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Costa Rica’s Borinquen Geothermal Plant Advances With Major Contract

Costa Rica’s state electricity company has moved Borinquen I one step closer to completion, awarding a contract worth nearly $100 million for the main electromechanical equipment needed to bring the long-delayed geothermal plant into operation. The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad ( ICE ) approved the contract for the design, supply, supervision, testing and commissioning of the generation equipment for the Borinquen I Geothermal Project in Liberia, Guanacaste. The plant is expected to add 55 megawatts of firm power to Costa Rica’s electrical system and become the country’s eighth geothermal plant. ICE says the project is now more than 55% complete and currently employs more than 500 people. The latest award covers the equipment that forms the core of the plant’s generation system. That includes the generating unit powered by volcanic steam, related systems and equipment, and the cooling tower. ICE expects to sign the contract during the second half of 2026, with constructi...
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El Salvador Airport Introduces WhatsApp Help Line for Travelers

El Salvador International Airport has launched an official WhatsApp help channel for passengers who need quick information before, during or after their trip through the country’s main air terminal. The new contact number is +503 7070 8312. According to CEPA , the government port and airport authority, passengers can use the channel to ask about airport services, the location of areas inside the terminal, lost items, flight itineraries and general travel support related to the airport. The new WhatsApp contact gives travelers one more direct way to get basic airport guidance without having to search through different offices or wait until they arrive at the terminal. That can be useful for visitors arriving for the first time, families coordinating pickups, travelers with tight connections, or anyone trying to find a specific airport area. The airport, officially named Aeropuerto Internacional de El Salvador San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, is located in San Luis Talpa...
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Costa Rica Cuts Corcovado Visitor Capacity Over Wastewater Problems

Costa Rica will reduce visitor capacity at the Sirena Biological Station in Corcovado National Park after technical inspections found serious problems with the station’s wastewater treatment system. The Osa Conservation Area, known as ACOSA, announced the reduction as a preventive measure aimed at lowering the wastewater load entering the system and preventing further environmental damage inside one of Costa Rica’s most important protected areas. Sirena is one of the main access points for visitors to Corcovado, a park known for its wildlife, remote trails, and high concentration of biodiversity. The station receives both day visitors and overnight guests, making it one of the most heavily used areas inside the park. The wastewater treatment plant at Sirena began operating in 2016 as part of the BID Tourism Project. The system was designed to serve about 100 people per day. Since 2022, however, the plant has regularly handled wastewater loads linked to more than 200 daily user...
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Costa Rica Extradites Canadian Fugitive Hiding in Tamarindo

A Canadian man wanted in connection with a major drug and firearms case in British Columbia has been extradited from Costa Rica after several months in custody. Jesse Michael Valentino Bou-Saleh, 35, was sent back to Canada on Tuesday, June 9, following a request from Canada’s Department of Justice. The extradition was coordinated by the Interpol office of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, known as the OIJ. Bou-Saleh was wanted by Canadian authorities in connection with drug trafficking, drug distribution, drug storage and illegal firearms offenses. The case is tied to Lake Country, British Columbia, where investigators linked him to a criminal organization accused of supplying fentanyl and other illicit drugs in Vernon and nearby communities. Costa Rican authorities located Bou-Saleh in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, where he had been living with his partner and children. OIJ officials said he was arrested in January, setting off the extradition process that ended this week...
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Ex-Air Canada Pilot Charged After Allegedly Flying Without Proper License

A former Air Canada captain has been charged in Canada after police alleged he flew more than 900 domestic and international flights without holding the license required to serve as captain of large commercial aircraft. Geoffrey Wall, 59, of Barrie, Ontario, was arrested on June 1 following a four-month fraud and forgery investigation by Peel Regional Police known as Project Icarus. Authorities allege Wall used fraudulent pilot licenses during his career and deceived both Air Canada and Transport Canada, Canada’s federal aviation regulator. Police said Wall worked for Air Canada for 27 years and retired in 2025, before the regulatory and criminal investigations began. Between 2009 and 2025, he was assigned to more than 900 flights as captain and earned more than 2.9 million Canadian dollars in salary. Wall has been charged with fraud over $5,000, two counts of uttering forged documents, three counts of possession of a counterfeit mark, and public mischief. The allegations ...
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Costa Rica Faces England in Orlando in Major Test Before World Cup Begins

Costa Rica faces England on Wednesday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, in one of La Sele’s most high-profile friendly matches in years. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, 2:00 p.m. in Costa Rica and 9:00 p.m. in the United Kingdom. The Tico Times will have a photographer at the stadium for full coverage from Orlando, including match photos and postgame analysis. For England, the match is a final warm-up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins Thursday in Mexico City. Thomas Tuchel’s team arrives in Florida with one more chance to test its shape, settle its lineup and sharpen a squad expected to be among the tournament’s strongest. England defeated New Zealand 1-0 on Saturday, with Harry Kane scoring the only goal. The result gave England another win before the World Cup, but the performance left Tuchel with decisions still to make before the competitive matches begin. For Costa Rica, the meaning is different. La Sele enters the match outside the...
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Guanacaste Faces One of Its Worst Droughts as Rain Hits Much of Costa Rica

Guanacaste is facing one of its worst drought situations in years, even as much of Costa Rica deals with heavy rain, saturated soils and flood alerts. The contrast has become one of the clearest signs of our country’s uneven rainy season. In parts of the Central Valley and Pacific regions, emergency officials have warned of strong downpours and possible flooding. In Guanacaste, many communities are still waiting for the kind of steady rain that normally brings relief after the dry season. The problem is already visible across farms, cattle pastures and local water systems. In communities such as San Antonio de Nicoya, residents counted only a couple of significant downpours during May. The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional has described the rainfall deficit in blunt terms: Guanacaste normally receives about 200 millimeters of rain during May, but this year the province recorded almost none in several areas. For ranchers and farmers, the timing could hardly be worse. The dry sea...
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