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Costa Rica Gay Tour

Essential Costa Rica Gay Tours

Gay Costa Rica Tour

Costa Rica Gay Tour
Livin' La Pura Vida

San Jose, Poas Volcano, Carara, Quepos, Monteverde, Arenal, Tortuguero, and more!

13 Days From/To San Jose, Costa Rica

October 20 – November 1, 2024

 

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Gay Costa Rica tourDiscover how Costa Rica earns its reputation as a natural wonderland on this adventure through one of the most exciting, striking, and socially progressive countries in Central America. Literally translated as the 'rich coast', Costa Rica is a land of varied topography and broad spectrum of ecosystem; between its borders, Costa Rica encompasses white-sand Caribbean beaches, volcanic mountain-scapes, lush, velveteen jungle, low-lying plains and swampland, all of which combine to house enormous populations of diverse wildlife.

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Costa Rica Gay Adventure Tour

 

Costa Rica Gay Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica
Gay Costa Rica Tour - San JoseToday we arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica.

This evening we have a welcome dinner at gay-owned Cafe Mundo.

After dinner we'll have a 'Night Out' city tour to explore San Jose's gay nightlife, visiting some of the best gay spots in the San Jose area.

Overnight in San Jose.
Meals: Dinner

 

Day 2 - San Jose: Poas Volcano & National Museum
Gay Costa Rica Tour - Poas VolcanoFirst thing this morning (weather tends to be clearer at this time of day) we'll leave the city and head up to Poas Volcano, one of Costa Rica’s most popular active volcanoes to visit.* Standing at almost 2700m/8,900 ft above sea level, Volcan Poas National Park is actually home to two craters. The bigger of the two craters measures 1.5 kilometers in diameter (0.9 miles) and is 300 meters deep (900 feet). At the bottom of this hole, there is a medium sized blue-green lagoon that emits boiling sulphurous gases. The other crater is called Botos Lagoon which contains cold water.

While Poas Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica, don’t expect to see lava flow (the last major eruption was in 1910). However, you are likely to see steam and gases coming from the crater; occasional geyser-like eruptions have reached up to 820 ft. The main crater is easily accessed from a paved path/road which is about ½ mile from the visitors' center.

Costa Rica Gay Tour - San Jose Nqtional MuseumWe then return to the city where we'll visit the National Museum, a perfect introduction to the country's culture, biodiversity, archeology, and history all in one place. It includes a butterfly habitat, numerous ancient rock spheres (the "Easter Island heads of Costa Rica"), and colonial weapons, all housed in a fortified colonial building.

* Through most of 2017, the park was closed due to unpredictable volcanic activity. Though it has settled down since and we expect the park to re-open for later 2018, we may be forced to substitute other sightseeing, of which details will be announced as developments warrant.

Overnight in San Jose.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 3 - San Jose - Carara National Park - Quepos
Costa Rica gay tour - Carara National ParkThis morning we leave the city and head west for the Pacific Coast, making a stop at Carara National Park en route. This is a small but worthwhile park, as it is here that we are able to witness the northernmost Pacific coastal rain forest remaining intact in Costa Rica, unique in that it is the transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest. We'll go for an easy stroll in the forest; this is a good spot to watch for the 150-200 scarlet macaws that nest and feed throughout the reserve, among other things.

We then continue to Quepos, the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park, an unspoiled haven of natural beauty on the shores of the Pacific.

Overnight in Quepos area
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 4 - Manuel Antonio National ParkCosta Rica gay tour - Manuel Antonio National Park
This morning we enjoy a leisurely walk through part of Manuel Antonio Park. While strolling the forest trails and the white sand beaches, we'll encounter monkeys, iguanas, sea creatures and bird life of infinite variety. After our morning walk we will have time to relax on one of the park's beautiful beaches before returning to our hotel around lunch time. If you like you can stay and enjoy the park and return to the hotel on your own (via taxi).

Manuel Antonio National Park is an area of sand curving around a bay strewn with islands of rock, and shaded by green bordering forests. All are backdropped by dramatic cliffs. Manuel Antonio beach is one of the few places in Costa Rica where unspoiled primary forest grows right to the high-tide mark, allowing visitors to bathe at times in the shade.

South Espadilla is the northernmost of the park's beaches, followed by calmer Manuel Antonio beach, offshore of which are some coral spots. Third Beach has tidal pools where brightly- coloured fish and eels are temporarily stranded. Last is Puerto Escondido, access to which is made difficult by the bordering rocky promontory.

Overnight in Quepos
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 5 - Quepos Area
Gay Costa Rica tour - QueposToday is at leisure to enjoy this charming area.

There are several optional activities, including boat trips and nature walks, or returning to Manuel Antonio. Your Tour Leader will provide information on any optional activites available throughout our tour (costs, durations etc) at our Day 1 orientation. S/he can then make reservations if necessary on your behalf (we caution you against making any bookings in advance from home, as your Tour Leader may elect to switch our included content around due to variables such as weather and other logisitical considerations).

Overnight at Quepos
Meals: Breakfast (dinner on your own this evening)

 

Day 6 - Quepos - Crocodile Safari - Monteverde Cloud Forest
Costa Rica crocodile safariToday we travel through a rustic rural countryside to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve area. En route we'll enjoy an informative crocodile safari.

The safari provides visitors with an exciting opportunity to enjoy one of Costa Rica's most beautiful ecosystems. The tour takes place along the Tarcoles River and is accompanied by a bilingual guide, who will share interesting information and spot an assortment of critters. Most notably, the Tarcoles River is known for its abundance of crocodiles, some of which can grow up to 15 ft in length. Other animal sightings include over 50 species of bird -- including the rare scarlet macaw -- as well as an assortment of iguanas and lizards. Heading downstream, the boat will also pass through Estero Guacalillo, an extensive mangrove system which houses four different types of mangrove trees.

We continuie to Monteverde. Covered in a mantle of moss, ferns and orchids, this private reserve is home to over 400 species of birds and a great number of animals. The forest is created by the winds, particular temperature and moisture conditions, and mountainous topography which combine during the dry season to hold a steady cloud cover along the continental divide.

Costa Rica gay tour - Monteverde Cloud ForestThe rains and the moisture in the air nourish trees and plants rooted in the ground, as well as many plants that live at the upper levels of the forest, and take their nutrients directly from the mist and dust that pass through the air. The result is an enchanted fairy-tale environment where trees are laden with orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns that obscure their branches, where the moisture and mild temperatures and sunlight filtered by the forest canopy encourage the exuberance of begonias, heliconias, philodendron and many other tropical plants in every available space on the ground.

This afternoon we have a guided tour of the "Butterfly Garden" where butterflies and other endemic insects are raised and protected in a controlled environment allowing scientists to study them -- their place in the food chain and their response to things like increased pollution and climate change (depending on the timing of today's journey, we may accomplish this sightseeing tomorrow afternoon).

Overnight at Monteverde
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 7 - Monteverde Cloud Forest
Costa Rica cloud forest gay tourWe have a full morning exploring the cloud forest reserve with the help of a local naturalist guide. There is more to the forest than the trees and lesser plants. Of over 320 bird species, the most notable is the quetzal with its long arc of tail feathers. Assorted trogons in addition to the quetzal inhabit the reserve, along with more than 50 varieties of hummingbird. About 500 kinds of butterfly are found at Monteverde. Among the more than 100 mammalian species are howler, white-faced and spider monkeys, coatis and their cousins, raccoons; as well as the rarely observed pumas, ocelots, jaguars, tapirs, and kinkajous.

This afternoon you may choose to go on an optional "Canopy Walk" excursion, located within the cloud forest. Suspension foot-bridges are strung across deep gorges allowing one to get a bird's eye view of the forest from a totally different perspective than we experienced this morning. At a leisurely pace, one can complete this easy and fascinating walk in about 90 minutes. Your Tour Leader can help you plan this activity (optional cost approx $25-40, subject to change).

REMEMBER: This can be a wet and windy place by definition; you should be prepared for varied conditions.

Overnight at Monteverde
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 8 - Monteverde - Lake Arenal
Costa Rica gay tour - Arenal hot springsToday we travel from Monteverde to Arenal. En route we enjoy a one-hour boat trip on the lake, a human-made body of water created to produce hydroelectric energy. It is about 80 square kilometres and produces near 40% of the electricity of Costa Rica; it also affords impressive views of the volcano (weather-permitting!) and surrounds.

Upon arrival we will enjoy the hot springs of Baldi that are natural heated by the geotermic energy of the Arenal Volcano. Here a geothermally-heated river flows through beautifully- landscaped grounds featuring many plant and tree species and great birdlife. We will have time to relax in or around the various pools. The springs feature many hot pools with different temperatures fed by individual springs and two swim-up bars.

Overnight in Arenal/La Fortuna area
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 9 - Arenal National Park
Costa Rica gay tour - Arenal VolcanoToday we include a guided walking tour (+/- 3 hours) through Arenal National Park. This tour is leisurely in nature, with undulating terrain on a well-maintained track. By this point on the trip, your group leader will have a good sense of your abilities and can discuss your suitability for the excursion a day or two prior.

Our tour occurs around the base of Arenal Volcano, where you will see some of the evidence that remains of the massive 1968 eruption. Along the way our guide will point out the wildlife that has persevered through the tumultuous mid-century period of volcanic activity. In 1968 lava covered huge swaths of the jungle, and has since hardened into black lava flows, smothering miles of rainforest growth. Now the base of the volcano is host to several different ecosystems, including secondary rainforest and clear, open spaces with relatively thin vegetation.

Along the trail our guide will point out to you volcanic boulders that the volcano shot out during the eruption. We’ll also walk along the edge of Arenal Lake, the largest dammed lake in Central America. During the hike we'll come to a few viewing points where you will have an excellent view of the volcano. At the end of the trail we'll reach an observatory with an optimal view of the volcano (weather-permitting!).

Overnight in Arenal/La Fortuna Area.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 10 - Arenal - Tortuguero
Costa Rica gay tour - TortugueroThis morning we travel by road from Arenal to Tortuguero, along the San Carlos flatlands featuring pasture lands and pineapple plantations and other local crops.

We then board our riverboat and spend the afternoon journeying through interconnecting rivers and canals that take us finally to the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero Park. The park is a water thoroughfare which is a 160 km (100 mile) stretch of natural rivers, lagoons and estuaries, and human-made waterways that run almost to the Nicaraguan border. The canal is the main "highway" of the northern coastal region, complete with directional signs and branches from the main trunk route.

As we go along the canal, keep a keen lookout for views of pastel-coloured toucans and monkeys of various type; if we're lucky, a lazy sloth hanging from a branch, and maybe a coati or two roaming the forest. Scattered along the way are human settlements, but mostly the banks remain wild, and the calls of monkeys and whistles of birds predominate over the noises of humans.

Overnight in Tortuguero
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 11 - Tortuguero
Tortugero Costa Rica gay tourTortuguero Park is a fascinating place to explore. A jungle walk offers an opportunity to observe an awakening coastal rain forest full of lush vegetation and unique bird life. Keep your eyes open for the tiny red arrow frog-unique to this region. After lunch we visit the village of Tortuguero accessible only by river boat; you may choose to walk on the Caribbean beach where several turtle species lay their eggs each year.

We will visit the Tortuguero Museum, with its excellent displays pertaining to the ecology of the area and an informative video presentation specific to turtle conservation in Tortuguero and the entire Caribbean region.

Overnight in Tortuguero
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 12 - Tortuguero - San Jose
Costa Rica National Parks gay tourThis morning we travel by boat and bus from the northeastern coast back to the central highlands arriving mid-afternoon with a lunch break en route.

Overnight in San Jose
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

 

Day 13 - San Jose Departure
Departure from San Jose.

BUEN VIAJE!

Meals: Breakfast

 

Gay Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica gay tour map
*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.

 

Included:

• Breakfast daily and most dinners (hotels and local restaurants)
• All transport, accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary
• Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available)
• Airport transfers for land & air customers arriving / departing on tour dates

 

Not Included:

• Tour Leader gratuity, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, and international air taxes (if applicable)
• Airport transfers for Land Only customers
• Optional trip cancellation insurance
• Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on not included meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes

 

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica gay tour

 

Trip Notes

Group Size
Maximum 18 plus Tour Leader

 

Staff & Support
Tour Leader, driver(s), and local step-on guides at various locations.

 

Accommodation
Well-located, heated/air-conditioned, mid-range (3-star) hotels with en suite toilet and bath throughout (probably shower only). Single rooms are limited and likely smaller than doubles. Hotel porter service is sometimes available though you should be independent with your luggage. Some hotels have outdoor swimming pools.

 

Transport & Travel Conditions
Road transport by private air-conditioned bus, 12-24 seats depending on ultimate group size. Costa Rica's roads are generally good though we do have some full, though scenic, days of travel. Our difficulty rating level "2" refers to the trip's general ambitious nature, the possibility of heat at some locations, and the leisurely walks over uneven surfaces that are integral to getting the most out of this destination. This trip is, however, a little easier than most of our programs in Central America, in that the road travel is less arduous and there are more blocks of leisure time built in for relaxation or optional activities. The country is also well-organized and accustomed to foreign visitors with certain expectations concerning comfort and levels of service and amenities.

 

Weather / Seasonality
This tour is offered late fall and late winter. In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22C (72F). In the coastal areas the temperature is much hotter and humid. The "green" season runs May-Nov; the warm dry season is mid-November-May, though temperature differences between summer and winter are slight.

 

Out Factor
In the past ten years Costa Rica has emerged as one of the world's premier vacation hot spots. And in disproportionate numbers, gay travellers have descended upon this eco-friendly destination with full force. It's a very comfortable place for gay travellers, and most of the foreigners who have moved there to open inns and accommodations (e.g., Americans, Canadians, Europeans, etc.) tend to be on the left-leaning, eco-conscious, and gay-friendly side.

 

Costa Rica Rainforest canopy walk

 

Hotel Samples

The following is a sampling of our preferred properties in some of the locations visited on this tour and is meant to be indicative only. Hotel properties are not confirmed until 30-60 days before trip date.

 

Sleep Inn Paseo Las Damas Hotel, San Jose

Sleep Inn Paseo Las Damas Hotel, San JoseThe Sleep Inn Paseo Las Damas Hotel, a four stars hotel, has an excellent location in downtown San Jose, only 20 minutes from the Juan Santamaria International Airport, making our hotel a special place to start your vacations in Costa Rica.

The hotel is surrounded by three different parks, which offer a beautiful view on the Paseo Las Damas Avenue, the most historic avenue of San Jose.

Sleep Inn Paseo Las Damas Hotel, San JoseHotel offers two large meeting rooms, the Magnolia Restaurant with 24 hour service and also great entertainment at our Colonial Casino Club, right next to hotel.

The surroundings offer many restaurants, corporate centers, nightlife, cultural attractions and shopping centers, that offer easy access for shopping or make business, just steps away, as well as many one day tours that allow you enjoy volcanoes, adventures in canopy's and white water rafting, and many other options featuring this beautiful country.

 

Pachira Lodge, Tortuguero

Pachira Lodge, TortugueroThe pretty Pachira Lodge is located 5 minutes' boat trip from the entrance to the lush Tortuguero National Park. It offers an outdoor pool and sun terraces, as well canopy tours and green turtle spotting.

Set in a 34-acre estate, the hotel offers spacious rooms with vibrant décor. Each has a ceiling fan, screened windows and a private bathroom.

Pachira Lodge, TortugueroBreakfast, lunch and dinner with buffet style featuring local and international cuisine are included on the rate. Guided tours and shuttle from and to San José City are for free.

Massages services for a charge and a free Wi-Fi at the front desk are on offer, as well as activities including fishing. In summer, you can also spot green turtles laying eggs nearby, arrange canopy tours and sunset boat tours.

The Pachira is set across from the main canal facing the neighboring town of Tortuguero.

 

Manuel Antonio Hotel, Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio Hotel, Manuel AntonioAt Manuel Antonio Hotel, located in beautiful Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, you'll experience all the beauty of a true tropical paradise and the excitement of local attractions. The Manuel Antonio Hotel is a perfect destination for those seeking adventure travel, ecotourism, or just the beauty of white sand beaches and magnificent ocean views.

The Hotel is conveniently located within minutes from the World Famous Manuel Antonio National Park, the small sport fishing town of Quepos, and the local airport.

Manuel Antonio Hotel RoomHotel rooms are tastefully decorated according to the highest standards and meet the needs of families, couples, and business travelers. All rooms feature well-appointed bathrooms, telephone, air conditioning, TV.

Visit Manuel Antonio Hotel Restaurant and enjoy the best of Costa Rican and international cuisine.

 

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Costa Rica Gay Tour - Livin' La Pura Vida Prices

Tour Date Description
Per person
$ (USD)
Availability

Tour Only, Per Person, Double Occupancy.

$ 3,270

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Optional Single Supplement - 1,030 USD

Min. Deposit: $850. Balance Due not later than 90 days before departure

Price does not include 3% payment card charges.

 

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