What's it really like?
When people hear the name Mexico, Cancun automatically springs to mind. With beautiful beaches, handsome guys all around, and a more laid-back vibe than its sister city, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun is the place to go when chillaxing is more important than partying, but bars are still an option.
While Puerto Vallarta is the gay party city of Mexico, gay Cancun has its own pride parade in June every year. Participants gather at Malecon Tajamar and then march to Plaza de Reforma.
Playa del Carmen, one hour west of Cancun, has many beachfront resorts. This town is also home to the Arena festival, which is usually held on the first weekend in February. The three-day gay circuit party includes events such as fetish and beach-themed parties.
Mid-April to June is the best time to travel, as the temperatures are the most comfortable before the rainy season begins in July. December to April has the least rain, and it is considered peak season when prices go up across the board. The prices are the lowest in the rainy season, July to October, but days of rainfall and possible monsoons need to be factored into the decision to travel.
Welcome to vibrant gay Cancun, the ultimate LGBTQ+ paradise!
Looking for a drink and a dance with local boys? There are three venues to choose from. Laser Hot Bar and 11:11 CLub are a couple of minutes walk from each other on Tulum Avenue, and The Back Door is just under 2 km away in the hotel zone right in the Plaza Las Palmas.
The gay Cancun nightlife scene is pretty similar, offering pre-show drinks, a drag or cabaret show, and dancing into the early hours. Most reviewers rave about the excellent service and welcoming staff and crowd. There are cover charges on most nights, and some are waived if you arrive early enough.
There are two options for accommodation in the region. Gay Cancun has what’s known as the hotel zone, a strip of beach where many of the resorts are located. Most of them are all-inclusive, meaning all meals and drinks (including top-shelf alcohol) are included. There are some adults-only resorts for all budgets.
The second option is Playa del Carmen, where the beachfront meets the city, and some properties have the beach on one side and city access on the other.
Hotels include popular brands such as Hilton, Westin, Hyatt, Fairmont, and Hard Rock. Pools are very popular in Cancun and Playa del Carmen; most properties have more than one. The Platinum Yucatan Princess has an incredible 13, and one of them hosts foam parties.
Gays and the Law
Not many know this, but Mexico has some of the best recognition of gay and lesbian rights in the world. Homosexuality has been legal since 1871; the French Revolution and the brief French occupation of Mexico actually influenced it. Various states have enacted laws to protect LGBTQ+ rights. Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Cancun and Quintana Roo since June 2021.
Getting Tested
STI testing is available in Cancun at Foundation MSI. It’s not free for visitors, but the prices are reasonable, starting at around $17. Cancun is an excellent place to stock up on PrEP, as many local pharmacies carry it, and it’s significantly cheaper than back home.
Like in the other Mexican cities, it’s best to bring your prescription with you or at least a letter from your doctor. Mexican authorities are no-nonsense when it comes to carrying medications of any kind. If an emergency course of PEP is needed, the larger international hospital emergency rooms are the best place to go.
Local Neighhorhoods
Cancun doesn’t have its own specific gayborhood like Puerto Vallarta; however, Playa Delfines is known as the unofficial gay beach. While it may not be exclusively gay, it is popular among the community.
Gay Cancun nightlife, this gay paradise has three gay bars, The BackDoor, 11:11 and Hot Laser Bar, located in the entertainment zone, 9 km west of the hotel zone. One hotel, 4-star Stay Tropical, is the nearest, only 1 km south of the venues.
The downtown Cancun area is a quaint little city and a pleasant way to spend a day experiencing local culture and street food as you wander through markets like Mercado 28, as well as parks such as Parque Las Palapas.
The most visited tourist attraction in the region is Chichen Itza, a Mayan village with an iconic pyramid. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive from either Cancun or Playa del Carmen, and as it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, if you can get out there, it’s well worth the trip.
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