The Whale's Tail
Marino Ballena National Park at Uvita, about 20 minutes south, has a sandbar shaped like a whale's tail that appears at low tide. Humpbacks pass here in two migrations — roughly December to April, and July to November.
Dominical, Costa Rica · A Gay-Friendly, Adults-Oriented Jungle Estate
Loud. Proud.
Entirely yours.
A private jungle estate above the Pacific that loves the LGBTQ+ community out loud. Gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer, still figuring it out — three villas, a penthouse and two main-house suites, sixteen guests maximum, one gate, and nobody watching. Kiss at breakfast. Skinny-dip at midnight. Here, anything goes — as long as it's yours.
- Whole-property buyout
- Adults-oriented, judgment-free
- Marriage equality since 2020
- Founder-hosted since 2003
“Vivara is the most magical and peaceful place. I have been many times and each time I have the most serene experience, with so many things to offer. The views of the ocean and jungle themselves are enough to make an amazing trip.”
“We had a group of 10 celebrating my 50th birthday and were provided full access to the entire property! Jesse and Karen were fantastic hosts. The villas were all well apportioned with complete privacy but close enough to enjoy the estate together. Truly the best birthday party of my life!!”
“I absolutely loved this villa! Everything was spotless, beautifully designed, and so well maintained. If you're thinking about booking, don't hesitate, you won't regret it. It truly feels like a tropical paradise, surrounded by lush jungle while still offering breathtaking beach views.”
“The warm, welcoming service makes you feel like part of the family. Perfect for any type of group, whether you're traveling with family or enjoying an adults-only getaway. The grounds are impeccably maintained, the villas are spotless, and the meals are prepared with incredible care.”
“I can't wait to come back, this was a fantastic stay! The views from our villa were beautiful and it feels private while still being close to everything in Dominical.”
“It is always a great adventure and offers the extremes of quiet peacefulness, surrounded by natural beauty and rugged adventure. The setting is high above the beach, and the views are magnificent, especially the sunsets over the Pacific.”
“Amazing place and amazing staff. I don't think I have seen a nicer sunset in my life.”
26+
Years of stewardship
16
Guests maximum
7
Bookable spaces
7+
Species supported
Come as you are
No rules. No roles. No performance for anyone.
In 2003, Jesse and Karen bought jungle land in Costa Rica that captured their souls. More than two decades of stewardship later, VIVARA was born — founder-led hospitality at intimate scale, with no corporate playbook.
That means the whole property is yours. There is no lobby to walk through, no front desk to explain your group to, and nobody deciding which version of you shows up at breakfast. Hold hands. Kiss. Be as loud or as naked or as in love as you like — this is an adults-oriented estate, and what happens inside your gate is your business alone.
Modern life tells us there isn't enough: time, peace, connection, permission to simply be. We exist to remind you otherwise.
Adults-oriented · Judgment-free
Sexuality is part of being alive. Here, it's celebrated — not hidden.
Love out loud
Affection in the pool, at dinner, on the terrace — expected, not excused.
Your body, your rules
Clothing optional behind your own gate. Sunbathe, swim and live exactly as dressed or undressed as feels good.
No explaining, ever
Two husbands? Three of you? Not sure yet? Nobody here needs the backstory. Anything goes — as long as it's consensual and yours.
Why Costa Rica
A country that made equality the law, not the marketing.
26 May 2020
Marriage equality, nationwide
Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to recognise same-sex marriage, following a 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights advisory opinion the country itself requested and a ruling by its Constitutional Chamber.
2015
Discrimination barred in public institutions
An executive decree prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity across public institutions, and a national day against LGBTI discrimination is observed on 17 May.
2018
Legal gender recognition
Costa Rican civil registry rules allow trans people to change the name on their identity documents without surgery or a court order.
Pura vida
A culture that leaves room for you
Quepos and Manuel Antonio, about an hour up the coast, have been one of Latin America's best-known LGBTQ+ friendly destinations for decades.
Where on earth is Dominical?
The coast most people fly past — rainforest running straight into the Pacific.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
A two-tier waterfall in the hills behind town, reachable on foot, horseback or 4x4, with a swimming pool at its base.
Jungle meets Pacific
Dominical sits in the Costa Ballena on Costa Rica's South Pacific coast, where rainforest runs straight down to a surf beach — scarlet macaws, toucans and sloths are neighbours, not excursions.
Getting here
Roughly a three to four hour drive from San José (SJO), or a short domestic flight to Quepos with a scenic transfer down the coast. We arrange it all.
9.2667° N, 83.8500° W
The property
Feel at home and alive across seven bookable spaces.
Each residence at our LGBTQ+-friendly villa estate in Dominical, Costa Rica connects nature, design and you. Every room sponsors a rescued animal, so your stay funds wildlife rescue, turtle conservation, lifeguard training and living wages in the community — automatically.
Private Villa
Villa Senda
Where stillness becomes strength
Sponsors: Two-Toed Sloth
Private Villa
Villa Roja
Where instinct guides you home
Sponsors: Scarlet Macaw
Private Villa
Villa Solara
A home that wakes with song
Sponsors: Yellow-Throated Toucan
Penthouse Suite
The Penthouse
The whole horizon, from the top of the house
Sponsors: Ocelot
Main House Suite
Suite Voz
Where your voice carries over the canopy
Sponsors: Yellow-Naped Parrot
Main House Suite
Suite Brío
Where the energy never quite sits still
Sponsors: White-Faced Capuchin
Made for your moment
Marry here. Reunite here. Fall apart and put yourself back together here.
Chosen-family reunions
The family you picked, not the one you were assigned. Sixteen beds, one gate, and absolutely no explaining who is with whom — or what they are to you.
Gay weddings & elopements
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Costa Rica since 26 May 2020. His and his, hers and hers, theirs and theirs — say it out loud on a jungle terrace above the Pacific.
Honeymoons & anniversaries
The penthouse suite, an outdoor shower under the canopy, and days that belong to nobody but the two of you. Affection isn't tolerated here — it's assumed.
Milestone birthdays
Sleep for three days or party for seven. Pool parties, private chef dinners, and whatever state of dress feels right on your own private estate. We don't judge — we cater.
Queer retreats & masterminds
Founder-led hosting, fast connectivity, long tables, and space to think out loud with people who get it — from queer founders' weeks to trans wellness retreats.
Solo resets
Come alone and still be looked after. Two decades of knowing this land, these people, and how to hold space — however you show up.
Your blank canvas
Design every day exactly as you want it.
- Whale watching in Marino Ballena
- Nauyaca Waterfalls
- Surf lessons at Playa Dominical
- Horseback riding
- Paragliding over the coast
- Sunset catamaran cruise
- Private chef dinners
- Clothing-optional sunbathing — it's your estate
- Moonlit swims, on your own terms
- Or absolutely nothing at all
Indicative pricing
From a single villa to the whole property. No surprises, no fine print.
"From" rates anchor by season; final pricing is tailored to your dates, group size, service level and add-ons. Tell us what you're planning and we'll send exact numbers — no deposit, no obligation.
2 Guests
Single Villa
From $300/ night
One villa, just the two of you. Private chef available as an add-on.
Up to 8 Guests
Intimate Gathering
From $650/ night
Two villas + main-house suites. Final pricing tailored to dates, service and add-ons.
Most popular
9–16 Guests
Full Residence
From $2,100/ night
The entire property — three villas, penthouse and both main-house suites. Varies by season and add-ons.
Weddings | Masterminds
Special Events
Customquote
Whole-property buyout with full production. Book a founder call and we'll build the quote with you.
Loved by guests
More than two decades of hosting. Reviews you can read for yourself.
We'd rather you hear it from guests than from us — the property's reviews are public.
$500Travel credit
Organise the trip, get $500 back.
Whoever pulls the group together does the hardest work. Book a whole-property buyout for your chosen family, wedding party or retreat and the organiser receives a $500 travel credit — applied to your stay, a private chef dinner, or the experiences of your choice.
One credit per confirmed buyout of 9 or more guests. Applied at final invoicing. Not combinable with other offers.
Tell us who's coming and what you're celebrating.
We'll reply with availability, pricing for your group, and a few ideas for the week. No deposit, no obligation, no sales sequence.
- —A founder replies personally, usually within one business day
- —Airport transfers, private chef and experiences arranged for you
- —Whole-property buyouts for 2 to 16 guests
Questions, answered
Everything people ask before booking a gay-friendly villa in Costa Rica.
Is Costa Rica safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Yes. Same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since 26 May 2020 — Costa Rica was first in Central America. A 2015 decree bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public institutions, and trans people can update identity documents without surgery. Quepos and Manuel Antonio, an hour up the coast, have been LGBTQ+ friendly destinations for decades.
Where exactly is VIVARA, and how do we get there?
VIVARA sits above Dominical on Costa Rica's South Pacific coast — rainforest running down to a surf beach. It's roughly a three to four hour drive from San José (SJO), or a short domestic flight to Quepos with a scenic coastal transfer. We arrange all of it.
How many guests can stay, and can we book the whole property?
Sixteen guests maximum across three private villas, a penthouse suite and two main-house suites. Most groups take the whole-property buyout — one gate, no other guests, nobody watching.
What does a stay cost?
A single villa for two starts from $300/night, an intimate gathering up to 8 from $650/night, and the full residence (9–16 guests) from $2,100/night. Final pricing depends on dates, service level and add-ons — tell us your dates for exact numbers, no deposit or obligation.
Is the property really private — and clothing-optional?
Completely. VIVARA is an adults-oriented, gated estate. Behind your gate, affection, nudity and whatever state of dress feels right are assumed, not tolerated. What happens on your estate is your business alone.