Puerto Rico: Gateway To The Gay Caribbean

Puerto Rico is one of the gayest spots in the Caribbean. With much to offer gay sun worshipers, its sandy shores are U.S. territory (the area code for Puerto Rico is 787), so there are no customs formalities for travelers from the mainland. And the large number of flights from numerous gateways in the U.S. means convenient, inexpensive access.

But if you think Puerto Rico is just another chunk of U.S. soil, you haven't been to spectacular Old San Juan. The island capital looks more like a suburb of Madrid than an American city. It possesses a mystical ambience -- Castilian remains the predominant language, the music is tropical, the food totally un-gringo, gasoline is sold by the liters, and the architecture is an-old world delight! Old San Juan is the real thing, scenic and filled with interesting sightseeing and shopping opportunities.

With gay guesthouses, gay-owned restaurants, and bars and clubs in the Condado and Santurce areas, San Juan offers the Caribbean's best gay scene. Parking in old town is a nightmare due to the narrow, cobblestone streets designed for horses and buggies. Take a taxi, or the free Old San Juan tourist shuttle bus that runs every 20 minutes and stops at all the major attractions.

The Condado section of downtown San Juan offers many first-class and deluxe beach resorts and casinos, as well as the most easily accessible gay nightlife. The city's status as a major cruise port does bring large and often unsightly crowds, but the heavy traffic is what brought about the infrastructure that supports gay businesses.

In addition to a host of bars and clubs, you'll find two gay-popular beaches, several gay guesthouses and some gay-popular restaurants. The Condado section, formerly the heart of gay San Juan, has straightened out noticeably. Many gay clubs have moved to the new arts and culture district of Santurce, an area best to get taxis to and from.

As in any big city, tourist crime can be a problem, and while San Juan is a great place to let down your hair, it's no place to let down your guard. There's a special tourist police force in light blue vehicles that patrols the old city as well as all of the Metro Area tourist locations.

A favorite hotel for gays in Old San Juan is the classy El Convento (100 Cristo St; 787-723-9020 or 800-468-2779, fax 787-721-2877; www.elconvento.com; $205+, Suites from $490). A magnificent, multistory 17th-century convent transformed into a modern boutique hotel, the structure wraps around an open-air courtyard studded with enormous trees that were planted before the Yankee conquest. The only drawback are the small rooms, not quite nun's cubicles, but not spacious either.

The Marriott Condado (1309 Ashford Ave, Condado; 787-722-7000 or 800-228-9290, fax 787-722-6800; www.marriott.com; from $205) is located on the beach in the Condado just two buildings down from the Atlantic Beach Hotel. It is the best deluxe option near Condado's gay nightlife and is very gay-popular.

Numero Uno Guesthouse (1 Santa Ana, Ocean Park; 787-726-5010 or 866-726-5010, fax 787-727-5482; www.numero1guesthouse.com; $80+), a charming, 13-room guesthouse that was once a private beach house, caters to a mixed gay/straight crowd. It's a nice choice for travelers seeking comfortable beachfront lodgings with a low sexual temperature.

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[Benjamin]

My partner...and myself enjoyed every minute of old san juan.
We spent our honeymoon there-->
gorgeous! Check out cafe' puerto rico for the BEST food in town.
Hands down- most fun we've ever had-
scenic--> dramatic understatement.
Enjoy guys-!

[oldkingtroll]

I am glad to see that they ended the article by listing a more-less-affordable guest house. Note to Gay-Com folks: we are in the midst of the worst recession since the 1930s (and no, I did not live through it!-. It would be tres nice if your travel articles took note of that. Who can afford $200+ rooms?

[Whats Up]

The two guys in that picture remind me of the episode of Family Guy when Rupert chases Stewie across the beach.

[infiernos]

You're right. Puerto Rico is a HOT island. The Puerto Rican people are the most beautiful in the world. They have big chests, big butts, and faces to die for.

They are also very sensual. Many, maybe most, Puerto Ricans are bisexual. The American idea of gay/straight segregation is a foreign concept on the island. Puerto Ricans like to mix it up more.

However, it is expensive to visit to stay at the hotels. Most are pricey. There are a few cheap places to stay: You just have to look for them.

A word to the wise: DO NOT stay at Atlantic Beach Hotel. The rooms are in bad condition and the management couldn't care about its guests. Visit the hotel's gay beach bar, if anyone is there, but don't expect great service.

Also, stay away from the male prostitutes --called "bugarrones" in Spanish. Prostitution is illegal in Puerto Rico, and besides, the "bugarrones" have interesting diseases. They literally come and go is San Juan: They inevitably catch AIDS, waste away, and die.

Puerto Rico is a great place to visit, and it's even fun to live there. If you befriend some Puerto Ricans, they'll be your friends for life. Enjoy, party, and be safe.

[Denny]

It's interesting to read the comments from others with an outside perspective. I've been living on the island for 8 years now - originally from NYC. Old San Juan is only a spec of the gay life in Puerto Rico. There are gay clubs and bars all throughout the island. About all I agree with is the fact that pretty boys abound. The college boys of Mayaguez are quite beautiful.

[Mark]

I fell in love with PR two years ago.. even bought a house!
Its a paradise for those not 'stuffy'!
Best place to stay in not in "San Juan proper is a mountain hideway about 25 minutes from the bars and nightlife amongst the locals in a wonderful setting!
Caribe Mountain Villas is gay owned (SF guys) and a fun place/inexpensive and it's as close to living there as you'll get! (ya have to grocery shop and cook!)

Check them out yourself!
www.caribemountainvillas.com

[pele]

to stay also check out Da House hotel in the old san juan... rooms are great, inexpensive, ecleptic, close from everything, very nice staff...

[Jason Rhen]

My partner and I just got back from Puerto Rico and loved the Marriott Condado. Casino, good location - near the gay bars of the Condado neighborhood. The beach is small, but best to go to the unofficial gay beach not far away. We rented a car. The people are beautiful and seemed very friendly for the most part. I highly recommend Puerto Rico!

[St Martin island]

It shows that Caribbean place is an open place to all kind of people.When it comes to friendly place i would rather vote this place.

-Sarah

[michaelj72]

after reading this i will definitely have to visit some day. the tropical climate and latin men agree with me.

if infiernos is right, then the puerto ricans are much the same as the mexicans, bisexuality is widespread especially among the younger guys.

[tikoae]

i am puerto rican and I have lived here all my life... it really is interesting to see the perspective of some of people who come to visit... normally we just take everything for granted, but this truly is an amazing island, im so proud of being puerto rican and i wouldn't live anywhere else.

it is true what DENNY says, there are clubs all over the island, tons of them, and even if they are not gay mostly all places here are very gay friendly (make sure to extract from that list all the caco clubs Lazer, D Noise, Urban and all os those).

puerto rican people really are beautiful, beautiful bodies beautiful faces, beautiful personality, and best of all we can hold our licuor. ;)

[Brandon Lemke]

The post above mentions travel site Fabugo - well, I wouldn't use them if I were you. It is a crappy site and I had a friend that worked there until they fired all the gays and decided to run with their team of straights. They are just trying to get the gay dollar. Book somewhere else. Better to go to hotels/airlines direct or even Travelocity.

[Jose Rico DeParis]

I spend 1/3 of the year in Puerto Rico because I love it there. So much so that I write a a gay travel guide to San Juan.

If I may, I would not recommend "El Convento" because it is overpriced and consistently gets poor reviews online. There are better options in Old San Juan (like the Sheraton, if you're going for a standard hotel).

To be closer to the clubs (taxis add up!), I agree that you should be in Condado. However, 'the' hot hotel of the moment (for the last 2 years) is "La Concha" with it's deliciously swank interiors--every corner is a photo-op and every night they're hosting a fashion show or dj event in the lobby lounge or poolside.

Even though Santurce is within walking distance of Condado (6 blocks or so inland), you should always take a cab. After hours, they should be waiting outside the clubs. If not, ask the doorman to order one for you.

And if you're lucky enough to be there on a friday afternoon, you must check out the local happy hour block party scene at Placita de Santuce ("Placita" for the savvy). Every Friday, the social locals let off steam in a New Orleans-style outdoor fest that will have you, literally, walking into a hole in the wall dive bar for a refill to take back outside. Sure, it's not gay-gay-gay, but it's social.

Hope this helps fellow travelers! Anyone looking for the rundown on the local gay scene--including a daily social calendar, in case you're wondering what there is to do on a tuesday night OR for tips on cruising the locals--is invited to check out my guide. www.friendlyguyguide.com