Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo.

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.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a town in southeast Costa Rica, on the Caribbean coast. It’s known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra. The Jaguar Rescue Center rehabilitates wild cats and other animals. Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge has rainforest, wetlands and mangroves. To the north, Cahuita National Park protects a large coral reef and has a shipwreck dive site.

 

 Top attractions to visit in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

 

Best for tours in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca:

See more tours in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on GetYourGuide

 

 1. Hotel Banana Azul – Adults Only 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo

Hotel Banana Azul - Adults Only
Hotel Banana Azul – Adults Only

Offering an outdoor swimming pool and an extensive garden, Hotel Banana Azul is located in Playa Negra beach and 2.5 km from Puerto Viejo town centre. Free WiFi access is available in all areas.

The rooms come with outdoor seating area and a fan. The private bathrooms have shower.

Guests can enjoy in the on-site restaurant local food and international dishes. Other options can be found in Puerto Viejo town centre.

The Banana Azul hotel is a small and simple hotel north of town on Playa Negra. The small boutique hotel has been created with care using local products and a philosophy that emphasizes relaxation. We cater to adults, 16 years and over. Blooming gardens adorn the property, as does several freely-hanging hammocks, providing the perfect spot for afternoon napping or leisurely reading. A meandering pond inhabited by fish and turtles flows through portions of the property adding a lighter element to the ongoing natural soundtrack of waves crashing against the shoreline.

The hotel consists of 25 beautiful guest rooms with private baths, fans (some with A/C), and free WiFi. Most rooms are on the second floor of the main building, and open onto a large veranda with sweeping ocean views and of the garden. Banana Azul offers its guests a quaint restaurant that serves a complimentary filling breakfast, variety of lunch options and refreshing drinks throughout the day and a relaxing three entre dinner option in a romantic atmosphere at night.

Caribe Fun Tours is on site to assist with tours and transportation needs and can assist with a variety of package options including visits to the Arenal Volcano, canopy tours, snorkeling trips, and even rafting excursions.

The staff were extremely professional yet super friendly and were always stopping for a chat with us. The same can be said for the owner; a friendly gent who had worked so hard to create an amazing property. The grounds were well kept, yet eco friendly. A must for wildlife lovers as the hotel gardens has frequent animal visitors including sloths, birds, frogs and snakes. Food was incredible, a huge shout out to the chefs… some of the best nachos I’ve had! The hotel sits directly on the beach, with bar to beach service, so you can enjoy a cocktail (or two with happy hour) on the beach.

We were fortunate to stay in both the red frog suite and the ocean view room, both of which were fantastic in their own ways. Although the ocean view room does not have A/C (which is clearly mentioned on their website), the sea breeze and two fans in the room were sufficient for us to have a great night sleep. Rustic yet clean Caribbean vibes, and with a great view of the beautiful gardens and sea, we would stay again. Overall, great hotel who made us feel very welcomed and comfortable (which cannot be said for other hotels when a gay couple shows up.

Both the hotel and grounds are pretty amazing. The first thing that strikes you is the attention to detail and all the unique and thoughtful touches everywhere you look. From the hand made furniture to the driftwood artwork in the rooms, hammocks on the balconies and mosaic artwork in the showers you can tell that they looked at every square inch of the property and had a really clear idea of what they wanted to create.

That said, this place is not for everyone. And you’ll find that’s a very good thing. The atmosphere is unpretentious and the clientele is very laid back and diverse, mostly singles, straight and gay couples and expats. No kids If you’re looking for the “resort experience” with nightlife, organized activities and hovering waiters with cold towels keep going. If you’re looking to escape and unwind on an incredible beach with a good book you’ve arrived.

As two gay men travelling as a couple, we wanted a gay-friendly hotel (without it being a gay only resort) and this place was perfect. There is a such great chill vibe here and we felt totally at ease. Guests we met were cool (in particular Tania and friends – Hi there!)

– Superb staff
– Amazing drinks and fantastic food
– beautiful private Beach

The grounds were just amazing and took our breath away – We miss the doggies and kitties (they were adorable)

We stayed at the red frog room and it was incredible, we appreciated having air conditioning and having a private pool was fantastic. We spend hours just relaxing and chilling there. It was like being in your own private haven.

We truly felt like we were in a dream and there are not enough words to describe the beauty here.

It is a 20 minute walk into Puerto Viejo on the beach, which is an interesting little town with a Jamaican vibe.

My recommendation is that if you truly want to relax, meet warm people, you are laid back and don’t need little shampoos and soaps (which are not environmentally friendly anyway), you don’t need thick bath towels and you have no interest in watching television then Banana Azul is your place. On the other hand if you are high maintenance you may be unhappy. Although anyone would agree that the gardens are absolutely gorgeous. This is an eco-resort and it is gay friendly. Banana Azul the best.

This hotel is featured on many gay websites as a great place for the gay traveler. I just returned from six days there and my experience was that there were very few gay travelers there at all and the ones that were there were mostly couples. I would also hazard to say that at the Banana Azul, when I was there anyway, the guests were 95% straight couples, honeymooners, and families.

The property is gay-owned and bills itself as “straight friendly”. While I was there about 25-30% of guests at any one time were gay men. If this makes you uncomfortable then you should stay elsewhere.

As a gay man myself travelling solo, I found it a great mix of guests, enjoyed interacting with just about everyone and shared tables at dinner with wonderful stimulating people both gay and straight alike.

Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo
Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo

How much does a room costs at Hotel Banana Azul ?

Prices start 108 $/night for Kinkaju Cabina. The Red Frog Tropical Suite is  256$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room has a patio, seating area and air conditioning.

Where to book online – Hotel Banana Azul – Adults Only  – Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo Costa Rica you can find the best hotels deals in Puerto Viejo during Puerto Viejo ArteViva Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Puerto Viejo on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or HotelsCombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. Hotel Coco Loco Lodge 2* – Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo

Coco Loco Lodge
Coco Loco Lodge

Situated in Puerto Viejo, 2.9 km from Negra Beach, Coco Loco Lodge features accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a shared lounge and a garden. Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a barbecue. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, a shared kitchen and free WiFi throughout the property.

The rooms at the hotel are fitted with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and a shower. Guest rooms will provide guests with a desk and a coffee machine.

Small Hotel A hotel with a more intimate atmosphere than a larger hotel, offering fewer rooms, staff members and/or services; all rooms have private bathroom facilities. Comfort equipped palm-thatched bungalows and private houses in hotel Costa Rica, village Puerto Viejo, Caribbean coast, surrounded by scenic jungle, huge garden, tropical plants, animal life, oceanside accommodation for 1-6 people with lots of amenities, TV, kitchen, wifi internet, fridge, drinks, breakfast, tours, transfer, parking, coffeemaker, night guard, room service, more.

The room was clean and had everything we needed: comfortable bed, small but clean bathroom, terrace with table and chairs and hammock which we spent a lot of time reading in! There was also a small fridge and even a coffee and tea machine in the room. The breakfast was good, and the owner Sabine was pleasant and nice to talk to. We appreciated great service from the guy working at front desk also, who received us with a cold coconut drink on the day we arrived and was very helpful with all our questions.

Great restaurant Monli just around the corner, and also walking distance to the bars and restaurants on the beach of Puerto Viejo!

If you walk to the beach, go left and walk about 20 mins along the beach you will arrive at a beautiful bit of beach with almost no people, soft sand and great water.

The cabins are well equipped and arranged in a very nice garden. Breakfast was freshly made and in our view the right mixture and choice. The best is the location: quiet (apart from the howler monkeys :-)) at the edge of Puerto Viejo, but only a few minutes from the beach (Playa Negra) and from the restaurant and bars in town. This was exactly what we were looking for.

A beautiful retreat in the outskirts of the lively little beach town Puerto Viejo. Here is everything combined: a quiet retreat packed with palm trees that is in walking distance to Playa Negra, supermarkets and other shops, restaurants and bars. Pura vida.

The staff is friendly and helped us with everything from giving tips where to go, where to eat and what to see, to making calls for us at different locations and pointing out beautiful beaches within a little distance.

The Coco Loco lodge was perfect, beautiful grounds, peaceful hotel, great staff, less than a five minute walk to restaurantsbars, and shops, less than five minutes to the beach. We had a kitchen in our room and having the grocery store around the corner was perfect. Always had cold beer at the front desk, and at 2 bucks a beer, you can’t say no!

Any one traveling on a budget, this place you definitely get the most for your dollar. It was nice for a change to get somewhere and have it be nicer than the pictures you saw online.

The rooms were clean, gorgeous little cabins with so much privacy. You have your own patio with hammock and they include mosquito coils which made it delightful to sit outside at night and have a beer. All the rooms had a fridge and tv but you won’t need the tv.

It’s a 2 second walk to everything from here yet it’s tucked in the corner which gives you the sense of being further- no noise at night from the bars and busy street. Yet everything just outside your door, restaurants, beech, bars, superstore. Definitely better value then a lot of hone other places which charges $40 /night, the others just can’t compare to this place.

Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo Costa Rica
Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo Costa Rica

How much does a room costs at Coco Loco Lodge ?

Prices start 85 $/night for Double Room with Garden View. The Double Room is  93$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room has air conditioning, private entrance and tea/coffee maker.

Where to book online – Coco Loco Lodge  – Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo Costa Rica you can find the best hotels deals in Puerto Viejo during Puerto Viejo ArteViva Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Puerto Viejo on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or Trivago.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Villas Piña – Adults only 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto de Talamanca

Villas Piña - Adults only
Villas Piña – Adults only

Boasting a patio with garden views, an outdoor swimming pool and a garden, Villas Piña – Adults only can be found in Puerto Viejo, close to Negra Beach and 7 km from Jaguar Rescue Center. This property offers access to a balcony, free private parking and free WiFi.

The air-conditioned villa consists of 1 bedroom, a kitchenette with dining area, and 1 bathroom with shower.

A à la carte breakfast is available each morning at the villa.

Villas Piña – Adults only features a terrace.

Adults only. We offer 6 villas in a garden setting each with a kitchenette, A/C, hot water, 2 queen beds accommodating up to four people, a room safe to secure your belongings. Breakfast is included and served in the common Rancho area. The Rancho also has a pool and roof top sun/moon deck for sunning and star gazing. We also have a private beach access for a short walk to the beach.

The Villas are comfortable and sharply clean, the space is enough for a group of 4. It is well equipped with utensils and a kitchenette to help you to cook something quick but not the breakfast as the owners provide a very tasty and varied freshly made breakfast always giving you nice options and natural ingredients. Eric and Sharon will make sure that you are having a pleasant stay at Villas Piña.

Our room, as was true for the entire property, was spacious and beautiful. There were four of us in one “room” (more like a small apartment) and we had plenty of space. Eric did a beautiful job with the design and construction of this compound – you will not be disappointed with the accommodations I promise!

We ventured into a town a few times, walked over to the Banana Azul for dinner and drinks a couple nights – highly recommend – and also visited a few beaches and also did a guided tour at Cahuita National Park. Every part of the trip was amazing and we were very sad to leave! Costa Rica is beautiful, and if you’re visiting the Limon/Puerto Viejo area, staying at Sharon and Eric’s Villas Pina will make you feel right at home!

The Villa is beautiful and extremely comfortable. The breakfast is delicious and freshly made with fresh ingredients, some grown on the property. Relaxing decks on Villa, relaxing salt water pool, beautiful gardens. Who can ask for any more?

The hosts can recommend excellent restaurants. if you’re Vegan, no shortage of options and they are delicious!

I recommend anyone looking to chill or have a nice visit to the rain forest or world class surfing beaches of Costa Rica to check out Villa Pina.

It’s a small place, only 6 villas, but that made it more cozy and friendly.
The grounds are gated and gorgeous. We saw Toucans, Iguanas, Geckos, frogs and other birds. Eric also pointed out the tiny bats that live in one of the trees.

The villas are gorgeous, spacious, comfortable and well-maintained. There are no TVs, which was great. Why would you need a tv in this beautiful paradise? The doors in front of the villas open completely up, which was allowed the outdoors to come in.

The hammock on the porch was outstanding as well. The rancho, pool and rooftop deck were great places to hang out and meet the other guests, and to get to know Eric, Sharon, their three dobermans and two cats. Their pets were awesome, and took all the love you wanted to give, but also left you alone if you didn’t care for pets.

They have a private path to a gorgeous, secluded black sand beach. It was a short walk and worth it.
Everything was meticulously maintained. The staff was friendly and helpful. Coffee was delivered to the villas at 6am and an excellent breakfast was served every morning.

Eric and Sharon were very accommodating, helpful and knowledgeable about the local area. They recommended several great restaurants during our stay, which were awesome! They were the most gracious hosts.

The fact that they don’t allow anyone under 16 years of age was also nice. Villas Pina was definitely a place to relax and unwind in Costa Rica!

I would recommend Villas Pina to my friends, family and anyone else traveling to Costa Rica.

Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo
Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo

How much does a room costs at Villas Piña – Adults only ?

Prices start 125 $/night for Villa with Garden View.

This villa has a seating area, kitchenware and air conditioning.

Where to book online – Villas Piña  – Gay Friendly Hotels Puerto Viejo Costa Rica you can find the best hotels deals in Puerto Viejo during Puerto Viejo ArteViva Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Puerto Viejo on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or Hotels.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.