|
With the spreading acceptance of gay culture and the gay lifestyle, many tourist organizations and locations have sought to reach out to the gay community with clubs, hotels, bars and other attractions that cater specifically to them. Costa Rica is one of many regions which has chosen to do so, and gay travel to this wonderful country is now one of the most rapidly expanding subsections of the local tourist market. As such, those who are interested in gay travel here have a great variety of options to choose from.
Though Costa Rica was somewhat indifferent or hostile towards gays as recently as the late 90s, the large amount of tourist dollars, not to mention the fact that they are generally well behaved tourists who don't destroy property or vandalize buildings. As such, in recent years, there has been a great effort to build gay-friendly bars, hotels, and other meeting places. The vast majority of these places are located in San Jose or Manuel Antonio, which are also the largest cities on the island. There are also a number of older (forty years old and up) gays who have chosen to settle in Costa Rica, purchasing various houses and other properties in the area. This offers unique opportunities to gays visiting Costa Rica, not to mention the fact that many of the bars are becoming increasingly gay-themed and gay-friendly properties.
Like many formerly conservative areas, it is advisable that gays who are visiting Costa Rica keep to themselves when vacationing there. Though the police and many other organizations have sided strongly with the tourists, there have been a number of incidents. While none of them have led to outright violence or death, the natural tendency towards machismo and confrontation found in some of the native Costa Ricans (especially after a few drinks) means that gay visitors are more likely to stick with the gay friendly resorts and areas.
Those interested in gay travel to Costa Rica should remember that it is subject to different rules and regulations than the United States, and that they should be familiar with those laws. However, many laws remain the same. For example, the United States and Costa Rica have a similar stance on many controlled substances, and both nations have the age of consent set at eighteen. Also, both nations have outlawed prostitution. Gay vacationers should also be aware that there are high levels of HIV and other STDs in Costa Rica, and use appropriate protection.
|
