Costa Rica likes to call itself the Switzerland of Central America. It’s a mountainous country nestled between Panama in the South and Nicaragua in the North. San Jose is Costa Rica’s capital and most populous city. It sits at an altitude of 4000 feet and has a perpetually spring-like climate. It’s a modern, trendy city with much to see and do. Shopping malls, colourful markets, fine restaurants, museums, theatres, night clubs and bars all dot this city’s landscape, making it a cosmopolitan and vibrant place to visit. San Jose – the heart and soul of Costa Rica – has a charm that is uniquely distinct, with an appeal that is all its own.

Costa Rica decriminalised homosexuality in the 1970′s. Unfortunately, culture changes far more slowly than law, and because Costa Rica is such a conservative Catholic country, the gay and lesbian communities here are rather discreet. Homosexuality is not generally under attack, but many gay and lesbian organisations guard their privacy, and the club scene is changeable and not well publicised. There’s a small gay area, two blocks south of Central Park, that caters to local and out of town visitors. The resort beach town of Quepos, near the beautiful Manual Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast, has become famous for its large expatriate gay community. It offers gay hotels and even a nudist beach!

We did not find  many hotels which were listed as gay-friendly. We have listed one which is gay owned. The bars seem to change often, we have listed 3 gay bars, which cater to both men and women.