A Love Letter to Costa Rica – Documentary

“A Love Letter to Costa Rica” is a visual documentation of a four-day trip in paradise. My friends and I explored and enjoyed some of the breathtaking beaches in the province of Guanacaste. It reflects the huge blessing it is to be born in such a beautiful and small Central American country like Costa Rica. It’s a painting in movement where all the elements are in perfect harmony.

In December 2023, I explored the initial research phase to tell Antonio Gil’s story about his art of video game design and visual effects. When learning about his art, I found inspiration in his independent game “Palm Dreams.” This video game, which was his thesis project during his undergrad at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), is a love letter to tropical environments. 

View of the coast. December 2023. Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Sunrise.JPG. The sunrise at Playa Prieta at 5:30 AM. December 2023. Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

That concept and short poetic phrase blew my mind because of the pureness in simply expressing love for nature. I wanted to honor Gil’s expression and film my documentary, a love letter to Costa Rica. Gil and I have been lifelong friends, and we went to the beautiful beaches of Guanacaste for a short vacation trip, as we always do in December. 

First image: T-shirt of the Costa Rican map designed by Costa Rican streetwear brand Plivertees. December 2023. Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Second: My friends Daniel Pinto, María Paula Salazar, Felipe Labarca, Daniel Rudín, and Jordi Louzao walking the trail to Playa Danta and Playa Dantita. December 2023. Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

It’s become a tradition in our friend group, but this time, it was also the perfect opportunity to showcase our experience of the Costa Rican beaches and nature while reflecting on what it means to be Costa Rican. It was the perfect excuse to speak to random people at the beach, burn my feet with the hot sand, walk through the rocks, meditate with nature, and hike a mountain to get a spectacular coast view. 

“A Love Letter to Costa Rica” is a visual documentation of a four-day trip to paradise. We explored and enjoyed some of the breathtaking beaches in the province of Guanacaste with my friends Gil, Daniel Rudín, Daniel Pinto, Jordi Louzao, Felipe Labarca, and María Paula Salazar. It reflects the huge blessing it is to be born in such a beautiful and small Central American country like Costa Rica. It’s a painting in movement where all the elements are in perfect harmony. 

Sit back and take a dive deep into the beaches of Playa Prieta, Sugar Beach, Playa Potrero, Playa Danta, and Playa Dantita in our short documentary film. 

©ArtRKL™️ LLC 2021-2024. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ArtRKL™️ and its underscore design indicate trademarks of ArtRKL™️ LLC and its subsidiaries.