Gay Friendly San Juan

Just a quick flight from anywhere in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico is a convenient, yet exotic, destination for travelers looking to put a little Latino flavor in their lives. With no passport required for US citizens the island is a preferred destination for gay travelers in the Caribbean. With a wide variety of gay-friendly resorts, hotels and guest homes throughout the island, more and more gay travelers are making Puerto Rico their favorite vacation destination.

San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico and the gateway to the Caribbean, offers a myriad of attractions to gay travelers, including the charming commercial and residential district of Old San Juan, world-class beachfront hotels in El Condado and Isla Verde, with its casinos, exclusive shopping, museums, fine restaurants and trendy nightclubs. While Old San Juan has always been renowned for its rich culture and historic attractions, a rebirth has transformed San Juan into one of the Caribbean’s hottest gay urban destinations in recent years.

At the heart of this revival is a blend of authentic Latin and American styles evident in all facets of the city – chic new hotels, trendy restaurants and bars, haute couture shopping and modern art. From the relative quiet of Ocean Park, San Juan's upscale beach community, to the lively Condado, famous for its night-life and casinos, to Old San Juan, where the ancient forts and cobblestone streets reflect the island’s rich history, there are lots of things to do in Puerto Rico. Whether visitors are seeking a tranquil ambiance or a mecca of activity, San Juan boasts several new hotels and resorts that envelop guests in luxury and refined elegance. Gay-friendly properties are abundant throughout the island, making travelers feel comfortable and relaxed during their vacation.


Where to Stay in Gay Friendly San Juan

Puerto Rico’s year round average temperatures between 75F and-82F and infinite variety to cater to all tastes makes it the ideal Caribbean island destination. From luxury hotels to simple no frills beachfront guest houses San Juan has something for everyone. Gay travelers will find hospitality in places throughout the island, but many find the San Juan Metro properties more appealing because of the capital’s cosmopolitan lifestyle and exiting nightlife. Most, if not all, properties in the San Juan are gay friendly and provide the upscale service and high standards that closely match the gay travelers’ needs.

Each of the three main tourist zones in San Juan has its unique style and flavor. For history lovers the city of Old San Juan with its 16th century cobblestone streets and restored colonial architecture reflects Puerto Rico’s unique historical past combined with the vibrancy of today’s youth. Visitors can go back in time and relieve Puerto Rico’s richness while wandering around this small well preserved city from Spanish colonial times.

The Condado area (translated as County) used to be where wealthy families made their home. Nowadays it is known for its beautiful art deco buildings and houses and high class shopping and dining. Condado hotels are known for their contemporary décor and exquisite gourmet restaurants. Many local as well as international fashion designers have their boutiques in the area. Travelers can pay a visit to the boutiques of Stella Nolasco and Nono Maldonado, two of Puerto Rico’s haute couture designers known for their fashion-forward style. Fashion connoisseurs can also visit the upscale boutique of David Antonio in Condado, who has designed clothes for pop star Jennifer Lopez, among others.

The Isla Verde area offers miles of white sand beaches in front of luxury resorts and posh high-rise residential apartments, setting the beautiful backdrop for San Juan. A tranquil place during the week, Isla Verde really comes alive on weekends when beach lovers stream in to party, play, swim and sun. While most soak up the sun reading, napping or taking a stroll along the surf line, the more adventurous go parasailing, water skiing, and jet skiing. Evenings are the time the nightlife goes into high gear for everyone with unlimited options ranging from traditional experiences to ultra trendy activities in the area’s hotels lobbies lounges and clubs. All of San Juan’s Puerto Rico’s nightclubs and discos invite visitors to dance, listen to Latin rhythms and mingle with the island’s friendly people.

Transportation around the San Juan Metro area is a breeze. Taxis, public buses, and rental car companies offer visitors convenient ground transportation. Easily identifiable "Taxi Turisticos" or tourist taxis operate on a fare-zone basis between the airport and cruise ship pier to designated tourist zones including Old San Juan and San Juan hotels and resorts. All other times they are hired on a metered basis or unmetered for an hourly rate. Tour operators also service the area with varying transportation and tour packages.


What to See / Old World meets Nuevo Lifestyle in Gay Friendly San Juan

Puerto Rico is just 35 miles wide by 100 miles long so travelers have the opportunity to discover interesting and inviting sites beyond what surrounds San Juan’s well known attractions. Each region introduces visitors to the diverse geography and wealth of activities, accommodations and restaurants throughout the island. Whether looking for a relaxing island escape, a golf or scuba vacation, an adventure trip amidst tropical rainforests or a getaway rich in history and culture, the island of Puerto Rico offers all these experiences and more.

Among the most recognizable landmarks in Puerto Rico is El Morro, the fortification visibly protecting the bay of San Juan, in partnership with Fort San Cristóbal, which protected Old San Juan, from invaders for hundreds of years. The narrow cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, a seven-square-block area over 500 years old, are a bustling center dotted with ancient churches, plazas, historic sites, trendy restaurants, hip boutiques, galleries and Fortune 500 companies. This United Nations-designated World Heritage site is the location of the Catedral de San Juan, a rare example of medieval architecture in the New World and Ponce de Leon’s final resting place. Other not to be missed historic sites include Casa Blanca, La Fortaleza (Governor’s Mansion), Cuartel de Ballajá (Ballaja Barracks), El Convento Hotel and Plaza de Armas (Old San Juan’s main town square).

Two of the best known and most visited attractions on the island are El Yunque Rainforest and the Las Croabas bioluminescent bay. Just 45 minutes from San Juan El Yunque is the only rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System and in the running for a spot of in the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World Competition. Part of the Caribbean National Forest, this natural wonder is home to 240 species of tropical trees, exotic flowers and wildlife. El Yunque provides opportunities to learn about the history of the forest at the El Portal Tropical Forest Center and then hike amongst the flora and fauna on El Yunque’s many trails.

A must do when visiting Puerto Rico is kayaking in one of the three bioluminescent bays in the world, two of which are in the eastern area. The most accessible one for visitors in the San Juan area is the one located in the town of Fajardo around 55 minutes away. Most tour operators provide transportation to these and other main attractions of the island such as the Camuy River Cavern Park, the Arecibo Radio Telescope, Luquillo Beach, and Ponce from the San Juan hotels.


GAY FRIENDLY DINING – Pass the Salsa

Known as the “Dining Capital of the Caribbean,” Puerto Rico offers everything from authentic dishes to diverse international cuisine. The island’s cuisine, a blend of Taíno, Spanish and African traditions, gives diners the opportunity to experience Puerto Rican culture through exotic and unique ingredients and flavors. The island’s topography and mix of urban and rural areas accounts for the variety in cuisine from region to region.

To satisfy and please every palate, restaurants run the gamut of international options from fine Japanese to French cuisine, many with a tinge of Puerto Rican flavors. Nuevo Latino dining locations have long been popular with locals and also offer a vibrant nightlife. The Metro area restaurant scene is known for setting culinary trends, offers a splendid combination of traditional Puerto Rican cookery. Through its food, one can see the international influences that created a fusion of cuisine, long before “fusion” was mainstream.

After dinner, Puerto Rico’s nightclubs and discos invite visitors to dance, listen to Latin rhythms and mingle with the island’s friendly people. Located mostly in the Old San Juan and Isla Verde area locales offer a casual ambience to dance to the rhythms of rumba and salsa.

With flights from all major hubs in the US, no passport required, Latin culture, endless activities, exciting nightlife and cosmopolitan lifestyle, Puerto Rico is the ideal gay friendly Caribbean destination.

LA FIESTA

Dance salsa and reggaeton into the night; taste Puerto Rico’s delicacies and criollo flavor; win big at black jack and roulette; drink Puerto Rico’s rum at a local bar; attend the theater and watch live folklore or dance shows. When the sun goes down in Puerto Rico, the nightlife goes into high gear for everyone with unlimited options ranging from traditional experiences to ultra trendy activities. Puerto Rico’s vibrant Latin sound is an electrifying medley of culture, politics and religion, creating an authentic sound only found in this Caribbean Island.

Whether your style is salsa, techno or jazz, there is an option to suit every night owl. European, Afro-Caribbean and Latin American cultures have infused their own distinct flavor into Puerto Rico’s musical heritage.

With abundant gay-friendly locations, San Juan has plenty of options to offer its visitors. The San Juan Metro Area offers the most options with most gay clubs and lounges located in the Condado/Santurce area. From Miramar to Ocean Park, many of San Juan’s neighborhoods are privy to distinctive hotspots.

Be advised that the real party starts later in the evening. Partiers start arriving around 9:30 to 10:00pm with the party going strong by midnight.

For a complete list on Gay Bars and Clubs in San Juan, click on the Nightlife Tab in our City Directory at the top of this page.

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