A sudden burst of scarlet...
Slices through the morning sky, wings wide and bright against the turquoise Pacific. A scarlet macaw family glide low over the beach, their rainbow beaks catching the light like living jewels. They land together in a tall almond tree, cracking nuts with powerful clicks and calling to each other in raucous, joyful voices.
In that moment the whole coastline feels brighter, louder, more alive.
These are the birds that make my heart leap. Scarlet macaws are Costa Rica’s most vibrant residents. Bold red bodies with sweeping blue and yellow wings that flash like fire when they fly. They mate for life, travel in small family groups and bring an unmistakable energy wherever they go.
On my morning walks along the black sandy beach, I often spot them claiming the same almond trees, sharing breakfast, preening each other with gentle care. And squawking, so much squawking. Their presence turns an ordinary day into something celebratory. No matter how many times I see them, the thrill never fades.
In a life I once kept frantic, scheduled and safer, these macaws remind me what it looks like to live fully. They don’t hide their colors. They don’t mute their voices. They show up, bright and loud and together, claiming their place in the wild.
Watching them has taught me to embrace the vivid, the joyful, the fearless parts of myself that the jungle has gently coaxed out since I moved here. Every scarlet flash feels like the wild saying: Be this alive. Be this present. Be this free...
