Gay Puerto Rico: The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Travel Guide – Puerto Rico is one of the best gay travel destinations in the Caribbean. I have visited multiple times and explored the gay scene in Puerto Rico in depth.
In my Gay Puerto Rico: The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Travel Guide, I am going to share with you the best gay bars in Puerto Rico, it’s selection of gay and gay owned hotels, the best gay beaches in Puerto Rico, gay tours around San Juan and of course, all the awesome things you should do whilst you are here.
As an island, Puerto Rico is beautiful with so much to offer; from its beaches, to its tropical rainforests, its unique bioluminescent bays, the local wildlife including their super cute manatees, its beautiful old town and of course, a thriving gay scene.
Practically, you can comfortably drive around the island, stopping at different towns/cities over the course of a few days giving you easy access and a chance to see well beyond the capital of San Juan – there is so much more to the main island, as well as the smaller islands off the coast such as Vieques (which also has a gay hotel!).
When it comes to gay travel in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is my number one recommendation. Let’s get into my gay Puerto Rico travel guide!
In a rush? Here’s a quick Gay Puerto Rico Guide:
- Best time to visit: Winter–Spring(I visited in January)
- Is Puerto Rico gay friendly? Yes, it is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly Caribbean islands.
- Main gay area in Puerto Rico: Santurce (San Juan)
- Best gay beach in Puerto Rico: Condado Beach (in front of the Tryst Hotel – check availability)
- Best gay bar in San Juan: SX The Club – view location on Google Maps.
- Best gay hotel in Puerto Rico: Coqui del Mar (I have visited twice) – check availability.
Is Puerto Rico Gay Friendly?
Yes – Puerto Rico is one of the most gay friendly islands in the Caribbean. As a gay traveller I felt super comfortable and safe during my trips to Puerto Rico.
It’s also worth mentioning that the first trip was for an LGBTQ+ travel convention and I had friends from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum there with me, all of which spoke very positively about their experience.
Puerto Rico has many LGBTQ+ owned businesses, establishments, safe spaces and large scale pride events. It is the kind of place I wouldn’t think twice about being affectionate with a partner in the street without having to look over my shoulder first.
Puerto Rico is a US territory and their laws are reflective of that (i.e marriage equality etc), they do also have their own local laws but overall the picture is that of a positive one.
So to answer the question, is Puerto Rico safe for gay travellers? Yes! I hope you enjoy.
Gay Areas in Puerto Rico (San Juan, Santurce & Beyond)
Puerto Rico does not have a main gay area per se, however you are going to find the majority of gay spots in the capital city, San Juan, and within San Juan a good place to start is the barrio of Santurce as this is where most of the gay bars in Puerto Rico can be found.
But wait, it’s not all about the capital city of San Juan! There are other very gay places in Puerto Rico you should make sure to visit.
Boqueron on the west coast, a few hours drive from San Juan holds a bigger pride celebration than San Juan and when I visited Boqueron, I was pleasantly surprised to see this small barrio to be full of pride flags adorning most buildings! I’d suggest visiting here for a night or two.
Beyond the main island, you have the island if Vieques – home to the gay hotel, Club Vieques (Adults only, clothing optional, gay friendly) and a gay owned hotel Casa de Amistad. This island is the place to relax and chill and whilst you won’t find gay nightlife, Club Vieques occasionally host a relaxed sunday afternoon T-dance.
Best Gay Bars in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Let’s get started with the best gay bars in San Juan, Puerto Rico – I think it is fair to say that you are going to have some fun in these gay bars. There is a good selection, some aimed at different crowds and it seems that here in San Juan, there is lots on offer.
The first four mentioned below, SX The Club, Toxic, El Purgatorio and Kweens are all within a block of each other in Santurce.
However my favorite is a new one called Meet Macerena/Macerena bar which is a litle further out (but still cheap to get to by taxi).
SX The Club
SX The Club was one of my favorite gay bars in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I went here twice, including for my birthday.
SX often runs different events and sometimes has a small cover charge depending on the night. They have two good sized rooms, each playing different music, as well as hot bartenders wearing very little.
Address: Calle Condado 1106, Santurce, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico
Toxic
Similar concept to SX with music, drag queen peformances and themed nights. You will also find Toxic in the Santurce area.
Address: Calle Condado 1108, Santurce, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico
El Purgatorio
If you are looking for a gay bar for bears in San Juan, then head to El Purgatorio.
This is where you will find bear nights, leather nights and pup nights etc.
Address: 1352 Calle Av. Manuel Fernández Juncos, Santurce, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico
Kweens Klub
Kweens Klub (KK), is located in the heart of Santurce in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and dubs itself as the premier LGBTIQ+ nightclub of the island.
Their main attraction, as the name suggests, are the drag shows including on occassion, international celebrity guests.
They offer free cover on Wednesday and Thursday, cover fees apply for events and Friday and Saturday.
Address: Calle Condado 1104, Santurce, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico
Meet Macerena / Macerena Bar
Outside of Santurce, just a ten minute drive from the above gay bars, this was my favorite gay bar in Puerto Rico.
When I went it was called Meet Macerena (it’s Instagram still is) but it seems to have rebranded as simply Macerena Bar.
This had a good sized bar and dancefloor area inside and then outside a very large area for relaxing, dancing, drinking and for shows. I loved that it had a little bit of everything here and plenty of different spaces.
The cocktails here were particularly good, and I am fussy when it comes to cocktails!
Address: Avenida Manuel Fernández Juncos 1425, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico
Fruit Punch House
A new gay bar in Puerto Rico! Fruit punch house is home to cocktails, burlesque, boylesque and drag. I will be checking this one out for sure on my next visit!
Address: next to Macarena.
More Gay Bars in Puerto Rico?
YES, there are more gay bars in Puerto Rico.
Head over to my Complete Guide to Gay Bars in Puerto Rico for more.
Where to stay in Puerto Rico for Gay Travellers?
Gay travellers are welcome anywhere on the island, in particular I would suggest these areas as the best areas to stay in Puerto Rico for LGBTQ+ travellers:
- Santurce – if you want to be close to the nightlife and the beautiful Old San Juan.
- Condado Beach – for the convenience of the gay beach and sunday brunch at the Tryst.
- Vieques – head over to the island if you need a slow and calm vibe.
- Boqueron – also very gay friendly, a bit calmer than San Juan but with more going on than Vieques.
Top Gay Hotels and Resorts in Puerto Rico
I am happy to report that there are a number of gay hotels in Puerto Rico! Most gay hotels are in San Juan, but there are also some options over on the island of Vieques.
Gay Hotels in San Juan
The gay hotels in San Juan all offer something slightly different. Check out these options and for a slighty extended list head over to ‘The Best Gay Hotels in Puerto Rico‘:
Coqui del Mar
I love Coqui del Mar and spent a whole week there during my last trip. The owners Rob and Vianney are a delight and make sure that all the guests are well looked after.
Coqui del Mar is a gay, clothing optional guest house in San Juan. This is a small property, with a casual and relaxed community feel. Each room is uniquely designed and dedicated to a colour of the rainbow – its fun, tongue in cheek and very gay.
Your stay includes a daily breakfast with a buffet and hot food made to order, complimentary brunch on Saturday and Sunday and even another catered barbecue every Monday.
They have a small pool and a jacuzzi.
Want to see it for real? Watch my full tour of Coqui del Mar on Instagram.
The Tryst Hotel
Tryst Hotels are a collection of luxury gay boutique hotels that have been popping up at some of the most popular gay travel hotspots around the world.
The Tryst San Juan, Puerto Rico had a huge renovation transforming it into a luxury beach front resort.
It is also home to The Atlantic at the Tryst which serves food and drinks and a drag brunch on sundays. And if that was not gay enough, the beach in front of The Tryst becomes the gay beach every sunday!
Romeo Gay Hotel
One of the newer gay hotels in Puerto Rico, Romeo Hotel LGBTQ in San Juan offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and guests can enjoy a rooftop swimming pool with a view, terrace, bar, and free WiFi.
Gay Hotels in Vieques
Vieques is a small island, just a twenty minute flight from the mainland. Come here to chill for a few nights at the end of your trip.
Club Vieques
One of the newest gay owned hotels and resorts in Puerto Rico. Club Vieques is an adults only hotel on the island of Vieques (a 20 minute flight from the main island).
They have a clothing optional pool and pool bar area which is beautiful, it’s giving Mykonos beach club vibes. The property is also slightly raised on a hill giving you great views in all directions.
Every now and again they host a chilled T-dance esque DJ party where you can dance, mingle, and enjoy a cocktail or two.
If you need a moment to escape, switch off and relax, then I highly rate this place for you. If you want to see it for real, take a look at my tour on Instagram.
Best Gay Beaches in Puerto Rico
There are gay beaches all over Puerto Rico. Below I am going to share the most popular and fun gay beach for tourists, in the heart of San Juan.
Condado Gay Beach, San Juan – this is the most popular gay beach and can be found right in front of the Tryst gay hotel. This is the place to go for ‘gay sundays‘. The Tryst hosts a sunday drag brunch and the beach in front is super busy. On the beach you can hire beds, umbrellas, order drinks and enjoy the hot Puerto Rican guys running around in their speedos.
Ocean Park Beach, San Juan – nearby the gay guesthouse, Coqui del Mar, you will find that Ocean Park beach in front of Numero Uno Guesthouse is pretty gay and known for being a meeting place with locals.
If you want more local recommendations (that are a little cruisey) then see my extensive list of gay beaches in Puerto Rico.
LGBTQ+ Points of Interest
There are a number of LGBTQ+ points of interest in Puerto Rico that you should look out for when you visit. Seeing these displayed proudly in public is one of the reasons I felt so safe in Puerto Rico.
- Pulse Memorial – not too far from Old San Juan, you will find this memorial to the victims of the Pulse Nightclub incident near the entrance of the Sixto Escobar Stadium.
- Diversity Mural and rainbow walkway – right next to the Pulse memorial, there is a rainbow walkway and diversity mural painted on the floor and wall.
- The Rainbow Arch Way – The Rainbow Arch in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This stands as a sign of the fight for LGBTQ+ equality in the region.
Gay Events in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Gay Pride
Puerto Rico gay pride is held in the capital, San Juan, each June. The week is full of events that culminates in the pride parade on the Sunday.
The pride parade starts at Condado’s Parque del Indio, launching floats, bands, activists, and queens down Ashford Avenue. If you are staying at a gay hotel like Coqui del Mar the whole hotel will probably go and watch together.
Cabo Rojo Pride (Boqueron)
Usually the week after Puerto Rico Pride, and said to be even bigger, many people head to Boqueron for Cabo Rojo Pride.
As I have mentioned earlier, Boqueron, whilst small, is littered with pride flags and has a pride statue showing very clearly, how welcome you are here.
This is next on my list for when I visit Puerto Rico.
Gay Saunas in Puerto Rico
Is there a gay sauna in Puerto Rico? Well not quite, the information online can be a bit confusing.
There is Xteamworks Mens Room: listed as the only gay bathhouse in Puerto Rico – but this does not have a sauna or steamroom as you might expect. The description of ‘mens space or mens only venue’ feels the most accurate description.
It does have showers and other rooms etc, however I have not been to comment from personal experience. Message me on Instagram if you go and let me know how it was.
Gay Tours in Puerto Rico
For gay tours in Puerto Rico you should get in contact with Coqui del Mar. They either run gay tours themselves or can help put you in touch with recommended people.
Gay Map of Puerto Rico
Take a look at my gay maps or Puerto Rico below to see all the places mentioned in this blog post:
Activities for Gay Travellers in Puerto Rico
There is so much to write about when it comes to ‘Gay Puerto Rico’, but of course there is so much more to the island for all types of travellers. In particular make sure you do some, or all, of the following.
Manatee Rescue Centre
If you want to support a good cause in Puerto Rico, then take the time to visit the Manatee Rescue centre.
Learn about the important work that they do and then get to work helping to feed the manatees! It was a great experience.
El Yunque Rainforest
If like me, you like to be outdoors in nature, then you are going to want to spend a full day here.
It is possible to drive and do this yourself, however I would recommend doing an organised tour for the ease and convenience.
The organised tours take you swimming through rivers, jumping into gorges and swinging into pools. Its a great little adventure. Often a trip to El Yunque can be paired with a bioluminescent bay experience since they are on the same side of the island.
Bioluminescent Bay
Simply wonderous. Bioluminescence is when a living organism produces and emits light caused by a chemical reaction in it, usually when disturbed.
There are 5 ‘main’ bioluminescent bays in the world and Puerto Rico is home to three. This is a nightime activity, best done when the moon is at its dimmest on a group tour.
Take a kayak out onto one of these bays and watch the magic in the water as your kayak glides through and the water lights up.
Old San Juan
Old San Juan is beautiful and a place for food, drinks, shopping or to simply get lost and wander the streets. I’d recommend spending half a day here and to take a walk along and outside the walls of Old San Juan.
Explore by Bike
During my visit I explored a lot by bike. I was based at Coqui del Mar and could cycle west along the coast for about 40 minutes to get to Old San Juan, or east and head to Pinones beach.
The majority of the coast I explored was very bike friendly and I personally think it is one of the best ways to see a destination.
Yauco
If you hire a car to explore more of the island, try and fit in an hour to see Yauco – Yaucromatic to be specific.
Yaucromatic is a public art project, run by the non-profit organization Arte Para Unir Inc which has tranformed the town centre with over 60 works of art. A very cool spot to see!
Gay Sundays at The Atlantic
I am going to have to end on something gay of course. This is a gay guide to Puerto Rico after all.
Gay Sundays encapsulates going to drag brunch at The Atlantic at the Tryst (which was so much fun) followed by a lazy afternoon on the gay beach right in front of The Atlantic. A perfect end to a trip some might say.
Other Gay Friendly Island Destinations
If you are looking for other gay friendly islands in the wider Caribbean and beyond, the check out these guides. Note that all these islands are equally beautiful but do not have a big gay scene like Puerto Rico:
I hope you enjoy your trip to gay Puerto Rico, I have lots of content and visual guides on my Instagram!