Costa Rica is one of the friendliest and most welcoming countries in Central America. In fact, Costa Ricans are regularly ranked among the happiest people in the world—probably because they live in such a sweet and special place. The small Central American country has coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific and is best known for its beautiful beaches, volcanoes, and a huge amount of biodiversity and wildlife. The capital city of San José has a thriving LGBTQ nightlife scene, plus many historical and archaeological sites documenting Central American history.

 

Though it’s such a small country (you can easily drive across from one ocean to the other in a couple of hours), Costa Rica has so many natural wonders, quaint historical towns, expansive beaches, and other fun things to see, you could spend months trying to see it all.

Gay Scene in Costa Rica

Costa Rica was one of the earliest countries in Central America to recognize gay and lesbian relationships, and to this day it's generally regarded as one of the best Latin American countries for LGBTQ travelers. Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado Quesada took office in May 2018 on the promise of legalizing gay marriage, which was approved by a constitutional court in August 2018. The country's biggest LGBTQ pride event takes place in San José each June, with up to 100,000 participants and spectators.

Most of Costa Rica's gay and lesbian nightlife takes place in either Manuel Antonio or in the capital city, San José, though the country is very welcoming for LGBTQ travelers in general. You may spot pro-LGBTQ graffiti and street art in San José, and many hotels in the resort towns offer special packages for LGBTQ events.

There are even gay hotels catering specifically to gay men which you'll find in either Manuel Antonio or one resort hotel in San José.

When to Visit

Costa Rica's climate is tropical, with a heavy wet season in winter and warm summers peaking in the month of August.

Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions

Costa Rica is best known for its environment and incredible conservation efforts protecting its rich and diverse wildlife. Costa Rica offers a great range of activities for travelers. With things like snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, zip-lining, hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, bird watching, waterfall repelling, and 112 volcanos, 5 of which are classified as active, there's no shortage of nature to explore.

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio, a beach and rainforest on the western coast, has attracted LGBTQ travelers for decades. The national park that makes up the biggest tourist attraction in the region is famous for its easy-to-spot wildlife, including sloths. The national park also includes peaceful beaches (except for the occasional monkey) and a panoramic viewpoint out to the Pacific Ocean. The city center of Manuel Antonio is located alongside a hill with incredible panoramic views out to sea and several gay hotels, many of which fly rainbow flags. It's a great spot for beach nightlife, and some of the hotels host special events specific for LGBTQ travelers.

Most of the activities and things to do in Manuel Antonio are nature-related. Visit the Manuel Antonio National Park, go on a rainforest canopy tour, ATV tours, zip-lining, or other adventure activities. Manuel Antonio is also popular with its many resorts and beaches. The best beaches for sun and water sports include Manuel Antonio Beach, Espadilla Beach, Escondido Beach, and Playitas Beach (popular especially with LGBTQ visitors).

San José

The other hotspot for LGBTQ nightlife and events is the capital city of San José. The city has Costa Rica's largest concentration of people and there's even a large gay scene with several gay bars, clubs, and regular special LGBTQ events. Besides the gay and lesbian nightlife, there are a number of great things to do and historical sites.

The Jade Museum, National Museum of Costa Rica, and Museum of Costa Rican are some of the top tourist sites, each showcasing unique aspects to the local culture and history. There are also many cultural activities taking place in San José, whether it's special performances and dance festivals at the National Theatre of Costa Rica, or a thriving community of local craft breweries and coffee producers. San José is a surprising destination many travelers might skip for the nature and wildlife outside the city, but the attractions and things to do in San José provide great entertainment and interest for LGBTQ travelers.

Gay-Friendly Dining

Costa Rica cuisine predictably includes a lot of fresh fruit and natural ingredients from the Central American region. Coffee is a big part of Latin culture and is as much a drink as it is a way of life in Costa Rica. The other most popular drink in Costa Rica is the fruit smoothie. Like most tropical destinations, Costa Rica is home to a number of unique tropical fruits; the most popular being the small, acidic sour fruit called cas. Locals will most often eat the fruit with salt, but if you want it sweet, you'll find it available in most fruit juices or shakes.

For a more savory meal in Costa Rica, the thing you'll always find on the menu no matter where you eat is the Casado. A Casado is an entire meal served with white rice, beans, plantains, picadillo, salad and some type of meat (chicken, fish, pork or beef). In some touristic places and the Central Market in San José, the Casados include even more, with a corn tortilla and Turrialba cheese and maybe even some avocado slices. It's a traditional meal and you'll find it available at any range of price depending upon your choice of protein (or how close to a touristy area you are).

Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife

Most of the gay and lesbian nightlife in Costa Rica is in San Jose where a number of gay clubs exist or the popular gay travel destination of Manuel Antonio. San Jose, the capital city, has several gay bars and clubs in addition to a number of gay-friendly venues that host occasional LGBTQ-specific nights. One of the biggest clubs is Bochinche — popular on weekends with multiple dance floors and young crowds. La Avispa is a very Latin gay club, almost exclusively playing salsa music until late at night. It’s one of the few LGBT clubs in San José that caters to gays and lesbians.

In Manuel Antonio, many of the beaches are popular with gay travelers and locals. Specifically, the Playa Espadilla, Playa Playitas, and Playa La Mancha are gay-friendly. There are even gay, men-only hotels in Manuel Antonio (and one in San Jose). Visit one of the gay hotels to find the latest tips or find out about parties that might happen during your visit (they are often sporadic and not every week).

Safety

Costa Rica is one of the most developed countries in Central America and it has a long history of international tourism, so it's often considered one of the safest Latin American countries. Most tourists stick to well-traveled regions in Costa Rica, and the biggest concern for safety in those regions will likely be petty theft and pickpocketing. The major gay destinations in Costa Rica, including the very popular Manuel Antonio beach and region, are especially welcoming to LGBTQ travelers. It wouldn't be uncommon to even see a rainbow pride flag. 

Costa Rica was one of the earliest countries in Central America to recognize gay and lesbian relationships. Like all other Latin American countries, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights made it mandatory for its member countries to legalize same-sex marriage by 2020.