San Jose is an ideal destination for LGBTQ+ travelers in Costa Rica. The Colors Oasis Resort, Casa 69, and Balmoral Hotel are excellent gay-friendly hotels in San Jose. The one you choose to lodge at depends on your budget and preference for the environment.
Since San Jose is typically the entry point to Costa Rica, many gay travelers prefer to look for gay-friendly hotels around the area for a night or more before exploring other places.
Fortunately, San Jose itself has many gay scenes, and it won’t be hard to find a gay-friendly hotel around. But beyond hotels committed to being LGBTQ+ friendly, it’s a huge plus if the hotel has extra amenities and itinerary about local LGBTQ+ events and resources.
This is why I chose to review gay-friendly hotels in San Jose and those in an area known for being LGBTQ+ friendly. So, if you’re looking for hotel recommendations for a solo gay visitor, gay couple, or group of gay friends in San Jose, this article is for you.
Key Takeaways
In case you’re in a hurry and need to make a quick decision, the table below gives an overview of my top eight recommendations for the best gay hotels in San Jose, how to get to each hotel, and what makes each option unique.
| Best Gay Hotel in San Jose | Address | Why I Recommend |
| Colours Oasis Resort | El Triangulo, Boulevard Rorhmoser Rorhmoser, San José, 11109, Costa Rica | Luxury boutique-style hotel and all-inclusive accommodation option. |
| Casa 69 | 69 Calle 25 bis San Jose Costa Rica, Costa Rica | A budget-friendly place to stay in the city center |
| Casa Reflejos | BELLO HORIZONTE, San José, Escazú, 10202, Costa Rica | Gay hotel with the best views overlooking the city’s mountain-framed skyline. |
| Balmoral Hotel | Av. Central, San José, El Carmen, 10303, Costa Rica | Luxury upscale gay hotel in San Jose. |
| Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas | 3rd Avenue 9 & 11, San José, 10101, Costa Rica | Retro vibes are closer to popular gay nightclubs in San Jose. |
| Aloft San José | Radial A, San José, Santa Ana, 10901, Costa Rica | Gay hotel with a modern rooftop pool and closest to the airport |
| Chillout Escalante | Calle 37, 75 m south of Sapporro Restaurant, San José, Barrio Escalante, 10101, Costa Rica | |
| Selina San Jose | Av. 915, San José, Otoya, 10101, Costa Rica |
Now that you know about the best gay hotels in San Jose, you can keep reading to learn the kind of experience you can expect from each option and their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
1. Colors Oasis Resort
- Address: El Triangulo, Boulevard Rorhmoser Rorhmoser, San José, 11109, Costa Rica
- Contact: +506 4033 9352
- Ideal for: Gay travelers who want to stay within a resort and have access to all-inclusive.
- Rating: 4/5 on Tripadvisor
I totally recommend this hotel if you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort, either as a solo or gay couple.
With costs starting at $70 per night, the Colors Oasis Hotel offers an outdoor pool and an a la carte restaurant. Rooms here have their own wardrobe and a cable TV.
There is also a private bathroom with a toilet and spa bath. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.
What I like about this hotel
- A 3rd-floor sundeck with views of the city and mountains
- Pool-side bar with fresh pina coladas and other tropical drinks
- There are plenty of rocking chairs, nooks, and open-air verandas for getting to know other LGBTQ guests.
- They include a hot breakfast and free 24-hour coffee.
What I don’t like about this hotel
- The property itself could use some updates, but the outdated theme adds to its charm.
- You will need to take a taxi or Uber to go to restaurants, which is about a 20-minute ride downtown.
2. Casa 69
- Address: 69 Calle 25 bis San Jose Costa Rica, Costa Rica
- Contact: +506 2256 8879
- Ideal for: Gay travelers on a tight budget looking to stay in a gay hotel that gives access to major fun activities around San Jose.
- Rating: 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor
Costing only $50 per night, Casa 69 is one of the most affordable yet quality gay-friendly hotels in San Jose.
What makes it great is the strategic location. The hotel is just four blocks east of the National Museum in Barrio, California, and just 10 minutes walking distance from the center of town. In a few minutes, you will find many gay bars around, especially Avispa, Puchas, and Bochinch.
It’s also close to museums and places of interest like the National Theater, Jade Museum, Plaza de la Cultura, and Simon Bolivar Zoo, as well as many gay-friendly restaurants.
Gays manage the hotel, and you’re likely to see that almost half the guests here are gay. You will love the rooftop view deck and garden.
What I like about this hotel
- Reasonably priced
- There is a fantastic view of the city from the roof
- It is a pretty good location, about a 10-15 minute walk from the central part of town
- Managed by gay individuals
What I don’t like about this hotel
- The “included breakfast” is just fruit and bread. You may have to pay extra for any other food.
3. Casa Reflejos
- Address: BELLO HORIZONTE, San José, Escazú, 10202, Costa Rica
- Contact: +506 6052 1988
- Ideal for: If you appreciate the gift of waking up to incredible views of the skyline. It is a good option for gay couples who want to stay in hilly areas of San Jose.
- Rating: 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor
Casa Reflejos is up on a hill above the center of San Jose. It’s one of the ideal spots for gay travelers in town. You’ll find more visitors than locals here. Perhaps that’s why the hotel manager, Mario, is accommodating in arranging for rides, deliveries, and tours.
This gay-friendly hotel has super-spacious apartment-style suites. The best part is the views from the rooms.
This hotel also offers many amenities, including a modern pool area, fitness center, and dry sauna.
What I like about this hotel
- magical view of the city at night
- Perfect location for shopping
- The apartment has a lot of amenities.
What I don’t like about this hotel
- Small parking lots make it challenging to get in and out of the parking spaces.
4. Balmoral Hotel
- Address: Av. Central, San José, El Carmen, 10303, Costa Rica
- Contact: +506 2222 5022
- Ideal for: Gay travelers looking to splurge on a luxury-looking hotel.
- Rating: 4/5 on Tripadvisor
Hotel Balmoral is a 4-star upscale gay-friendly hotel. This option’s best aspect is that it’s close to shopping areas and gay nightlife.
As a guest here, you can access a large patio, restaurant, pizzeria, sauna, and gym.
The price per night for staying at Balmoral starts at $116. The rooms are big and nice. The room has a refrigerator, microwave, and small coffee maker.
What I like about this hotel
- The hotel’s location is central.
- Great open-air dining area for people-watching
- Adequate-sized breakfast buffet
- Tasty food
What I don’t like about this hotel
- There is no obvious entrance to the hotel; you have to either walk through the parking garage or through the bar/restaurant entrance to get to the reception.
5. Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
- Address: 3rd Avenue 9 & 11, San José, 10101, Costa Rica
- Contact: +506 2521 6500
- Rating: 4/5 on Tripadvisor
Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas isn’t categorically a gay hotel, but it’s totally gay-friendly.
The best part is that popular gay nightclubs such as The Wasp and Club Teatro are within a 20-minute walk of the hotel. However, you will need to take a taxi to the Tracopa bus station.
The hotel has up to 86 rooms with ensuites and AC. The rooms are a popular stay for gay couples.
Staying at Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas starts from $105 per night.
6. Aloft San José
- Address: Radial A, San José, Santa Ana, 10901, Costa Rica
- Contact: +506 2205 3535
- Rating: 4/5 on Tripadvisor
The Aloft San Jose Hotel is another fantastic gay hotel in the city. Its rates start at $110 per night.
It’s a better option if you prefer to be close to the airport. Many visitors speak well of this hotel’s modern rooftop pool.
But expect to see straight guests here. In fact, couples with children will find this an ideal spot since there’s a foosball table in the lobby. There’s also a pool table and ping-pong table to keep kids entertained.
What I like about this hotel
- Excellent locations for the business parks around the area.
- Good Gym Facilities and a gay-friendly bar area.
- $10 voucher per day to be used in the bar.
- Airport shuttle service is available.
What I don’t like about this hotel
- None so far.
7. Chillout Escalante
- Address: Calle 37, 75 m south of Sapporo Restaurant, San José, Barrio Escalante, 10101, Costa Rica
- Contact: Whatsapp or call (506) 71778715
- Rating: 5/5 on Tripadvisor
The management will give you tips about transportation, restaurants, and other things you want to know to travel further from San Jose.
The services available here include a hot water bath, free wifi, paid laundry service, luggage storage, complimentary tea and coffee all day, and lockers.
Chillout also offers guest pick-up services to and from the San Jose Airport and Chill Out Hostel for $39 (1-person vehicle)
It’s a super affordable hostel, with prices starting at $35 per night.
8. Selina San Jose
- Address: Av. 915, San José, Otoya, 10101, Costa Rica
- Contact: +506 4020 5510
- Rating: 4/5 on Tripadvisor
Many gay travelers in Costa Rica today are familiar with Selina in San Jose because it’s near the city center, sightseeing, restaurants & gay-friendly bars nearby. With prices starting from $59 per night, the hotel is a hotspot for adventurers, working nomads, and hipsters as well.
The hostel is decorated with art and has a trendy, hipster vibe. The restaurant serves good food and drinks.
While it attracts a mostly young crowd, it doesn’t feel like a party hostel. I recommend this place for a quick stay, especially as a gay couple in San Jose, Costa Rica.
What I like about this hotel
- fun and friendly place to crash in San Jose.
- It’s straightforward to meet new people to hang with here.
- Affordable.
- It offers many activities to backpackers, which is nice.
What I don’t like about this hotel
- It’s not ideal for extended stays.
For more hotel options in Costa Rica, you can also check out our picks for the Best Gay Hotels in Costa Rica.
Wrapping Up
You must have seen a gay hotel in the above guide that ticks most of your boxes, if not all.
And if you haven’t yet, here’s something you should know:
I’ve been visiting San Jose for over five years and have built many relationships with gay locals and expats. In my experience, San Jose is one of the most welcoming places for LGBTQ+ travelers, including most hotels and other establishments.
Beyond the few exclusively gay hotels and resorts, hundreds of gay-friendly accommodations exist.
If you didn’t find a hotel that fits your budget in the list above, check out this guide. We’ve reviewed other great hotels in San Jose that aren’t specifically gay hotels but are still very gay-friendly.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
