Cuba is the hottest LGBTQ+ friendly destination in the Caribbean

It was late at night in Havana, and the popular queer party El Divino de Cuba was in full swing. Spectators, all dressed up, climbed the stairs to the stage to watch a drag queen make a dramatic entrance. beso on each cheek and a handful of pesos tucked into a fake cleavage.

To be honest, Cuba was never high on my list. Friends had told me that the food was disappointing and the LGBTQ scene was practically non-existent. But when I finally visited the island with 12 other gay men as part of an educational group tour organized by Verano Forever Travel, We found a place with wonderful food and fun parties with drag queens.

Cuba is the most LGBTQ+ friendly island in the Caribbean

That’s a testament to how much has changed in recent years, explained Carlos Gonzalez, founder of Travel the Artist Way and one of our guides for this week. Two decades ago, he continued, events like El Divino would have been held in secret to avoid police raids.

Today, El Divino is on Instagram—and LGBTQ Cubans can legally marry, adopt children, and receive free gender reassignment care. Instead of deporting LGBTQ foreigners, as Fidel Castro once deported American poet Allen Ginsberg, the government now operates two hotels that are specifically marketed to queer visitors.

The country’s conflicts are driving change. In 2021, Cuba saw some of its largest protests since the revolution due to ongoing economic difficulties. In response, the government relaxed rules on private businesses, leading to the opening of more bars, clubs and other small businesses, explained Alejandro Almaguer, the founder of Verano.

LGBTQ bars in Havana, including PaZillo and XY, regularly host queer parties that last until the early hours, and there are mixed venues like King Bar, where on a busy Friday night a saxophonist jumped around on the tables and played along to the DJ’s salsa tunes.

Not that we were only focused on the nightlife. One afternoon, we had a private screening of the work of Alejandro Cañer, an emerging queer digital artist. “You won’t find his stuff in official galleries here,” Gonzalez told us. When we entered the pop-up studio in a small studio in an apartment building, we realized why.

“I would describe my work as sexually deviant propaganda,” Cañer explained as I admired a work depicting a muscular Che Guevara in a harlequin-print thong. “I like to manipulate the history of my country, play with the symbols and concepts that accompany it and make it scandalous.”

We also had the opportunity to explore the surroundings of Havana. In Viñales, our group took a short horseback ride through the countryside before arriving at a private tobacco farm where we learned how to make fresh sugar cane juice and smoke cigars. Lunch was a feast of farm produce at Restaurante El Cuajaní., which serves dishes such as bruschetta and fresh pumpkin soup.

Towards the end of our week, Gonzalez surprised us with a suckling pig dinner in the countryside outside Havana. The ground was still wet from the rain, so we danced barefoot in the mud next to our hosts until a drag show began. During a medley by Lady Gaga, a queen named Salma de Armas lifted me into the air—an impressive feat considering how much pork, tostones and yuca I had just eaten.

“Come with a sense of adventure,” Gonzalez said, “and you will have a good time.”

What you should know before your trip

U.S. citizens can visit Cuba legally as long as they comply with travel categories established by the Treasury Department, such as “educational activities” and “support of the Cuban people.” Tours like those offered by Verano Forever Travel meet these criteria, as do other organized programs that emphasize cultural exchange.

Americans must also obtain a visa – available from airlines or Cuba Travel Services – and complete a digital form, D’Viajeros, within three days of arrival. Americans are prohibited from spending money in government establishments; the State Department maintains a list of “restricted establishments.” U.S. credit cards usually do not work on the island, so bring plenty of cash.

Shop the best travel experiences here

(Image credit: Brandon Rosenblum/Getty Images: Verano Forever Travel)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

Related: Celebrating Equality: 15 Healthy Pride Events in 2024 That Preach “Love Is Love”