Discotheque remains the most popular option for men over 50. Continue reading ABC Bailão
Category Archives: brazil
Guest Urban Hotel
“Hip, cozy, lovely … The boutique hotel that São Paulo was missing!” Continue reading Guest Urban Hotel
Bar Queen
Festive strippers and drag in the heart of the gay Largo do Arouche neighborhood. Continue reading Bar Queen
Up Cozinha & Bar
Chill out on the terrace with eclectic Brazilian cocktails and tapas. Continue reading Up Cozinha & Bar
Bar da Lôca
The unofficial “waiting room” for A Lôca, the megaclub next door. Continue reading Bar da Lôca
Bar Verde
Inexpensive place for young gay paulistanos to party. Continue reading Bar Verde
New Year’s in Rio de Janeiro
⚕️ Coronavirus News Update: On July 25, the city of Rio de Janeiro officially cancelled celebrations to celebrate the start of 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the beachfront celebrations brought together 3 million revelers. ⚕️
Rio de Janeiro is one of the best places in the world to ring in the New Year (or, as Brazilians call it Réveillon.) While the northern hemisphere is freezing, the beaches of Rio are warm … and the men are hot! This guide for 2020 is split into three sections: getting there, enjoying New Years Eve on Copacabana beach, and finding the best gay parties.
Getting There / Places to Stay
We recommend that you fly down in late December and spend a week discovering Rio de Janeiro. (Rates for the high season start on flights departing after December 27.) To book an international flight to Rio, the best websites are:
- Expedia.com
- LAN / TAM Airlines (direct from airline)
- Iberia (direct from the airline, Europe to Brazil)
Once in Rio, you will need a place to stay. Ipanema Beach is where the boys are. Copacabana is amazing as well. Check out our list of the best LGBT friendly hotels and apartments in gay Rio.
For the plane ride down, pick up a copy of Lonely Planet Rio de Janeiro, the best English language guide to the city. (United States citizens will also need to apply for a Visa to enter Brazil. Americans won’t be able to board their flights without it.)
Copacabana Beach
Fabulous and free! The sands of Copacabana (and neighboring Ipanema) are the place to be this time of year. The New Year’s Eve tradition is to wear white and pay tribute to Iemanjá, the water goddess at the center of Brazil’s Candomblé religion. Every year, there is a massive party with live music that fills the sands of Copacabana Beach, however if you stay in Ipanema you will only be 20 to 30 minutes away by foot. The music starts between 8 and 9PM, and the fireworks begin at the stroke of midnight.
Parties, Parties, and More Parties!
Get every last drop out of 2019 before the year ends. Rio’s gay bars will be open and ready to party after Christmas Day.
Rio BeatsHouse 2020
You only live once, so open your wallet, book a room at the JW Marriott and reserve a ticket for Rio BeatsHouse 2020. For the 2nd year, this all-inclusive event will be hosted at the five-star JW Marriott and will be best way to ring in the New Year. Check the availability at the JW Marriott now and let the countdown begin.
The Week Réveillon 2020
Party boys from across the globe come together every year for Réveillon at The Week RJ. This year, the mega party will take place at Espaco Costa Hall with a stunning view of Guanabara Bay. Click here to get more info and to buy tickets online..
Wallpaper Prime Copacabana @ Pestana
Gay-friendly, over-the-top, party to ring in the new year. The parties organized by the Wallpaper Brasil promoters never fail to impress and this New Year’s réveillon party should be amazing. Click here to buy tickets online, and to check rates and availability for rooms at the Pestana Rio Atlantica, click here.
Bookmark this page for your gay Rio New Years plans, or subscribe to our newsletter below.
Gay Guide to Rio de Janeiro
Even travelers who like to avoid anything remotely “touristy” can not resist the urge to walk the sands of Ipanema while drinking a caipirinha and admiring the beautiful bronze bodies. The rich texture of gay Rio de Janeiro extends beyond the rainbow beach towels of the city’s tourist section, but it’s a great place to start! Continue reading Gay Guide to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Gay Pride 2020
The 25th LGBTI Pride of Rio de Janeiro will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2020.
Rio’s Pride Parade traditionally begins on Copacabana Beach and runs through Avenida Atlantica.
View the VamosGay Guide to Rio »
Join our VamosGay Rio mailing list and get the latest updates.
Plan your trip now with our guide to the top gay-friendly hotels and places to stay in Rio de Janeiro! And check back for a full schedule of festivities once pride week events are confirmed.
Travel Deals for 2020
Have you realized a new decade is coming? Now is the perfect time to plan your travel for 2020! Here is the VamosGay shortlist of websites with the best travel deals.
Flight Deals & Vacation Packages
Expedia.com – Pretty good for flights, but highly recommended for packages deals. You may find lower rates if you search hard enough on other sites, but when buying an entire package, Expedia customer support is the strong arm you may need to change or cancel an expensive flight and hotel combo.
Iberia Airlines – European carrier with many cheap flights to South America. Add them to your list of sites to search and you’ll be surprised.
TAM / LAN Airlines – The merged juggernaut of South American carriers (now known as LATAM) offers many direct deals.
Skyscanner ★ Editor’s Choice: Lowest Airfares
This site can be simple if you are just looking for the lowest price, but also lets users dig in and compare prices across airline companies and departure dates. SkyScanner.com is great place to squeeze out the lowest price not just for Latin America, but across the globe.
Cheapflights.com – The name says it all. If it doesn’t have the lowest price for an international flight, it will definitely link to it.
Where to Stay
Booking.com – Highly-recommended one-stop shopping for hotels. Consistently low-prices and the option to book without pre-paying makes this a favorite.
AirBnB – Fabulous places to stay across the globe with large number of gay men. If you’ve never stayed with AirBnB before, start browsing and get a discount.
VRBO – A serious AirBnB competitor that is worth checking out. Over the years, VRBO has been luring properties away from other platforms and has a great portfolio of places to stay around the world. Search VRBO.com now and see what’s available.
Getting Around with Uber
Taxis in Latin America don’t have the best reputation. Uber provides a safe and easy option for club hopping or just getting to the airport. Click any of these links for Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, and Sao Paulo. (Use the discount code ubervamosgay for a lower rate.)
Tour Guides
Viator Rio de Janeiro – Need a personal tour guide you can trust to show you the best of gay Rio de Janeiro? We recommend Viator’s Guided Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s gay nightlife.