Score = Legal 60/60 + Scene 15/40 = 75/100
Costa Rica ranks #31 of 208 countries and territories in the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, with a composite score of 75/100 — a legal safety component of 60/60 and a scene score of 15/40. Updated 2026-08-17 · release 2026.3.
| Criminalization | Legal |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● Yes (marriage equality) |
| Anti-discrimination | ● Yes |
| Gender recognition | Self-ID — statutory self-declaration, no medical gatekeeping |
| Enforcement reality | Protective — the state actively protects LGBTQ+ people |
Research note: self-ID since 2018 following IACHR ruling — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
| LGBTQ+ venues listed | 31 |
|---|---|
| Dedicated gay bars | 1 |
| Gay saunas | 5 |
| Gay bars per million | 0.19 |
| Saunas per million | 0.96 |
| Events per million | 0.58 |
| Cities with a scene | 1 |
| Pride parades | 0 |
| Queer film festivals | 0 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 15/40 (raw scene index 37/100) |
Explore 14 venues in Costa Rica
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31 venues tracked in the frozen 2026.3 dataset (all categories) · 14 browsable venue pages in the live directory today.
Costa Rica is rated Welcoming on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 75/100 overall with a legal safety component of 60/60. On enforcement reality, the state actively protects LGBTQ+ people.
Yes. Same-sex marriage is legal in Costa Rica. Overall legal status: Legal.
Yes. GayOut lists 31 LGBTQ+ venues in Costa Rica, including 1 dedicated gay bars, across 1 cities with a scene, and tracks 0 Pride parades there.
San José has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in Costa Rica, with 14 venues listed in the GayOut directory.
GayOut currently lists 1 dedicated gay bars and 5 gay saunas in Costa Rica. Counts exclude venues that are merely gay-friendly.