# Melanin Tours

> Premium Costa Rica relocation concierge for Black professionals,
> families, and retirees. Founded by Celeste Lawson, who relocated
> to Costa Rica in 2019. Based in Escazu, Costa Rica.

## Core Pages

- [FAQ](https://www.melanintours.com/faq/): Answers about Costa Rica
  residency, healthcare, neighborhoods, safety, cost of living,
  pets, banking, and relocation logistics.

## Blog And Guides

- [The Costa Rica Cost of Living Lie](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/the-costa-rica-cost-of-living-lie/):
  A grounded breakdown of what life in Costa Rica actually costs in 2025 and 2026, why the old $1,500/month number keeps circulating, and who that budget realistically works for.
- [The Complete Guide to Costa Rica Residency (2026)](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/costa-rica-residency-guide/):
  A concise guide to how residency planning fits into the broader relocation timeline, what to verify with professionals, and how to approach the process with more precision.
- [I Lived Through a War. Now I Watch Them on the News Like Everyone Else.](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/i-lived-through-a-war-now-i-watch-them-on-the-news-like-everyone-else/):
  Last week, a psychiatrist asked me how the news around the world was affecting me. I laughed. I told her I almost took a job in Qatar last year. And every time I start to regret...
- [China Is Next. And I Need to Know If You're Ready.](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/china-is-next-and-i-need-to-know-if-youre-ready/):
  There’s a particular kind of attention I pay when a place keeps coming up. Not in travel content. Not in “top destinations” lists. In the conversations of people who are done...
- [They'd Watched Every Episode. Then They Contacted Us.](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/theyd-watched-every-episode-then/):
  Kara and Marcus had done their homework. Thanks for reading The Melanin Blueprint with Celesté Lawson! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Not the kind...
- [Success Leaves Clues](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/success-leaves-clues/):
  I’m a firm believer that success leaves clues. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the first four years of one client couple’s relocation journey to Costa Rica. Not the highlight...
- [The Places That Hold, and the Ones That Don’t](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/the-places-that-hold-and-the-ones-that-dont/):
  Picking the Thread Back Up I thought I was ready to continue this series months ago. Then 2025 pulled more from me than I expected. And from what I’ve seen online, the same has...
- [✍🏾 The Things I Love About Costa Rica—And the Things That Drive Me Crazy](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/the-things-i-love-about-costa-rica-and-the-things-that-drive-me-crazy/):
  I thought I was ready to continue with this series, but a bit of writer’s block hit me last week. And I’m starting to listen to that small voice that recognizes when I’m...
- [Why Costa Rica Alone Wasn’t Enough](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/why-costa-rica-alone-wasnt-enough/):
  As I reflect on the passing of beloved actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, I’m reminded that none of us are promised forever. We make choices—big ones—believing they’ll bring us closer to...
- [From Short Visit to Second Home: Kim’s Costa Rica Story](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/from-short-visit-to-second-home-kims-costa-rica-story/):
  When Kim Harris-Jones landed in Costa Rica, she had only a few days and a decision to make. As a flight attendant used to traveling the world, she knew the feeling of passing...
- [I Didn’t Move Abroad to Escape. I Moved to Expand.](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/i-didnt-move-abroad-to-escape-i-moved-to-expand/):
  The Melanin Blueprint — Issue No. 1. An exact repost from Substack, published on-site for search and AI discovery.
- [Founder’s Notes: Why Costa Rica Was Just the Beginning](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/founders-notes-why-costa-rica-was-just-the-beginning/):
  In October of 2019, I started noticing a pattern. Every Friday night, I’d find myself browsing the aisles of my local grocery store with tears quietly streaming down my face....
- [Rooted in Freedom: Why I Chose a Life Across Borders](https://www.melanintours.com/blog/rooted-in-freedom-why-i-chose-a-life-across-borders/):
  What if “settling down” was never the goal? I used to think I had to choose one place to belong. One country. One version of success. But the more I traveled, the more I realized:...

## Group Experiences

- [Group Tours](https://www.melanintours.com/group/): Premium group
  experiences comparing Costa Rica with other relocation destinations.

## Contact

- Email: book@melanintours.com
- Location: Escazu, Costa Rica
- Google Reviews: 5.0 stars with 11 verified reviews