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punta del este, uruguay

Punta del Este

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The guide book Lonely Planet: Argentina summarizes Punta del Este, Uruguay (a popular side trip for those visiting Buenos Aires) as follows …

With its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels and glitzy restaurants – Punta del Este is one of South America’s most glamorous resorts and easily the most expensive place in Uruguay. Extremely popular with Argentines and Brazilians, Punta suffered a period of decline during the Uruguayan and Argentine recessions, but has come back with a vengeance.

Punta del Este’s scenic coastline is divided into two regions: Brava (Spanish for “fierce”) and Mansa (Spanish for “tame”). The limit between the two marks the end of the Río de la Plata and the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean, and split is signaled by the Mano de Punta del Este, which the sculptor designed to warn swimmers about the danger of rough waves. Beaches on the Mansa side feature thick and golden sand, while on the Brava side the sand is white and fine. Every beach of the peninsula has public access.

For Gay Travelers

Playa Chihuahua is where the boys are … and a large section of it is “clothing optional.”  Chihuahua is about 20 minutes away by car from Playas Brava and Mansa and offers a great escape from the frenetic shopping and tourist activity of Punta.   A short walk from Playa Chihuahau, you will find Undarius Hotel (formerly named Casa Mario, but under the same friendly gay ownership.) Undarius is a B&B for gay men with a laid back vibe.

Looking for a gay bar or nightclub?  You won’t find one. (Many out-dated gay guides to Punta del Este mention Kronos and Mercury, but both are now long gone.)  Instead, you will find a few great mostly straight, but gay-friendly places.  (Click here for our Google Map to Gay Punta del Este.)

Getting There

Punta del Este’s international airport (PDP) may be small, but it is serviced by a large number of regional and international carriers. Check the following websites for cheap deals.

Hotels & Places to Stay

2122 Hotel Art Design

Full of indoor amenities, the 2122 is set further back from both coast –  a location that removes it from touristy annoyances while remaining within walking, or a short cab ride, of most of Punta’s nightlife and shopping.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Conrad Punta del Este Resort & Casino

Featuring a casino, spa facilities, 2 swimming pools, 2 tennis courts and 4 restaurants, the Conrad Punta Del Este Resort & Casino features plush accommodations in front of La Mansa Beach.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Serena Hotel

Luxury on the beach!  The Serena is popular with gays and straights.  Click below for photos and reviews.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Undarius Hotel (formerly Casa Mario)

Gay owned and operated!  Undaris is gay-only and clothing optional.  But, don’t let the nudity scare you off.  You can wear your trunks and lounge with a drink, or go for a nude swim in the pool.  There is a range of rooms from private suites, to dormitory-style lodging.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Where to Play – Bars & Beaches

OVO Nightclub & Dayclub

Over the top (and overpriced) this is where the beautiful people converge at night to party to the beats of international DJs.  By day, OVO is more laid back, catering to tourists.

Moby Dick

A classic pub which, over the years, has become a meeting spot for gays and lesbians.  Grab a beer and then head out to one of the many restaurants nearby where you can continue the night.

Soho

Mostly straight club where gays are welcomed.  Soho also hosted a huge party for the first annual Punta Pride festival.

Looking for ways to connect in Punta?  Grindr remains one of the best ways for meetup with locals and your fellow gay travelers.  Also, the front desks of any of the gay-friendly hotels listed below give excellent recommendations!

rio de janeiro, sex

Gay Saunas, Cinemas, and Sex Clubs of Rio de Janeiro

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Do gay men really need a guide to getting laid in Rio de Janeiro?  It is a city with several gay clubs and an open culture where a stroll along the beach can lead to a sexual conquest.  Combined with mobile apps like Grindr, Scruff, and Tinder (all very popular in Brazil) sex is almost too easy in Rio.  (Also, don’t forget,  prostitution is legal in Brazil.)

However, in Portuguese they say  o que é bom pode ser melhor (what is good can be better.)  The following list of Rio de Janeiro’s saunas, cinemas, and sex clubs will definitely make a hot time even hotter!  Most of the locations are tourist friendly, but use caution.  And try the VamosGay Google Map to Gay Rio de Janeiro to navigate the city.


Cine Iris

Rua da Carioca 49
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Mon – Sat 10AM – 9PM
Sunday 12PM – 9PM
Creepy former cinema palace in downtown Rio.  There are three floors where action takes place in the shadows while porn is projected onto the main screen.  At the box office there is a schedule of live strip shows, however the performers are female.  Location is also popular with transsexual prostitutes.

Cine Rex

Alvaro Alvim 33
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Mon – Fri 11AM – 8PM
Sat and Sun 2PM – 8PM
Another one of Rio’s former grand movie theaters in the Cinelândia neighborhood.  Cine Rex has fallen into disrepair and become a XXX theater.  By day, there are patrons from the nearby offices of Rio’s bustling business district.  For the most part, the clientele is not-so-hot.

Club 117

Rua Cândido Mendes 117
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Tue – Sun 3PM -1AM
Closed on Mondays
Best little whorehouse in Rio!  This sauna where muscular escorts solicit clients is also home to some of the city’s most popular drag and stripper performances.

Kabalk Sauna

Rua Santa Luíza 459
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Everyday 3PM – 11PM
Sauna offers massage and an outdoor area.

Klub Meetings

Praça Tiradentes, Rua Pedro I  num 7 sala 903
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Open Sunday through Tuesday morning.  Text for specific hours.
Invitation-only private club in downtown Rio with selective membership for in-shape and well-hung men.  Not a sauna but more of a private grand party house.  Send a WhatsApp message to get on the list +55 (21) 98367-8172

New Meio Mundo

Rua Teófilo Otoní 18
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Mondays and Fridays 3PM – 12AM
Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Sat 3PM – 11PM
Sauna located downtown is popular with the after-work crowd. Stripper and drag shows on the weekend.  Reasonably-priced guys make it popular with locals.

Nova Manhattan 21 (formerly Manhattan Rio’s)

Rua Buenos Aires 21
Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil Google Map »
Mon – Fri 3pm to 11pm
Sundays Closed and Saturday (mostly closed)
New sauna with escorts and drag shows … Read full review

Praia do Abricó / Abrico Nude Beach

Near Grumari Beach
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Open ever day
How many nude beaches does Rio officially have?  Only one!  Yes, one of the world’s sexiest cities actually had zero clothing-optional beaches until the government approved Abrico Beach in 2014.  The crowd is mixed and respectful.

Praia da Farme / Posto 9

Rua Farme de Amoedo & Avenida Viera Souto
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google  Map »
Open everyday
Look for the rainbow flag and the buff bronze lifeguards to find the gayest section of Ipanema Beach.  Enjoy the sun and watch the natives play volleyball.  No sex here, but flirt all you want.

Point 202

Rua Siqueira Campos 202
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google  Map »
Tue – Thur 3PM – 11PM
Wednesdays 3PM – 12AM
Sauna for escorts and clients in Copacabana has gone down over the years, but is still worth a visit for those looking spends some cash for a good time.

Rio G Spa

Rua Teixeira de Melo 16
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Everday 3PM to 12AM
Very popular destination after a day on Ipanema Beach.  Few to zero hustlers.  Almost always a crowd of in-shape men after 5PM.

Sauna Copacabana

Rua Dias da Rocha 83
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Everday from 12PM to 12AM
For older daddies and their fans.   No escorts.

Sauna Carioca

Rua de Guaratiba 20
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Everyday from 3PM to 12AM
Sauna with a relaxed social vibe.

Seven Cruising Bar

Praça da República 141
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Mon – Sat 10AM – 11PM
Sundays 7AM – 10PM
Bar with cabins and other areas to play.
Click below for our review and event listings for Carnival 2017!
Read our full review of Seven Cruising Bar

Sex Rose

Rua Álvaro Alvim, 37
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Mon – Thur 9AM – 11PM
Saturdays 9AM – 10PM
Sundays 1PM – 10PM
Enter what appears to be a simple adult bookstore with condoms, videos, and toys … then pay the entrance fee and continue upstairs to a very hot crowd of 20, 30, and 40 year-olds.  There’s even a small bar and club music!  This hidden gem is highly recommended.

Termas Catete

Rua Corrêa Dutra 34
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Sun – Thur 1PM – 12AM
Fridays and Saturdays 1PM – 6AM
Escort-free sauna for the average Jose.

Termas Leblon

Rua Barrão da Torre 522
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil      Google Map »
Mon – Wed 12PM – 12AM
Thur – Sun 12PM – 6AM
Great facilities for the over 40 crowd.

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hotels, são paulo

São Paulo Gay-Friendly Hotels

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The “gayborhoods” of São Paulo are very diverse.  Which unique flavor is right for you?  Check out our guide to the gay neighborhoods of Sao Paulo to help you find the perfect place to stay from our recommended list of gay-friendly hotels.  From inexpensive places to crash near nightlife to five-star hotels, our shortlist has what you’re looking for.

Update for São Paulo LGBT Pride 2019:
Hotels in the neighborhood Frei Caneca / Consolação are the closest to the parade route.  Check our map of gay Sao Paulo for assistance.

Blue Tree Premium Paulista

Extremely well-run hotel within a ten minute walk from the heart of “Gay Caneca.”
Neighborhood: Frei Caneca / Consolação
Read our full review »

Bourbon Sao Paulo Business Hotel

Straight-laced, yet gay-friendly, hotel next door to the bear and daddy bars.
Neighborhood: Largo do Arouche / Centro
Read our full review »

Hotel Fasano

Five-star luxury in the upscale Jardins district.
Neighborhood: Jardins / Cerqueira César
Read our full review »

Golden Tulip Bela Artes

Well-reviewed and convenient hotel on Frei Caneca street.
Neighborhood: Frei Caneca / Consolação
Read our full review »

Guest Urban Hotel

“Hip, cozy, lovely … The boutique hotel that São Paulo was missing!”
Neighborhood: Pinheiros
Read our full review »

H3 Hotel Paulista

Elegantly simple new hotel.
Neighborhood: Frei Caneca / Consolação
Read our full review »

Hotel Heritage Comfort Inn

Exceptionally priced mid-range hotel.
Neighborhood: Frei Caneca / Consolação
Read our full review »

Mercure Sao Paulo Paulista

An excellent option from the Mercure line of hotels.
Neighborhood: Consolação
Read our full review »

Hotel Moncloa

Low-budget option in the thick of Rua Augusta.
Neighborhood: Largo do Arouche / Centro
Read our full review »

San Michel Hotel

A great home base for exploring Largo do Arouche.
Neighborhood: Largo do Arouche / Centro
Read our full review »

Transamerica Executive: The Advance

Small modern hotel with extra amenities.
Neighborhood: Largo do Arouche / Centro
Read our full review »

Tryp Sao Paulo Paulista Hotel

Sharply stylish hotel catering to the corporate crowd is blocks away from one of the city’s gay epicenters.
Neighborhood: Frei Caneca / Consolação
Read our full review »

Hotel Unique

Exquisite design and stunning views of São Paulo.
Neighborhood: Jardins / Cerqueira César
Read our full review »

Find More Gay-Friendly Places

From the posh Jardins neighborhood to the bohemian sections of Republica, find some great deals on hotels, flats, and apartments on the map below.
Booking.com

rio de janeiro

Scala Rio Gay Ball

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Carnival events in Rio de Janeiro can be placed into one of three categories:

  • blocos da rua – These are block parties originally organized by neighborhood groups.  One of the oldest, Banda de Ipanema, is also a gay-friendly bloco
  • bailes (formal indoor balls) – These cabaret-style balls are a long standing tradition with food, drinks, and amazing live performances.
  • parada / desfile – Huge spectacular parade in which escolas de samba (Samba schools) compete for the grand prize in Rio’s massive Sambadrome arena.

The Scala Rio Gay Ball is a baile (one of its many names is the Baile Gay do Rio Scala.)  During Carnival, many balls are held at the Scala Rio nightclub, but they save the best (and most fabulous for last.)

Getting There / Getting Tickets

In 2018, The Scala Rio Gay Ball will take place on Tuesday, February 13.  Doors open at 11:00PM, but we recommend entering after midnight.  There are many blocos nearby in the Cinelândia neighborhood.  There are various levels of tickets: one is general admission that gives access to an open-bar and snacks (R$118 = US$35), the others are VIP levels that have full dinner and a separate area (prices vary.)

Some websites offer tickets, but we recommend ordering them through the front desk of your hotel.  Any of the hotels on our list of gay-friendly hotels in Rio will be happy to assist!

The Scala Rio nightclub is easily accessible via Metro (the Cinelândia station connects with stops in Copacabana and Ipanema.)  Consult our Google Map of gay Rio.

What to Expect

The Scala Rio Gay Ball began as a costume ball, but over the years the rules have loosened.  Some attendees pull out all the stops with Vegas showgirl style drag, or full S&M leather gear.  Superhero costumes are increasingly popular as well as spooky outfits you might expect for Halloween.  Attendees are free to not wear costumes, so throw on a festive hat and you’ll be welcome to join the fun.

If you enter at midnight, the ball will appear a bit lame.  The fabulous people are still out partying in the streets.  However, if you are with a group, it is a good hour to relax a bit and enjoy the free drinks.  You can also watch the red carpet full of travestis in full drag regalia.  At the entrance of the Scala Rio nightclub, camera crews will be set up to broadcast the over-the-top drag queens.

The main hall has a DJ and the dance floor can get crowded.  Once the live samba band takes the stage, the true feeling of Brazilian carnival takes over.  The atmosphere is very friendly, full of Brazilians and tourists looking to have a good time.

The crowd is a mix of ages, but men over 40 will feel very comfortable.  Gays who are looking for a circuit party where they can dance until dawn with their shirts off will be much happier at The Week.

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