Guide To Gay Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, Spanish “Rich Port” is a tropical Caribbean island. Amazing experiences await all kinds of travelers on this beautiful island.
The capital San Juan is very gay friendly and is an ideal place to live if you like a culturally rich city and a warm nightlife. San Juan is the most populous area in Puerto Rico and has many gay-friendly hotels and gay bars that will make every gay traveler feel comfortable. Condado Beach is an ideal place to enjoy the Caribbean sun and interact with the LGBT community. If you are interested in history, be sure to visit Old San Juan and stroll through the cobbled streets or visit the 400-year-old Morro Fortress.
If you are an adventurous traveler, you will find plenty on this island. We recommend exploring the Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy underground caves or exploring the beautiful El Yunque rainforest.
Sports enthusiasts can spend their days playing relaxed golf, taking advantage of your chance at the casino, snorkeling in the clear blue water or catching the “rough” waves of Rincon. .
First Time Visiting Puerto Rico?
As a first time visitor, you will easily realize that the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan, is the LGBTQ destination you are looking for. San Juan is rich in history, very beautiful and offers non-stop travel. This is an ideal and fast Winter or Summer holiday.
San Juan satisfies the desire for a unique cultural, tropical vacation combined with the convenience of not leaving the United States. You do not need a passport, you can use $USD and you can easily speak English or Spanish. It’s also incredibly gay friendly. The weekend trip will invite you to an unforgettable taste of the island and you can plan your return trip until departure.
San Juan is small, so you can explore most of the city in a few days. If you plan to stay in one of the most famous neighbourhoods, each has a different atmosphere: Condado, Old San Juan or Santurce.
Condado – District Of San Juan
The Condado district is the most central and offers the largest selection of hotels (from popular romantic hotels such as La Concha to the family-run San Juan Marriott Resort with water slide). You can also walk to the “gay beach” (between Calle Vendig and Condado Avenue) and excellent restaurants (like Ropa Vieja Grill for a delicious mix of Cuban and Puerto Rican flavours). From Condado, you are a 15-minute Uber ride to Old San Juan and a 5-minute drive to most LGBTQ-specific nightlife options.
Check out options for the best activities in Puerto Rico here.
Old San Juan – District Of San Juan
Old San Juan takes you back in time with a 500-year history and colourful Spanish colonial architecture. This is the San Juan you see in the photos and is a must for anyone visiting for the first time. If your interest is winding through cobbled streets and discovering historical monuments (Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal), Old San Juan is a classic home base. The area is within walking distance and is full of restaurants, shops and bars (not particularly gay but still friendly). Built-in 1646, Hotel El Convento was a colonial miracle and the first member of a “small luxury hotel in the world” in Puerto Rico.
Santurce – Most Instagram Friendly District Of San Juan
The growing district of Santurce is a combination of art and nightlife in San Juan. For the past 15 years, Santurce has attracted traditional working-class artists. Today, the former dilapidated buildings are screens for live street art and invite the LGBTQ community to dance the night away. Stroll to Calle LoÃza, where you will find the most famous cafés, galleries and wall paintings that can be instagrammed.
Also! You can find several studios and bedrooms at this cozy LGBTQ friendly guest house.
Nightlife LGBTQ Puerto Rico
There is no other island in the Caribbean that can match the great nightlife of San Juan. Same-sex can be comfortable holding hands and singles can easily make new friends. You should know that the locals come out later and many bars are busy at almost midnight. The best place for the early evening is TÃa MarÃa Liquor Store in Santurce. Expect a mixed but incredibly friendly crowd at this neighbourhood bar. If the day turns into night, the public is likely to become more gay. You can sing karaoke, play billiards or just enjoy cheap cocktails.
After 21:00 you go to Bear Tavern, where men of all sizes are celebrated. Or Oasis, a district bar for all sexes, just steps from the beach. Oasis opens at 6 p.m. but is then busier. Go to La Placita for an “everyone is welcome” street party like no other. The area around Plaza del Mercado in Santurce, a historic daily fruit market, comes alive on weekends with lively restaurants and bars lining the streets. Choose a place to eat (José Enrique and Santaella are excellent options) or just wander around the block with a drink.
Go-go bars are becoming increasingly popular in San Juan. For fun with the nice guys, go to SX of Temptation, both in Santurce. Then dance the night away at Circo, San Juan’s largest gay club. Not ready yet?
Go to Scandalo for the most popular drag show and for the weekend (from 14:00 to 12:00).
The most important LGBTQ hotspot in the Caribbean is San Juan in Puerto Rico. San Juan is foreign and familiar, romantic and practical, historical and modern. On your first visit, you will fall in love with the history, culture and hospitable spirit of this tropical paradise.
Guide To Gay Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, Spanish “Rich Port” is a tropical Caribbean island. Amazing experiences await all kinds of travelers on this beautiful island.
The capital San Juan is very gay friendly and is an ideal place to live if you like a culturally rich city and a warm nightlife. San Juan is the most populous area in Puerto Rico and has many gay-friendly hotels and gay bars that will make every gay traveller feel comfortable. Condado Beach is an ideal place to enjoy the Caribbean sun and interact with the LGBT community. If you are interested in history, be sure to visit Old San Juan and stroll through the cobbled streets or visit the 400-year-old Morro Fortress.
If you are an adventurous traveller, you will find plenty on this island. We recommend exploring the Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy underground caves or exploring the beautiful El Yunque rainforest.
Sports enthusiasts can spend their days playing relaxed golf, taking advantage of your chance at the casino, snorkelling in the clear blue water or catching the “rough” waves of Rincon.