San Salvador Times

Costa Rica Detects Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Bird

Costa Rican animal health authorities have confirmed an H5 avian influenza case in a wild marine bird found in Manuel Antonio National Park and have increased surveillance to help protect commercial poultry operations.

Central America Issues Flood Alerts as Tropical Wave 19 Crosses the Region

Emergency agencies in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have activated preventive alerts for heavy rainfall, flash flooding and strong winds as Tropical Wave 19 moves across Central America.

El Salvador Temporarily Closes El Boquerón National Park for Upgrades

The Ministry of Tourism has closed El Boquerón National Park through mid-July to carry out infrastructure improvements, trail restoration and conservation work.

European Union Provides €10 Million to Costa Rica for Migration and Border Support

Costa Rica has received a €10 million assistance package from the European Union to strengthen border infrastructure, improve humanitarian support and help integrate migrant populations.

El Salvador Extends LPG Subsidies and Cuts July Prices for Low-Income Households

Energy authorities have lowered July liquefied petroleum gas prices and extended targeted subsidies to help protect more than one million vulnerable households and small businesses from higher energy costs.

El Salvador and Costa Rica Rescue Teams Aid Earthquake Response in Venezuela

Urban search and rescue teams from El Salvador and Costa Rica helped recover survivors from collapsed buildings in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, eight days after twin earthquakes struck the country's coast.

United Nations Urges Guatemala to Open Military Archives on Civil War Disappearances

A United Nations working group has called on Guatemala to grant access to classified military archives and facilities to help locate thousands of Indigenous Maya people who disappeared during the country's civil conflict between 1960 and...

World Surf League Event Highlights El Salvador's Growing Coastal Tourism Industry

Officials said the successful conclusion of the 2026 Surf City El Salvador Pro at Punta Roca reinforced the country's strategy of using international sporting events to promote tourism and coastal infrastructure investment.

Central American Economies Continue to Outpace Broader Latin America

Recent economic data show El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua continuing to outperform much of Latin America in economic growth, supported by resilient domestic demand, tourism, remittances and nearshoring investment.

Costa Rica Joins U.S.-Backed Pax Silica Coalition to Boost Semiconductor Industry

Costa Rica has formally joined the Pax Silica initiative, seeking to strengthen its position as a regional hub for semiconductor assembly, testing and advanced technology manufacturing.

Panama to Build Maximum-Security Prison Based on El Salvador's Anti-Gang Model

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has ordered the construction of a maximum-security prison modeled on El Salvador's high-security gang detention system, aiming to isolate organized crime leaders.

El Salvador Expands Bitcoin Holdings as National Reserve Nears 7,700 Tokens

The government continued purchasing Bitcoin under its long-term accumulation strategy, bringing national reserves to nearly 7,700 tokens as President Nayib Bukele maintains the country's digital asset policy.

El Salvador's Tax Revenue Surpasses Government Forecasts on Strong Domestic Activity

The Finance Ministry reported that tax collections during the first five months of 2026 exceeded official projections, reflecting stronger corporate activity, resilient consumer spending and continued economic expansion.

Solar Power Becomes El Salvador's Largest Source of Installed Electricity Capacity

Energy authorities said photovoltaic solar power has overtaken fossil fuels and hydropower as the country's largest installed generation capacity, marking a milestone in El Salvador's shift toward domestically produced renewable energy.

El Salvador Joins U.S.-Led Pax Silica Initiative to Expand AI and Semiconductor Supply Chains

El Salvador has joined the U.S.-led Pax Silica technology coalition, aiming to strengthen critical infrastructure, attract advanced manufacturing investment and integrate its technology sector into global artificial intelligence and semi...

President Nayib Bukele Registers to Seek Third Consecutive Term in 2027 Election

President Nayib Bukele and Vice President Félix Ulloa have registered for the Nuevas Ideas party primary on July 12, advancing their bid for a third consecutive presidential term after legislative and judicial changes removed constitutio...

El Salvador's Economy Posts Strong First-Quarter Growth at More Than Double Long-Term Average

El Salvador's Central Reserve Bank said first-quarter economic growth more than doubled the country's average pace over the past 17 years, supported by strong domestic consumption, expanding trade and a surge in international visitor arr...

Bitcoin-Focused Tourism Continues to Support El Salvador's Coastal Economy

Hospitality businesses accepting cryptocurrency payments continue to attract international visitors from the digital asset community, strengthening El Salvador's position as a niche destination for Bitcoin-related tourism.

Salvadoran Municipalities Expand Education and Job Training Programs

Local governments are increasing investment in scholarships and vocational training to improve employment opportunities and address persistent poverty and youth migration.

El Salvador Extends Energy Subsidies and Cuts Cooking Gas Prices for July

The Directorate General of Energy, Hydrocarbons, and Mines reduced liquefied petroleum gas prices for July 2026 while maintaining targeted subsidies that support more than one million households.

Global Venture Capital Program Backs Eight Central American Technology Startups

The latest Five Hundred Global accelerator cohort connected eight startups focused on financial technology, artificial intelligence and digital risk with investors and regional industry partners.

El Salvador's Instant Payment System Accelerates Digital Finance Adoption

Beyond its Bitcoin strategy, El Salvador is seeing rapid growth in mobile payments and digital banking as the central bank expands instant payment infrastructure across the domestic financial system.

Surf City Development Secures $15 Million Commercial Investment on El Salvador's Coast

Developers have begun construction of Plaza Espacio La Libertad, an 11,000-square-metre commercial complex designed to expand retail and hospitality capacity in the country's leading surfing destination.

Severe Tropical Wave Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Costa Rica

Emergency officials reported widespread disruption as a powerful tropical system produced winds approaching 100 kilometres per hour, underscoring the country's ongoing vulnerability to severe weather.

El Salvador's Real Estate Boom Becomes a Key Driver of Domestic Economic Growth

Property development and construction are playing a larger role in the economy as lower gang extortion, remittance inflows and government infrastructure projects encourage new investment.

United States-Mexico Trade Review Raises Concerns for Central American Supply Chains

Manufacturers and logistics companies across Central America are closely watching the July 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement amid concerns that changes to automotive sourcing rules and border policies could affect ...

International Observers Continue to Raise Governance Concerns as El Salvador Extends State of Emergency

Civil society groups and international monitors acknowledge the country's sharp decline in violent crime but continue to express concern over mass detentions, judicial independence and the prolonged suspension of constitutional guarantees.

Panama Canal Recovery Boosts Economic Growth as Shipping Traffic Rebounds

Higher daily vessel transits through the Panama Canal have strengthened Panama's logistics and storage sectors, contributing to solid first-quarter economic growth after drought-related disruptions.

El Salvador Introduces Zero-Tax Policy on Foreign Income and Bitcoin Capital Gains

The Salvadoran government is combining tax incentives with easier residency requirements to attract technology entrepreneurs, digital asset investors and remote workers.

Honduras Seeks Private Investment for $6 Billion Power Grid Modernization

Energy authorities are seeking private financing to build and upgrade seven high-voltage transmission lines in an effort to relieve network bottlenecks and improve the reliability of the national electricity system.

Costa Rica's Capital Faces Worsening Water Shortages as Utility Loses Half Its Supply Capacity

Residents and businesses across the San José metropolitan area are experiencing significant disruptions as the national water utility struggles to maintain service amid infrastructure failures and environmental pressures.

Guatemala Opens Xochi Corridor Bypass to Improve Trade With Mexico

The new 31-kilometre toll road on Central American Highway Two is expected to speed commercial transport between Guatemala and Mexico while supporting regional logistics and creating thousands of jobs.

United States Deportations to El Salvador Double as Bukele Aligns With Trump Immigration Policy

Official migration data show deportations from the United States rose sharply in early 2026, reflecting closer cooperation between the Salvadoran government and the Trump administration on border enforcement and criminal transfers.

El Salvador Expands Bitcoin Reserve Beyond 7,600 Tokens Despite IMF Pressure

President Nayib Bukele has continued the country's daily Bitcoin purchases, lifting the national reserve to an estimated value of more than $500 million even as negotiations with the International Monetary Fund continue.

Central American Economies Outperform Regional Growth Forecasts in Strong First Quarter

Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica all reported first-quarter economic growth above 4%, supported by infrastructure spending, construction, mining, and a continued recovery in trade and tourism.

Panama Announces New Maximum-Security Prison to Isolate Criminal Gang Leaders

The Panamanian government plans to build a highly restrictive prison aimed at disrupting the leadership of more than 150 criminal organizations involved in extortion and drug trafficking through tighter isolation measures.

El Salvador Records Lowest Monthly Homicide Total on Record With Just One Killing in June

Official National Civil Police data show El Salvador recorded a single homicide in June 2026, marking the safest month in the country's history and reinforcing a dramatic decline in violent crime.

Yago Dora Wins Surf City El Salvador Pro on World Surf League Championship Tour

Brazilian surfer Yago Dora claimed victory at the Surf City El Salvador Pro, an internationally televised World Surf League event that continues to support El Salvador's strategy of promoting its Pacific coast as a global surfing destina...

Central American Manufacturers Monitor Growing United States-Mexico Trade Dispute

Automotive and technology manufacturers across Central America are awaiting clearer policy direction as rising trade tensions between the United States and Mexico over steel tariffs and economic security measures threaten regional supply...

Historic Center of San Salvador Attracts $20 Million in Private Investment This Fiscal Year

The Historic Center Authority said private commercial investment totaling $20 million has been registered during the current fiscal year, reflecting continued business activity linked to the capital's urban revitalization program.

El Salvador Tightens Enforcement of Foreign Agents Law

Authorities in El Salvador have stepped up enforcement of the Foreign Agents Law, requiring the registration and heavy taxation of foreign-funded civil society organizations, a move that has drawn criticism from international observers.

El Salvador Launches Tax Incentives to Attract High-Technology Manufacturing Investment

The Salvadoran investment promotion agency has introduced new tax incentives aimed at attracting international investment in aeronautics, medical device manufacturing and electrical component assembly.

El Salvador Reports GDP Growth Above World Bank Forecasts

El Salvador's Central Reserve Bank said the economy expanded by 3.4% in the latest quarter, exceeding World Bank projections as foreign direct investment and tourism supported growth.

Nicaragua Continues Withdrawal From Regional Organizations, Raising Concerns Over Central American Cooperation

Analysts say Nicaragua's continued withdrawal from regional integration frameworks is weakening diplomatic ties and creating new challenges for political and economic cooperation across Central America.

World Bank Appoints New Costa Rica Country Leader to Oversee $1.5 Billion Portfolio

The World Bank has appointed Marcela Ponce to lead its operations in Costa Rica, where she will oversee an investment portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion focused on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture and financial inclusion.