Hotel Gaia Hotel & Reserve- Adults Only

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica (2024 Updated)

In general, Costa Rica is  a gay-friendly country & tourist destinations, even in larger cities; however, few gay travelers will encounter any issues of discrimination and in the city capital you can find a few gay friendly hotels Manuel Antonio.
Costa Rica is a Catholic, conservative, macho country where public displays of same-sex affection are rare and considered somewhat shocking. However, gay and lesbian tourism to Costa Rica is quite robust, and LGBT travelers are generally treated with respect and should not experience any harassment.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Costa Rica have evolved significantly in the past decades. Same-sex sexual relations have been legal since 1971. Since 2013, households headed by a same-sex couples can obtain some domestic partnership benefits. In January 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights made mandatory the approbation of same-sex marriage, adoption for same-sex couples and the recognition of transgender people’s gender identity on ID cards.
Manuel Antonio National Park, on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, encompasses rugged rainforest, white-sand beaches and coral reefs. It’s renowned for its vast diversity of tropical plants and wildlife, from three-toed sloths and endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys to hundreds of bird species. The park’s roughly 680 hectares are crossed with hiking trails, which meander from the coast up into the mountains.

Top attractions to visit in Manuel Antonio

1. Gay Hotel Villa Roca 3* – Gay Hotels Manuel Antonio Costa Rica

Gay Hotel Villa Roca
Gay Hotel Villa Roca

Situated on a hillside, Gay Hotel Villa Roca is an LGBT adults only resort. Hotel amenities for guests include, among others, WiFi, 24 hr. clothing optional infinity edge swimming pool, hot tub and a tropical garden.

This 3-star hotel offers air conditioning, private bathroom, closet, telephone, security box with combination lock, LCD flat screen TV with cable access, WiFi-Internet connection, refrigerator, digital alarm clock and a private terrace in every room.

The hotel has a bar, free private parking and some units has a kitchen with a microwave and a coffee machine. The free breakfast is made by order can be enjoyed in the breakfast area.

Exclusively for the hotel guests, the wellness area provides a swimming pool with a panoramic ocean view, a hot tub and 2 sun decks with comfortable lounge chairs.

Hotel Villa Roca is for our GAY / LGBT community and their friends to enjoy. The eco-friendly and adults only resort with 12 rooms and 4 apartments is nestled on a hillside in the absolutely best area of Quepos, Manuel Antonio. Offering, among others, 24-hour clothing optional infinity edge pool and Jacuzzi with stunning panoramic views overlooking the rainforest and the Pacific Ocean. The shops, restaurants, bars and beautiful beaches with the famous National Park are located nearby.

This is an excellent gay-run hotel situated between Quepos and Parque Manuel Antonio. It is built on a hillside with great views of the forest below and the sea beyond that. There are lots of stairs between the rooms and pool area. The whole place is spotlessly clean and beautifully maintained. The rooms are tasteful, simple and comfortable with excellent a/c, free WiFi, great shower and nice balcony. There’s nowhere to sit apart from on the balcony which is very hot and humid and there is only a cold-water tap in the wash basin.

The pool is small but lovely and naked swimming and sunbathing are allowed. Staff are excellent. There is no buffet breakfast but you can choose three very tasty and well-prepared dishes from the menu, which is filling. Hotels are overpriced in this area, as is this hotel, but it is comparatively good value.

The Villa Roca cascades down the side of the hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Blue and While colour scheme leaves the impression of villas in the Greek Islands. The property is lush rain forest with stone step walkways weaving throughout to the rooms and apartments available to rent. Being located in the rain forest, there are plenty of animal sightings … iguanas, cappuccine and howler monkeys, toucans and many other varieties.

I stayed in apartment #11 which was spacious, a well appointed kitchen, large bedroom with comfortable king sized bed, private 3 piece bathroom and terrace overlooking the property itself and the Pacific Ocean. It is a peaceful and relaxing setting. The breakfast/bar area leads to an Infinity pool that hangs over the Pacific.

The staff members are delightful and will do everything they can to make your staff perfect. Morning begins with a wide variety of full breakfasts cooked to your taste and served with coffee, juice and fruit. Rooms are cleaned daily by staff who will leave your towels folded into the shapes of a variety of animals. Front office staff will book tours, call taxis, offer restaurant recommendations and entertainment finds. Each and every one is delightful.

The Villa caters largely to gay men and is clothing optional around the pool. So, if you’re not ready for that … best to head to another hotel. The atmosphere is at times a direct reflection of the people staying there … the gayness and nudity can be more overt than some might find comfortable. Read the website to get a good understanding of what to expect.

The restaurants and gay bars are really close by and within walking distance.

This gay hotel is paradise within the perfect natural paradise of Costa Rica and in particular the area of the National Park Manuel Antonio on the southern Pacific coast.

Super friendly and helpful staff, great location within walking distance to multiple restaurants, incredible views out over the Pacific Ocean and across jungle forested hills. The monkeys will swing right into the property, especially during breakfast. Aside from being gay friendly (obviously) this is a great hotel in general with comfortable beds, a good happy hour, easy access to the National Park, plenty of free parking or access to the bus, and is an easy place to meet new people.

Located high atop the hills this is a gay owned and operated hotel/resort very much in the style of Santorini. Not sure how many rooms there are but they are on multi split levels. About mid-way down the hill is the bar/breakfast area/infinity pool/hot tub. Further down is another more secluded hot tub and also a massage area. I was there with a group of ten guys and there other guests staying there as well. Everyone was friendly and everyone became friends.

The breakfast is complimentary for guests and not a buffet but a full sit down order off a menu meal. The bar is open 2pm-8pm with 2 for 1 happy hour from 4-5. There is an ATM facility directly across the street and a full market just a 10 minute walk away. The area also has as many bars and restaurants as you would want either just out the door or just a couple minutes either way on the street. If you have any questions or problems the managers/owners Armin and Jorn will take care of it. If you’re a gay guy this is a great friendly place to stay.

Gay Hotels Manuel Antonio
Gay Hotels Manuel Antonio

How much does a room costs at Gay Hotel Villa Roca ?

Prices start 140 $/night for Double Room.

Where to book online – Gay Hotel Villa Roca  – Gay Hotels Manuel Antonio you can find the best hotels deals in Manuel Antonio during Manuel Antonio Sound Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Manuel Antonio on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or HotelsCombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. Gaia Hotel & Reserve- Adults Only 5* – Gay Hotels Manuel Antonio

Hotel Gaia Hotel & Reserve- Adults Only
Hotel Gaia Hotel & Reserve- Adults Only

Surrounded by spectacular rainforest and wildlife, Gaia Hotel and Reserve is located near Manuel Antonio Beach, 7 minutes’ drive from the coast in Costa Rica and offers chic accommodation. The luxury hotel features a luxury spa, gym, pool and one day tours.

The air-conditioned rooms are beautifully decorated in neutral tones, with wood and wicker furnishings. They enjoy views over the tropical rainforest and come with a flat-screen TV.

The adults-only area of the hotel offers 18 suites with exclusive access to a 3-level infinity pool. Gaia Hotel and Reserve offers a spa area with a steam bath, sauna and beauty salon. Guests can enjoy fine dining in the on-site restaurant or 24-hour room service.

This resort is set within the Gaia Nature Reserve in Manuel Antonio, and the property provides transportation to beach area and the national park from 07:30 until 16:30.

First off, the location: the views from the hotel are really, really beautiful. You are sort of nestled above the jungle and can see the Pacific from much of the property. It sits on a nature reserve (which used to be botanical gardens) which is home to many beautiful macaws – you can hear them throughout the day as well as many other nature noises. The downside is you are a bit far from the central area of Manuel Antonio and the roads (including the driveway) are so steep that you need to use golf carts and taxis to get around. This isn’t such a bad thing (and certainly isn’t unique to Gaia) but can lend to a sense of isolation as you can’t walk anywhere. There is also, weirdly, an (unrelated) strip club at the entrance to the hotel, which was a little jarring.

The staff: generally phenomenal, but a bit of a mixed bag. Some staff (Fernando our concierge, Daniel who often worked at the pool bar) were absolutely amazing – unquestionably some of the best service we have ever experienced – genuine, friendly, helpful, always knew who we were and were ready to take care of us. Others were not as helpful though, which when compared with how great the service was from the above, was surprising. No one was openly rude, but there was definitely a vibe of “I’m too good for this” combined with never remembering our names or room number from certain staff – which after a stay of 9 days and when compared with how wonderful some were, is jarring.

The rooms: our room was great and exactly like the photos online. We stayed in a jungle studio, and could hear all sort of animal noises (but never so much that they kept us up.) We had the chance to see some of the other room types via friends we met here, and they were also all very nice. Housekeeping was great and fast, although laundry was crazy expensive.

Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio Costa Rica
Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio Costa Rica

The pool: the pools are great, and they are a series of infinity style pools overlooking the jungle and Pacific. They have a pool bar where you can get drinks and order food, as well as a bunch of different decks, some of which are very private. The layering of several small pools was nice because you could have a private feeling even with other people there.

Gay friendliness: we felt comfortable being here as a gay couple, and never experienced any negativity. There were perhaps a few more gay guests than at a typical hotel, but it didn’t feel specifically gay. Generally very comfortable though.

It really seemed that somehow the owners and management of the Gaia Hotel have somehow instilled in their staff a real desire to please and serve the guests. I really, honestly, liked the people who worked there, probably because they genuinely seemed to care about us. Oh, one last note, this hotel is pretty well known in the gay community, so if that bothers you, maybe it isn’t for you.

Immaculately maintained and poised on a hilltop with views forever, the staff seems to be trained to read your mind and know what you need before you do. From the personal concierge you meet upon arrival, to the restaurant staff, to the front desk and spa and pool, it just always feel like you are a “regular” at the hotel and like everyone is actually really happy you are there.

Our room was a suite overlooking the ocean with every amenity possible inside it and some serious “turn down” service each night that really was a second thorough housekeeping visit. Beds were comfy, bathroom enormous, sitting areas comfortable, little balcony off the living room was private, and lots of treats to be found. The only slightly “off” aspect of the room was the sliding door closet arrangement where the doors had to be closed in a precise order sort of or the light inside wouldn’t go off. There was also surprisingly little hanging space in the enormous wall-length closet–tons of drawers and shelves, though. Oh–a very good, real breakfast is included and if you prefer to eat it in your room, room service is no extra charge for breakfast.

The pool is spectacular place to loll about and it was pretty easy to find a private nook of deck space. The tuna wraps are amazing and you can order and eat them under an awning at the swim up bar as you gaze out over the Manuel Antonio to the sea.

Finally, while we encountered more gay people here than anywhere else during our CR travels (we’re a gay couple) which was wonderful, but realize that everyone–gay or straight or whatever–just mixed so comfortably and easily in the laid back, indulgent environment the owners have created here.

Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio
Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio

How much does a room costs at Gaia Hotel & Reserve- Adults Only ?

Prices start 268 $/night for Jungle Studio. The Deluxe Suite  is  578$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This studio features a bedroom, seating area and bathroom with stone shower. Other amenities include a king size bed with 500 thread count linens, LCD flat-screen TV, home entertainment center, one sofa bed, natural wood and stone floors, mini-bar, central air conditioning, internet connectivity, wireless telephone, top of the line toiletries, views of the rainforest, as well as your personalized concierge service.

Where to book online – Gaia Hotel & Reserve- Adults Only  – Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio you can find the best hotels deals in Manuel Antonio during Manuel Antonio Sound Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Manuel Antonio on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or HotelsCombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Tico Tico Villas – Adult Only 2* – Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio

Tico Tico Villas - Adult Only
Tico Tico Villas – Adult Only

Set in Manuel Antonio, 2.6 km from Playitas Beach and 2.7 km from El Santuario Canopy Adventure Tour, Tico Tico Villas – Adult Only offers accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning, an outdoor swimming pool and a garden.

The units come with tiled floors and feature a fully equipped kitchenette with a microwave, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, and a private bathroom with shower and free toiletries. There is also a fridge, toaster and a coffee machine.

A barbecue and a terrace are available for guests at the aparthotel to use.

Playa Biesanz is 3.7 km from Tico Tico Villas – Adult Only, while Manuel Antonio Beach is 5 km from the property.

Great prices, great value, extremely comfortable stay. Apartments are well-equipped with all you may need, including a pot of coffee! Pool is refreshing and a value added for sure. Secure location and friendly vibes. The proprietors have figured out how to create an affordable and lovely stay, and it all starts with the warm and welcoming host, Vernita. This places exceeds expectations on all levels.

Tico Tico Villas is such a great place to stay. Vernita is very friendly and has a wealth of knowledge and tips for the area. It’s conveniently located by the bus stop which can take you to the national park or Quepos for 60 cents one way. There is a mini Mart on location for basic needs. Great pool.

We stayed in Apartment 9, one of the twelve apartments on the property. It was really nice…well designed and fully equipped and appointed. This apartment had a front and back private outdoor sitting area and a balcony opening out from the bedroom on the mezzanine floor. The apartment was very spacious with full kitchen downstairs (great shower) and upstairs bathroom.

I think apartment 7 and 8 were similar..the others all looked a bit different but also had a private outdoor terrace and are probably also very nice. Along with an outdoor pool, the apartments were set in beautiful tropical gardens. Whilst the property is located on a busy road, it was quiet inside our apartment.

Location was great with the bus to Manuel Antonio and Quepos stopping right outside the hotel. It was also handy to restaurants and cafes

The big bonus was the visiting wildlife…scarlet macaws, white faced capuchin monkeys and lots of birds.

This was a fantastic place to stay with service to match. Totally recommended.

Great location, in between the national park and close to Quepos. The villas have everything you need and there’s a great pool to use when your needing to cool off from the heat! There’s also a shop below the villas to stock up on the essentials and help with any tours you want to book.

There is a bus that runs straight to the national park outside, which id recommend getting to avoid having to pay parking at the park.

I’d recommend you stay here if you are looking for a place to stay in Manuel Antonio. Be sure to say hello to your neighbours whilst at the villa, two resident iguanas can be spotted near the pool occasionally, great for a picture.

Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio
Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio

How much does a room costs at Tico Tico Villas – Adult Only ?

Prices start 95 $/night for Studio with Terrace 4. The Deluxe Studio with Terrace 8 is  124$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This studio has a patio, seating area and tile/marble floor.

Where to book online – Tico Tico Villas – Adult Only  – Gay Friendly Hotels Manuel Antonio you can find the best hotels deals in Manuel Antonio during Manuel Antonio Sound Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Manuel Antonio on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or HotelsCombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.