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Gay São Vicente, Santos, Guarujá – Guide to the São Paulo Coast

December 26, 2025 VamosGay.com Leave a comment

Take a break from the concrete jungle of São Paulo and ride to the sands of LGBT-friendly Santos, Guarujá, and São Vicente.

The VamosGay Guide to São Paulo’s southern coast will show you how to get there, where to stay, and what to explore. Scroll down for our updated list of bars, clubs, attractions, and saunas. And, you can mark your calendar for a few upcoming LGBT-popular events:

New Years’ Eve / Réveillon – Wed Dec 31, 2025
Carnival – Sat Feb 14 – Wed Feb 18, 2026 (unconfirmed)
✝️ Good Friday / Sexta-Feira Santa – Fri Apr 3, 2026
🏳️‍🌈 Santos SP Pride – Sun Jun 28, 2026 (unconfirmed)
🏳️‍🌈 Praia Grande Pride – Sun Oct 25, 2026 (unconfirmed)
🏳️‍🌈 São Vicente Pride – Sun Nov 15, 2026 (unconfirmed)
Santos “Mês do Orgulho” / DiversaFeira / regional Pride programming – (date TBD)
Santos “Semana da Diversidade Sexual” – (date TBD)

Getting There

For most foreigners, the trip to São Paulo’s coast comes after they have already landed in Brazil. (Check out our list of airlines for tips and cheap international fares.) From downtown São Paulo, it takes approximately 1.5 hours by car.

Read more about getting there (click to expand)

Be aware that coastal cities are very popular during holiday weekends. Check this calendar of Brazilian national holidays before you plan your trip. One last tip for gringos, the seasons are opposite from what you expect in North America and Europe, so prepare to freeze in your Speedo if you go in July.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting there by bus:

Various bus companies service São Paulo’s coast and clickbus.com.br makes it easy to reserve a ticket via Cometa (the most popular,) Brasil Rapido, or Ultra. Use Google Translate to navigate and buy your tickets via credit card or PayPal. (Tickets may also be purchased in person at Jabaquara Terminal)
Take the Metro to Jabaquara station. It’s the terminal of the blue line.
Once you depart the subway at Metro Jabaquara, look for the r odoviaro signs and head to the bilheteria to pick up your ticket using the confirmation code and your passport. Make a note of your poltrona, that is the number of your seat.
Check the hora de chegada on your ticket to find out exactly when your bus will arrive. Your bus may make additional stops and you don’t want to get off to early. You can also show the address to your driver and ask that he signal when your stop is ready. Drivers are friendly, but do not speak English.
If you’re staying a distance away from a pre-designated stop, you may have to take an EMTU bus. (Or, pay over R$20 for a taxi at the rodoviario. )

Guide to São Vicente

By far the most popular gay destination of São Paulo’s coastal cities, São Vincente has an LGBT-friendly section of beach known as Praia Itararé which extends to Ilha Porchat. The small cluster of beach stands, or quiosques, is anchored by Quiosque da Cris and it is where you can find sunbathing gay guys and lesbians having beers, or a bit further down, exercising on the sand.

Ilha Porchat is a bit of an uphill climb, but is worth it for the Niemeyer Monument. It has open-air panoramic views of Sao Vicente’s green landscape by day, and comes to life with parties at The Club International at night.

Hotels in São Vicente

When looking for a place to stay in the gay sections of São Vicente, your options are easy: Itararé Beach and Porchat Island. Both sections are also less than 30 minutes away from each other by foot.

Hotel Mont Rey

Very well-run, inexpensive, and close to the beach — popular with both gay groups and straight families. (The Sunday morning breakfast buffet is always interesting and delicious.)

View hotel details/lowest rate

Palais Hotel

Modern, stylish apartments with great amenities. A strong “easy choice” base for beach days at Itararé + nightlife up on Ilha Porchat.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Ilha Porchat Hotel

Classic Porchat Island option — pick a sea view room to soak up the panorama. Great for a relaxed stay that’s still close to the action.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Click here for the full list of hotels available in São Vicente >

Hotels in Santos (Boqueirão / Gonzaga)

If you want a bigger-city beach base with more restaurants, shopping, and easy logistics, Santos (Boqueirão / Gonzaga) is the easiest “all-around” choice — and still close to São Vicente.

Sheraton Santos Hotel

Top-tier comfort and service — a strong “treat yourself” pick with easy access to the beach + shopping and dining.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Parque Balneário Hotel Santos

Iconic Santos address right by Gonzaga beach — great for walking everywhere and keeping the trip simple.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Cosmopolitan Praia Flat

Practical 4-star flat-style stay (great if you like a bit more space), with an easy location near the Gonzaga area.

View hotel details/lowest rate

Click here for the full list of hotels available in Santos >

Beaches, Bars, and Saunas

The list of specifically gay spots is small, but most of the region is gay-friendly. Try our Google Map of the gay Sao Paulo’s southern coast to find each location.

Quiosque da Cris

All of the boys love Cris, the super-friendly lesbian owner of Quiosque da Cris (Cris’ Kiosk) and her spot on the beach is the place to go for a beer with friends and lots of eye-candy. Gay guys and lesbians create a friendly mix. The section of beach serviced by Cris and her staff gets full during the summer. Feel free to check out adjacent gay-friendly kiosks, but remember, Cris is number one. (Bonus tip: the New Year’s Eve party on the beach at Quiosque da Cris is legendary!)

The Club International (aka The Club Litoral)

There’s nothing better than taking a break the energy of a sweaty dance floor to have a cocktail by the pool or on the terrace overlooking sea. The Club International is a guaranteed night to remember. Check out the TCI Facebook page for weekly event info.

Dick Bar Litoral

For those who can remember the sleazy good times of Dick Bar in downtown Sao Paulo, the former owner has resurfaced on the coast. After opening, closing and re-opening, in 2024, it appears to be for women-only now. Get the latest event info on the Dick Bar Litoral FB page.

Sauna 1

Gay sauna in Santos that specializes more in professional services, massage, and hydrotherapy. Popular with “straight” married men and their fans.

Tribal Club permanently closed

The biggest and best LGBT club on the Santos end of the coast has closed. There was hope that it would re-open, but the founder and owner recently announced his retirement and the permanent closure of Tribal Club.

Thermas Senador / Thermas 1087

The recently renamed Thermas 1087 is a gay sauna frequented by locals. In need of renovation and almost impossible to guarantee the best time to go. But, take a chance early in the evening (from 6 to 9pm) and you’ll give it a thumbs up.

Thermas Oasis

Well established gay sauna in Guarujá. Thermas Oasis has mixed, but mostly positive reviews. Find it on our map below and try it for yourself!

New for 2026: Clubs, Bars & Local Tips

AMUSE Beach Club (Ilha Porchat, São Vicente)

Nightlife on top of Ilha Porchat with a sea view and frequent party programming. (If you hear locals say “The Club” on Ilha Porchat, they may be referring to this spot — unconfirmed.)

PutZz Club (Santos)

One of the most active nightlife listings in Santos right now—check Instagram for current nights and tickets.

Madalenas Bar (São Vicente)

LGBT-friendly bar that pops up in regional Pride/weekend programming—best for pre-drinks and checking what’s happening locally.

Restaurants & Cafés (LGBT-owned / LGBT-friendly picks)

Revista Nove has a strong updated list of LGBT-owned spots in Santos and the region (2025). Start here, then click through for your vibe: Bares e restaurantes comandados por pessoas LGBT+ na região

Lorient Bistrô
Bossa Café e Bistrô
Revo Manufactory
Casa da Villa Urbana Coquetelaria
Angus Steakhouse
Tasca do Porto

Culture & Daytime Spots (Santos + coast)

Tours & Experiences (Viator)

Explore Even More of Gay São Paulo

After your fun in the sun, come back to the city and explore the VamosGay guide to São Paulo.

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São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade 2026

December 20, 2025 VamosGay.com Leave a comment

On Sunday, June 7, 2026, the largest gay pride parade in the world will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Past parades have attracted over 3 million people took to the streets of São Paulo, according to estimates. More updates on what international travelers can expect coming soon!

Watch the archived 2025 live stream now ️‍

The parade’s theme for 2025 will pay tribute to our community’s elders. According to the parade organizers, “with affection, respect and urgency we honor the experiences of LGBT+ people over the age of 60. Many of the freedoms we celebrate today only exist because they resisted.”

Click to launch our Google Map of the parade route including landmarks of gay Sao Paulo ️

In the days leading up to the parade, São Paulo (already one of the most gay-friendly cities in Latin America) explodes with gay activities. By day, “gayborhoods” like Frei Caneca and Largo do Arouche fill with couples. And by night, bars and nightclubs throughout the city are packed.

Last year, the them of the parade was “voting for the rights of the LGBT+ population.” In 2024, everyone was encouraged to take to the streets in green and yellow, the colors of the Brazilian flag. In recent years, the colors became associated with anti-gay groups, but this marks a return green and yellow reclaimed as symbols of national pride for all Brazilians. The theme for 2025’s parade has yet to be chosen.

Getting There

For those searching for air/hotel packages, Expedia offers some of the lowest rates for package deals to São Paulo. Europeans, Americans, and visitors who are already in South America have a number of inexpensive options. For international flights, we always use SkyScanner.com to compare airfares and find the lowest rates all of the major airlines.

View airfare deals »

Hotels & Gay-Friendly Places to Stay

South America’s largest city offers hundreds of great places to stay. Here’s our short list of hotels you can enjoy your stay for pride weekend.

View Gay-Friendly Hotels »

Guide to Bars & Club

There are almost 40 different options! From hole-in-the-wall bars to multi-floor mega clubs, check out our 2024 guide to São Paulo’s gay (and gay-friendly) places to go.

View List of Bars & Clubs »

Saunas & Sex

Every sex club, cinema, and sauna will be very active for Pride Week. We’ve listed them all on one page. Dive in!

View Sao Paulo saunas and sex clubs »

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*Note for American visitors : Travel to Brazil requires a visa. Get visa info you will need in time for June’s pride parade. Click here for Brazilian visa information for tourists.

hotels, são paulo

São Paulo Gay-Friendly Hotels

December 11, 2025 VamosGay.com Leave a comment

São Paulo is huge, spread out, and nightlife is very neighborhood-dependent. The “best” hotel is the one that matches your logistics: where you’ll actually spend your nights (Paulista/Frei Caneca, Pinheiros/Faria Lima, Centro, Barra Funda for events, etc.). Uber + Metro are the reality.

Updated for São Paulo LGBT Pride 2026: staying near Paulista / Consolação / Frei Caneca is the easiest choice for parade-week logistics. View São Paulo Pride info »

Why we usually recommend hotels over Airbnb in São Paulo: Pricing can end up surprisingly close once you factor in fees, and hotels are usually simpler (front desk, luggage, check-in, security). Also, short-term rentals are increasingly restricted building-by-building, and the city has tightened rules in certain housing categories—so availability and “house rules” can be unpredictable for visitors.