Category Archives: latin america

Best Apps for Gay Travel in Latin America

Planning a trip to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, or Uruguay?  From our travels to all four countries we’ve  created the following list of must-have apps for gay men. (And don’t forget our guide to mobile data and SIM cards.)

Google Maps

Essential!  Google Maps over the years has evolved into one of the best ways to navigate unknown territory.  The latest update provides the best public transportation directions available.  And for walkers, try plugging one earbud in to listen to turn-by-turn audio directions to avoid walking to avoid exposing your mobile phone while barcrawling at night.  (Pre-load our Google Maps for Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, and Sao Paulo for offline browsing.)

One note for Buenos Aires, the Moovit app is a highly recommended supplement to Google Maps with some of the best tips for the city’s public transportation system.

We assume most visitors will be walking, taking the bus/metro, or being driven by taxi, but for visitors who will be driving, the Waze app is essential too.  And after you finish driving, Onde Parar is the best way to find a parking spot (only available in Brazil.)

99Taxis

More popular, and more available, than Uber in Latin America, the 99Taxi app uses both contracted drivers, and the existing pool of yellow and white taxis.  Options like the ability to pay via PayPal are great.  One downside is drivers who accept your request and then cancel if a better option appears.  99Taxis was recently in the news after one of their homophobic drivers expelled a gay couple in Rio during Carnival.  The company quickly terminated the driver from their service.

WhatsApp

This recommendation is mostly for Americans, since the extremely popular WhatsApp is one of the most downloaded mobile apps in the world.  In Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America, everyone already knows the app allows free messaging, photo/video sharing, phone calls over wi-fi, and location sharing.

Grindr

“But, I’m not one of the those types of guys who uses Grindr.” Yes, the world’s most popular mobile app for gay men does have a slutty reputation, but Grindr is what you make it.  You can create a G-rated profile stating that you are only looking to meet new people … Or, create and X-rated profile looking for sex.  Enjoy Grindr and be safe!

Other hook-up apps with sizeable populations in Latin America are Hornet, Scruff, Adam4Adam, and Disponivel (more about that one below.)

Disponivel

What began as a hook-up website whose biggest competitor was ManHunt (remember them?) has since made the leap into the age of mobile apps to be one of the most popular ways to find men in Brazil. The Disponivel app’s interface now has an English option, but often reverts, or has untranslated Portuguese elements.

TripAdvisor

Still on top after all these year!  If you must have one app for general city info and tourism recommendations (in English), TripAdvisor is the way to go.  If your phone has enough storage space, try Foursquare, Yelp, and Vespa.

VamosGay

No, we don’t have a mobile app, but we do have a mobile website! Choose the “Add to Home Screen” option and you’ll see a shiny new icon on your phone which will take you to our listings for restaurants and nightlife whenever you need them.

Gay Couple Ejected By Homophobic Driver in Rio

A 36 year-old businessman will file a claim with the organization “Rio Without Homophobia” against a driver hailed using the 99taxis app (a popular alternative to Uber in Latin America.)

The plaintiff and his boyfriend were ejected from the car in the dead of the night on Avenida Almirante Barroso in downtown Rio.  The reason for expelling the couple?  One boyfriend fell asleep during the ride resting his head on the other’s shoulder.

They claim the driver informed them “I think you better leave.  I don’t want perversion in my car.”  as reported by Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

The couple had just left the popular Carnival bloco “Bunytos de Corpo” at 2AM.

The story of the homophobic 99taxis driver sparked a firestorm on Brazilian social media.  Shortly thereafter, 99taxis issued a statement in a follow up story by O Globo announcing that the driver in question had been dismissed.

View Our Gay Guide to Rio de Janeiro »

Olympics 2016 Gay Guide to Rio

Over ten thousand athletes from 206 different countries will converge upon Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Olympics.  The biggest sporting event on the planet promises to attract a record number of tourists.  To assist them, the city of Rio has created an English-language guide full of attractions and useful tips.  (Try our guide for getting a mobile data and SIM card in Brazil.)

For the many gay tourists who will be visiting the Cidade Maravilhosa, we have created the VamosGay Guide to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.  It will build upon our current listings for gay-friendly hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs … and even places to hook up.

The opening ceremonies will take place on August 5 and the Olympic Games will run until the closing ceremony on August 21.

Bookmark vamosgay.com/olympics-2016-rio to view the complete city guide later this year.  And, follow VamosGay on Twitter, and Facebook to get the latest updates for #Rio2016.



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São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade Announces 2016 Event Will Focus on Transgender Rights

Guide to LGBT Pride Parade 2016 »

The world’s largest LGBT pride parade in São Paulo Brazil will commemorate its 20th anniversary with a focus on transgender rights.  The Parada do Orgulho LGBT de São Paulo is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, and will fill the streets of South America’s largest city.  (In 2013, parade organizers estimated over 5 million revelers from across the globe converged on the city’s parade.)

The decision to spotlight transgender rights in 2016, according to the Association of the LGBT Pride Parade [in Portuguese] is to both recognize the role of transgender individuals in the fight for LGBT rights, and to gain momentum in the push for Brazil’s Gender Identity Law.  This new legislation (named for João W Nery, Brazil’s first declared male transsexual) is currently under review.

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Guide to LGBT Pride Parade 2016 »
Click for our 2016 gay guide to Rio »

Hotels of Gay-Friendly Montevideo

Uruguay’s capital city, Montevideo, is surprisingly easy to navigate.  The city shoulders the coastline of the Rio de la Plata, and a 14 mile long stretch of waterfront (known as La Rambla) connects six neighborhoods of interest to gay travelers: Ciudad Vieja, Centro, Palermo, Punta Carretas, Parque Rodo, and Playa Pocitos.

The following is a short list of gay-friendly places to stay with easy access to museums, restaurants, and nightlife.  Contrary to the stereotype of homophobic machismo, Uruguay is famous for its live-and-let-live attitudes.  Expect a warm welcome at the front desk of any of the places listed below.

Casa Di Volpe Boutique Hotel

Waterfront hotel with lovely views located in the Punta Carretas section (located between gay-friendly beach Playa Pocitos and Parque Rodo.)

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Casa Sarandi Guesthouse

Intimate guesthouse situated in a 1930s Art-deco building offers modern rooms and individual kitchens.

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Esplendor Hotel Montevideo

Editor’s Choice 2016
Stylish and spacious, The Esplendor is well designed with luxury amenities.  (The Esplendor’s gorgeous rooftop view is shown at the photo above.)  Using our Google Map of gay Montevideo, you will see the hotel is within walking distance of many nightspots and tourist attractions. Surprisingly, the rates are consistently low.  Click below to view photos and get more info on the Esplendor.

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Hotel Urban Express

Great inexpensive option near many of the city’s museums that you could use as your base of operations as you explore Montevideo’s rich history.  Try to snag one of the rooms with a view of Rio de la Plata for an extra-special stay!

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La Puerta Negra Gay Guest House

Simple gay owned-and-operated guest house.  Staying at La Puerta is great for those on a budget who would like to stay with friendly helpful guests who are full of insider tips.

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MisterB&B

The gay alternative to AirBnB is now available in Latin America!  Click below to browse gay-hosted apartments across Montevideo.

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My Suites Boutique Hotel

Ranked as one of the top five hotels in Montevideo, My Suites is a jewel of a hotel located on gay-friendly Pocitos beach.  The hotel’s bar is a destination for wine aficionados and is one of the main attractions of the hotel.  Click below to view photos and learn more about My Suites.

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Radisson Montevideo

Five-star luxury in the heart of Montevideo.  This is the place for wealthy visitors looking for a flawless stay within walking distance of many of Montevideo’s gay and cultural attractions.

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Sheraton Montevideo

Over in the Punta Carretas section, the other five-star option is the Sheraton Montevideo.  Some travelers’ have reported that the neighboring Dazzler Montevideo is a close 2nd choice for a luxury stay in Punta Carretas.

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Splendido Hotel

Not to be confused with the stylishly modern Esplendor, the Splendido is a low-cost option in the old city center directly across the street.  The Splendido is a cheap hotel, but its reviews are very good.

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Una Noche Más

Reviews are excellent for this bed-and-breakfast where guests really would like to spend “one more night.”  They have a fireplace, a terrace, and many other charming amenities.

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