Meet OUT in Costa Rica: Your Guide to the LGBTQ Costa Rica Community
- Waymon Hudson
- Nov 21
- 4 min read
Our Story, Our Values, and Our Mission to Connect the Queer World to Paradise
Our Beginning: A Simple Idea with a Big Heart
It started the way many good ideas do... with frustration and hope.
When we first moved to Costa Rica, we fell in love with the country’s beauty and warmth. But as queer expats, we quickly realized something was missing: a trusted, centralized resource for LGBTQ life here.
There were Facebook groups, scattered blog posts, and word-of-mouth tips... but no single place where queer people could find verified, safe, and affirming businesses, professionals, and community.
So we decided to build it ourselves.
“We didn’t just want to move to paradise. We wanted to make paradise accessible for everyone like us.”
That’s how Out in Costa Rica was born: a living, breathing network built by queer people, for queer people, connecting travelers, locals, and expats who believe in community, inclusion, and authenticity.
🏳️🌈 What We Believe
Our mission is simple but powerful: Connect. Empower. Belong.
We believe:
Safety with dignity is a human right. Everyone deserves to live, travel, and love freely.
Authenticity and lived experience matter more than marketing slogans. We share real stories from real people.
Community comes first. Every partnership, listing, and collaboration is built on trust.
Radical inclusivity means everyone. We celebrate all LGBTQIA+ identities: trans, non-binary, intersex, Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, and more.
Joy is resistance. Living proudly, openly, and joyfully is one of the most powerful statements we can make.
“Creemos que la felicidad, la seguridad y la comunidad no deben ser privilegios — deben ser derechos.”
"We believe happiness, safety, and community shouldn’t be privileges — they should be rights.”
🌴 What We Do
1️⃣ The Verified LGBTQ+ Business Directory
We vet and spotlight queer-owned and inclusive businesses — from hotels and restaurants to immigration lawyers and realtors — so travelers, locals, and expats can support the community confidently.
2️⃣ Relocation Resources and Referrals
We connect LGBTQ+ individuals and families with trusted partners who understand the nuances of moving abroad queerly, because safety, identity, and belonging all matter as much as logistics.
3️⃣ Community Storytelling
Through blogs, features, and interviews, we share the real stories of queer life for the LGBTQ Community in Costa Rica... not just where to go, but how to belong.
4️⃣ Tourism and Brand Partnerships
We collaborate with inclusive travel brands, tourism boards, and local businesses that align with our mission to make Costa Rica a global model of queer inclusion and sustainability.
💡 Why It Matters
For queer people, safety and visibility are life-changing, and in many parts of the world, still out of reach.
Costa Rica offers something extraordinary: a country that values peace, equality, and pura vida in the truest sense. But visibility doesn’t happen by accident... it’s built, connection by connection.
By amplifying local queer entrepreneurs and helping LGBTQ travelers find safe, affirming spaces, Out in Costa Rica strengthens both the community and the economy.
🌺 Our Values in Action
Core Value | What It Looks Like |
Safety with Dignity | Every listing is verified for inclusivity, ensuring travelers can book confidently. |
Authenticity | Our content is written by queer locals and expats, not generic travel copy. |
Radical Inclusivity | We center all LGBTQIA+ identities, especially those often overlooked. |
Community First | We prioritize connection over clicks, partnerships over profit. |
Hope & Joy as Resistance | We lead with light, laughter, and love: because joy itself is revolutionary. |
🏳️⚧️ Who We Serve
We’re here for:
🌴 LGBTQ+ Travelers seeking safe, affirming adventures.
🏡 Expats and Relocators building new lives abroad.
🏳️🌈 Local Queer Entrepreneurs growing their visibility and impact.
🌈 Queer Ticos & Locals working together to create community.
🏢 Inclusive Partners & Allies who want to make tourism more equitable.
Whether you’re visiting for a week or settling for a lifetime, Out in Costa Rica helps you find your people, your resources, and your peace.
🌎 Our Founders
Waymon Hudson — Marketing strategist, writer, and queer expat.
A lifelong storyteller and advocate, Waymon leads brand direction, content strategy, and partnerships — turning lived experience into impact.
Colin Stanton — Business strategist and community builder.
With a background in entrepreneurship and operations, Colin manages partner relations and financial sustainability, ensuring Out in Costa Rica grows with integrity.
Together, they’re proof that when passion meets purpose, pura vida becomes queer vida. 🌈
Our Vision
To make Costa Rica the most visible, connected, and welcoming LGBTQ+ destination in the world.
A place where locals, expats, and travelers don’t just visit — they belong.
🌈 Final Thoughts: Connection is Power for the LGBTQ Costa Rica Community
We built OUT in Costa Rica because we know what it feels like to look for safety and find family instead.
This isn’t just a business. It’s a bridge: between worlds, between people, between what is and what’s possible.
If you believe that travel should be transformative, that community is stronger than fear, and that joy is the best form of protest... then you’re one of us.
Connect. Empower. Belong.
Discover the people, businesses, and stories shaping the future of queer Costa Rica at OutinCostaRica.com.
Pura vida, versión queer. 🌴✨
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