A beginner's guide to visiting Rio

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

Just thought I would give a few views and viewpoints for anyone considering Rio as a vacation destination...**disclaimer.. these are my views and opinions and others might agree or disagree as they see fit..

Let's start with the flight down there from the US... Most of the major US airlines fly to Rio.. Your last US layover will depend of course on which airline you choose, but from that point, you can count on a flight of approximately 10-12 hours in length, always overnight (to the best of my knowledge). Some of the airlines fly directly into Rio, while others stop in Sao Paolo first.

Once you get to Rio, there are hundreds of hotels you could chose from. For a first time visitor, I would recommend staying in one of the more touristy areas such as Copacabana or Ipanema..These areas will be close to things you want/need, such as restaurants, subways, beaches, etc..plus will be safer areas to call home base. The Atlantico Copacabana has been a long time favorite of sauna goers, mainly because of its location and its liberal visitor policy. In Rio de janeiro, it is customary for hotels to charge a "visitor's fee" for any unregistered guest to a hotel room. It doesn't matter if that guest is visiting for an hour or for overnight. It may range up to R50...The Atlantico does not charge a visitor fee so if you plan on having many "new friends" visit you in your hotel, then this is something to consider..They do require visitors to register at the front desk and keep a copy of their ID information to help ensure safety. Don't worry, the boys all know about this and don't have issue with it.

While most things in Rio are relatively inexpensive, hotels are not the bargain you might expect. The going rate this season at the Atlantico is around $120 US per night for a standard room.. That does include a decent breakfast buffet. For someone who is a hotel "snob" (you know who you are.. MUST stay at the W or a Ritz Carlton), you probably won't be happy at the Atlantico. While from my experiences, the rooms are clean, the majority of them are outdated. I admit, the first time I opened the door to my room in Rio, I was like..."This is it???????????? UGH".. but by the end of my stay, I felt right at home..it kinda grows on you, if you have an open mind..

The second advantage to the Atlantico is location. It is three blocks to the beaches of Copacabana.

the subway station is directly across the street..

A favorite "after sauna" restaurant is just a couple of blocks away.

Here in the states, we have Circle K convenience stores and Starbucks on every street corner. If Rio they have Juice stands. They serve all kinds of fresh squeezed tropical juices along with local snacks

There is much to do during the days on your visits. Some of the more popular tourist destinations are

1) Corcovado, the home to the Christ the Redeemer statue

2) Sugarloaf Mountain..ride the cable cars to the top of the mountain for a beautiful view

3) Do a open air jeep tour of the rainforest

For sauna goers, the best time is approximately 6pm till 9pm...so you will need to plan your daily activities to make sure you are ready to enjoy that part of Rio as well.

[TampaYankee]

lurkerspeaks,

Thanks for the brief newbie primer on flights and hotels and for the great photos.

[Guest FourAces]

Lurker great information. Thanks

[Guest tomcal]

Lurker's information is right on the mark!

As far as Hotels go, it's a Brazilian custom for all hotels to charge for/or totally not allow guests, especially the high end ones. Staying at the Atlantico with it's liberal visitation policy has saved me....$1,000.'s Also the hotel was the site of a 2003 rooftop party for 25 Americans and 80 sauna boys! to say they are gay friendly is a understatement!

[Guest FourAces]

Also the hotel was the site of a 2003 rooftop party for 25 Americans and 80 sauna boys! to say they are gay friendly is a understatement!

WOW a 3 to 1 ratio of sauna boys to clients? Wish I had been at that party then again I am not a fan of heights

[Guest tomcal]

WOW a 3 to 1 ratio of sauna boys to clients? Wish I had been at that party then again I am not a fan of heights

By the end of the night it might have been 4 to 1 as some of the boys invited their friends. It was a well organized event with security and private invites so we would know which guys were invited, we had food and drinks set up for 100 people This was the party were I first met among others,Axiom and Trilingual. It was a great way for many of the "hooboy" posters to meet for the first time.

[stripfan]

Beautiful pics. thanks for all of the information.

[JKane]

What are everybody's ideas on the best way to book flights for the best price? I've played with several itineraries on AA.com that seemed like pretty good deals, but had trouble setting up something similar at other sites. (On AA.com it's fairly easy to set it up so you can stay several days or weeks in cities you have to fly through anyway, they call it multi-city.)

[Guest tomcal]

I have always flown American, except for 3 times on Continental to use up miles. For those of us on the west coast, American has good connections Through Dallas to Sao Paulo, and through Miami to Rio. You are right about the ease in using AA's Multi-city setup. They also have search by schedule or search by best price, which usually are not that different. I use search by schedule, they show actual hours on the right side and I want the shortest layovers possible. Usually the flights I take are an hour or slightly less connection time in Dallas. Also AA has better business class seating than Continental.

[Guest FourAces]

I am seriously thinking of taking my first trip to Rio in December or January. What are those of you who have spent time there feel about hiring a guide at least for a first time visit?

Also, if one hires a guide what is the going rate and where do you find the ones that will guide you through the saunas and so on?

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

If you are going to Rio for the first time, I would recommend either hiring a guide for a few hours or find a friend to travel with you who has visited before--plus doing as much homework/research as possible. There is a myriad of info on three main sites that will help you immensely. Go thru posts here, on the message board at Daddy's, and at gaytravelbrazil.com (be sure it is brazil with a "z" not with an "s"..)

It can be a little bit intimidating in Rio since it is a very large city and there is very little English spoken by the majority of its citizens. But once you get the hang of it, it is a great place. For a guide, I would recommend you contact Gary (Dreysonal) from Gaytravelbrazil. They have guides who can show you the city and the cultural parts as well as help you negotiate prices at the saunas. Plus, Gary is usually able to help you get the best rates at hotels.. Don't quote me on this, but it seems like I remember the going rate for a guide to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 US, but I could be wrong. I have not hired one in the past. I was lucky enough to have a friend accompany me on my first two visits who had been to Rio on numerous occasions. Since it appears that I will probably be traveling alone this year, I have also considered a guide on at least one day, mainly so I will have an English speaking person to spend some time with. I do not speak Portuguese. After two visits, however, I feel comfortable enough to make the long trip alone. I understand the subway systems so I can find my way to the saunas from the hotel Atlantico. I have read and re-read the posts from fellow travelors to get tips (like writing names of hotel, saunas, etc and addresses on index cards to show taxi drivers).

Even thought I am by no means an expert like Tomcal, I will gladly answer any questions to the best of ability that you might have.. **Don't forget that you must get a Brazilian Visa in addition to a passport.

[axiom2001]

lurkerspeaks,

Thanks for the brief newbie primer on flights and hotels and for the great photos.

Taking TAM out of Miami is great for your South American cities: Rio de janeiro/Buenos Aires. I did this last May and perhaps will do it next October if I manage to get back to Rio during that time. <I, too, thank you for the brief primer.>

Now we need to add a cultural itinerary. Right now I am too tired to begin it FULLY, but whoever begins it will allow us to add.

• Take in Santa Teresa

• Go to Lapa on a Friday evening with a guide if possible.

• Do a helicopter ride over Rio; take it in Flamengo not from Sugar Loaf or The Christ

• Take a day trip to Petropolis.

• See Rio from the water via boat trip around the bay.

• Take in a show at the Plataforma, touristy but worth while. Have dinner prior to the show elsewhere.

• If you are a museum person-- do as many as possible. This is definitely an enhancement to anyone's trip.

• Go to the world's largest soccer stadium. (...can't spell it correctly, so I decided to be general.)

• Go to the venue where they have the Carnival Parades.

• Take a reputable favela tour to get a different perspective. Use Marcelo Armstrong's company. He began tours

there.

• Visit the upscale shopping center in Leblon. Outstanding and unique displays; superb architecture

• Eat at a variety of restaurants. Use guidebooks and the archives at www.daddysreviews.com and at www.gaytravel

brazil.com.

• Stay at Royal Rio Hotel if you desire ambience, comfort, and a W Hotel venue. Prepare to pay a fee for visitors.

I would love to continue with more specifics, but this man is tired, so I think I'm going to rest, but, guys, keep adding to what I've written. Try not to repeat.

[TotallyOz]

A Little History on Rio de Janeiro – Where The Gays Play

If you are looking for a gay friendly foreign vacation where the nights are hot and the guys hotter, Rio de Janeiro may be the place for you.

The American Dollar goes a long way here and the Cariocas, as the locals call themselves, are very welcoming to gay and transgendered people from around the world.

Of course, the main attraction here are the local men, who tend to be tall, dark and in shape – which you have to be if you are going to spend as much time on the beach as these people do.

There is so much going on at the beaches and in the plethora of gay night spots that you will want to spend at least a week or two in Rio – a city of more than 7 million people!

The term you will probably hear most as a gay man in Rio de Janeiro is “Barbie.” That is what the locals call gay men who spend a good deal of time in the gym (think Chelsea boys.)

Beaches

During the day you will want to lay out in the sand – particularly if you have spent the night partying at any of the number of bars and discos that rock late into the night.

The hottest people in the coolest fashions can be found at the Praia de Ipanema beach where you can rent a beach chair and chill out with hotties from around the world.

If you get turned on, head on over to the section by Rua Farme de Amoedo where the cruising is competitive and intense.

On all sections of the beach you can buy cold drinks including beer, and souvenir hawkers will be constantly milling about – but will leave you alone if you ask them to.

The Copacabana Beach is a hot meat market both day and night – with tons of hot international studs for your eye candy. There is a constant stream of cute roller bladders and sunbathers to make your fantasies come alive.

A lot of the guys here – particularly the younger, attractive ones – are really rent boys, so be sure you know what you are getting into before you take anyone home. On the other hand, there are plenty of studly tourists here as well. The prime cruising spot on the Copacabana is in front of the Copacabana Plaza.

The 18 kilometer Barra da Tijuca is where you can find some of the rougher waters for windsurfing and body boarding. It’s not as gay as some of the other beaches – but you can’t cruise every day can you? It is the longest beach in the city and has a lot of kiosks for snacks.

Grumari beach is the place for all you nudists to go. It is a clothing option surfer’s paradise and an environmentally protected zone. It is also the main set for many television shows and movies set in Brazil.

One beach to consider avoiding is Leblon – as it is used primarily by local residents and is not that tourist friendly.

Clubs

Most of the clubs in Rio don’t open or get interesting until midnight or much later. So, if you are looking to mingle once the sun goes down, your best bet will be to check out the gay bar scene.

The locals don’t eat dinner until around 8 or 9 p.m. so figure that even the pubs won’t get that busy until 10 or so. In all the bars, the beer is good and you should try a caipirinha, the most popular local drink.

One thing that disappoints some American gays is the lack of fetish, leather or other kink specific bars and clubs. Because the local people believe in inclusion, they have yet to set up the culture to accommodate specific desires in specific bars. Therefore, each bar you go to is apt to have a mix of bears, twinks, leather boys, and so on.

You just have to keep your eye out for what you are looking for and you will find it!

The hottest concentration of gay bars and clubs is at Rua Teixeira de Melo near the Farme gay beach cruising area. Like the beach, the competition for men is very intense – you need to dress your best unless you are ready to go home all by yourself.

Bofetada, on Farme itself, is one of the bars that starts getting busy early on, almost as soon as people start getting off the beach. This is a great place to go if you are looking to hook up before dinner, or if you are new to the area and want to meet other guys to cruise with during your vacation.

While in the area, check out Galeria Cafe (with DJs every single night of the week) and Spin or Dama de Ferro, on Rua Vinicius de Morais corner of Lagoa which cater to the same crowd of vacationing and expatriate artists, sun worshipers, and party boys.

If you spent your day around the Copacabana, you might want to visit the nearby Blue Angle bar.

The nearby Copa has hot waiters, but no sign on the door. Instead look for velvet red curtains and a hostess, and you will be on your way. This place is very trendy, so you need to look cool if you want to be taken seriously by anyone inside – or even manage to get a drink! Just look at the signs (and the people walking inside) to make sure you have not arrived on lesbian night!

Across the street from the Copacabana is the Rainbow, which has drag shows and karaoke at night – it can be a little silly, but if you like it that way, give it a shot!

Those of you who like things down, dirty and a little seedy will be interested in Corujinha, which is near the Copa, but nowhere near as exclusive, trendy or slick.

Maxim’s is a nearby bar with a mix company of gays and gay friendly straights. This is the place to go if girly boys are your thing or if you are looking to pick up a hustler. This area is known for tourist rips offs, so be very careful of yourself and your surroundings if you decide to get your wild on in this area.

The subtly named Gay Kiosk Rainbow is easy to find because it sits underneath a giant rainbow flag. Sometimes the owners are in drag; sometimes they are not!

If it’s getting close to midnight and you haven’t gotten laid yet, it’s time to hit the dance floor and shake your booty with the brown Brazilian boy toys!

The hottest place to go is right inside the Copacabana, Posto 6. It’s built in a renovated movie theater and has drag shows, DJs from around the world, theme nights and pretty much anything else you can imagine. They can pack in more than a 1,000 people ready to party and cruise until dawn!

Those of you who like things new and trendy can visit Breeze at Rua Paul Redfern, but check your calendar – it’s only open Friday through Monday.

If you like a little rough trade from the lower socioeconomic side, Cabare Casanova on Avenue Mem de Sá can be a cheap evening to sweat it out with the locals.

Some of us like our club scene a little tackier. For those among you (you know who you are) plan at least one visit to Star Club and leave your conservative friends behind!

Foxfobox on Rua Siqueira Campos is the center of the gay techno crowd and is open from Thursday through Saturday.

The only club open seven nights a week is located in the Serzedelo Correa Square . This smaller, neighborhood club, has been serving the gay and lesbian communities for more than 15 years.

Sex Hotels

Once you score in Rio de Janeiro you will need some place to take your new playmate. Because there is a great deal of poverty in Rio, there are a lot of hustlers and thieves, so it’s not a great idea to take your date back to your own hotel room and put your valuables at risk.

That’s why there are many “sex hotels” throughout the city where men can take there dates for a few hours after they hit the bars or clubs. We recommend using them unless you have a good reason to trust your new found friend.

Finding a gay friendly sex hotel is not difficult – most of them are so obvious as to be embarrassing. They surround nearly every gay bar in the city and rent rooms for six hours or less.

Most of the “in the know” tourists seek out the ones around Av. Gomes Freire or the Copacabana.

Saunas, Bath Houses, and Rent Boys

Saunas and bathhouses are as common in Rio as they are in any gay friendly large city. As you would expect, a good number of the local clients are married men looking for a little extra curricular fun. There is also a fair share of rent boys to be found, so as you would on the beach, make sure you understand what you are getting into before you get started.

For the most part you can expect to spend between $30 and $60 for an encounter with male escort at any of the bathhouses you find.

Near the Copacabana you can look for the Le Boy Fitness and Pointe 202. Point is mostly a muscle bar now and while I like this occasionally, I find the massive build of some not to my liking. But, if muscles are your thing, this is the place for you.

If you have spent your day by Ipanema, keep your eyes open for Nova Leblon and Studio 64.

My all time favorite is Club 117. Hot boys. More twinks. Great parties. Free Cabine nights.

Meio Mundo on Rua Teófilo Otona is known to have some of the best escorts at any of the bathhouses around. Meio Mundo is larger now that the next door building was added to the original building. The selection of garotos is generally good but not always like you can find at Clube 117.

Safety

No matter what you do in Rio de Janeiro, always practice safe sex. If anything, this is truer in Rio than it is in North America, as the sheer number of hustlers around have made sex riskier here than in many other places you may visit.

In Rio you should also be careful if a stranger hands you a drink. It is somewhat common here for thieves to slip drugs into a tourist’s beer and then rob him. In general it is a good idea to not wear your expensive jewelry (including your watch) when you go out at night – do you really need to know what time it is when you go on vacation?

You should also avoid drugs at all costs when you are in Brazil. The penalties are harsh and the American Embassy might not be able to give you that much help if you are busted.

That said, if you are careful, Rio de Janeiro could end up becoming one of the hottest vacations you ever take.

You can cruise the clubs and bars all night and then sleep off your sex induced hangover on any number of sandy beaches!

1. Don’t carry you passport with you. Once you get to your hotel, have them make a copy for you and carry that with you. That is sufficient should you need it while you are away from the hotel and if you lost the original, it is a true pain in the ass.

2. Avoid using cash machines outside of banks and malls. I had one bad experience with this last year. Now, I use the ATM in my hotel or exchange my money at the banks or exchange booths.

3. I avoid using my Credit Cards as much as possible other than my hotel or bank or ATM machine. Last year, after a shopping trip to a very upscale mall in Sao Paulo, I got back to the US only to have over 20k charged to my card. Needless to say, it was a pain in the ass to get it all straightened out.

4. Don’t take a lot of money with you. Plan your day, take only what you need. Take ONE ATM card if you need more. Leave the remainder in the safe in your hotel.

5. Don’t wear expensive watches or jewelry. Keep them in the safe in your hotel. These things get noticed by the wrong people very fast.

6. If you take a camera with you, keep it in a bag that is not obviously a camera bag. Keep it with you at all times.

7. When you go to the beach, only take what you need. Don’t take things that are not needed. Don’t leave your possession alone unattended.

8. When you are in a sauna, keep an eye on your locker and check back into that room occasionally. I don’t leave very valuable things in my locker.

9. When you take a boy into a cabin for a programa, when you shower, take your clothes with you. There are hooks in the bathrooms for these items and it is just a smart thing to do to keep your things with you at all times.

10. When you are at a bar or disco, don’t leave your drink unattended. Don’t accept drinks from others. When you get a drink, keep your hand over the top of it. This way, no one can put anything into the drink that will cause you to loose you common sense.

11. If you are into the street trade, don’t take someone from the street that one of your friends doesn’t know. Be very careful. A lot of the guys from the street are great fun but you should exercise caution. One thing that I learned on my first trip to Brazil is that I would not go with someone from outside of Curijina’s or anywhere unless someone knew the guy. I try to stick to this rule.

12. Most hotels won’t let you have a guest in your room unless they have a copy of their ID. This is a good thing and for your protection. Always make sure that your visitor has proper ID and when you get to your hotel, walk them over to the front desk to leave a copy of the ID as required.

13. If you are new to Brazil, don’t walk around at night unless you are accompanied. I suggest taking a taxi. It is very inexpensive to take taxis in Brazil and it may keep you safe.

14. All the saunas provide condom and lube to you. It is wise to use them here. The rate of HIV is high and you need to protect yourself.

15. Ask your hotel for suggestions on restaurants and venues. They know many good ones and they may help you to find something you have not heard mentioned before.

16. When you leave the sauna, see all the charges to you bill and make sure they are correct.

17. A few simple words in Portuguese is very helpful. If you have Itunes, download the Portuguese Language guide. It is quiet good and just listening to it on your plane ride down is useful.

18. I have a hotel taxi pick me up at the airport. I find it more comfortable for me as I arrive with my computers and cameras.

19. Brazil really is paradise. Have a great time. Be safe. Be smart.

(this was written about 5 years ago. If you have suggestions, PM me with revisions). Thanks.

Oz

[axiom2001]

WOW a 3 to 1 ratio of sauna boys to clients? Wish I had been at that party then again I am not a fan of heights

I was in attendance, and that is one event that will always remain in my mind! A swell time was had by all.. Tom was one of the gracious hosts since he knew many of the invited guests (the sauna guys)! After the party/festa-- we went down to the restaurant with the yellow awning. At that time (October 2003) "it rocked" after 12:00a.

While there I managed to pick up a cutie after asking Tom about him. The guy had been an exchange student and came from a family of educated parents. He and I ventured back to The Atlantico for our late night dessert. Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! -

<Some of us had brought t-shirts to distributed to our invited guests, so I must concede to Tom's figure of 80 hot guys. We ran out; all of these hotties did not get what had been intended for them.>

[Guest Barr1965]

Just adding some info regarding Rio.

http://www.serguapos.com/de/de29.html

[Guest loveking]

It's nice there

[axiom2001]

By the end of the night it might have been 4 to 1 as some of the boys invited their friends. It was a well organized event with security and private invites so we would know which guys were invited, we had food and drinks set up for 100 people This was the party were I first met among others,Axiom and Trilingual. It was a great way for many of the "hooboy" posters to meet for the first time.

I'm reading this on 1.11.13, and boy do I remember this event as if it happened just yesterday. I had one of my better times in Rio de janeiro in my going just for the "festa" although I did manage to leave the hotel to enjoy Copacabana, Central, Barra, and other parts of the city. I did do some cultural and other recreational activities as well.

[axiom2001]

A Little History on Rio de Janeiro – Where The Gays Play

If you are looking for a gay friendly foreign vacation where the nights are hot and the guys hotter, Rio de Janeiro may be the place for you.

The American Dollar goes a long way here and the Cariocas, as the locals call themselves, are very welcoming to gay and transgendered people from around the world.

Of course, the main attraction here are the local men, who tend to be tall, dark and in shape – which you have to be if you are going to spend as much time on the beach as these people do.

There is so much going on at the beaches and in the plethora of gay night spots that you will want to spend at least a week or two in Rio – a city of more than 7 million people!

The term you will probably hear most as a gay man in Rio de Janeiro is “Barbie.” That is what the locals call gay men who spend a good deal of time in the gym (think Chelsea boys.)

Beaches

During the day you will want to lay out in the sand – particularly if you have spent the night partying at any of the number of bars and discos that rock late into the night.

The hottest people in the coolest fashions can be found at the Praia de Ipanema beach where you can rent a beach chair and chill out with hotties from around the world.

If you get turned on, head on over to the section by Rua Farme de Amoedo where the cruising is competitive and intense.

On all sections of the beach you can buy cold drinks including beer, and souvenir hawkers will be constantly milling about – but will leave you alone if you ask them to.

The Copacabana Beach is a hot meat market both day and night – with tons of hot international studs for your eye candy. There is a constant stream of cute roller bladders and sunbathers to make your fantasies come alive.

A lot of the guys here – particularly the younger, attractive ones – are really rent boys, so be sure you know what you are getting into before you take anyone home. On the other hand, there are plenty of studly tourists here as well. The prime cruising spot on the Copacabana is in front of the Copacabana Plaza.

The 18 kilometer Barra da Tijuca is where you can find some of the rougher waters for windsurfing and body boarding. It’s not as gay as some of the other beaches – but you can’t cruise every day can you? It is the longest beach in the city and has a lot of kiosks for snacks.

Grumari beach is the place for all you nudists to go. It is a clothing option surfer’s paradise and an environmentally protected zone. It is also the main set for many television shows and movies set in Brazil.

One beach to consider avoiding is Leblon – as it is used primarily by local residents and is not that tourist friendly.

Clubs

Most of the clubs in Rio don’t open or get interesting until midnight or much later. So, if you are looking to mingle once the sun goes down, your best bet will be to check out the gay bar scene.

The locals don’t eat dinner until around 8 or 9 p.m. so figure that even the pubs won’t get that busy until 10 or so. In all the bars, the beer is good and you should try a caipirinha, the most popular local drink.

One thing that disappoints some American gays is the lack of fetish, leather or other kink specific bars and clubs. Because the local people believe in inclusion, they have yet to set up the culture to accommodate specific desires in specific bars. Therefore, each bar you go to is apt to have a mix of bears, twinks, leather boys, and so on.

You just have to keep your eye out for what you are looking for and you will find it!

The hottest concentration of gay bars and clubs is at Rua Teixeira de Melo near the Farme gay beach cruising area. Like the beach, the competition for men is very intense – you need to dress your best unless you are ready to go home all by yourself.

Bofetada, on Farme itself, is one of the bars that starts getting busy early on, almost as soon as people start getting off the beach. This is a great place to go if you are looking to hook up before dinner, or if you are new to the area and want to meet other guys to cruise with during your vacation.

While in the area, check out Galeria Cafe (with DJs every single night of the week) and Spin or Dama de Ferro, on Rua Vinicius de Morais corner of Lagoa which cater to the same crowd of vacationing and expatriate artists, sun worshipers, and party boys.

If you spent your day around the Copacabana, you might want to visit the nearby Blue Angle bar.

The nearby Copa has hot waiters, but no sign on the door. Instead look for velvet red curtains and a hostess, and you will be on your way. This place is very trendy, so you need to look cool if you want to be taken seriously by anyone inside – or even manage to get a drink! Just look at the signs (and the people walking inside) to make sure you have not arrived on lesbian night!

Across the street from the Copacabana is the Rainbow, which has drag shows and karaoke at night – it can be a little silly, but if you like it that way, give it a shot!

Those of you who like things down, dirty and a little seedy will be interested in Corujinha, which is near the Copa, but nowhere near as exclusive, trendy or slick.

Maxim’s is a nearby bar with a mix company of gays and gay friendly straights. This is the place to go if girly boys are your thing or if you are looking to pick up a hustler. This area is known for tourist rips offs, so be very careful of yourself and your surroundings if you decide to get your wild on in this area.

The subtly named Gay Kiosk Rainbow is easy to find because it sits underneath a giant rainbow flag. Sometimes the owners are in drag; sometimes they are not!

If it’s getting close to midnight and you haven’t gotten laid yet, it’s time to hit the dance floor and shake your booty with the brown Brazilian boy toys!

The hottest place to go is right inside the Copacabana, Posto 6. It’s built in a renovated movie theater and has drag shows, DJs from around the world, theme nights and pretty much anything else you can imagine. They can pack in more than a 1,000 people ready to party and cruise until dawn!

Those of you who like things new and trendy can visit Breeze at Rua Paul Redfern, but check your calendar – it’s only open Friday through Monday.

If you like a little rough trade from the lower socioeconomic side, Cabare Casanova on Avenue Mem de Sá can be a cheap evening to sweat it out with the locals.

Some of us like our club scene a little tackier. For those among you (you know who you are) plan at least one visit to Star Club and leave your conservative friends behind!

Foxfobox on Rua Siqueira Campos is the center of the gay techno crowd and is open from Thursday through Saturday.

The only club open seven nights a week is located in the Serzedelo Correa Square . This smaller, neighborhood club, has been serving the gay and lesbian communities for more than 15 years.

Sex Hotels

Once you score in Rio de Janeiro you will need some place to take your new playmate. Because there is a great deal of poverty in Rio, there are a lot of hustlers and thieves, so it’s not a great idea to take your date back to your own hotel room and put your valuables at risk.

That’s why there are many “sex hotels” throughout the city where men can take there dates for a few hours after they hit the bars or clubs. We recommend using them unless you have a good reason to trust your new found friend.

Finding a gay friendly sex hotel is not difficult – most of them are so obvious as to be embarrassing. They surround nearly every gay bar in the city and rent rooms for six hours or less.

Most of the “in the know” tourists seek out the ones around Av. Gomes Freire or the Copacabana.

Saunas, Bath Houses, and Rent Boys

Saunas and bathhouses are as common in Rio as they are in any gay friendly large city. As you would expect, a good number of the local clients are married men looking for a little extra curricular fun. There is also a fair share of rent boys to be found, so as you would on the beach, make sure you understand what you are getting into before you get started.

For the most part you can expect to spend between $30 and $60 for an encounter with male escort at any of the bathhouses you find.

Near the Copacabana you can look for the Le Boy Fitness and Pointe 202. Point is mostly a muscle bar now and while I like this occasionally, I find the massive build of some not to my liking. But, if muscles are your thing, this is the place for you.

If you have spent your day by Ipanema, keep your eyes open for Nova Leblon and Studio 64.

My all time favorite is Club 117. Hot boys. More twinks. Great parties. Free Cabine nights.

Meio Mundo on Rua Teófilo Otona is known to have some of the best escorts at any of the bathhouses around. Meio Mundo is larger now that the next door building was added to the original building. The selection of garotos is generally good but not always like you can find at Clube 117.

Safety

No matter what you do in Rio de Janeiro, always practice safe sex. If anything, this is truer in Rio than it is in North America, as the sheer number of hustlers around have made sex riskier here than in many other places you may visit.

In Rio you should also be careful if a stranger hands you a drink. It is somewhat common here for thieves to slip drugs into a tourist’s beer and then rob him. In general it is a good idea to not wear your expensive jewelry (including your watch) when you go out at night – do you really need to know what time it is when you go on vacation?

You should also avoid drugs at all costs when you are in Brazil. The penalties are harsh and the American Embassy might not be able to give you that much help if you are busted.

That said, if you are careful, Rio de Janeiro could end up becoming one of the hottest vacations you ever take.

You can cruise the clubs and bars all night and then sleep off your sex induced hangover on any number of sandy beaches!

1. Don’t carry you passport with you. Once you get to your hotel, have them make a copy for you and carry that with you. That is sufficient should you need it while you are away from the hotel and if you lost the original, it is a true pain in the ass.

2. Avoid using cash machines outside of banks and malls. I had one bad experience with this last year. Now, I use the ATM in my hotel or exchange my money at the banks or exchange booths.

3. I avoid using my Credit Cards as much as possible other than my hotel or bank or ATM machine. Last year, after a shopping trip to a very upscale mall in Sao Paulo, I got back to the US only to have over 20k charged to my card. Needless to say, it was a pain in the ass to get it all straightened out.

4. Don’t take a lot of money with you. Plan your day, take only what you need. Take ONE ATM card if you need more. Leave the remainder in the safe in your hotel.

5. Don’t wear expensive watches or jewelry. Keep them in the safe in your hotel. These things get noticed by the wrong people very fast.

6. If you take a camera with you, keep it in a bag that is not obviously a camera bag. Keep it with you at all times.

7. When you go to the beach, only take what you need. Don’t take things that are not needed. Don’t leave your possession alone unattended.

8. When you are in a sauna, keep an eye on your locker and check back into that room occasionally. I don’t leave very valuable things in my locker.

9. When you take a boy into a cabin for a programa, when you shower, take your clothes with you. There are hooks in the bathrooms for these items and it is just a smart thing to do to keep your things with you at all times.

10. When you are at a bar or disco, don’t leave your drink unattended. Don’t accept drinks from others. When you get a drink, keep your hand over the top of it. This way, no one can put anything into the drink that will cause you to loose you common sense.

11. If you are into the street trade, don’t take someone from the street that one of your friends doesn’t know. Be very careful. A lot of the guys from the street are great fun but you should exercise caution. One thing that I learned on my first trip to Brazil is that I would not go with someone from outside of Curijina’s or anywhere unless someone knew the guy. I try to stick to this rule.

12. Most hotels won’t let you have a guest in your room unless they have a copy of their ID. This is a good thing and for your protection. Always make sure that your visitor has proper ID and when you get to your hotel, walk them over to the front desk to leave a copy of the ID as required.

13. If you are new to Brazil, don’t walk around at night unless you are accompanied. I suggest taking a taxi. It is very inexpensive to take taxis in Brazil and it may keep you safe.

14. All the saunas provide condom and lube to you. It is wise to use them here. The rate of HIV is high and you need to protect yourself.

15. Ask your hotel for suggestions on restaurants and venues. They know many good ones and they may help you to find something you have not heard mentioned before.

16. When you leave the sauna, see all the charges to you bill and make sure they are correct.

17. A few simple words in Portuguese is very helpful. If you have Itunes, download the Portuguese Language guide. It is quiet good and just listening to it on your plane ride down is useful.

18. I have a hotel taxi pick me up at the airport. I find it more comfortable for me as I arrive with my computers and cameras.

19. Brazil really is paradise. Have a great time. Be safe. Be smart.

(this was written about 5 years ago. If you have suggestions, PM me with revisions). Thanks.

Oz

[Guest tagasian]

I have combed through this forum and thankful for all the information. One thing not mentioned is how to get to the saunas. I'm sure it's been mentioned before but would be nice if it's part of this beginner's guide. Meio Mundo, Pointe 202 and Club 117. Please advise what is the best way to get to these places. By taxi or by Metro? if by metro, can you inform us which station to get off and how to get ot the saunas? Much appreciated.

[ihpguy]

Pointe 202 is about a one and a half block walk from the Metro Siquiera Campos stop. Walk away from the ocean, slight uphill walk. Blue awning out front at #202. One flight of steps up to the entrance.

Clube 117 is about one block from the Metro Gloria stop. When exiting at street level you'll be on Rua da Gloria. near intersection with Rua Benjamin Constant. Walk about a half-block to Rua Candido Mendes, take a left and it will be about another half-block at #117.

Meio Mundo is about a three block walk from the Metro Uruguaiana stop. It is a large station so find the steps/escalator for the exit onto Ave. Easiest to exit if you take one of the first couple of train cars. When you get to the street walk in the direction towards the Candelaria church which is set in the middle of Avenida Presidente Vargas. When you reach the church, there will be a small street right before you get to the Banco Santander. This is Rua da Candelaria. After maybe 60 meters make a left onto Rua Teofilo Otoni and then Meio Mundo will be on your left at the end of the block. The easiest, cheapest and quickest way to get there is to hop one of many buses from Copacana and Ipanema including the 413, 415 and 455. Immediately after you pass through the Mergulhao underpass pull the string or press the button on the bus and you'll be let off right at the corner by the Banco Brasil Centro Cultural if there is a red light or then at the next stop at Avenida Rio Branco. If it is a dead night at Meio Mundo, it won't get any better, so hop the Metro from Uruguaiana or the 422 bus to Gloria

[Guest tomcal]

iphguy's directions are great! one thing that might alarm a first timer is the lack of signage at these saunas with the exception of 117 which has a lighted vertical sign on the outside of the building that says "CLUBBE 117" neither pointe 202 or Meo Mundo has any visible sign from the street, at least pointe does have it's address on the wall "202" but Meo Mundo is basically on a alleyway/street and you kinda have to know it's there to find it. There is no sign, except for a small decal on the door and no sign saying Meo Mundo. If you have a app like google maps on your Phone it makes it much easier or for first timers, especially those going to Meo Mundo I would strongly suggest taking a taxi! more expensive but can save you time and angst! you don't want to waste time looking for a building when you could be inside of it having fun!

[Lucky]

Take a taxi? I'm taking you.

[Guest tagasian]

Thank you very much to all for the information. This pretty much covered my "gay things to do" in Rio. I'm scared (since this is the first time I am traveling alone and don't speak a word of portugese) but excited. My friends have went alone and they had one of their best trips. So I'm looking forward to this.

[Lucky]

I also went alone the first time I went to Rio. It was fun learning the lay of the land, so to speak, but on subsequent trips I had more fun.

tagasian, I hope that you have a great trip.

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

learning the lay of the land, Lucky, or getting layed all over the land?