La Avispa

Gay club · San José Centre

La Avispa, the Wasp, has been around since May 1979. That makes it one of the oldest LGBTQ clubs in Central America, with several dance floors, Latin beats and a very local crowd.

• ★ 4.3 on Google (256)
• Since 1979
• Several floors
• Lesbian-gay

Address

Calle 1, between Avenida 8 and 10
San José

Opening hours

Thu–Sat 8 pm–6 am, Sun 5 pm–6 am
Mon–Wed closed

Crowd

mixed, women and men, a wide age range, mostly locals

Programme

Guest DJs and shows, themed parties at weekends

What makes La Avispa stand out

La Avispa was founded in May 1979 and is run by Ana Vega. The club has survived decades in which LGBTQ venues in Costa Rica struggled with harassment and raids, and today it’s considered an institution of the scene.

The main dance floors play electronic music and Latin, plus guest DJs, shows and themed parties. Upstairs there’s a quieter sports-bar-style area where you can also chat.

Atmosphere and crowd

The crowd is mixed, with many women and men from San José and a wide age range. Guests praise the friendly staff, the varied music and the generous floors. It’s busiest at weekends.

Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Sources: El Mundo CR, Moon Travel Guides, GayOut, Wanderlog (Google data), Google reviews (4.3 stars, 256 reviews). Opening hours, prices and programme may change, please check before visiting.