Brazil January- February

[Alaskabear]

After hemming and hawing between a short trip to the Dominican Republic this fall or a larger trip to Brazil later this winter I chose delayed gratification and bought tickets to Rio!   
 

This will be my first trip to Brazil and my first trip after covid hit.   My plan is two weeks in Rio, a few days in Salvador, a few days in Iguazu and finishing off the trip in São Paulo. I’ve got a few questions if any of you all have answers. 
 

I’d like to stay in an area that’s also good for my straight companion who’ll be visiting with me for a week in Rio.   Looking for a good area with lots of food options, tourist friendly and a good place for a first time visitor.   He’s going to be hitting up the girlie places while I hit up the gay places.  Thoughts?  
 

I also want to stop by Iguazu falls for a day or two and I’m wondering if I should use Curitiba or Porto Alegre as a gateway city or just fly from Rio to Iguazu.   A couple of days in a fun city in that region would be great to contrast to a couple days I have planned for Salvador.   
 

As for Rio saunas from my social media feed it seems pointe and 117 are open.  Are any other saunas open in that general vicinity?   I haven’t remembered the fate of lions club.   
 

Definitely looking forward to a good trip.   

[davet]

Rio's party districts are Lapa, where there is (or used to be pre-covid) massive weekend street parties, and Copacabana, where there are enough hookers and breast implants to keep you from seeing your straight friends for days. Lapa is for the hard-core partier; watch your surroundings, stay mostly sober, and you could have a lot of fun. The one time I went, I ran into a boy I just did at 117. He had a hot friend with him. I regrettably didn't know at the time that multiple love hotels were in the vicinity. Copacabana is mid-market and sliding. Ipanema has more upscale everything, plus a gay beach.

As I understand it, the straight commercial sex sauna scene is 10 times bigger than the gay one. I've never had the need to find one, but I assume there spread all over town. "Sauna Mixta," I was told, meant a bordello. "Sauna Masculina" means men only, not necessarily gay, but definitely not a bordello.

I'm not sure what you mean by gateway city. There will be far more flights from Rio to Iguacu than from the other cities, which will probably connect you inefficiently through Rio or Sao Paulo anyway. If you think Iguacu is a buzz-in, buzz-out day trip, I would dissuade you from that. You need preferably two days to arrive at Iguacu and see both sides of the falls. My dream is to one day stay at the Belmond hotel that's right inside the national park. 

[Alaskabear]

Thanks for the info!   I was planning two days in Iguazu at least.  Seeing both sides requires entering Argentina I’m assuming.  I haven’t looked into covid requirements yet for border crossing and it’s likely things will change between now and then.   As for staying in Curitiba or PA it was more of a chance to check out cities in that region of Brazil.   I could of course go to Florianopolis as well.    
 

Brazil is a big country and I’d love to fly up and see Lencios marenheses and Amazonia further out.   Another time I suppose.   
 

Any info on current rates for garotos in Rio, SP and Salvador?   

[davet]

Curitiba has been called the Minneapolis of Brazil: Clean, orderly, pleasant, a little boring. There are gorgeous young men and women with a stew of German, Polish, Ukrainian, Iberian, and Latin heritage (model scouts allegedly dig through the back-country here) but the best guys go to SP and Rio to work. Too uptight to ply their trade at home. I'm glad I went, but adjust your expectations.

Florianopolis is nice if you can find some undeveloped stretch of beach. When I was there 20 years ago, they were building like crazy. PA I'm kind of meh on. Sao Luiz and Lencois - big thumbs up! A different history (French and Dutch) up there. I saw Brazilians from other parts gasping at foods that they'd never seen before ("farofa de caranguejo!"). The town across the waters from Sao Luiz is like an 18th century time capsule. 

My faves are two colonial cities of Minas Gerais: Ouro Preto and Diamantina. Even the names are beautiful.

[davet]

There's been more recent info about garoto rates, but they seem to have held steady over the past several years. Start at 100, don't go more than 150, and leave room to give them a little extra for good service. 

Have fun. Be safe, be alert, be kind!

[floridarob]

6 hours ago, Alaskabear said:

He’s going to be hitting up the girlie places while I hit up the gay places.

From stories I've heard and know that are true in Mexico and Thailand.....straight guys are bigger fools with their money, we know this. But the girls are devious and there's a ton more ways to lose money, overpay and end up in a bad situation....I'm glad I'm gay in this respect.

[Alaskabear]

1 hour ago, floridarob said:

From stories I've heard and know that are true in Mexico and Thailand.....straight guys are bigger fools with their money, we know this. But the girls are devious and there's a ton more ways to lose money, overpay and end up in a bad situation....I'm glad I'm gay in this respect.

My buddy lived in Phuket for a couple of years managing a girlie bar.  Haha. He’s been around the block but not in Rio yet!   

[SolaceSoul]

11 hours ago, davet said:

There's been more recent info about garoto rates, but they seem to have held steady over the past several years. Start at 100, don't go more than 150, and leave room to give them a little extra for good service. !

Some of the muscle boys in the Rio and São Paulo saunas are asking for (and getting) R$200 for a programa in the sauna.  

[davet]

6 hours ago, SolaceSoul said:

Some of the muscle boys in the Rio and São Paulo saunas are asking for (and getting) R$200 for a programa in the sauna.  

Is that a recent phenomenon? My info is from about one year ago, that the lack of tourists was hurting them. $200 seemed to be what it was heading toward before covid, but I'm not sure what the situation is now. R200 was the most I ever paid, about 4 years ago. And that was a tall Arabic-looking guy at the end of the night, when he could and seemingly NEEDED TO cum. We had negotiated 150 with no mention of porra. He did it without mentioning any up-charge, but I thought it was worth a big tip.

[davet]

I'm seriously eyeing a trip in early November. Depends on how the airline cancellation/change policies currently are.

[SolaceSoul]

35 minutes ago, davet said:

Is that a recent phenomenon? My info is from about one year ago, that the lack of tourists was hurting them.

My information is VEEY recent. Like, within the last month recent. 

[Tomcal]

it is true i have experienced that pricing often in Rio and SP the past 6 months!  The economy in Brazil is still in the toilet for everyone and gogo danvcers /strippers from the straight clubs are meeting up for $200-$250.

[Guest]

interesting - I look at VivaLocal & Garotocomlocal frequently and most quote R200-R300 per hour to come to hotels, etc  The saunas are an entirely different thing and my experience is much less expensive and less time, maybe 20-30 min for R150 max.  As we all know, the saunas are a volume game for the boys.

In comparison, I don’t pay more than 50 euros at Sauna Termas in BCN for 20-30 min….are you saying the rentboys in Brazilian saunas are making more than rentboys in BCN sauna ? 300 reais = 50 euro

I wonder who is paying the Brazilians crazy prices because basically there are no tourists - Something doesn’t make sense ?

 

[SolaceSoul]

5 hours ago, Slvkguy said:

interesting - I look at VivaLocal & Garotocomlocal frequently and most quote R200-R300 per hour to come to hotels, etc  The saunas are an entirely different thing and my experience is much less expensive and less time, maybe 20-30 min for R150 max.  As we all know, the saunas are a volume game for the boys.

In comparison, I don’t pay more than 50 euros at Sauna Termas in BCN for 20-30 min….are you saying the rentboys in Brazilian saunas are making more than rentboys in BCN sauna ? 300 reais = 50 euro

I wonder who is paying the Brazilians crazy prices because basically there are no tourists - Something doesn’t make sense ?

 

In Barcelona Sauna Thermas:

50 EUR = 58 USD- 311 BRL (today’s conversion rates) 

in Rio’s 117 / 202 and São Paulo’s  Lagoa (high-end prices, using Tomcal’s high-end price example):

250 BRL = 40 EUR = 47 USD

Both are programas for 30 minutes.

I don’t see how you arrived at the conclusion that Brazil’s prices are higher than Barcelona’s. 

Also, I can’t speak for @Tomcal but in my examples, I stated mine were “some muscle boys”. I wasn’t referring to any other types. My experience has been that certain guys (those in higher demand, or those who just perceive themselves to be) will charge a higher rate. Muscle boys / gogo boys tend to do this (universally, not just in Brazil), while the ”guy next door” types or twinks tend to command lower rates (why prices are cheaper at certain saunas over others). I’m not saying ALL do this, but a whole lot of them do. You can still get a number of them for 150 reais at the sauna. 100 would be a stretch and highly uncommon. 

The same kinds of guys (not necessarily the very same ones) are asking for upwards of 250 reais an hour in ads for an incall, more for an outcall (plus Uber costs), with most in the 300-350 reais range. I’ve seen some that are higher, but only one or two that are less than 250. 

Again, “guys next door”, slim guys and twinks tend to run less than the muscle guys, bodybuilders, athletes and fitness / physique models or real life fashion / print models. Maybe sometimes a porn guy who thinks he’s a star will elevate his rates too. That’s just the nature of the beast and that’s a universal law worldwide, not just a Brazil thing. 

Tourists are still coming to Rio and São Paulo during the pandemic. there are just less of them. 
 

 

 

 

[Guest]

I’m not questioning what you’ve been told - I just think the boys are wildly embellishing their rates.  I learned long ago not to trust 90% of what they say.

A favorite of mine that I’ve known forever has been begging me last 12 months to send money to Brazil given huge drop off in sex work both online and in saunas.  I sent him money a couple of times…..when coronavirus numbers improved there, I quit sending figuring work would resume.

and, this same Brazilian sex worker is on the way to BCN first part of October.

the point w the comparison between BCN and Brazil is that if it’s even close, then there is something way off about the information. The numbers tossed around in the posts are “close” enough for me.

[Lucky]

14 hours ago, Tomcal said:

it is true i have experienced that pricing often in Rio and SP the past 6 months!  The economy in Brazil is still in the toilet for everyone and gogo dancers /strippers from the straight clubs are meeting up for $200-$250.

I once strongly lusted after a dancer in a Rio sauna, but he did not stay around after his dance. I would have gladly paid him 250! The going rate at the time was 100.

[SolaceSoul]

3 hours ago, Slvkguy said:

I’m not questioning what you’ve been told - I just think the boys are wildly embellishing their rates.

This isn’t what I was “told”. This is what I know they are currently charging. At this point. I’m here more than I’m not. I know the players and I know what they charge. I’m not getting my information from internet message boards or whisper campaigns. And the guys you posted examples of as your perfect type wouldn’t really be the type I was describing as commanding 150 - 200 reais per sauna programa, so you probably have nothing to worry about, anyway. Those guys are safely ensconced in the 100 - 150 reais range. But believe what you will. I’m not going to go back and forth with you about something as insignificant as a difference of basically $12 USD.

3 hours ago, Slvkguy said:

A favorite of mine that I’ve known forever has been begging me last 12 months to send money to Brazil given huge drop off in sex work both online and in saunas.  I sent him money a couple of times…..when coronavirus numbers improved there, I quit sending figuring work would resume.

and, this same Brazilian sex worker is on the way to BCN first part of October.

Garotos have been hitting up clients (esp. gringo tourist clients) for money. claiming that work is slow WAY before COVID. This is nothing new. 

Several of the Brazilians I know who like to go to BCN DO make more money there than they do in Brazil. A large factor in that is they are “new” or “exotic” in BCN, whereas in Brazil, there are many more guys who look like them — thus they turn more tricks in BCN. 50 EUR is only slightly over 300 reais. They do more volume work and make more (plus ads), or they can do slightly less work and still make about the same. It’s also the cachet of working / visiting / living in Europe that appeals to a lot of them. We aren’t talking about that significant a difference in take home pay. 

Also, as you suggested in your post, most often they find ways for others to pay for their trips to Europe (clients, sugars, donations). 

[Axiom2020]

Solace Soul spelled it out quite clearly.  Obrigado!

R$150 and R$200 seem to be a lot of money, but in reality, it "ain't" as contrasted to what one would pay in both the United States and in Europe.  You either want to play and treat the guys fairly, or you don't.  You are not overpaying, especially during these days of the pandemic.

The base rate some ten years ago was R$50 and upwards some ten years ago and prior.  Some guys thought that fee was outlandish then. 

Remember we all are living during inflationary times.  Just note the constant increase in goods at our grocery stores in the US.  

[trzinko]

i am traveling at the beggining of january. i made a deal with a cute 21 year old uber motorcycle driver yesterday via internet.  we made a deal for 2 day motorcycle drive around rio to see some waterfalls and different beaches and to stay with me 2 nights for sex.  also to go to some music places....

we agreed for 500 reais for each 24 hours.

 

[spoon]

59 minutes ago, trzinko said:

i am traveling at the beggining of january. i made a deal with a cute 21 year old uber motorcycle driver yesterday via internet.  we made a deal for 2 day motorcycle drive around rio to see some waterfalls and different beaches and to stay with me 2 nights for sex.  also to go to some music places....

we agreed for 500 reais for each 24 hours.

 

Sounds like a great deal to me! Especially if the uber drive is my type.

[SolaceSoul]

10 hours ago, Axiom2020 said:

Remember we all are living during inflationary times.  Just note the constant increase in goods at our grocery stores in the US.  

 

Not to mention that inflation in Brazil is freakin’ through the roof. The price of goods there is outrageous compared to wages (in BRL).

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-annual-inflation-rises-5-year-high-84-june-2021-07-08/

[Guest]

On 9/23/2021 at 1:09 PM, SolaceSoul said:

Garotos have been hitting up clients (esp. gringo tourist clients) for money. claiming that work is slow WAY before COVID. This is nothing new. 

Several of the Brazilians I know who like to go to BCN DO make more money there than they do in Brazil. A large factor in that is they are “new” or “exotic” in BCN, whereas in Brazil, there are many more guys who look like them — thus they turn more tricks in BCN. 50 EUR is only slightly over 300 reais. They do more volume work and make more (plus ads), or they can do slightly less work and still make about the same. It’s also the cachet of working / visiting / living in Europe that appeals to a lot of them. We aren’t talking about that significant a difference in take home pay

Our experiences are very different & are not mutually exclusive - both can be accurate & true

1. Actually, I’ve never been hit up for money by any sex-worker until early 2021.  When this particular long term acquaintance asked for money, Brazil had already been ravaged by Covid and it was well documented in the press.  I knew for sure he needed the money due to very few tourists in Brazil and sex venue/sauna traffic way down.  It wasn’t hard to connect the dots and understand the need was real.  

2. The Brazilians I know at BCN Termas have been there for several years and are by no means fresh meat.  They are charming, fun, polite and extremely good at what they do.  They also point me in direction of the “good” boys and look out for me when I’m there.

3. I’d never pay $200+ in a Brazilian sauna for a programa for 20-30 min. Nope.  When you pay too much for anything, you look like a fool and the locals are not happy. You’re also quickly identified as an easy “mark” as the boys all talk. That’s my opinion.  Totally different when outside of the sauna.

4. The guys I posted (Roscarino & Felipino) don’t actually work in saunas bc they make too much money via OnlyFans. Felipino doesn’t even do GP work, online only.  Roscarino may occasionally do GP work, not absolutely sure.  Appears you’re judging them based on appearances only & not their actual value relative to their social media following and how they monetize. Roscarino has 450,000  on Twitter and Felipino has 368,000 They use Twitter to drive traffic to their OnlyFans for $$$.  Your assessment on both is way off.

5. The Brazilians I know in Spain are there because they make way more money than in Brazil - not even close.  If it was close, then the obvious choice would be to remain in Brazil w much lower cost of living.
Btw - Brazilians wouldn’t necessarily be considered “exotic” (whatever that means) sex-workers as there is a huge population of Venezuelans, Cubans, Colombians, etc all over Spain. “Exotic” is very outdated language when applied to ethnicity or nationalities in general - usually coded language for People of Color. Not a great choice of words.

6. inflation is a real thing for Brazilian consumers - mainly due to insane taxes on everything they import and the extremely low value of the Real.  However, as a tourist - the prices are now about the lowest I’ve ever seen (except airfares) and a bargain. 

for those contemplating a trip to Brazil - be safe, have fun & enjoy   I can’t wait to go back.

[Alaskabear]

It’s too bad roacarino isn’t a gp (assuming he isn’t anyhow) because he is so my type.   I follow several guys on Instagram that I often wonder if they do GP work on the side.  A few are dancers at the clubs I follow as well.  Scouring the escort pages I’m not finding them advertising on there.   Private messages through Instagram rarely get traction as I’m sure these guys get hundreds of messages a day.   I’m just hoping that a few of them show up to the sauna when I visit.   
 I mean if they don’t it’s fine.   I’m sure there are many many hot guys.   It’s just the fantasy of having a crush and playing out that fantasy in real life that’s exciting.  

[Guest]

Roscarino has an email address posted on Twitter page - he has 2 pages…it’s the one w 450,000 followers.  Good luck 

[bucknaway]

Why is it when people compare prices of almost anything in Brazil, they choose the most expensive places in the USA to compare it to?  They do the same thing in Thailand.  Don't want to pay the Farang rate for a motorbike taxi?  They often ask "How much you pay in NYC?"  Nothing...  I don't go to NYC...  Too expensive.  

I was talking with a guy from Romeo.  He says he is not a professional but asked if I would buy him an Iphone as his was stolen.  I let him know I was not buying him an Iphone.  He told me that Iphones were cheap for us in the USA and he stressed that he did me a favor by not asking for the latest model.  To him $500 USD is nothing to us Americans...

If I am expected to pay American prices in a foreign land then why leave America?  If a trip to Rio would cost me dollar for dollar as a trip to Miami or Hollywood then I would beat feet to Hollywood and Miami.

If I am happy to make it rain cash in Brazil, that is me and I would not expect others to follow my footsteps. 

As far as money for the guys in the business, I see online hot guys asking for $100 brl and a few porn star guys asking for $500 brl.  What is the standard?  Who knows, when your max meets their minimum then everyone can be happy.