By Sheryl Kay
It is a land of
many dichotomies. Costa Rica is home
to incredible Atlantic Ocean sunrises, yet just a few hours drive away the sun sinks
lazily into the surf of the Pacific Ocean. The land is fertile, perfect for
growing cocoa beans, but you'd be hard pressed to find chocolate bars made in
Costa Rica.
And while the
country is Catholic by law, even to the extent that the priests are government
employees, the Costa Rican LGBT community is growing bolder every day. It's true that there are no civil rights laws
in place to protect the community, but most locals will tell you their
countrymen espouse the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. As long as you don't talk about it, it's fine
to be gay.
Of course Manuel
Antonio, located on the southwest coast, is well known. Few places in Costa Rica are as open and
welcoming. The Hotel Villa Roca is a long recognized icon
in the community, gay owned and operated. Nestled
on a hillside, it offers stunning views overlooking the rain forest and the
Pacific Ocean.
We landed in San Jose, where the nightlife is
extensive. Don't miss La Avispa, the oldest LGBT bar and disco in the country; Cafe Mundo, a quiet bohemian spot; Omar Khayaam, where the mid East cuisine meets student
life just adjacent to the University; and Castilla, for the younger, less affluent
crowd.
Our tour then took off on an incredible journey,
from the rim of the Poas Volcano, bubbling with active fumaroles; to the rainforest
canopy of Tortuguero National Park, replete with dozens of monkeys, exotic
tropical birds, and rainbow-colored butterflies; to the Northwest coast of Guanacaste where
surfers await the big one.
We learned every step of coffee production at the Doka Plantation, walked 16 hanging
aerial bridges in Arenal, dipped
in the Eco Termales hot springs, watched an endangered green
turtle lay eggs under the starlight, made authentic hot chocolate, rode the Bebedero River beside 10-foot crocodiles, and participated
in the ancient Chorotegan method of hand making pottery.
Costa Rica is a place where you can find the
rainbow flag, or you can just fly yourself via zip line among the multihued
butterflies. Either way, it’s a pallet
of adventures.
Sheryl Kay is a freelance photographer and journalist who also serves as the Out In Front editor for CURVE
Magazine. She can be reached at
skreporter@hotmail.com