The Most LGBTQ Friendly Caribbean Islands – And 4 Not to Visit

woman sitting on rock

When midwinter sets in and it’s cold and dark by 4 pm on the East Coast, I crave a vacation. I tend to want to go somewhere I can be active, since I’m cooped up in my house. I want somewhere warm and sunny. The most logical place for folks in the Northeast is the Caribbean. Each time I plan a trip to the Caribbean, I make sure I pick an island where I can really relax. That means an LGBTQ-friendly island where we can be ourselves without worry of discrimination. These 11 destinations have deserved reputations for being the most LGBTQ friendly Caribbean islands.

Of course, I’ll also be sharing with you the islands that are decidedly NOT LGBTQ friendly.

If you want to visit one of the anti-LGBTQ islands, go ahead – just know before you go, so an unfriendly reception doesn’t come as a nasty surprise!

I know I’d rather go to an accepting and welcoming island I can enjoy than choose one where I’m too afraid of being clocked as queer and harassed to leave the all-inclusive I booked to feel safe.

Palm trees and a sandy beach seen from above.

The Most LGBTQ-Friendly Caribbean Islands

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is one of the most queer friendly places in the Caribbean.

It’s a US territory, so all the federal legal protections LGBTQ Americans enjoy (like same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination) apply on the islands.

San Juan is the center of gay life in Puerto Rico. It’s where you’ll find drag shows, gay hotels, and queer bars and clubs.

But venture outside the island’s capital and you’ll be treated to a warm welcome. I did – I mean, look at this beautiful rainbow mural at Luquillo Beach!

Love is Love LGBT flag mural at Luquillo beach

I traveled in the south of Puerto Rico to Ponce, had an amazing coffee farm tour in the highlands, and explored the rainforest trails and secret waterfalls of El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest that is protected as a US National Forest.

A white person in a blue t-shirt on a hike in El Yunque.

I didn’t make it to Vieques on my Puerto Rico trip, but I hear the offshore island is super queer-friendly. You can bet it’s on my bucket list for next time.

US Virgin Islands

Like Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands has the same rights and protections as the US. Same sex marriage is legal and discrimination is not tolerated. This means a laid-back and friendly vibe for queer travelers.

The Virgin Islands has one big gay resort, Sand Castle on the Beach Hotel in St. Croix. But you’ll find lots of other gay friendly hotels.

If you’re looking for a destination where you can relax and be yourself, give the US Virgin Islands a try.

Two scuba divers exploring a wreck in the Virgin Islands

Saba

Tiny Saba is the smallest of the Dutch Caribbean islands. It has the distinction of being the first Caribbean island that allowed same-sex marriages.

Saba has a strong queer population of its own.

Tour operators embrace the LGBTQ community, by running special dive trips just for us.

In addition to its incredible reefs, Saba is popular for hikers. If you want an active Caribbean holiday that is also inclusive, check it out!

Green island with pink flowers in the foreground

Curaçao

Curaçao is another Dutch-owned island that welcomes LGBTQ tourists. As of July 2024, same-sex marriage is legal on the island!

Many of the islands hotels belong to IGLTA. There’s an annual Curaçao Pride Week held in the fall September.

While many travelers visit and never leave the gorgeous sandy beaches, adventure tourism is big on the island. If your dream winter getaway includes rock climbing, skydiving, scuba diving, or off-road Jeep turn, give Curaçao a try.

Beach goers enjoying a white sand beach in Curacao

Bonaire

Bonaire is another Dutch island. You’ll get the same laid-back and accepting Caribbean experience there along with some of the best diving and snorkeling opportunities anywhere in the world, let alone the Caribbean –  more than 85 dive sites in total. Bonaire has a whopping 85 dive sites accessible from the coastlines.

If diving isn’t your thing, you can take windsurfing lessons in Lac Bay, explore the capital city Kralendijk’s shops and restaurants, or laze on white sand beaches.

A sea anemone seen on a scuba diving excursion in Bonaire

Aruba

Fellow Dutch island Aruba also makes our list of the most LGBTQ friendly Caribbean islands, for its casual acceptance and legal protections of queer travelers.

Aruba‘s motto is “one happy island” and that extends to guests, too.

While there aren’t specifically LGBT-exclusive resorts, many Aruba hotels belong to Travel Alternative Group, a collection of hotels that have undergone LGBTQ inclusivity training.

At hotels with TAG membership staff is trained to be inclusive, accepting and discreet.

Aruba is best known for its beautiful beaches. If you want to venture off the sand, there’s always windsurfing, snorkeling, or nightlife in Oranjestad, the island’s capital.

In 2024, same-sex marriage was legalized in Aruba – awesome news for LGBTQ couples thinking of inclusive destination wedding locales!

A white sand beach in Aruba with thatched palm beach umbrellas

St Maarten/St Martin

The island of Saint Martin is split in two. Both Saint Martin, the French side, and Saint Maarten, the Dutch side, welcome queer tourists.

Both the Dutch and French side of the island have queer-owned and queer-inclusive resorts and private villas. The French side include some clothing optional beach resorts for naturalists out there.

There was a gay bashing incident in St. Maarten twenty years ago, in 2004, but fortunately that kind of discrimination hasn’t been repeated. Queer travelers to St. Maarten consider the island friendly and inclusive!

St Maarten seen from the ocean

St. Barts

Of the French Caribbean islands, St. Barths, also called St. Barths or Saint Barthélemy, is the most glam. Instead of cruisers, you’ll find yachters and celebs exploring high-end shops, fine dining restaurants and glitzy nightclubs.

Most visitors rent a private villa rather than stay at a hotel, so don’t expect too many all-inclusive here.

The vibe is friendly and welcoming – this is the kind of island where you can hold hands without attracting rude stares or negative comments.

Sailboats in a bay surrounded by clear blue water
Colombier Beach on northwestern St. Barts, Eastern Caribbean – by David Stanley

Guadeloupe

The French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe doesn’t have any gay bars or gay resorts. But it is quite queer-friendly.

LGBTQ locals enjoy the same rights as French citizens. The locals tend to be “live and let live” which generally means you can be yourself without attracting scrutiny.

Guadeloupe is a bit more natural and remote than its neighboring island Martinique. If you want a gorgeous island where you can relax on the beach, do a bit of diving or snorkeling, or perhaps enjoy a hike, give Guadeloupe a try.

Black cliffs with clear blue water below

Martinique

Martinique enjoys the same LGBTQ friendly status as Guadeloupe due to its status as an overseas region of France.

The main city of Fort-de-France is a bit more cosmopolitan. If you want to combine a chill island vacation with some urban exploring (and maybe a trip to Carnival), I’d recommend Martinique.

Martinique doesn’t have any dedicated queer beaches, but beaches like Grande Anse and Petite Anse are gay-friendly.

I spent a week in Martinique and had a great time.

We traveled around by public bus and car rental and were given a warm welcome (except for one rude Airbnb host, but that’s another story).

We started and ended our trip in few days in Fort-de-France, where we watched a massive Carnival parade.

A black man wearing a gold cape and gold glitter paint at Carnaval.

We visited Les Anses-d’Arlet and watched sea turtles swimming off the dock, went scuba diving, and walked to the black sand beach of Anse Noir.

We headed north to try some Martinican rum, rum agricole. It’s made with sugar cane juice rather than molasses, and I found it less sweet and cloying.

Rum Agricola from Rum J.M. in Martinique.

If you want to enjoy a quality rum trail and combine beach days with jungle hikes, or keep up your French, Martinique is a beautiful spot!

Cuba

Cuba now rivals Puerto Rico as the most queer friendly island in the Caribbean.

I visited a few years ago when it first opened up to US tourism.

We spent a few days in Havana, which is the LGBTQ capital. We saw the Morro, toured local museums, and experienced Afro-Cuban culture at art at Callejon de Hamel.

We went to Trinidad next. I loved hiking to waterfalls at Topes de Collantes, exploring the beaches, and seeing all the multicolored homes.

At one point, we took a colectivo or collective taxi. It was me and my partner plus three women. The one in the front seat chattered on about hot men she’d met. The other women locked eyes with us. That’s when I realized that four of the five of us were queer, and the straight women was definitely not reading the room!

Which Caribbean Islands Are Anti-LGBTQ?

It helps to know which islands to avoid, especially if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise.

Currently, four Caribbean islands criminalize homosexuality, according to Equaldex:

  • Jamaica
  • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
  • St. Lucia
  • Grenada

Guyana also criminalizes homosexuality, but it’s on the South American mainland.

Other islands have decriminalized homosexuality but not passed laws protecting LGBTQ people – or laws allowing same-sex marriage.

To me, these countries are in the middle ground. You may want to visit them, but you won’t be as openly accepted and made to feel welcome as you would in the inclusive islands.

Caribbean islands were homosexuality is decriminalized but not protected include Bahamas, Haiti, and Trinidad & Tobago.

What About Trans and Nonbinary Caribbean Travel?

Nnobinary person in a black and white skirt standing on green grass field during daytime

For trans and nonbinary travelers, it’s a little different.

Very few Caribbean islands have transgender rights and legal protections, or recognize third genders.

The most nonbinary friendly Caribbean islands include Cuba, Bonaire, Saba and Puerto Rico. These islands allow gender changes on legal document. They recognize gender neutral documentation, which suggests that nonbinary travelers will be welcomed, rather than scrutinized.

Trans travelers might wish to head there too, or stick with the bigger list of queer friendly islands, depending on comfort level and gender presentation.

The French Caribbean islands, which include Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Barts and St. Martin, are generally safe for trans and nonbinary travelers.

There is no societal recognition of nonbinary identities.

Same goes for the US territories (Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands): There is no legal recognition beyond the gender binary, but you’ll probably be safe.

In my experience as gender expansive, I was not scrutinized in any way in Puerto Rico, Martinique. And in Cuba, me just being American was the focus. Beyond that nobody cared!

Recognition of third genders is a new and evolving issue, so I expect that this will change with time. I hope that more islands will recognize different gender identities and expressions, so that more of our Pride travel community can truly feel welcome in the region.