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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

Don Mateo
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Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It is my safe space.” All the world’s human-made problems– war, disease, famine, fanaticism, intolerance– seem far away when I am back in Ticolandia. Numerous cataclysmic events caused by man have unfolded across the globe in my 3 plus decades here, yet I have always felt as if I was observing from a remote and secure place.

Those bombs dropping and innocent people dying from Serbia to Chechnya to Iraq and Syria, from Ukraine to Iran to the Gaza strip, may as well have been on another planet. Even the recent past disturbances in our neighboring countries of Nicaragua and Panama seemed like they were happening in far-off places.

Maybe it’s the absence of a military that ironically gives me a false sense of security. Other nations respect our decision to invest money elsewhere that would usually go to armaments and personnel. (Where those savings actually go is a topic for another day). We elect our representatives democratically.

Every four years we have a day that is part presidential election and part national fiesta. The new president and ministers take office without street fights and tanks rolling down the avenues. And while there is far too much crime– much of it narco-related– the feeling has always been that if you take precautions and use common sense, you can avoid being a victim.

If anything is threatening my illusion of a safe space, it is not humanity. Instead it is nature and the forces it can unleash. Here we are at the mercy of it all– active volcanoes, raging rivers, unsteady mountainsides, and an unsteady underpinning highlighted by the action of tectonic plates, with the Cocos plate burrowing its way beneath the Caribbean plate.

At this writing we have three active volcanoes– Poas, Turrialba and Rincon de la Vieja– all of which have erupted this year. Volcanic action worldwide is on the increase, possibly due to electromagnetic shifts brought on by increasingly intense solar storms. The month of June has been wetter than usual. And those two tectonic plates I mentioned? They are overdue for a major readjustment which will translate into a major earthquake somewhere in our country.

Is there really such a thing as a safe space? You can convince yourself that you are where you want to be, but what once seemed a good place to lay back and watch the world go by can become a danger zone overnight. Every bomb dropped, every gun fired, every senseless war being waged, all of humanity’s futile actions pale compared to the devastation that can be wrought by the natural world.

As for me, I harbor no illusions. Costa Rica for all its faults is still the closest thing to a safe space as I have found. Pura Vida.

Costa Rican Court Orders Release of Migrants Deported Under Trump Deal

AFP
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Costa Rican Court Orders Release of Migrants Deported Under Trump Deal

A court on Tuesday ordered Costa Rican authorities to release foreign migrants who had been detained in a shelter after being deported under an agreement between the Trump administration and the government of Rodrigo Chaves, according to a ruling issued on the eve of a visit by the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Two hundred migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and other Asian and some African countries—including 80 children—were brought here in February under the U.S.-Costa Rica agreement, which has been criticized by human rights organizations.

By partially accepting a legal appeal filed in March on behalf of the migrants, Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court gave immigration authorities 15 days to define the deportees’ immigration status and to release them, according to the resolution.

The migrants had been held since February in the Temporary Migrant Assistance Center (Catem), located 360 km south of San José near the Panamanian border. Following public criticism, the government allowed them to move freely outside the shelter beginning in April. Some opted for voluntary repatriation. As of now, 28 migrants remain at the Catem center, including 13 minors, according to official data.

Nonetheless, the habeas corpus petition continued its legal course and was resolved on Tuesday. The court decision is expected to serve as a precedent to avoid similar agreements in the future. The court also ordered Costa Rican authorities to determine the type of healthcare, education, housing, and general social assistance the migrants require from the state.

The resolution was published one day before the visit of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who will meet with President Chaves and tour the Los Lagos temporary detention center, about 15 km from San José.

In March, an Afghan woman said from behind the bars of the Catem center that she fled her country because she wanted to study and work and did not want to be forced into the company of a man just to go out. She warned that if forced to return to Afghanistan, “the Taliban will kill me.”

In addition to the deportations to Costa Rica, Trump also sent 300 deportees—mostly from Asia—to Panama and 252 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, accusing them, without evidence, of being members of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua. Those sent to El Salvador were imprisoned in the country’s mega-prison for gang members.

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Tico Times
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Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil. The probe began after Roberto Samcam, a 66-year-old retired Nicaraguan army major and outspoken opponent of President Daniel Ortega, was gunned down in his San Vicente de Moravia apartment on June 19, 2025. The killing has sent shockwaves through Costa Rica’s Nicaraguan exile community, home to over 100,000 refugees since Nicaragua’s 2018 protests.

Samcam was at home near Plaza Lincoln when a gunman, posing as a deliveryman, knocked at 7:30 a.m. When Samcam answered, the attacker fired eight shots into his chest, abdomen, and limbs with a 9mm pistol, then fled on a motorbike with an accomplice. OIJ director Randall Zúñiga called the attack “particularly targeted” but cautioned it’s too early to confirm regime involvement.

“We’re chasing the shooter and his partner, and we’re digging into whether someone orchestrated this from afar,” Zúñiga said. He pointed to a chilling precedent: in January 2024, Nicaraguan exile Joao Maldonado survived a shooting in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, one of two attempts on his life since 2021. “Another Ortega critic was hit with gunfire right here,” the OIJ noted, raising fears of a pattern.

Samcam had long warned of such threats. He claimed Ortega’s regime ran a network of assassins from the Nicaraguan embassy in San José, led by the army’s Directorate of Defense Information. While the embassy link lacks hard evidence, Samcam told media the regime deployed agents to monitor and attack exiles after the 2018 protests, which killed over 300 and drove thousands to Costa Rica.

A UN report from February 2025 backs this, documenting Nicaragua’s transnational repression, including surveillance and violence against critics abroad. Other exiles—Rodolfo Rojas in 2022 and Jaime Luis Ortega in 2024—were killed in Costa Rica, and Maldonado’s attacks point to a coordinated effort, possibly tied to Ortega’s Sandinista network.

The OIJ is under pressure to deliver answers. Former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla called Samcam’s murder “shocking” for its “impunity” and urged it be a “top priority.” Exiled activists, like Dora María Téllez, warn of a “night of long knives” by a weakening regime. The U.S. State Department offered support to hold “those behind” the killing accountable.

Samcam, stripped of Nicaraguan citizenship in 2023 and granted Spanish citizenship, was a key voice against Ortega’s military repression. His 2022 book, Ortega: El calvario de Nicaragua, exposed the regime’s abuses. As the OIJ probes, exiles fear Costa Rica, once a safe haven, is no longer secure. The investigation could redefine how Costa Rica protects those fleeing Ortega’s wrath.

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Tico Times
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Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government banned anyone under 18 from attending. Just days before the celebration, the Ministry of Justice and Peace’s Commission for the Control and Qualification of Public Spectacles reclassified the event—previously approved for all ages—as 18-only, citing “inappropriate attire” and “sexualized expressions.” The decision has sparked outrage among organizers and activists, who call it a direct attack on LGBTIQ+ rights.

Pride Costa Rica, the group behind the event, held a press conference to slam the move. “The government stripped the ‘family event’ label from our closing show, effectively blocking minors from joining,” they said. They labeled the ban as censorship that undermines the visibility and dignity of diverse youth. The event, featuring national artists, was meant to cap the annual Pride March, a protest and celebration of human rights that draws thousands to San José.

Activists didn’t sit still. Paula Siles from Detrás del Arco Iris filed a complaint with the Constitutional Chamber, arguing the ban violates minors’ rights, especially their freedom to protest. “You have rights. Pride is a protest, and no one can stop you from being there,” Siles told young people. “We’ll fight for every right with law and pride.” The group insists the march itself remains open to all, as barring minors from protests would breach constitutional protections.

This isn’t the first time Pride has faced last-minute hurdles. Last year, President Rodrigo Chaves revoked the march’s cultural interest status the night before, a move the Constitutional Chamber later ruled violated fundamental rights. That same year, Chaves fired the Minister of Culture and the Commissioner for Social Inclusion for supporting the declaration, accusing them of acting without his approval. P

The Pride March, kicking off at Sabana Este and ending at Plaza de la Democracia, is a global symbol of resistance and joy. Organizers are pushing back, demanding free and safe participation for everyone, regardless of age.

Panama Regains Control of Bocas del Toro After Violent Protests

Tico Times
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Panama Regains Control of Bocas del Toro After Violent Protests

Panama’s government has regained control of Bocas del Toro province after months of violent anti-government protests sparked by pension reforms, officials announced. The unrest, centered in the banana-producing region, left one person dead, over 300 arrested, and dozens injured, including 14 police officers, according to authorities.

The protests began nearly two months ago when workers, particularly those employed by U.S. banana giant Chiquita, opposed pension changes passed by Panama’s Congress in March. Critics argue the reforms will force people to work longer for less. Tensions escalated in late April when Chiquita workers in Bocas del Toro went on strike, prompting the company to fire thousands. While banana growers’ unions ended their protests earlier this month to negotiate reversing the layoffs, other groups continued barricading roads and clashing with police.

Violence peaked in Changuinola, the province’s main city, where protesters looted businesses, vandalized the local airport, and partially set fire to a baseball stadium with police inside, authorities said. The chaos also saw damage to Chiquita’s facilities and a National Civil Defense Service office. In response, President José Raúl Mulino declared a five-day state of emergency last week, suspending rights to assembly and movement to curb roadblocks and destruction.

National Police Director General Jaime Fernandez said Monday that over 2,500 officers were deployed to restore order. “We managed to take control of the situation,” he told reporters, noting that protests and looting have stopped, though “the threat remains.” The Security Ministry shared images of police clearing roads in Changuinola, but Fernandez admitted significant damage remains. Local media reported clashes are subsiding, with telecommunications briefly cut during the crackdown.

Deputy Security Minister Luis Felipe Icaza said most arrests stemmed from vandalism and looting. Some officials, including Security Minister Frank Ábrego, pointed to gangs as key instigators, alleging political backing in a region known for banana production. The government’s heavy-handed response, including suspending constitutional protections, has drawn criticism.

The unrest highlights deeper issues, as nationwide protests since March have included unions and Indigenous groups opposing the pension law, which addresses a $650 million pension system deficit, per local reports. Chiquita’s mass layoffs, costing the company $75 million, further fueled anger in Bocas del Toro, where workers felt reforms threatened labor protections.

Former Costa Rican Minister Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Faces U.S. Extradition

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Former Costa Rican Minister Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Faces U.S. Extradition

Costa Rica’s judicial police arrested Celso Gamboa, a former security minister and Supreme Court judge, on Monday, following a U.S. request for his extradition on drug trafficking charges. The 49-year-old was detained in San Jose, marking a significant moment for the country’s fight against organized crime. This arrest comes just weeks after Costa Rica passed a constitutional reform in May, allowing the extradition of its citizens for drug trafficking and terrorism for the first time in its history.

Randall Zuniga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), called the arrest a “milestone,” noting that Gamboa is the second Costa Rican to face extradition under the new law. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requested Gamboa’s transfer to Dallas, Texas, to face charges of international drug trafficking. Alongside Gamboa, authorities also detained Edwin Lopez Vega, alias “Pecho de Rata,” in Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean region, who is also wanted by the DEA for similar charges.

Gamboa’s high-profile career adds weight to the case. He served as head of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) in 2013, security minister in 2014, deputy attorney general in 2015, and Supreme Court justice from 2016 to 2018. His arrest has shocked Costa Rica’s judicial and political circles, with many seeing it as a blow to the country’s institutions but also a chance to strengthen accountability. “No official, no matter how high they’ve climbed, is above the law,” a representative from Costa Rica Íntegra, a civic organization, posted on social media.

Public Security Minister Mario Zamora described the arrest as “the first of many blows” against drug trafficking, emphasizing that involvement in such crimes will lead to punishment, whether in Costa Rica or abroad. The OIJ’s collaboration with the DEA, ongoing for over a year, underscores the international scope of the investigation. Zuniga noted that the case was paused until the extradition reform passed, allowing authorities to act swiftly once the law changed.

Costa Rica, once Central America’s safest country, has seen a surge in drug-related violence. By the end of 2024, the homicide rate reached 16.6 per 100,000 people, more than double the global average, driven largely by drug trafficking. Recent OIJ operations, including a bust of a trafficking ring hiding cocaine in inflatable boats, show the country’s growing role as a transit hub for drugs headed to the U.S. and Australia.

Gamboa and Lopez remain in custody as Costa Rican courts review the U.S. extradition request. A tribunal will verify legal requirements before approving their transfer. The case highlights Costa Rica’s new resolve to tackle drug trafficking head-on, both at home and in cooperation with international partners.

Costa Rica’s Cutris Mining Bill Threatens Massive Environmental Damage

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Costa Rica’s Cutris Mining Bill Threatens Massive Environmental Damage

Costa Rica’s government is pushing a controversial bill that could open the entire Cutris district in San Carlos—848 square kilometers—to open-pit gold mining. The proposal, known as bill 24.717, has environmental groups up in arms over the potential damage to forests, rivers, and wildlife. Introduced last year by President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, the bill would allow mining concessions through auctions, with no cap on the number of permits. It’s a sharp break from the country’s 2010 ban on open-pit metallic mining, which has held firm for 15 years.

The Flora and Fauna Preservationist Association (APREFLOFAS) warns the project could dwarf the environmental fallout of Crucitas, a failed gold mine in Cutris that covered 300 hectares. Crucitas, once pursued by Canadian company Infinito Gold, relied on a 143-hectare tailings pond to store toxic sludge laced with cyanide. Illegal mining in Crucitas today affects just 10 to 15 square kilometers, but legalizing mining across Cutris could amplify the harm exponentially, APREFLOFAS says. In March, the group submitted a 48-page report to lawmakers, highlighting risks like polluted rivers, wrecked landscapes, and lost forests in a region battered by tropical storms.

Tailings ponds are the biggest worry. These massive reservoirs hold ground rock mixed with cyanide and heavy metals—lead, cadmium, nickel, arsenic—that can poison ecosystems and people. Bernal Gamboa, a lawyer who helped shut down Crucitas, called the tailings pond the “weak spot” of mining. Speaking to lawmakers, he described Crucitas’ planned pond as 143 hectares—twice the size of San José’s La Sabana Park—and 18 meters deep, like a six-story building. A single leak could devastate Cutris’s rivers and aquifers.

Biologist Jorge Lobo, who’s studied mining’s impact for years, didn’t hold back. He told lawmakers the bill threatens Costa Rica’s biodiversity, sovereignty, and environmental legacy. “It could unleash a flood of mining requests, undoing decades of protections,” he said. The 2010 ban, Law 8904, was a hard-won victory for activists, and many see bill 24.717 as a betrayal of that legacy.

As the Legislative Assembly debates the bill, environmentalists are urging lawmakers to reject it. They argue Costa Rica’s future lies in sustainable development, not gold.

Costa Rica’s President Chaves Accused of Illicit Campaign Financing

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Costa Rica’s President Chaves Accused of Illicit Campaign Financing

On Monday, Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office formally accused President Rodrigo Chaves along with six high-ranking officials and pro-government legislators of allegedly engaging in illicit financing during the 2022 electoral campaign, according to an official statement. The accusation centers on claims that Chaves and his circle used “two parallel structures” to finance the campaign of the Social Democratic Progress Party (PPSD). This development comes amid ongoing tensions between the branches of government.

President Chaves has accused the Prosecutor’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the Legislative Assembly of blocking his reform efforts. Meanwhile, leaders of those institutions accuse Chaves of authoritarian tendencies. The Prosecutor’s Office submitted the charges to the Supreme Court, including a request to lift the constitutional immunity (fuero) of the seven officials and initiate a criminal trial for their alleged involvement in illegal political financing.

Among those named in the indictment are First Vice President Stephan Brunner and Foreign Minister Arnoldo André. The list also includes four PPSD legislators: Pilar Cisneros, Luz Mary Alpízar, Paola Nájera, and Waldo Agüero.

According to the prosecution, the PPSD illegally financed its 2022 general election campaign through a private trust fund and personal bank accounts belonging to a woman with the last name Agüero. This individual is facing separate criminal proceedings because she is not protected by immunity. “Both funding channels operated outside the oversight of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and the party’s official Treasury,” a violation of Costa Rica’s Electoral Code, the Prosecutor’s Office said.

It’s now up to the Supreme Court to review the case and decide whether to request that the Legislative Assembly lift the constitutional immunity of the accused officials. If found guilty, they face prison terms ranging from two to four years, according to the code. Back in April, the Prosecutor’s Office also accused Chaves of alleged abuse of power for favoring a former aide using funds from an internationally financed contract. The Supreme Court has yet to issue a ruling on that matter.

Chaves, a 64-year-old conservative economist and former World Bank official, is not eligible for reelection. However, political allies suggest he may pursue a legislative seat. Known for his tough, populist leadership style, Chaves continues to perform strongly in opinion polls. He has said he hopes his party wins a qualified majority in the February 2026 elections to implement a series of reforms.

Costa Rican Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Teen Vaping Epidemic

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Costa Rican Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Teen Vaping Epidemic

Vaping has become increasingly popular, especially among teenagers and young adults. However, the health consequences associated with its use are raising alarm among Costa Rican medical authorities. According to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), consultations linked to vaping have increased significantly. In just the first six months of 2025, the number of hospitalizations surpassed the total recorded for all of 2024.

Marny Ramos, coordinator of the CCSS Program for Diseases Associated with Tobacco Consumption, warned that vaping is leading to intoxication cases, severe respiratory symptoms, and a troubling rise in nicotine dependence. “There is clear concern over the increase in cases, particularly among youth. We’re seeing a rise in disorders related to vaping among children aged 10 to 17 and young adults,” Ramos said.

Official data shows that hospitalizations linked to vaping rose from one case in 2023 to 10 in 2024, and already 11 between January and June of 2025 alone. These figures correspond to cases in which vaping was recorded as one of the diagnoses during hospitalization. The surge is even more pronounced among outpatients. In 2020, only two cases were reported. That number rose to 1,640 in 2023, 3,091 in 2024, and 2,287 in the first half of 2025.

Many of these patients presented multiple diagnoses, but Ramos noted that respiratory issues, anxiety, and behavioral symptoms are often tied to vape use. Common complaints include coughing at night, sneezing, shortness of breath, irritability, isolation, and depression. Schools have also reported incidents of students fainting from vaping devices containing high levels of nicotine or marijuana. “Some devices don’t even label their contents accurately, and studies have found multiple toxic substances in them,” Ramos added.

The most severe cases have been diagnosed with EVALI (electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury), which can require extended hospital stays and pose serious health risks. Manufactured almost exclusively in China, the vaporizers are colorful and come in eye-catching metallic finishes, soft silicone textures and rounded shapes that fit comfortably in the hand.

As part of the innovation to continue gaining market share, manufacturers introduced LCD screens. These smart cigarettes are the result of the innovation boom in China’s $28 billion e-cigarette export sector. They are mostly sold in the USA, but it is only a matter of time before they become widely popular and accesible in Costa Rica.

These products equipped with touch screens, animated displays, and built-in games. Because the products are user friendly and attractive to youth, there might be an increase in consumption. The proliferation of e-cigarettes, especially among young people, is a public health matter that has concerned doctors and lawmakers alike. While Costa Rica did implement a very anti-smoking campaign when tobacco was popular, experts now have to come up with new and impactful strategies to effectively combat vaping

Costa Rica’s San Lucas Island Sees Kilos of Trash Removed in Cleanup

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Costa Rica’s San Lucas Island Sees Kilos of Trash Removed in Cleanup

Twenty-five volunteers hauled 381 kilos of trash—mostly plastic bottles and tires—off Cocos Beach on Costa Rica’s San Lucas Island. The cleanup, set in the Gulf of Nicoya, shines a light on our country’s growing plastic pollution problem, with debris choking mangroves and coastlines.

San Lucas Island sits just 10 to 15 kilometers from Puntarenas and Chacarita, near the polluted Grande de Tárcoles River, often blamed for funneling plastics into the gulf. The Tárcoles, along with tributaries like the Barranca and Jesús María Rivers, carries waste from urban areas straight to the Pacific.

Environmentalists point to poor waste management in nearby communities as a key driver, with tides dumping trash on the island’s shores. “We were shocked by how much debris the tides brought in,” said Montserrat Courrau, a spokesperson for Ruta 27, which backed the cleanup. “We wanted to clear the waste, handle it right, and create jobs for Guacalillo families.”

In Guacalillo, a nearby community hit hard by pollution, locals took on the task of washing, sorting, and packing the collected materials for recycling. Geronimo Ciuti, director of MareBlu, stressed the importance of immediate processing. “You can’t just collect trash and store it for later—no business will take it for recycling,” he said. He also noted Guacalillo’s economic struggles, saying pollution has stifled tourism compared to spots like Jacó or Playa Hermosa. “These areas aren’t drawing visitors because of the mess,” Ciuti added.

The cleanup is a small win in Costa Rica’s battle against plastic waste. The country churns out 564 tons of plastic daily, but less than 2% gets recycled, with most piling up in landfills or waterways. The Tárcoles River, dubbed Central America’s most polluted, is a major culprit, carrying trash to the Gulf of Nicoya. Despite a National Roadmap for Action on Plastics aiming for 91% pollution reduction by 2040, progress is slow. Municipalities often lack recycling programs, and good intentions—like bans on single-use plastics—falter due to limited resources and follow-through.

Community efforts, like the San Lucas cleanup, show promise, but experts say real change needs government muscle. Stronger policies, better infrastructure, and regional cooperation are critical to stop the flow of plastics. For now, volunteers and locals are stepping up, proving that even 381 kilos less trash makes a difference.

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