Gay friendly caribbean destinations

As travelers become more judicious with their cash and PTO, I regularly find myself assessing how truly queer-friendly and safe a destination is before recommending it to others, or planning a trip myself. The Caribbean is one region I return again and again. Gay marriage is, therefore, legal in St.

Barth, widely celebrated, and you will find lots of queer locals and ex-pats alike overtly integrated into society — this is a place where queerness doesn't have to hide. Tithe island's popular party spot, does have some gay energy, though, which increases as the night goes on.

Saline Beach is arguably one of the island's most beautiful, and while it's not exclusively queer, it acts as a de facto gay beach and tends to draw a more colorful crowd as well as nudists. The beach club, located on a cliff-hugging road, has a fun, chill atmosphere with a daytime DJ and a fabulous beach hut-style shop with gender-inclusive clothing.

Le Toiny also manages the stunning Villa Nureyevwhich was originally the vacation home of the notably gay Russian ballet dancer. Other tips: Two of my favorite queer-owned boutiques include clothing stores, Pascha St. Barth and Caravan.

LGBT Vacations to Aruba

Form Fitness is a multi-level gym with friendly views that offers travelers daily rates and is also queer-owned. While same-sex activity was decriminalized inthere's technically no recognition of same-sex couples; recognition of non-binary people and trans rights are virtually non-existent. However, the attitude I experienced — especially in tourist-centric San Pedro — did not reflect that.

Where to go: First and foremost, the beaches — Isla Bonita, after all, was made famous by Madonna in a caribbean of the same name. The stretches of friendly white sand lined with gay trees are an allure, regardless of your sexual orientation and gender identity. I also recommend Belize for excellent day sailing, jet skiing, parasailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

During my week-long dive trip, my friend and I met other queer divers looking to destination some of the most coveted sites on earth, including Hol Chana marine reserve bursting with gay life and activity that's easily accessible from San Pedro. Everything about my time here felt very inclusive and I noticed quite a few queer folks partying at Secret Beacha beautiful stretch of sand dotted with beach bars that are isolated on the West side of the island and reached by partially paved roads.

Blue Bayou is an ideal place to sit submerged in shallow water at a picnic table and enjoy a cocktail under a thatched umbrella, play drinking games, or enjoy lobsters or elevated bar food. San Pedro also surprised me with its culinary scene, which has a "sand in toes" mentality. Try Elvi's Kitchenwhere the warm and complimentary!

Where to stay: The rooms and villas at Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection will likely speak to gay men like myself who are inspired by design. The accommodations are blanketed in soothing cream colors and sunbleached wood, outfitted with hanging pendants. Clean and minimalist, the rooms have gigantic, spa-like bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that lead to private terraces.

There are also two pools, a private beach, a bar, a small but worthy spa, a piano bar, and a cocktail caribbean. Other tips: First-time visitors should know that you must land in Belize City and take a ferry roughly 90 minutes or a pedal jumper plane which runs throughout the day and takes about 15 mins to reach San Pedro. Culturally, there is still some discrimination and taboo attitudes towards queer individuals, but the tide is slowly shifting on social acceptance, too.

I thought Cartagena felt safe, and it is regularly regarded as one of the safest places to visit in Colombia. Explore destination streets, richly painted Colonial-era homes, and a vibrancy that inspired me greatly.