After twelve years of hosting travelers during the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián—and spending most of those years navigating the festival with increasing levels of sobriety myself—I've learned something crucial: you don't need a liter of rum to enjoy Puerto Rico's answer to Mardi Gras. You just need better strategy than the tourists (queer, straight, or otherwise undecided) stumbling down Calle San Sebastián at 2 AM looking for a bathroom that isn't being actively cleaned by an attendant who's clearly seen too much.
Where wellness, recovery, and authentic queer connection meet in Puerto Rico's vibrant, inclusive community. After twelve years of hosting conscious travelers in my Miramar home—and many years into my own sobriety—I've learned something crucial: the richest queer community experiences don't happen in clubs at 2am. They happen over morning coffee, at sunset beach walks, in yoga studios, and in those unfiltered late-night kitchen conversations where you realize you're not alone.
A local host's map to authentic LGBTQ+ life in Puerto Rico's rainbow capital
After twelve years of hosting conscious travelers in my Miramar home, I've learned something crucial: the best queer travel guides aren't written by tourists passing through—they're whispered between friends over morning coffee, shared during late-night kitchen conversations, and earned through years of showing up.
This isn't your sanitized, corporate Pride guide. This is the real San Juan—the one where we live, love, organize, and occasionally lose our minds dancing until sunrise. ¡Wepa! (Translation: an enthusiastic exclamation of joy, roughly equivalent to "Hell yes!" but with more Caribbean soul.)
As someone who's built a life around authentic hospitality and community connection here at my private suite in Miramar, I've learned that Pride can be just as meaningful—if not more so—when experienced with clarity and intention. My little hospitality offering in Santurce (San Juan) has hosted countless guests over the years, and I've discovered that the most memorable Pride experiences often happen in the quiet moments between the spectacle.
Living a sober lifestyle in Puerto Rico isn't just possible—it's incredible! The island offers a vibrant tapestry of recovery resources, supportive communities, and wellness activities that foster both sobriety and connection. For LGBTQ+ individuals seeking recovery and community, Puerto Rico provides unique opportunities to heal, grow, and thrive in a beautiful tropical setting
