GLBT Travelers - My first trip to Brazil

Hi,
I am planning my first trip to Brazil this coming Winter, and I'd like some suggestions of places to go in Rio and anywhere around it. I've always dreamed of visiting Rio and I became even more excited about it after seeing its gay travel video. I'd like the suggestion of a local travel operator who could help me plan the trip, as I am planning to spend 10 days in Brazil.
Thanks in advance for all support and tips! :)

Bring lots of money. Ever since the Brazilians found oil, things are $$$$

Will you be traveling in Brazil, or just vacationing in Rio? What time of year do you plan to be there?

If just Rio, then there are the usual tourist places which you will find in any guidebook - Pao de Azucar (Sugar Loaf), Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer statue), the Cathedral, Centro (downtown with the various churches, plazas, Confiteria Colombo, Teatro Municipal, Mercado Popular, which comprises blocks and blocks of local market known as Saara, etc., Lapa , with the tram to Santa Teresa). And of course the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.

There are the gay saunas, most with rent-boys, some without, the very popular "The Week" nightclub which is open only on Saturday nights, the popular LeBoy in Copacabana, as well as other gay bars. *The* gay beach is on Ipanema, where the street Farme ends (or begins if you prefer) at the street along the shoreline. (You can't miss it on account of all the gay flags flying and all the pretty gay boys headed that way!)

There are favela tours, "safari" tours into the forest, hang-gliding, tours to the islands, etc., etc. I should think it is best to wait until you arrive here to arrange your schedule, since much depends on the weather. There are travel agencies and their workers ready to book tours for you in all the tourist areas. For example, as I sit here in Copacabana today and look out my window, it is overcast and raining lightly - not the kind of day I'd pick to go hang-gliding or take a boat tour, and I'm not quite sure what happens if you have arranged that in advance.

All in all, Rio is a wonderful place to visit, but it has become quite expensive. During Carnaval, (mid-February in 2012), it gets very crowded with long lines to visit the tourist sites. But you will definitely have fun if that's on your agenda.

One word of caution - be careful, watch out for pickpockets and other such opportunistic minor crimes. Don't go flaunting your heavily-loaded wallet and your Tiffany jewelry - you're likely to lose them if you do. Another thing - most reputable hotels in Copacabana and Ipanema will not allow guests in your room, and wisely so, unless they have been given permission at the front desk. Of course you can get around this, being the clever and ingenious boy you are, but you will be on your own. CUIDADO!

Bring lots of money. Ever since the Brazilians found oil, things are $$$$

Yeah, Rio has gotten expensive as New York. Sunday through Thursday hanging out on Farme is the social thing. Friday night its Galleria Cafe in Ipanema and Saturday night its The Week in Centro. A cab from Copa or Ipanema to The Week will be about R$25 to R$30. Any cab driver will know how to get there. I was there this past Saturday until 9AM:p. There are occassional after hour parties.

The beach is very social but do not leave anything unattended, even for a minute. Chairs, umbrellas are for rent and the vendors also serve drink. You can buy lunch on the beach also.

The men are beautiful so have an active gym membership before going.

Thanx for all the useful info.

I will be going to Rio on January 5th, and will stay in Brazil until Jan. 11th. I was able to find a local travel operator (Gay Travel Brasil www.gaytravelbrasil.com) with good package deals, but yet expensive. I will be staying in Copacabana at a gay-friendly hotel, which according to the people at GTB, I will be able to bring in any local boy-friend I find, and I am also going to go to Paraty for a 4-night trip. Even though I found the GTB package not a bargain, it was 30% cheaper than what I was offered by a Miami-based operator (BROL) and about 40% cheaper than what I found researching directly on the internet...

Now I just hope everything works out as planned. Wish me luck, because I am getting a bit nervous about this trip. But I will let you all know of how it went.

Thanx for all the useful info.

I will be going to Rio on January 5th, and will stay in Brazil until Jan. 11th. I was able to find a local travel operator (Gay Travel Brasil www.gaytravelbrasil.com) with good package deals, but yet expensive. I will be staying in Copacabana at a gay-friendly hotel, which according to the people at GTB, I will be able to bring in any local boy-friend I find, and I am also going to go to Paraty for a 4-night trip. Even though I found the GTB package not a bargain, it was 30% cheaper than what I was offered by a Miami-based operator (BROL) and about 40% cheaper than what I found researching directly on the internet...

Now I just hope everything works out as planned. Wish me luck, because I am getting a bit nervous about this trip. But I will let you all know of how it went.

Don't get me wrong, the Brasilian guys that I have gotten to know have been amazing (including on the trip from Rio I have returned from this morning). But you need to be very careful of who you meet and bringing them back to your hotel. Be sure its someone that is somewhere with a group of friends and is known.

Also, most hotels will require that a "guest" register and may charge you an additional amount for such a "visitor." You need to find out what the exact policies are from the front desk. Also, there is a flavela (slum) in back of Copa, which has some sketchy areas. Use cabs late at night.

I suggest you check out ipanema.com for some good information. There are suanas although some of them are for paid rent boys.

Aside from the city, I would recommend taking a side trip to Buzios, which is one of the most "European" beach resorts in Brazil. It's about a 2 hour drive from Rio and you can easily hire someone to drive you there and back. It's beautiful, full of wonderful restaurants and bars has a great energy. It's not cheap, however, and is one of the more expensive destinations in Brazil. In years of traveling to Rio and Sao Paulo, I think I've spent more money, on average, on means and entertainment in Buzios than I have in any other city in Brazil. Regardless, it's worth the trip...

Bring lots of money. Ever since the Brazilians found oil, things are $$$$

Bring lots of money yes, but don't flaunt it. No jewellery, no Tag hauer watch etc. Only wear shorts and Hawaianas, no ipad no iphone and remember when driving at night do not stop your car at lights just zoom through. And if you see men following you in a dark alley dont think they are cruising you they will most like surprise you with their "pau" and strip you of everything. :D

...Only wear shorts and Hawaianas, no ipad no iphone...To put this in perspective, electronics can be very valuable in Brazil due to high tariffs and whatever.

It's usually not as crazy as stated in this article, but take a look:
http://thenextweb.com/la/2011/11/29/iphone-4s-starts-selling-for-1900-in-brazil/

If you want to walk along the beach at Ipanema and Leblon with music from your Ipod/Iphone you are fine. Just shove it into your bag or pocket. Saturday had been cloudy all day but got beautiful towards sunset so I walked from Arpoador to the end at the foot of Barra with my Iphone playing. And the men were out in full force and stunning beyond belief (my god, what do they put in the water down there;))

Also, there is a huge military police presence along the beach in Ipanema and Leblon (with many of the officers also very easy on the eyes) but Copa can't tell you.

Just remain alert to who is around you and never, ever leave anything unattended on the beach. Obvisiously, don't go walking around at 2AM with your Iphone. If you to the The Week, take a cab.

Avoid anyone that seems to be a loner. Certainly refrain from taking someone like this back to your hotel room.

Unfortunately, people see the massive flavelas coming in from GIG but when they get through the tunnels and to the lake area they assume they are in a typical US resport.

I'd like to thank you for all the hints and knoweldgeable device.... I'd discussed with GTB (Gay Travel Brasil) people whether I should go to Buzios or Paraty, but according to my interests they think I'd enjoy more Paraty than Buzios... Does anyone here know Paraty?

The GTB consultant, Heitor, sold me on the colonial and historical background of Paraty, whereas Buzios seems to be more contemporary.

I am also going on a private tour in Rio to visit the many saunas (they told me of a Bingo Boy function that happens in Calvin Klein's sauna).


GTB gives out a Rio updated gay directory and of course they send me a gay survival guide with safety tips, therefore I will play safe and won't take any suspicious hunk to my hotel room (we can always go a hotel by the hour, if nature urges..).

I will definitely let you know of my Brazil experience. I am counting the days for this trip. Too bad there is still more than a month to go....

Buzio's sucked, it is for European tourists. I prefer Florianapolis, such a safe city and a beautiful beach. Next time if you go back try Floreepa!! And btw, I have been to Mexico city and Istanbul felt safer there.