A Love Letter to Costa Rica
By Nina Scott
Costa Rica can be everything you’ve imagined paradise to be and so much more, from the stunning beaches with amazing sunsets on the Pacific coast to the rare and lush cloud forests with stunning views of wildlife. But, beyond the breathtaking scenery, it’s the people who add the warmth and depth that the country is known for. It’s one thing to visit a beach it’s a whole other thing to sit with an indigenous tribe like the Bribri and make their traditional breakfast of homemade chocolate and bananas. Travel also presents an opportunity for self-discovery.
I took my first trip to Costa Rica as a student ambassador in the summer of 2011. I didn’t know those two weeks before high school started would change me forever. I was 13 and at that time, had never traveled without my family and was afraid of being alone. But, the moment I saw the lush green foliage and felt the warm embrace of the tropical air on my skin, I fell in love, and for the first time, I felt free. We toured the country from coast to coast and when we weren’t busy with excursions or volunteering we were on the bus, headed to a new city. I went whitewater rafting down roaring rivers, observed sea turtles nesting on remote beaches, rappelled down waterfalls, and kayaked through bioluminescent bays. It had everything I never knew I needed.
Costa Rica allowed me to put my guard down and just be myself. Outside of Detroit, Costa Rica was the first place that reaffirmed that my blackness was special and beautiful. I remember the first time, someone called me “Negrita”. I was playing dominos with elderly men who I didn’t speak the same language as, but I didn’t need to. I felt so at peace until I heard Negrita. Then all I felt was anger until my guide noticed my shift and explained to me that he meant it as a term of endearment. I carried myself differently after that. Prior to my trip, I had declared that I wanted to be a marine biologist in name alone. However, it didn’t feel practical. Society had convinced me to stay out of the sun to avoid getting darker, to wear my hair pressed and curled, and that wearing Chacos wasn’t cool. Through our many outdoor excursions, I embraced not only nature but a lifestyle that would eventually lead me down a path to marine biology.
I planned my most recent trip to Costa Rica when I knew I needed another reset. I followed a nearly identical route, which would create the strangest feelings of resonance with my younger self. I visited new cities and rediscovered past ones, this trip was not just about reliving; it was about rediscovering who I’ve become since then.
I don’t think this experience is or has to be unique to me. Anyone, especially black travelers can visit and connect with themselves and with Tico (local) culture. Furthermore traveling to Caribbean coast, places like Costa Rica allows us to witness how African heritage has shaped cultures beyond the U.S., and that sense of connectedness is deeply healing. It reminds us that no matter where we go, there’s a part of our story interwoven with the land, the people, and their traditions. The similarities in food alone can stir up feelings of home from their corn flour empanadas, reminding me of cornbread to our shared joy of making moonshine. A part of me feels strange for being so grateful for a place that isn’t tied to my own culture but, Costa Rica is more than just a destination – it’s a place that has shaped me. I love Costa Rica like I love Detroit and I think everyone deserves to go somewhere and feel loved right back.
Pura Vida,
Nina Scott