Costa Rica News Roundup — September 4–24, 2026

Costa Rica has had a busy few weeks, with security, tourism, weather and the country’s Independence celebrations among the main stories.

President Laura Fernández’s security agenda has remained prominent. Earlier this month she said that U.S. ground operations could potentially assist Costa Rica in combating transnational crime and drug trafficking, although she stressed that no such deployment is currently planned and that any arrangement would require legislative approval. Fernández also travelled to Colombia this week for talks focused on strengthening cooperation against narcotics trafficking and organised crime.

Foreign policy produced another major story on September 24 when Fernández dismissed Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar. The government said Tovar had attended a meeting of the U.S.-led Shield of the Americas security coalition without informing the president, preventing her from taking part. Foreign Trade Minister Indiana Trejos was appointed acting foreign minister.

Tourism figures have meanwhile raised some concern. Arrivals from the United States — Costa Rica’s largest tourism market — have been losing momentum, with U.S. arrivals by air falling 13.9% year-on-year in August. Tourism analysts have also projected a slight year-on-year decline in international air arrivals for September.

Weather has also made headlines. Heavy rain caused flooding in parts of the Greater Metropolitan Area and contributed to a landslide on the road to Irazú Volcano. At the same time, El Niño has been producing sharply contrasting conditions, with rainfall deficits along parts of the Pacific and Central Valley while the Caribbean and northern regions have experienced above-normal rainfall.

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano has remained active, recording several moderate eruptions during September, including an event on September 23 that sent a plume around 1,000 metres above the crater.

Finally, Costa Rica marked 205 years of independence on September 15, with traditional torch ceremonies, lantern parades and student processions across the country. Around 2,000 students participated in the main San José celebrations.