Rio de Janeiro

The throbbing heart of Brazil! Glamorous beaches and frenetic lifestyle makes Rio a fabulous gay holiday destination.

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Beaches

Copacabana

The most famous beach of the Americas which, despite its many syllables, rolls smoothly off the tongue thanks to Barry Manilow’s eponymous hit and its subsequent cabaret success. Even if y..read more

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Ipanema

Ipanema

Although Copacabana has the fame, Ipanema has the magic.   This is the biggest Oh-My-God beach in the Southern Hemisphere.  The walkway is full of skaters and cyclists, the barracas (beach..read more

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Arpoador

Arpoador surfers

Hemmed in by Copacabana in the north and Ipanema in the south, Arpoador is a small, rocky Rio beach with not much to offer except spectacle. You see, the promontory has such an ideal inclina..read more

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Gay Venues

["Dance club"]

Le Boy

Most popular gay club in Rio. Sauna upstairs.

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["Bar"]

Galeria Café

Gay venue full of beautiful people.

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["Bar"]

La Cueva

The main bar for bears in Rio.

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["Sauna"]

Rio G Spa

Modern. clean, very popular sauna.

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Scene

Rio de Janeiro invokes images of muscular bodies lying on a beach, drag queens with a small flower stall on their heads and tanned men wearing flip-flops dancing the samba.

It’s all true in the Zona Sul, location of the legendary Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and home to Rio’s many gay bars and clubs.

More than just beach and scene.

Some of Rio’s landmarks have passed into international lore. Take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain or the train to the top of Corcovado. The grand statue of Christ the Redeemer offers some of the best views of the city.

Outside Carnival, the Samba City in Gamboa is a must visit. A boat trip around Guanabara bay provides a different way of looking at Rio’s interplay of green hills and coast.

With the “pacification” of Rio’ s shanty towns, guides now offer safe and interesting favela tours, most notably in Dona Marta where Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” video was shot.

Body language

To western eyes the body language of Brazilian men can easily lead to confusion, especially during Carnival when inhibitions are as thin as thongs. Even straight men may feel secretly pleased if you try and chat them up. But don’t be surprised if any flirty looks stop at the bar exit.

Don’t expect many locals to speak English. Learning a foreign language is an expense many Brazilians cannot afford.

Rio de Janeiro Map

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Where To Stay