 4%, a figure consistent with the country’s recent performance and with an international environment that, while challenging, does not appear adverse for Costa Rica.
Dollar with slight variations
On the other hand, one of the focuses of attention for businesses and consumers will be the foreign exchange market.
According to the experts, the dollar exchange will remain within a narrow range throughout next year, without episodes of high volatility.
Economic analyst Daniel Suchar maintains that current conditions support this expectation. Among these factors, the level of international reserves stands out, exceeding US$16 billion, as well as interest rates that remain at relatively high levels.
In this context, Suchar estimates that the US dollar will fluctuate between ¢500 and ¢525 colones throughout 2026, without any pressures pointing to abrupt movements in the short or medium term.
Monetary policy will remain cautious
Regarding interest rates, the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)—defined by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and a key benchmark for the financial system—will continue to be adjusted gradually.
Experts agree that any reduction will be cautious, largely conditioned by the decisions made by the US Federal Reserve (Fed). An uncertain international environment will likely lead the BCCR to prioritize prudence over rapid rate cuts.
According to Elizabeth Morales, deputy manager of Coopecaja, the Central Bank will maintain the conservative approach that has characterized its recent actions.
“Internal decisions will be closely aligned with what happens in the United States and with the need to preserve macroeconomic stability,” she notes.
Although the baseline outlook is positive, the final performance of the economy in 2026 will depend on several factors. Morales points to the performance of the main trading partners, the pace of public works projects, and the country’s ability to maintain a stable macroeconomic environment.
While some estimates place growth around 3%, there is room for a higher result if favorable regional and international conditions converge.
Another key element will be the behavior of the cost of living. Forecasts indicate that inflation will remain at low levels and even below the target range established by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) throughout 2026.
This scenario represents immediate relief for households and workers, protecting their purchasing power. However, it also presents challenges if low inflation is accompanied by an economic slowdown.
Financial advisor Vidal Villalobos, of Grupo Financiero Prival, rules out a stagflation scenario for now.
“There are no signs of stagnation with high inflation. The economy continues to grow, and unemployment is at historic lows,” he explains.
Villalobos adds that everything indicates that negative inflation could extend through 2026 and much of 2027, without implying, at least for now, a significant deterioration in the labor market.
Although February 2026 will mark a new election cycle, analysts believe that the impact on economic indicators will be limited. The strength of macroeconomic fundamentals and the continuity of economic policy would reduce the risk of shocks associated with the political cycle.
Q COSTARICA — Acclaimed Australian-British actor Hugh Jackman arrived in Costa Rica this Saturday, and his first stop was the paradisiacal district of Cóbano, in Puntarenas, to vacation and enjoy the Costa Rican “pura vida”.
The actor, known worldwide for his role as Logan/Wolverine in the X-Men saga, among other notable performances in film and theater, was seen this weekend with a group of truck drivers at the Cóbano Aerodrome, according to a photograph circulating on social media taken by locals and shared by Peninsula Informada.
The Cobano area boasts beaches popular with both domestic and international tourists, such as Santa Teresa, Malpaís, Manzanillo, and Montezuma.
This isn’t his first visit to Costa Rica: in March 2023, he made one of his most well-known trips there, during which he even shared photos of sunsets on the beach and videos of himself working out on social media.Jackman, recognized for his charisma both on and off screen, has had one of the most versatile careers in Hollywood.
A group of local drivers took photos with the actor, according to an image published by the news outlet Península Informada.
He made his international debut in the X-Men film series (2000) as Logan/Wolverine, a role he played for more than 17 years and which became one of the most iconic characters in superhero cinema.
In addition to X-Men, Jackman has acted in a wide range of genres, notably in musicals like The Greatest Showman (2017), dramas like Les Misérables (2012), and thrillers like Prisoners (2013).
His versatility has earned him recognition in film, theater, and television, as well as awards such as the Golden Globe and the Tony.
The actor’s visit to Cóbano has generated great excitement among residents and tourists, who are taking advantage of the star’s presence to take photos and share their impressions on social media.
The SINPE (Sistema Nacional de Pagos Electrónicos) — National Electronic Payments System, the technological platform of the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) that connects banks and institutions, allowing instant fund transfers (SINPE Movil) by linking accounts to phone numbers, will be available without interruption at the end of the year and the first days of January.
The BCCR clarified that all SINPE services that operate automatically and are used by the public will function normally during the end-of-year and New Year’s period.
The services that will be provided as usual are the following:
Sinpe Móvil
Transfers between financial institutions
Digital signature
Public transportation payments
The Central Bank made the clarification in order to avoid any confusion about reports that the service would be offline on Wednesday, December 31, as well as on January 1.
However, this information refers to services offered directly to banks through the SINPE system. It does not include services that are available to the public automatically, such as those mentioned previously.
Central Bank post on social networks
SINPE Móvil Usage Grows in Costa Rica
Between January and October 2025, more than 615 million transfers were registered through SINPE Móvil. This represents a 16.8% increase compared to the 526 million transactions registered during the same period in 2024.
During the same period this year, the value of transfers reached ¢10.1 billion colones. The year-over-year increase is 16.4% compared to the nearly ¢8.7 billion colones registered between January and October 2024.
On the other hand, the number of active phone subscriptions increased from 4.1 million in October 2024 to 4.4 million last October. These figures represent a 6.9% growth.
The average transfer amount remains stable, at around ¢16,500.
The 14th, 15th, 16th, and also the 28th, 30th, 1st, and 2nd of each month see the highest activity. These days account for 26% of all transactions and 30% of the total value traded.
This information comes from data from the Central Bank, recently released by the Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC).
