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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Keylor Navas Set to Rejoin Costa Rican National Team for 2025 Gold Cup

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Keylor Navas Set to Rejoin Costa Rican National Team for 2025 Gold Cup

Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, a Costa Rican football icon, is poised to return to La Sele for the 2025 Gold Cup, nearly a year after announcing his retirement from international duty in May 2024. The 38-year-old, currently starring for Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, reached an agreement with head coach Miguel “Piojo” Herrera following a pivotal meeting in Rosario.

Herrera, accompanied by Osael Maroto, president of the Costa Rican Football Federation, traveled to Argentina in late April to persuade Navas to reverse his retirement decision. The meeting proved successful, with sources close to Newell’s confirming Navas’ commitment to rejoin the national team for the Gold Cup, scheduled for June 14 to July 6, 2025, across the United States and Canada.

Navas’ retirement last year followed a 16-year tenure with La Sele, during which he earned over 100 caps and played in three World Cups, including a standout quarter-final run in 2014. Citing the need to “heal” his mind, heart, and body, Navas stepped away from international football after a challenging period. Despite his exit, he left the door open for a potential return, a possibility Herrera seized upon after witnessing Navas’ exceptional form at Newell’s.

Since joining Newell’s on a two-year contract in January, Navas has delivered remarkable performances, including a 12-save masterclass in a 2-0 win over Tigre and a penalty save against Boca Juniors in another 2-0 victory. Though Newell’s struggled in the Argentine First Division, failing to reach the playoffs with 11 points in 11 matches, Navas’ individual brilliance has reaffirmed his status as one of CONCACAF’s elite goalkeepers.

Herrera, who views Navas’ experience as unmatched in the region, emphasized his value to the squad. “There are few players globally with his level of experience. In CONCACAF, it’s hard to find a player like him,” Herrera said. The coach aims to leverage Navas’ leadership for critical World Cup qualifiers against Bahamas on June 7 and Trinidad and Tobago on June 10, in addition to the Gold Cup.

While Navas’ return is confirmed for the Gold Cup, his participation in earlier matches, such as a friendly against Catalonia on May 28, remains uncertain. Some reports suggest he could join the team sooner, but no definitive timeline has been established.

The decision to bring back Navas has sparked debate, as current goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira has excelled in Portugal and solidified his role as La Sele’s primary shot-stopper. Critics argue that Navas’ return could disrupt Sequeira’s development, while supporters believe his veteran presence will elevate the team’s performance in high-stakes tournaments.

Following the conclusion of Newell’s season, Navas is expected to take a brief break before joining Costa Rica’s training camp to prepare for the upcoming competitions. His return marks a significant boost for La Sele, as the team seeks to build on its storied history with one of its greatest players back in the fold.

Separately, Navas has expressed interest in eventually playing for Saprissa, where he began his career, to close out his professional journey in Costa Rica. For now, his focus remains on Newell’s and his imminent return to La Tricolor.

UNESCO Awards Nicaragua’s La Prensa for Courageous Journalism in Exile

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UNESCO Awards Nicaragua’s La Prensa for Courageous Journalism in Exile

The UN culture agency awarded its annual press award to Nicaragua’s oldest newspaper, whose staff have been forced to publish from abroad as President Daniel Ortega tightens his grip on power. La Prensa, a title almost 100 years old, has been publishing online since Nicaraguan police in 2021 stormed its premises and arrested its manager Juan Lorenzo Holmann Chamorro.

A Nicaraguan court in 2022 sentenced Holmann to nine years in jail then in 2023 deported him to the United States. “La Prensa has made courageous efforts to report the truth to the people of Nicaragua,” said Yasuomi Sawa, the chair of the jury for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2025.

“Like other civil society organizations, La Prensa has faced severe repression. Forced into exile, this newspaper courageously keeps the flame of press freedom alive,” he said. Ortega, 79, first served as president from 1985 to 1990 as a former guerrilla hero and returned to power in 2007.

Nicaragua has jailed hundreds of opponents since then. It has also shut down more than 5,000 non-governmental organizations since the 2018 mass protests, in which the United Nations estimates more than 300 people died.

Since Ortega’s re-election for a fourth consecutive term in 2021, in Nicaragua “independent media has continued to endure a nightmare of censorship, intimidation and threats”, media rights group Reporters Without Borders said. Most of the country’s independent and opposition media now operate from abroad.

Apostles of freedom of expression

La Prensa – El Diario de los Nicaraguenses (“The Nicaraguan Peoples’ Journal”) has seen successive troubles since it was founded in 1926. Right-wing dictator Anastasio Somoza sought to shut it down in the 1950s and the leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front tried to muzzle it in the 1980s.

“In nearly a century of existence, La Prensa and its journalists have faced numerous acts of repression, which have intensified in recent years with restrictions on its distribution,” UNESCO said. “Since 2021, following the imprisonment and expulsion of its leaders and the confiscation of its assets, La Prensa has continued to inform the Nicaraguan population online, with most of its team in exile, operating from Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Germany and the United States,” it said.

Holmann said the award was welcome “recognition that gives strength to freedom of press in Nicaragua”. “In Nicaragua independent journalism doesn’t exist. The dictatorship criminalizes it,” he added. He said that continuing to be a journalist required serious devotion. He dedicated the award to “all independent journalists continuing to report from outside Nicaragua”. “They are the apostles of freedom of expression,” he said.

UN experts last month found Ortega, his wife and co-president Rosario Murillo, and dozens of senior officials responsible for arbitrary detentions, torture and extrajudicial executions.

Costa Rica’s Rising Violence Challenges Chaves’ Security Claims

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Costa Rica’s Rising Violence Challenges Chaves’ Security Claims

Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves, in his third annual report to be presented to the Legislative Assembly tomorrow, defended his administration’s security strategy, describing it as “titanic” and asserting that “Costa Rica is recovering peace.” The report structured around nine priority areas—poverty reduction, employment, fiscal stability, health, education, security, infrastructure, foreign relations, and state reform—paints an optimistic picture of national progress. Chaves stated that Costa Rica is undergoing a “profound transformation” and that “change is here to stay.” However, official data and public sentiment reveal a stark contrast, with record-high homicide rates driven by drug trafficking and organized crime.

In his report, Chaves highlighted security achievements, including an increased police presence, enhanced technology in penal facilities, and improved port monitoring to curb drug trafficking. “Security is not an empty promise; it is a commitment we fight to fulfill day by day,” he declared. The administration has implemented measures such as Operation Sovereignty, launched in July 2023 to scan all containers at Moín port, and a historic police wage increase announced in July 2024 to address corruption and boost morale. Chaves also issued an executive decree in October 2024 allowing law enforcement to use automatic weapons in specific situations, aiming to counter heavily armed criminals.

Despite these efforts, Costa Rica’s homicide rates have reached unprecedented levels during Chaves’ tenure. According to the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), the country recorded 907 homicides in 2023, a 38% increase from 2022’s 654, translating to a rate of 17.2 per 100,000 residents. By August 5, 2024, the OIJ reported 521 homicides, a slight 3.36% decrease from the same period in 2023, yet still reflecting one murder every nine hours, or 2.4 per day. Firearms are the primary weapon, and “settling of scores” linked to drug trafficking accounts for roughly two-thirds of these killings, per OIJ director Randall Zúñiga.

The surge in violence is largely attributed to the expansion of local and transnational drug trafficking networks. Costa Rica, strategically located between cocaine-producing countries like Colombia and markets in the United States and Europe, has become a key transshipment and warehousing hub. Disputes over drug territories, debts, and disloyalties within criminal groups have fueled brutal crimes, including executions involving burned, manacled, or decapitated victims. Provinces like Limón, Puntarenas, and San José report the highest homicide rates, with Limón’s rate exceeding 33 per 100,000 in 2023.

Public and official reactions underscore the disconnect between Chaves’ claims and reality. A 2024 survey by the Center for Research and Political Studies (CIEP) found that 41.8% of Costa Ricans view insecurity as our nation’s top issue, up from 13.3% in 2022. Opposition lawmakers, including Rodrigo Arias, president of the Legislative Assembly, have criticized the administration’s response, noting that over 2,000 homicides have occurred since Chaves took office in May 2022. Arias emphasized that while the Assembly has passed 28 security-related laws, executive action remains inadequate.

Chaves has faced additional scrutiny for downplaying the crisis and deflecting blame. In April of 2023, he dismissed the homicide surge as primarily drug-related, and he has repeatedly criticized the judiciary and legislature for hindering security reforms. International cooperation has been a cornerstone of Chaves’ strategy.

In February, during a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chaves secured support for enhanced DEA and FBI collaboration and technology to combat drug trafficking. The death of OIJ officer Geiner Zamora during this visit, killed by criminal elements, underscored the stakes. Chaves called for tougher laws against hitmen and traffickers, stating, “Those who threaten our society must be sent to jail and stay there.”

Ex-Soldier Captured in Panama for Decades-Old Killing

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Ex-Soldier Captured in Panama for Decades-Old Killing

Panamanian police on Friday arrested a former soldier who had been a fugitive since 1994 for the murder of a Colombian priest in the 1970s, during the regime of nationalist leader Omar Torrijos, according to the authorities and local media. The arrest took place in the province of Chiriquí, in the southwest of the country near the border with Costa Rica, the police said in a brief statement posted on Instagram.

Although the security forces did not disclose the name of the detainee, local media reported that it is Eugenio Magallón, who had been on the run for three decades after being sentenced to 15 years in prison for the homicide of Colombian priest Héctor Gallego, a crime committed in 1971. Magallón “has a 15-year prison sentence for the crime of homicide” of Gallego, stated the Panamanian police.

Gallego was a Catholic priest who organized peasants into cooperatives in the town of Santa Fe, in the central province of Veraguas, which led to conflicts with local landowners. The priest was kidnapped by soldiers on June 9, 1971, during the military regime of Torrijos, the nationalist leader who signed the treaties with then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter, under which the United States handed over the Panama Canal to the Panamanians in 1999.

Some accounts claim that the priest, whose body has never been found, was tortured and thrown into the sea from a helicopter. In addition to Magallón, two other military officers were sentenced to 15 years in prison for the crime; one of them has died and the other has already served his sentence.

In 2002, a Truth Commission documented 110 cases of murders and disappearances between 1968 and 1989 during the military governments of Torrijos and Manuel Antonio Noriega. Torrijos died in a mysterious plane crash in 1981, while Noriega died in 2017 after being convicted in the United States, France, and Panama for the disappearance of opponents and money laundering.

Costa Rica’s Press Freedom Decline in 2025: What’s Happening?

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Costa Rica’s Press Freedom Decline in 2025: What’s Happening?

Costa Rica has long been a beacon of democracy in Latin America, with a proud history of protecting press freedom. But the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) paints a worrying picture: our country has slipped 10 spots, from 26th to 36th place globally. This marks the fourth year in a row of declines, a stark contrast to our peak at 5th place in 2021. So, what’s going on? Let’s dive into the reasons behind Costa Rica’s drop, how we stack up in Latin America, and what this means for Ticos and the media we rely on.

Why Is Costa Rica Falling?

According to RSF, the main culprit is a series of verbal attacks by government officials, particularly President Rodrigo Chaves, against journalists and media outlets like La Nación and Teletica. Since Chaves took office in May 2022, his administration has been criticized for targeting the press with harsh rhetoric, accusing outlets of obstructing governance. A 2023 Constitutional Chamber ruling even found Chaves guilty of violating press freedom through these attacks. Another blow came from a 2022 government directive—confirmed by leaked audio in December 2023—to withhold state advertising from critical media, a move seen as economic pressure to silence dissent.

On top of that, journalists have faced growing online harassment, including death threats from pro-government trolls. RSF also notes restricted access to public information, with some state entities stonewalling media requests. While Costa Rica remains a safe haven for journalists compared to other Latin American countries—no physical threats or imprisonments here—these political and economic pressures have taken a toll. The RSF Index evaluates five indicators (political, legal, economic, sociocultural, and safety), and Costa Rica’s political score has seen the sharpest decline, dropping 15.68 points since 2022.

Comparing Costa Rica in Latin America

Despite the drop, Costa Rica still leads Latin America in press freedom, classified as having a “fairly good situation”—the only country in the region to earn this status. Uruguay follows at 59th, while Argentina (87th), El Salvador (135th), and Nicaragua (172nd) lag far behind. Here’s a quick look at how we stack up:

Country2025 RankKey Issues
Costa Rica36thVerbal attacks by government, restricted info access, online harassment
Uruguay59thOnline harassment of journalists, especially women
Argentina87thPresident Milei’s media stigmatization, public media dismantling
El Salvador135thSpyware against journalists, propaganda under President Bukele
Nicaragua172ndOver 120 journalists exiled, independent media forced underground

Nicaragua’s situation is particularly dire, with the Ortega-Murillo regime dismantling independent media, forcing outlets like Divergentes to operate from exile. El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele has been accused of using spyware to target reporters, while Argentina’s Javier Milei has shut down the country’s largest news agency. Costa Rica’s challenges, while serious, pale in comparison, but the downward trend is a wake-up call for a country that prides itself on democratic values.

Press Freedom Under Pressure

Costa Rica’s decline mirrors a troubling global trend. For the first time since RSF launched the Index in 2002, the global press freedom situation is classified as “difficult.” Over 60% of countries saw their scores drop, with half now rated as “difficult” or “very serious” for journalism. In the Americas, the United States fell to 57th, with Donald Trump’s second term (starting January 2025) intensifying attacks on media, including funding cuts to outlets like Voice of America. Economic pressures are also a growing threat, with newsrooms worldwide shutting down due to ownership concentration and dwindling ad revenue.

RSF points to political pressure as the biggest driver, with a global 7.6-point drop in the political indicator. From Argentina’s media crackdowns to Nicaragua’s outright censorship, governments are increasingly failing to protect journalists’ autonomy. Even top-ranked countries like Norway (1st) and Denmark (2nd) saw their political scores slip. Costa Rica, once a top-10 regular, now faces the challenge of reversing this slide to reclaim its reputation as a press freedom leader.

The good news? Costa Rica’s legal framework and cultural respect for free speech are still strong. We’re a refuge for persecuted journalists, including Nicaraguans fleeing repression. But we can’t take this for granted. As we head toward the 2026 elections, it’s worth asking: How can we support our journalists and hold leaders accountable for respecting press freedom?

MegaCon 2025 Brings Global Pop Culture to Costa Rica

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MegaCon 2025 Brings Global Pop Culture to Costa Rica

MegaCon 2025, Costa Rica’s largest pop culture convention, kicked off yesterday, at the Costa Rica Convention Center. Running through Sunday the event is expected to attract thousands of fans for a weekend celebrating film, cosplay, anime, video games, and more, with a lineup of international stars, local talent, and eco-friendly initiatives.

Event Overview

MegaCon 2025 features a diverse roster of guests, including actors, voice artists, and illustrators. Organizers confirmed that Elijah Wood canceled his appearance due to filming commitments, with Billy Boyd and David Wenham, both known for The Lord of the Rings, stepping in as replacements. Other notable attendees include Tom Welling of Smallville, Dan Fogler from Fantastic Beasts, and Carlos Villagrán, iconic for his role as Quico in El Chavo del 8. Latin American voice actors Luis Carreño (SpongeBob SquarePants), Juan Carlos Tinoco (Thanos), and Mario Arvizu, alongside Costa Rican illustrator Daniela Padilla and Marvel comics artist Sam de la Rosa, round out the lineup.

GuestKnown ForAppearance Days
Billy BoydPippin in The Lord of the RingsMay 3–4
David WenhamFaramir in The Lord of the Rings, 300May 3–4
Tom WellingClark Kent in SmallvilleMay 4
Dan FoglerJacob Kowalski in Fantastic BeastsMay 3–4
Carlos VillagránQuico in El Chavo del 8May 2
Myrtle SarrosaInternational cosplayer and actressMay 2–4
Luis CarreñoVoice of SpongeBob SquarePants (Latin America)May 2–4
Juan Carlos TinocoVoice of Thanos (Marvel Cinematic Universe)May 2–4
Mario ArvizuRenowned voice actor for animated charactersMay 2–4
Daniela PadillaCosta Rican illustrator and animatorMay 2–4
Sam de la RosaMarvel comics artist (Venom)May 2–4

Guests will offer panels, photo sessions, and autograph signings, with SWAU Authentication verifying collectibles for fans.

Ticketing

The convention opened last night with the Mega International Geek Comedy Festival, honoring Carlos Villagrán. Hosted by Minor Pérez and featuring Costa Rica’s La Media Docena, the event celebrates Latin American comedy.

Today and tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (VIP entry at 9:00 a.m.), attendees can explore the Cosplay Master Cup, offering over $5,000 in prizes and a chance to represent Costa Rica at Animole in Mexico City. Other highlights include gaming zones, a K-Pop Cup, a collectibles market, and an Artist Alley showcasing over 40 Costa Rican artists. The event supports local NGOs, such as Territorio Zaguates and Fundación AMY.

MegaCon 2025 earned Carbon Clear Events accreditation for its sustainable practices, with a certificate presentation. For families, the Stage Kids Fun City offers magic shows, storytelling, and a Pasarela de Cosplay Infantil, creating an inclusive environment for young fans.

Tickets, available online, include General Admission and VIP packages, with VIP perks like early entry and exclusive merchandise. Discounts are offered for Promerica cardholders and Fuerza Pública families.

Tourism and Sport Fishing Ignored in Costa Rica’s Blue Economy Roadmap

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Tourism and Sport Fishing Ignored in Costa Rica’s Blue Economy Roadmap

Last Friday, April 25, the official presentation of the 2025–2030 National Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Plan took much of Costa Rica’s coastal fishing sector by surprise. Developed by the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA) in conjunction with the Executive Secretariat for Agricultural Sector Planning (SEPSA), the document outlines an ambitious roadmap toward 2030. However, beyond the optimism displayed at its launch, the success of the Plan will hinge on institutional capacity to coordinate efforts and address long-standing structural challenges.

In its design, the Plan incorporates the aquaculture vision of the FAO-promoted “Blue Transformation,” integrating mariculture, technological innovation, and gender equity. Nevertheless, as with the Chinchilla-Miranda administration’s plan (Decree No. 37587-MAG), significant structural gaps remain: the absence of a robust fisheries information system, weak institutional capacity, a lack of scientific data and reliable statistics, limited effective social participation, and outdated traceability methods—such as the lack of onboard observers or strengthened satellite tracking. As a result, sustainability risks being reduced to rhetoric.

One of the most evident omissions is the absence of specific strategies for the tourism and sport fishing sector. Far from marginal, this activity accounts for 33.6% of active licenses, surpassing all individual commercial categories except small-scale fishing. It is estimated to generate nearly $500 million annually, sustaining thousands of coastal families and contributing approximately 75% of the total license revenue collected by INCOPESCA in recent years (INCOPESCA-PE-0825-2022), all while operating with a fraction of the extractive fishing effort. Despite its economic and ecological significance, the Plan merely acknowledges the sector’s existence without articulating concrete actions to strengthen it.

This exclusion contradicts Costa Rica’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (8, 12, and 14), which promote sustainable use of marine resources. Fishing tourism, based largely on catch-and-release practices, not only conserves fish populations but also stimulates local value chains, contributing to the well-being of coastal communities.

In this context, it is particularly contradictory and concerning that, for example, while the Plan allocates ₡378 million to the Costa Rica Pelagic Fishery Improvement Project (FIP)—focused on fishing sharks, billfish, tuna, and mahi-mahi—no specific funding has been designated to strengthen tourism and sport fishing.

The systematic omission of this sector is not a mere technical oversight; it reveals a profound disconnect between public policy and key sources of sustainable development in communities such as Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and the Costa Rican Caribbean. It marginalizes those who also “break their backs” to energize our coastal zones. This strategic error erodes public trust, particularly in regions where sport fishing is a pillar of subsistence and development. The 2024 State of the Nation report highlighted the deep mistrust that prevails toward INCOPESCA and other public authorities among artisanal and sport fishing sectors. This sentiment is echoed in the documentary released this week, Voices of the Sea.

Although the 2025–2030 Plan proclaims the importance of “citizen participation,” it introduces no new mechanisms for participatory governance, nor does it strengthen the legitimacy of decision-making processes in the fisheries sector.

The lack of structural support for tourism and sport fishing not only represents a missed opportunity to promote marine sustainability and coastal economic development but also raises questions about the fairness and coherence of public policies in the sector. If Costa Rica aspires to solidify its position as a regional leader in the blue economy, it is imperative to correct this omission and promote improvement projects specifically designed for this fisheries subsector.

Building opportunities for future generations will not be possible if key sectors continue to be rendered invisible. Supporting tourism and sport fishing is not a concession—it is a smart strategy to conserve marine ecosystems, diversify the coastal economy, and strengthen the legitimacy of public management of ocean resources.

Author

Damián Martínez Fernández
Director of Conservation and Public Policy
Costa Rican Fishing Federation (FECOP)

Nicaragua Condemns U.S. Migrant Policy Under Trump as Crimes Against Humanity

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Nicaragua Condemns U.S. Migrant Policy Under Trump as Crimes Against Humanity

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Wednesday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of committing “horrendous crimes” against migrants by deporting them, separating families, and having sent hundreds of Venezuelans to the mega-prison in El Salvador. Since March, Trump’s administration has expelled 252 Venezuelans to El Salvador, accusing them—without presenting evidence—of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang. The president of that Central American country, Nayib Bukele, has imprisoned them in a gang detention facility.

“These are horrendous crimes,” said the Nicaraguan president during a Labor Day event in Managua’s central plaza, claiming that Trump turned El Salvador into “the prison of immigrants.” Ortega, a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, described as a “crime against humanity” the separation of a two-year-old Venezuelan girl from her mother during their deportation from the United States.

“It is a crime against humanity, just like all the prisoners held everywhere without any legal basis,” he added during his speech, delivered alongside his wife and co-governor, Rosario Murillo.

Ortega, who has ruled since 2007 and spearheaded a recent constitutional reform that dismantled the separation of powers in Nicaragua, criticized Trump for allegedly pursuing anti-immigrant policies “against the rulings of U.S. judicial authorities.” “[Trump] is acting as if, with his arrival in government, all powers in the United States disappeared and he alone holds power and decides what is done and what is not,” said the Nicaraguan president.

The United States sanctioned 250 officials from what it labeled the “dictatorship” of Nicaragua on April 18, marking seven years since massive anti-government protests that resulted in more than 300 deaths, according to United Nations figures. Nicaragua remains under U.S. sanctions due to the repression of those 2018 protests, which Ortega and Murillo claim were an attempted coup sponsored by Washington.

Ortega, a 79-year-old former guerrilla who also ruled Nicaragua in the 1980s, is accused by critics and human rights organizations of establishing a “family dictatorship” alongside his 73-year-old wife, Murillo.

Costa Rica Aims to Ban Highly Hazardous Pesticides

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Costa Rica Aims to Ban Highly Hazardous Pesticides

Costa Rica is moving to ban highly hazardous pesticides, thanks to a new bill that is currently being discussed by congressional representatives in the Special Permanent Commission on Environment. The initiative would prohibit these chemicals, which have already been banned in at least 70% of OECD member countries. It was presented in June 2023 by independent deputy Kattia Cambronero and is being processed under the title “Regulation of Highly Hazardous Pesticides for Health and the Environment,” under File 23,783.

The draft defines highly hazardous pesticides as those that meet international criteria for high toxicity, including those classified by WHO as extremely or highly hazardous, or those with evidence of causing cancer, genetic mutations, or affecting reproduction, according to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

The bill establishes that the Ministries of Environment and Energy (Minae), Health, and Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) must update the national list of banned pesticides every two years. It also includes biannual risk assessments, considering criteria such as the classification by international organizations like the WHO, FAO, EFSA, or EPA; proven evidence of harm to health or the environment; and the existence of viable alternatives that are less harmful.

MAG’s training, technical assistance, and extension programs will be strengthened to support the agricultural sector in transitioning to more sustainable practices. To finance these initiatives, the law mandates the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) to allocate at least 25% of the revenues from the 1.5% tax on the CIF value declared by each agrochemical importer to research alternative methods to using chemical pesticides, including biological controllers and integrated crop management.

This proposal represents a significant advancement toward healthier and more environmentally friendly agriculture. National and international studies have determined that Costa Rica is one of the countries in the world that applies the most pesticides per agricultural area, with estimates ranging from 10 to 35 kilograms per hectare. Of the ten most widely used pesticides in the country, eight are Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), according to a technical report by the Research Institute of Toxic Substances of the National University (UNA).

U.S. Tourists Share Robbery Experience in Costa Rica as Crime Concerns Rise

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U.S. Tourists Share Robbery Experience in Costa Rica as Crime Concerns Rise

As Costa Rica continues to battle rising crime rates, a recent robbery involving two American tourists has captured widespread attention, thanks to a series of viral TikTok videos. Anna Manocha and her friend Carolina López traveled to Costa Rica in early March in search of adventure and the famed “Pura Vida” lifestyle. But their vacation took a troubling turn when their rental car was broken into during a stop between San José and Quepos. The women were robbed of passports, bank cards, jewelry, and other belongings.

In a TikTok video shared by Anna Manocha (@anna.manocha), one of the victims explains how the theft occurred during a bathroom break at a gas station.

@anna.manocha

this was not on our travel itinerary 🇨🇷 #costarica🇨🇷 #travel #traveltiktok #robbery #costarica @Caro

♬ original sound – Anna Manocha

The TikTok, which quickly went viral, also highlights the logistical nightmare that followed. The pair documented the steps they took to report the crime to Costa Rican police and to work with U.S. authorities to arrange new travel documents. Their firsthand account not only resonated with viewers but also shed light on how crimes targeting tourists are increasingly becoming part of the national conversation.

Manocha also posted a follow-up video, walking viewers through their interactions with law enforcement and the embassy.

@anna.manocha

tldr pull on your car doors to check that they’re locked as most rental cars in Costa Rica don’t make a beeping noise and car theft is super common me and @Caro still think Costa Rica is a beautiful country and we were able to make light of a tough situation and still have a great time 💗🇨🇷 #costarica #storytime #traveltiktok #cartheft #travel

♬ original sound – Anna Manocha

The video comment sections are flooded with similar experiences from other tourists, suggesting that crimes like this are far from rare. TikTok users from around the world chimed in with their own cautionary stories of thefts from rental cars, lost passports, and run-ins with petty crime while vacationing in Costa Rica.

Despite the traumatic experience, both women emphasized that they still appreciated Costa Rica’s natural beauty and friendly locals. “We’re still trying to focus on the positive,” Manocha noted in her video. The pair continued their trip, determined not to let the incident define their overall experience.

The incident has reignited concerns among tourism stakeholders. The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) and related associations have warned that unchecked crime could seriously damage Costa Rica’s global image and its critical tourism economy. “The safety of both locals and international visitors must be a national priority,” CANATUR stated in a recent press release.

As Costa Rica faces a dip in visitation numbers, stories like this one are becoming cautionary tales for would-be travelers. The tourism sector, already challenged by global travel uncertainties, cannot afford a reputation for insecurity. While the country suffers a dip in international visitation, the National Chamber of Tourism and other associations have repeatedly emphasized the importance of addressing the national crime crisis, as it affects everyone.

At the same time, this tarnishes our country’s image and discourages other travelers from visiting, reinforcing Costa Rica’s growing reputation as an unsafe destination.

Travel Safety Tips for Visitors:

  • Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, even for a short time.
  • Keep digital and physical backups of your passport and important documents.
  • Choose lodging with safes or secure storage options.
  • Be cautious during roadside stops and use rest areas with security.
  • Report incidents to local police and your embassy without delay.
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