Gay bars san jose costa rica
Home / gay topics / Gay bars san jose costa rica
Discrimination protections have been in place since 1998.
In general, I found that in most touristy places no one has a real problem with the LGBTQ+ community.
The same can be said for the younger generation, whereas some of the older generations are more conservative.
There are lots of progressive steps happening, and they do have Pride with La marcha del orgullo once a year.
One candidate was strongly pro gay marriage and the other strongly against it.
In the end, the candidate that supported gay marriage, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, won, which is a very positive step for LGBTQ+ people in Costa Rica.
As a result, Costa Rica has become the first country in Central America to legalize same-sex marriage (yay)!
“Today we celebrate liberty, equality and our democratic institutions.
This was prepared locally, on a traditional wood burning stove – it was nice to have such a local touch! We also saw plenty of wildlife including the famous red eyed tree frog!
White Water Rafting – Wave Expeditions
We were super excited to go white-water rafting with Wave Expeditions– an activity we had been keen to do!
This was really well organised, and led by fun, knowledgeable guides.
However when it comes to gay destinations in Costa Rica both its capital city, San Jose and the coastal town of Manuel Antonio are on equal footing.
A third option to explore is Puerto Viejo, however please don’t restrict your travel to these places alone, I felt comfortable everywhere during our trip to Costa Rica.
GaySan Jose
If you are flying to Costa Rica, you are likely to be flying in to San Jose.
Pick up, drop off, food and drinks are all included.
This was a fantastic activity, and we were even lucky enough to spot dolphins on our way back to Quepos.
Pedal Boarding – La Fortuna
Something new for me – pedal boarding!
This was a great way to see the stunning Lake Arenal and volcano in a completely different way than just regular paddle boarding or kayaking.
The guide was very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife we saw.
Help the community and share your piece of mind
Login to comment
Please login to add your comment.
Login now
User photos from The wasp - La Avispa:
It's always best to view a place from the eyes of the visitors. During the night it becomes a trendy upscale dance club and lounge.
We had a great time and would love to do this activity again!
Night Tours – La Fortuna
In the evening, we took a guided night-tour out to La Tigra.
This was a great location, in the grounds of a large family home.
It ranks number one on Tripadvisor for good reason!
We would describe Hotel Banana Azul as a ‘relaxed luxury’ style hotel. Check out Gaycations here and submit an enquiry today!
Pura Vida!
Note: This post has affiliate links. We could have easily seen ourselves living there.
It’s next to the road but you are surrounded by jungle so it’s very peaceful.
The pool area is lovely to relax in and they even have a BBQ area.
You can read more here.
Book here
Coyaba Tropical Elegant Adult Guesthouse – Manuel Antonio
Coyaba Tropical is another adults only bed and breakfast which calls itself ‘straight friendly’. Help us out by uploading a few photos from this location.
.
Many years ago it was a gay hotel but then someone else took it over and took away its ‘gay label’.Steven has owned Casa 69 for a few years but has done fantastic work in that time.
This innovative style adds an experimental and exciting twist to the drinking experience. These are nice chilled out events to meet other LGBTQ locals and tourists.
Gay bars that are now closed
The following bars appear in search results but are no longer in operation (or at least have no web presence to suggest they are still running):
- Club Venue – San Jose
- Bocho – San Jose
- Buenas Vibraciones – San Jose
- Puchos – San Jose
- Club Karma – Manuel Antonio (now Drunken Monkey)
- MoGamBo BarCafe – Manuel Antonio
Gay Hotels in Costa Rica (& Gay Resorts)
Costa Rica has an impressive number of gay owned, gay friendly and just outright gay hotels and resorts on offer.
I hope you enjoy!
Gay Costa Rica: The Ultimate Travel Guide
Costa Rica is a small country within Central America. The area is well know for its sprawling freshwater canals and wetlands and (if the name has not given it away) for the many green turles that nest on Tortugueros sandbars.
The forest and surrounding canals are is home to the likes of jaguars, tapirs and manatees.
There are many beautiful hotels nestled into the jungle, with stunning pools from where you can see lots of local wildlife.
You won’t find a gay scene in Tortuguero but that it not why you would come here anyway.
Tortuguero is a truly wonderful and immersive rainforest experience and should 100% be part of your Costa Rica Itinerary.
Gay Bars in Costa Rica
The biggest gay nightlife scene in Costa Rica is in San Jose followed by Manuel Antonio which has a more chilled vibe but rest assured, most bars in Manuel Antonio will be mixed by its very nature of being popular with LGBTQ tourists and locals alike.
I had very little expectations of a big gay night out in Costa Rica but were quickly proved wrong, I had one of the craziest nights out yet in San Jose.
A lot of gay bars in Costa Ricas have the concept that you pay your entry fee and then its an open bar which can be good value but also tricky to manage….
Listed below are the current gay bars in Costa Rica listed by destination.
La Avispa – San Jose
This is a long running (since 1979) gay bar in San Jose and is often open to the early hours of the morning.
They run great drinks promotions and have themed nights including Latin Dance, Reggaeton and Electronica – they simply want you to dance!
Location: Calle 1, Avenida 8 & 10, San José, Costa Rica
Club El Teatro – San Jose
This is one of the larger gay bars in San Jose.
Here you can expect to find drag shows, themed nights such as Glitter & Glam and then dedicated night to celebrities Beyonce and Demi Lovato.
This costs $15-$20 to enter depending on the night and the time you arrive but normally includes an open bar.
Location: Av 16, San José, 10103
Oráculo, Bar and Grill – San Jose
This is one of the more risqué clubs you will find in San Jose.
Most people move straight on, but I think it is worth spending the weekend here first.
It’s a relatively modern city and is said to be one of the safest and least violent cities in the region. Excellent wine list and wide selection of craft beers!
Drunken Monkey Bar – Manuel Antonio
When we visited, the was Club Karma, formerly Cockatoo and now ‘The Drunken Monkey’.
Please note, all opinions are still our own. There are plenty of organised buses and transfers available, but they are very expensive. You are not obligated to use the link but we appreciate it if you do. You are able to use the common facilities of Banana Azul while staying here.
Hotel & Spa Aninga – Tortuguero
During my time I stayed at the beautiful Hotel & Spa Aninga.
Activities for Gay Travellers in Costa Rica
I had an action packed 10 day itinerary whilst in Costa Rica, here are some of the unmissible activities to do during our stay:
Sunset Cruise with GayTours – Manuel Antonio
Every Wednesday and Saturday GayTours run a sailing trip.
Costa Rica is one of the most gay friendly countries in Central America.
Here is a little bit of history on why Costa Rica is a gay friendly country.
In the last ten years, gay marriage was a hot topic for the presidential elections. The distances between places are quite large and there aren’t any trains.
If you only have a couple of weeks (or less) we highly recommend letting someone else do all the organising for you!
You will see more, be less stressed and probably save money because these type of companies have better rates with hotels, activities and transport.
Gaycations Costa Rica
We came across Gaycations Costa Rica when we stayed at the gay owned and gay friendly Banana Azul.