AGP Executive Report

Tourism & Celebrity in Costa Rica: Ivanka Trump was photographed taking surfing lessons during a family beach vacation in Costa Rica, continuing her past visits to the country’s surf scene. Regional Sports (Concacaf): Guyana made history with a debut 3rd-place finish at the FIFAe Continental Championship in Mexico City, reaching the semifinals against Costa Rica. Volcano & Safety Watch: A daily volcano update flagged renewed explosive activity in Indonesia and noted ongoing unrest at several volcanoes, with Central America also seeing ash and rockfall activity. Renewables Funding for Costa Rica: IRENA is inviting renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, for possible support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing. Education Warning (Costa Rica-linked): Ghana’s GTEC published a list of 100 unrecognized universities, which includes “Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica,” warning students to verify recognition before enrolling. Culture in the Caribbean Coast: Puerto Viejo’s Wolaba Parade returns with music, dancing, and Afro-Caribbean heritage celebrations ahead of Costa Rica’s Aug. 31 Afro-descendant culture observances.

Volcano Safety Update: Costa Rica tightened rules at Poás Volcano National Park after an early-morning eruption, cutting daily visitors to 1,064 (from 2,052) and requiring helmets on key trails; the crater viewpoint will cap at 56 people for up to 20 minutes while monitoring continues. Tech Connectivity: Starlink Mobile launched in Costa Rica via Liberty, letting customers use satellite voice notes, location sharing, and maps in remote areas (no dish needed). Tourism & Culture: Limón’s Grand Gala Parade returns Aug. 31, celebrating Afro-descendant heritage with music, dance, and traditional food as part of Costa Rica’s Afro-Cultural Month. Regional Cooperation: IRENA is inviting renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, to speed financing and de-risk clean energy rollouts. International Spotlight: Hilton announced its LXR Hotels & Resorts debut in Costa Rica with Maravé Manuel Antonio, set to open in 2029. Health & Travel Planning: A new report on retiring in Costa Rica highlights the real-world costs retirees face, including Medicare limits and exchange-rate pressure.

Education & Credentials: Ghana’s GTEC published a fresh list of 100 “unrecognised” universities as of Aug. 28, 2026, warning the public to do due diligence before trusting certificates, including one Costa Rica institution. Retirement Reality Check: A new guide for Costa Rica retirement highlights the gap between the beach pitch and the spreadsheet—especially Medicare limits, exchange-rate pressure, and higher monthly costs. Volcano Safety: Poás Volcano National Park tightened rules after an eruption early Aug. 28—cutting daily visitors to 1,064, requiring helmets on key trails, and limiting the crater viewpoint to 56 people at a time. Tourism & Culture: Limón’s Grand Gala Parade returns as a major Afro-descendant celebration, while Puerto Viejo’s Wolaba Parade brings Afro-Caribbean heritage to the streets. Tech Connectivity: Starlink Mobile launched in Costa Rica via Liberty, bringing direct-to-phone satellite features like voice notes, location sharing, and maps for remote areas. Luxury Hospitality: Hilton announced LXR Hotels & Resorts’ debut in Costa Rica with Maravé Manuel Antonio, opening in 2029. Energy Push: IRENA opened a call for renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, for potential financing support.

Cruise & Tourism: Oceania Cruises floated out its new luxury ship, Oceania Sonata, at Fincantieri in Italy, moving it toward interior work ahead of an August 2027 debut with Caribbean sailings. Tech & Connectivity: Starlink Mobile launched in Costa Rica with Liberty, bringing satellite voice notes, location sharing, and maps for remote areas. Volcano Safety: Costa Rica tightened Poás Volcano rules after an eruption, cutting daily visitors to 1,064, requiring helmets on key trails, and limiting the crater viewpoint to 56 people at a time. Local Culture: Limón’s Grand Gala Parade returns for Afro-descendant Cultural Month, celebrating Caribbean heritage through music, dance, and food. Community & Skills: A Glasgow church partnership helped Costa Rica’s Dream Center launch a six-month computer programming class, graduating 26 students. Public Policy: Frente Amplio proposed tighter controls on cash legal-fee payments in drug cases to prevent traffickers from hiding money.

Luxury Tourism & Hospitality: Hilton says its LXR brand is coming to Costa Rica with Maravé Manuel Antonio, a 40-acre Pacific beachfront resort slated to open in 2029 with 173 accommodations and residences. Tech Connectivity: Starlink Mobile has launched in Costa Rica via Liberty, letting customers use satellite voice notes, location sharing and maps in remote areas. Public Safety & Wildlife: Costa Rica lawmakers approved rules requiring wildlife crossings for roads that disrupt animal movement, with early planning and possible upgrades for existing roads. Health Watch: Dengue is accelerating in Costa Rica, with cases above 3,400 so far in 2026 and malaria concerns also rising. Crime & Courts: A bill would require proof that money used to pay defense lawyers is legal, aiming to curb drug trafficking’s “follow the money” tactics. Infrastructure Update: ICE plans to demolish the historic La Sabana Norte Jorge Manuel Dengo Obregón building and replace it with a new 21-story facility. Nature Conservation: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park to help restore a threatened ecosystem.

UN Politics: The race to replace UN chief António Guterres stays murky as a second Security Council straw poll shows Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leading, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan slipping but still in the mix—no clear winner yet. Public Safety & Governance: President Laura Fernández ordered extra police in Cartago after 51 homicides, while renewing her fight with the judiciary over releases and judicial independence. Crime & Courts: A Wall Street Journal report links Costa Rica’s drug-violence surge to the Moín container terminal and warns of a widening political clash between the presidency and courts. Health Watch: Dengue cases in Costa Rica have climbed past 3,400 this year, and malaria concerns are resurfacing as health teams intensify mosquito control. Wildlife Protection: Lawmakers approved wildlife crossings for roads where infrastructure disrupts animal movement, with enforcement tied to environmental review. Tourism & Nature: A preview from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 highlights record entries, while a separate piece spotlights Costa Rica’s sloth-spotting obsession and the push for responsible viewing. International Links: India and Costa Rica discussed deeper cooperation, including finance pilots and payments tech.

Wildlife & Infrastructure: Costa Rica lawmakers approved a rule requiring wildlife crossings on roads when projects disrupt habitat or threaten animals, with the National Environmental Technical Secretariat checking plans early and existing roads possibly needing new crossings if new info shows it’s necessary. Conservation in Action: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park to restore a species wiped out by hunters, with tracking and camera monitoring showing the herd is settling in. Courts & Security: Supreme Court President Orlando Aguirre won’t seek a new term, as tensions between President Laura Fernández’s government and the judiciary over crime, case speed, and budget cuts keep escalating. Public Safety in Cartago: Fernández ordered more police deployment in Cartago after violence surged, saying she’s woken by gunfire at least twice a week. Immigration Update: The U.S. temporarily suspended immigrant visa appointments in Costa Rica for staff training, while tourist/business/temporary-work interviews remain unaffected. Business & Finance: Chilean fintech Global66 reported over US$3.5B mobilized in the first half of 2026, doubling volume in Latin America and adding Costa Rica as an origin market.

Media Freedom: CPJ and IAPA warn a Costa Rican bill on broadcast spectrum fees could push radio and TV stations off the air, arguing it threatens freedom of expression and access to news. Immigration Regularization: Starting Sept. 1, DGME will launch a Special Temporary Complementary Category (CETC) to help thousands of Nicaraguans, Cubans, Venezuelans and Colombians with pending or denied refugee applications regularize status, with proof of ties to Costa Rica and required documents. Tax Enforcement: Experts say proposed “express seizures” could face legal challenges unless key deadlines, appeal rules and joint liability provisions are adjusted to avoid constitutional problems. Tourism Demand: Canada is now Costa Rica’s fastest-growing source market, with arrivals up 25.1% in Jan–July, boosting pressure on northern Pacific routes and hotels. Nature Watch: SINAC is monitoring a rare solitary sea lion sighting on the Pacific coast and urges the public to keep distance and avoid interference. Sports & Culture: The National Stadium is set for a record run of major international concerts from August to December.

Immigration Regularization: Starting Sept. 1, Costa Rica’s immigration authority will roll out a Special Temporary Complementary Category (CETC) to help thousands of people with established ties—especially Nicaraguans, Cubans, Venezuelans and Colombians—regularize residency and work permits if they applied for refugee status between June 1, 2014 and May 7, 2026 and meet continuity and documentation requirements. Governance & Procurement: A new critique alleges Rodrigo Chaves-linked lawmakers are pushing draft bills that would let officials and school boards contract outside standard public procurement rules, raising fresh concerns about favoritism and transparency. Tax Enforcement: Tax experts warn proposed “express seizures” could face legal challenges, pointing to deadlines, appeal rules, and joint liability provisions that may clash with constitutional guarantees. Earthquake Watch: Multiple reports this week describe strong quakes shaking Costa Rica’s Central Valley and aftershocks, with ongoing impacts and monitoring. Tourism & Culture: Costa Rica’s National Stadium announced a record run of major international concerts from August to December, promising a tourism and jobs boost for San José and surrounding areas. Travel Disruption: A Costa Rica-based passenger recounts how weather diverted a flight to Wisconsin and turned it into a nearly 20-hour ordeal.

Tourism & Culture: Costa Rica’s National Stadium, La Sabana, is set to host a record run of major international concerts from August through December, with big names like Iron Maiden, Karol G, Romeo Santos, and Karol G double dates expected to boost hotel occupancy, local spending, and temporary jobs. Travel & Connectivity: British Airways expands its winter network, adding more flights including to San José, while a separate report highlights how weather disruptions can spiral into a near-20-hour travel nightmare for a passenger now living in Costa Rica. Science & Safety: Costa Rica’s seismologists linked recent Central Valley quakes near Coronado to the Río Sucio fault system, tying the shaking to a known fault behavior and past events. Media & Wildlife: NBC’s “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild” returns Oct. 3 with new conservation adventures that include Costa Rica. Regional Policy: The Dominican Republic announced it will adopt the IHRA antisemitism definition, joining Costa Rica and other Latin American countries already using it.

UN Secretary-General Race: Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett edged ahead in a second Security Council straw poll, narrowly beating Costa Rica’s former VP Rebeca Grynspan; diplomats say multiple rounds are expected as the UN narrows candidates to replace Antonio Guterres. Costa Rica Earthquakes: Seismologists linked Monday’s Central Valley quakes near Coronado to the Río Sucio fault system, explaining the sideways ground motion seen on security cameras; authorities reported minor damage and no injuries. Tourism & Economy: A new report says Costa Rica is setting tourism records, but hotels and restaurants are still losing ground—while another piece notes Guanacaste drives most of the country’s tourism growth. Local Governance & Public Safety: A Costa Rica budget cut is criticized for leaving the OIJ short on money for major operations, with organized crime benefiting. Regional Politics: Analysts point to a rightward political shift across Latin America, with Brazil’s presidential campaign now seen as the biggest test of the trend.

Earthquake Watch: Two moderately strong quakes hit Costa Rica’s Central Valley early Monday, centered near Coronado (5.4 and 4.8), triggering dozens of aftershocks and minor damage including a landslide, with no injuries reported. Tourism Economy: Costa Rica is setting tourism records, but hotels and restaurants say the strong colón is squeezing their dollar earnings, slowing lodging and food-service growth. Cancer Care Risk: Costa Rica’s public cancer treatment system depends on a single brachytherapy machine at Hospital México; internal CCSS auditors warn a breakdown or supply issue could disrupt care nationwide. Tourism Culture: Costa Rica launched a free “Cultural Passport” stamp program covering 35 heritage sites across all provinces, with prizes for completing the full set. Wildlife & Climate: Guides in Golfo Dulce report fewer humpback whale sightings this season, with warmer water suspected to be shifting whale movements. Conservation Story: Monteverde’s cloud-forest protection, begun in 1972, is highlighted as a decades-long conservation model tied to research and community involvement. International Diplomacy: Over 50 UN member states, including Georgia, urged Russia to agree to a full, immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

Earthquake Watch: Two quakes (5.4 and 4.8) hit central Costa Rica early Monday near Cascajal de Vázquez de Coronado, triggering dozens of aftershocks and only isolated, minor damage reports. Tax Policy & E-Commerce: Panama debates a 7% ITBMS on purchases from platforms like Amazon, Temu, Netflix and Airbnb, while Costa Rica is cited as a regional model for broader VAT-style collection. UN Leadership Race: Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu is pushing a capital-to-capital campaign for UN secretary-general, using the same informal straw-poll method he helped invent decades ago. STEM Education Push: Costa Rica plans at least 10 new scientific high schools, with new campuses and a shift of some regular schools toward technical tracks. Tourism Growth: Mid-year figures show air arrivals up 122,014 in Jan–Jul 2026, with Guanacaste’s Daniel Oduber airport driving most of the net gain. Conservation & Science: Research highlights how coffee pulp can help restore tropical forests, boosting canopy and soil nutrients in trials in southern Costa Rica.

UN Secretary-General Race: Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett surged to the lead after the UN Security Council’s second secret straw poll, edging out Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and keeping the race wide open as confidential ballots continue. Costa Rica Governance & Standards: Costa Rica’s official timekeeping rules entered a new era with a decree that updates the scientific framework for the national time reference using atomic clocks—without changing the country’s time zone. Tourism & Jobs: Costa Rica’s tourism momentum is being driven heavily by Guanacaste, which accounted for about two-thirds of the nation’s 2026 air-travel growth through July, with Liberia’s airport capturing most of the net increase. Tech & Regional Collaboration: Costa Rica is helping lead a Central American 5G Innovation Hackathon, using the country’s 5G testbed to spur cross-border prototypes. Environment & Resilience: Researchers in Coto Brus found coffee pulp can accelerate tropical forest regeneration, boosting canopy cover and soil nutrients after two years. Sports: Haiti named Spanish coach David Badía as head of its men’s national team ahead of the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League.

UN Secretary-General Race: Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett surged to the lead after the UN Security Council’s second secret straw poll, edging past Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and keeping the race wide open. Costa Rica Governance & Tech: Costa Rica changed its official time rules via a new decree, updating the scientific method behind the national time standard without shifting the country’s time zone. Regional Tech Push: A Central American 5G Innovation Hackathon is set to use Costa Rica’s 5G testbed to spur cross-border digital prototypes. Environment & Research: In Coto Brus, coffee pulp waste was tested as ecological restoration fuel, boosting forest canopy and soil nutrients after two years. Public Safety Watch: Canada reported 582 active wildfires as officials warn elevated fire risk could linger into September. Health & Rights Shock: An Ohio mother says her son’s tissue was taken as “anatomical gifts” without her consent while she was in Costa Rica. Economy Outlook: ECLAC held Latin America’s 2026 growth forecast at 2.2%, warning the pace is too weak to lift living standards.

UN Secretary-General Race: Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett surged to the lead in the UN Security Council’s second closed-door straw poll, edging Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and IAEA chief Rafael Grossi; the process stays secret and non-binding, with candidates needing at least nine “encourage” votes and no veto from permanent members. Costa Rica Governance & Standards: Costa Rica’s official timekeeping rules changed via a new executive decree, updating the scientific framework for the national time reference without shifting the country’s time zone. Regional Tech Push: A Central American 5G Innovation Hackathon will run Oct. 5–9, using Costa Rica’s 5G testbed infrastructure to build digital prototypes across the region. Jobs & Hiring: Costa Rica’s “Trabajemos 2026” employment fair in the Greater Metropolitan Area is matching workers to 1,600+ vacancies across technical, operational, and professional roles. Sports (Costa Rica in the mix): Concacaf Nations League Group A includes Costa Rica alongside Haiti, Curaçao, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.