Costa Rica - Guidemag.com

travel guide
Costa Rica
Costa Rica/cr
From cloud forests and beaches to playful
San José and Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
mixes nature with nightlife
COURTESY OF THE FALLS AT MANUEL ANTONIO
Progressive paradise. On the beach at Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.
Michael Labelle
O
ne quarter of Costa Rica
is protected as wilderness
reserves. If you like sand and
surf, choose from the
pristine beaches of
Guanacaste, or the gay beach at Manuel
Antonio, or to the east the very different
feel of the Caribbean beaches along that
coast. A trip to Isla Tortuga by sailboat
can make for another pleasant day.
There’s plenty to do, from the wild
cloud forests, central plains plantations,
northern savannas and mountains to the
hot nightlife and international cuisine of
the cities and resorts. Relax in hot springs
or luxurious hotel pools or beneath wild
waterfall cascades. Hike the paths to see
peaceful Morpho butterflies or raucous
monkeys or to the edges of placid pools
or lava-spewing volcanoes. Whitewater
rafting, surfing and horseback riding or
sweeping through tree canopies on strung
lines are a few of the many ways to experience Costa Rica.
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Driving can be fun, too. Little beaches
near Dominical invite a stop before
starting south on the coastal road from
Puntarenas to Manuel Antonio. Largely
unpaved, Route 34 can slow cars to a
crawl, but difficulties encountered on this
gravel and winding road are tempered by
spectacular views at every turn.
Resorts & Accommodation
Many agencies provide or will book tours
of the natural wonders of Costa Rica, but
almost all the gay and lesbian resorts
include similar services along with
accommodations and onsite amenities.
See the folks at the following
establishments for more information.
Colours Oasis Resort in the capital
of San José (Coloursoasis.com) was one
of the first exclusively gay resorts and remains among the best. Staff will help you
plan to get around Costa Rica. Also in San
José, Casa 69 (casa69.com) can show
you the local sights of interest or beyond.
Fountains (Fountainsguesthouse.
com) and Hotel Kekoldi (Kekoldi.com)
are mixed but gay-friendly in San José.
In the mountains south of San José,
Las Aguas (Lasaguas.com) is a nearwilderness base from which to see a lot.
The nearby Calathea Lodge (Calathealodge.com) offers local tours as
well as cabins and genuine local food.
There are two gay resorts beside the
Arenal Volcano at La Fortuna. Palo
Verde Resort (Paloverderesort.com)
has a monthly action-packed party at
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1/14/09 4:01:22 PM
guide travel
Costa Rica
New Yorkers at Villa Roca
Eric, John, NK & Mynor
Costa Rica
A luxury gay hotel for men
committed to attention and
service.
Four well appointed villas.
Clothing optional heated
pool in lush tropical
gardens with view of
Arenal volcano.
Stay includes
light breakfast,
complimentary sodas,
beer & cocktails from the
bar or poolside all day.
For photos and more information please visit our website:
www.abercamlafortuna.com
Phone (506) 2479 - 8429
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Gaycostarica.com
Gaytravelcr.com
Gente10.com
Orgullogaycr.com
Costa Rica
travel guide
Gay websites
Leslie of Golfito
Gay rights
Costa Rica is the most progressive
country in Latin America. It has no armed
forces, one of the highest per-capita numbers of university graduates in the world,
and is the model for habitat conservation.
But it is a Catholic country and is socially
conservative in many ways. So, even
though gay sex was partially
decriminalized in 1971 and gay groups
were legalized in the 1990s, visitors
should remember that public support
often lags behind changes in law. Prejudice keeps most local gays in the closet
but gay tourism thrives.
In 2000, the city of San José attempted
to shut down a gay sauna but the Supreme Court ordered it to back off. That
court ruled against same-sex marriage
and civil unions in 2006. Just last year,
the court ruled that gay prisoners may
not have conjugal visits. Discrimination
against people with HIV is illegal. The
age of consent is 15. Public sex is illegal.
Prostitution is legal but communication
for prostitution is not.
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the Bambu Room, famed throughout
Costa Rica. At Abercam La Fortuna,
(Abercamlafortuna.com) you hardly
need to leave the grounds but it too offers
excursions into the surrounding areas.
In the Pacific Northwest, Casa Blanca
(Hotelcasablanca.com) is a gay and
lesbian resort offering tours of Costa
Rica’s “Wild West.”
In the Pacific beach town of Manuel
Antonio, Hotel Villa Roca (Villaroca.
com) has local attractions and tours that
include sailings to the nearby national
park. La Aguas (Lasaguas.com), located in this park, offers lots of activities, too.
Falls Resort (Fallsresortcr.com), the
former Ruby's Plantation, is now mixed
but still gay-friendly. Canopy Tours
(Canopysafari.com) in nearby Quepos is
an agency specializing in outdoor thrills.
On the Caribbean coast’s unspoiled
beaches, in Puerto Viejo near Limón,
Banana Azul (Bananaazul.com) is a
place to rest and relax. Staff will provide
area adventures to those who like to roam.
A day trip from San José could include
Cartago, the old capital, where two cathedrals draw tourists. One is a 500-year-old
ruin, the victim of several earthquakes; the
other, famous for an "appearance" of the
Virgin, attracts pilgrims by the millions.
after nearly three decades and everyone
dresses to party.
Club Oh! (Clubohcr.com) has an upscale dance crowd, mostly boys and men,
plus drag and dance acts.
Marla Cartier's campy drag show at
Puchos (Puchosnightclub.com) offers
deranged lip-sync and hot male dancers.
Al Despiste (50 yards from Universal Zapote) is open Wednesday through
Sunday with Saturday go-go boys and
dancing.
Café Mundo (Calle 15 at Avenida 9),
in Amón-Otoya district, has a lively mixed
crowd but loyal gay following. Fresh fish
and healthy salads are typical fare.
Barcelona, just around the corner from
Colours, serves pasta and ceviche (citrusmarinated seafood) until 11pm. Also
nearby, Yetsy sports bar and open-air restaurant serves food and drinks until 11pm.
Urban San José
Tutu is a small gay club next to Falls
Resort.
Makanda by the Sea (Makanda.
com) resort has an outdoor restaurant
called Sunspot with poolside lunch, open
to the public.
La Hacienda (2777-3473) is known
for its Cuban chef’s fresh fish and game,
plus tasty tropical cocktails.
For a night on the town San José has the
best of Costa Rica’s nightclubs for dancing, shows, strippers and drag.
Bochinche (Bochinchesanjose.com)
is a fashionable and lively video and show
bar.
Costa Rica's largest gay disco, La
Avispa (Laavispa.co.cr) is still packed
Saunas
For wet relaxation in San José:
Club Hispalis (clubhispalis.com);
Sauna Paris (Calle 7 at Avenida 7)
near the Holiday Inn; and the Sauna
Delfos (Paseo de los Estudiantes near
Parque Musical) are all open daily with
dry and steam saunas, and Jacuzzis.
Spots in Manuel Antonio
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El Avión, a bit of history.
The Fairchild C-123 airplane, now used
as a restaurant, bar, coffee store called El
Avión in Manuel Antonio, played a part in
the Iran-Contra Affair during the Reagan
administration.
This was the sister plane of the one
shot down by the Sandinista army over
Nicaragua in October 1986 leading to the
capture of a CIA operative, the breaking of
the Oliver North scandal and subsequent
shut-down of the US operation to fund the
Contra terrorists without Congressional
oversight.
The plane sat abandoned in San José
until August 2000 when it was bought,
disassembled and taken to Manuel
Antonio for far more peaceful uses. Now
there’s a bar in the fuselage and restaurant tables set beneath its wings. See
Elavion.net.
Costa Rica
CR at Abercam La Fortuna
La Playita, the gay beach in Manuel
Antonio, was still fun at last report in
spite of a new hotel nearby. Ticos (the
name for locals) and tourists enjoy themselves there without harassment.
guide travel
Salsipeudes (2777-5019) boasts
homemade local dishes and tapas at a
good price with Pacific sunset views.
Barba Roja famed for nachos and
coconut margaritas, and El Avión under
the wings of a plane and extensive menu.
Food and attitude at Latin Lounge include fresh fish burritos served with “dish”
by friendly waiter Jim.
Speaking of dish, Playita is Manuel
Antonio’s infrequently published but informative gay zine with more listings.
Ticotimes.net is the website of the local general population’s English language
newspaper.
Safety tips
When heading for town after dark, have
your hotel call a taxi. Fares are cheap
but be sure there’s a meter, or set the
price in advance, or risk overpaying. Take
caution when walking or night cruising
for hustlers in Parque Nacional (Avenidas
1and 3 at Calles 15 through19), or in
Sabana Park. But prostitution is legal
here and at Hotel Nury, near Parque
Musical, the guys offer “massage” for
$20. The law in Costa Rica requires you
to carry at least a photocopy of your
passport, including entry stamp, at all
times. Most hotels provide a copy service
at check-in.
Your B&B
in the center of San jose
Su casa de huespedes en el centro de san jose
Introductory rates
Bedroom queen size $40 + tax
Bedroom king size $45 + tax
Inquire for long term rates
prices include continental breakfast -
desayuno incluido ofertas especiales para nacionales
www.casatua69.com
69 Calle 25 bis-barrio california- San jose
400 metros al este del museo nacional
80 metros al sur de la embajada de nicaragua
cada amarilla a mano derecha casa 69
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