Manuel Antonio Gay Travel
wolfyy’s Manuel Antonio gay travel guide to hotels, things to do, gay bars, beaches & local gay scene.
The Gay Travel Experience: Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio is undoubtedly the best gay destination in Costa Rica. With beautiful weather year-round, the country’s best gay hotels, and a growing gay scene, you can’t pass up a visit!
I spent four days in Manuel Antonio and absolutely loved the laid-back and gay-friendly atmosphere. Without much effort, I met several gay locals, travelers, and ex-pats who live and work in this lush seaside jungle town.
Manuel Antonio has been known as a gay-welcoming Costa Rican hotspot for a while. Now with each passing year, the local gay scene is starting to rapidly grow. The area seems to be attracting increasing numbers of gay ex-pats, some of whom have already opened their own gay-friendly resorts.
In this guide, I’ll cover the top local gay hotels, bars, beaches, and things to do here in Manuel Antonio. For broader Costa Rica advice and recommendations, see wolfyy’s Costa Rica gay travel guide.
Gay Manuel Antonio: Hotels & Where to Stay
Manuel Antonio has a big range of accommodation styles ranging from ocean-facing cliffside resorts to immersive jungle-style villas. And among them are Costa Rica’s most popular gay hotels.
While searching for the perfect place to stay, keep in mind that Manuel Antonio is just a small part of the broader Quepos Province. The area is relatively spread out and popular hotels span from the El Cerro area to the north, down through central Manuel Antonio, and all the way to the beachfront near Manuel Antonio National Park.
Hotel Villa Roca
Hotel Villa Roca is Manuel Antonio’s premier gay hotel popular for their prime location, unbeatable views from their infinity pool, and a multi-level sexy hangout area called “La Roca & Enchanted Forest.”
The pool and hot tubs and pool are open 24 hours—a great chance for some night swimming. Neon lighting in the hot tubs makes for a sexy vibe at night, too.
Room types range from economy-size to spacious suites with ocean views. Largest of all is the 1000 square-foot “La Villa” apartment-style suite, consisting of two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a private terrace, and more.
While Hotel Villa Roca is indeed a gay hotel, it is not male-only. There will likely be some female guests. Hey, they can be LGBT, too!
Villas Jacquelina
I stayed at Villas Jacquelina during my time in the Quepos-Manuel Antonio area, attracted to their unique treehouse-style villas and gay-friendly atmosphere.
Sharing their open-air penthouse apartment with a few friends was an experience I’ll never forget. We woke up to golden sunrises that made our villa glow, along with the lovely sounds of birds chirping in surrounding trees.
The staff and owner Esteban were incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home. With yoga & meditation sessions, daily breakfasts, and lots of common spaces, there was a wonderful sense of community.
I particularly loved spending time perched on elevated the outdoor net, taking in the beautiful views while lounging in the shade. Villas Jacquelina also has a lovely pool area, plenty of hammocks, and a kitchen area for guest use.
Oasis Diverse Adult Retreat
Oasis Diverse Adult Retreat is a new gay owned and operated clothing optional adults-only resort in the heart of Manuel Antonio. Owner and Chef Stephan Pluchino has created an exceptional piece of jungle paradise, with a brand-new pool, a waterfall, and a hot tub that holds at least 20 people!
The resort also has a gym and an enormous kitchen, which is where your delicious breakfast will come from, included with your stay. Chef Pluchino also provides personal catering services and cooking classes for guests upon request.
Vacation Rentals in Manuel Antonio
The vacation properties in Manuel Antonio listed on VRBO are absolutely incredible. With one quick look, you’ll see plenty of options with beautiful views, spacious open-air living rooms, and inviting backyard pools.
Nightly rates for a good portion of these homes and villas are more than affordable. And from here, you can go as high-end as you like.
Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort
Looking for luxury? Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort is the only true beachfront luxury hotel in Manuel Antonio. The views of local beaches to the south are incredible. And even though the property is close to the water, you still get the feeling of being encompassed by the jungle.
Photos of Arenas Del Mar honestly speak for themselves. My favorite room feature is the open-air living space with a tub perched along the balcony!
The hotel also has two on-site restaurants, a gorgeous and intimate glass-walled fitness center, a private beach area, and a hammam.
Tico Tico Villas
Tico Tico Villas has some of the best ratings of any hotel around. They’re a collection of studio apartment villas popular with gay travelers as an affordable and adult-only property.
With a beautifully kept pool area, reliable wi-fi, and in-room kitchenettes, Tico Tico Villas has everything a traveler could need. They also welcome digital nomads, offering reduced weekly and monthly rates.
Manuel Antonio Gay Travel Experiences
Tour Manuel Antonio National Park
Sloths, monkeys, and beautiful butterflies are just a few creatures everyone loves seeing in Manuel Antonio National Park. I highly recommend a visit, both for the wildlife and the stunning local beaches that are only accessible from inside the park.
Booking a guided nature tour is the best thing you can do. Tons of tourists strolling the trails miss out on seeing hawks, sloths, bats, and other animals because they can’t spot them on their own.
A guide will bring a telescope on a tripod for the group so you can see the high-up and camouflaged wildlife. Be sure the tour description explicitly states the guide will bring a scope (like the one linked above)!
Pro-tip for those driving to Manuel Antonio National Park: before you reach the entrance, you’ll encounter locals in the street posing as park officials. Their sole intention is to funnel you into overpriced parking.
Even though it feels strange (they yelled aggressively at our car), you should ignore them and continue driving. Further down the road, there are inexpensive parking lots.
Volunteer at Kids Saving the Rainforest
Kids Saving the Rainforest is a local wildlife refuge in Quepos that’s operated by a gay ex-pat living in Manuel Antonio. If you love caring for animals and are interested in helping local rehabilitation efforts, this is a wonderful chance to volunteer while still being on a tropical vacation.
Single-day volunteering is most common at Kids Saving the Rainforest. However, devoting multiple days is also an option. Signing up on their website is easy, too. The day begins with a tour of the sanctuary, followed by various activities, lunch, and helping feed dinner to the animals.
Grab Lunch at Emilio’s Cafe
Craving a meal with a view? Emilio’s Cafe is an LGBT friendly restaurant with one of the best ocean views in Manuel Antonio.
While the food was delicious and the service was super friendly, the highlight of eating at Emilio’s was seeing incredible Scarlet Macaws flying overhead. The restaurant is set on a cliff and surrounded by jungle, so there’s a good chance you’ll see some beautiful birds.
Manuel Antonio Gay Beaches
Costa Rica’s only official gay beaches are here in Manuel Antonio. While they’re not as busy as others around the world, they do exist!
Playa Playitas is for all intents and purposes the Manuel Antonio gay beach area. Also, this beach is basically the same place as Playa Espadilla Norte.
Some travel resources will mention Playa Espadilla as a local gay beach, but this is overgeneralized. If you’re going to find any gay locals or other LGBT travelers, it’ll be at Playa Playitas.
Playa La Mancha is known to be a clothing optional gay-friendly beach located toward the northern end of Manuel Antonio. It’s much more secluded and you’ll need to hike down a trail to reach from the main road to reach the beach, which takes around 20 minutes.
As always, wear your best gay swimwear to attract some attention along the beach!
Manuel Antonio Gay Bars
Drunken Monkey Lounge is now the main gay bar in Manuel Antonio after opening in early 2022. It’s a colorful and quaint hangout that’s largely popular with locals for dancing. There’s seating along the bar as well as plenty of space to hang out on the rear deck.
You may run into other gay travelers here on a busy night, perhaps if Drunken Monkey attracts those staying at the nearby Villa Roca gay resort. But generally, it seems most travelers focus their energy on daytime activities.
While several other bars in Manuel Antonio are openly LGBT friendly, Drunken Monkey is the only actual gay bar. So if you’re curious, this is the spot!
Manuel Antonio Travel Tips
Pack Your Tropical Adventure Gear
As you prep for your adventure, check wolfyy’s useful list of what to pack for tropical destinations. You’ll find my favorite waterproof gear, lightweight clothing ideas, rain gear, and tons more.
How to Get to Manuel Antonio
Reaching Manuel Antonio by car takes about three to four hours by car from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José.
I recommend renting a car in San José and driving yourself to Manuel Antonio since having your own vehicle makes exploring the area way more convenient and comfortable. But taking public transport and taxis are also viable options.
Shuttle bus and minivan transfers are cheaper, costing between $40 and $60 depending on the pickup location and size of the vehicle.
Public buses operated by Tracopa are even cheaper, but since they don’t stop at the airport, they’re only useful if you leave from their central San José bus terminal.
Taxis and private SUV transfers between San José and Manuel Antonio will generally cost between $150 and $200 USD. While not as cost-effective, they do offer more timing flexibility and comfort.
Don’t miss wolfyy’s broader Costa Rica gay travel guide, which has information and recommendations for the country’s other top tourist destinations.
Need more ideas for gay destinations? Explore wolfyy’s full list of gay travel guides.
