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Big gay Brazil is a treasure trove of both natural and cultural sights and experiences. World-famous Carnaval is reason enough to visit the Latin country, while São Paulo’s annual Pride Festival is rumoured to be the largest in the entire world. Beach bums will love the pristine coastline. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Amazon is a mecca for nature lovers that must visit at least once in their life. Perhaps best of all is the country’s robust multiculturalism, bringing together the flavours, rhythms and fashions of indigenous cultures, West Africa, Portugal, Spain, Germany and more. This is one of only a few destinations we can confidently say, there really is something for everyone.
Brazil is a famously LGBT-welcoming destination. Public opinion tends to be strongly in our favour and among South American countries, Brazil ranks as one of the friendliest. Of course, the country is extremely large and attitudes and acceptance change drastically depending on the region. While Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Salvador have become queer meccas, prejudice is still strong in more remote and rural regions. It should also be noted that while Brazilian law is overwhelmingly in our favour, the incumbent president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, self-describes as “homophobic” and has notoriously claimed the country shouldn’t become a “gay tourism paradise.”
Gay Activity: Legal
Lesbian Activity: Legal
Gay Marriage: Legal
Right to Change Gender: Legal but requires surgery
Same-Sex Adoption: Legal
LGBT Discrimination: Illegal in some contexts
Brazil is one of the world’s greatest gay hotspots. It is famously accepting of all sexual orientations with robust gay villages and annual Pride Festivals (São Paulo’s Parada do Orgulhoin is said to be the biggest in the world) in every major city. The massive coastline is littered with gay beaches brimming with bodacious men and women. Meanwhile, LGBT-oriented clubs and bars tend to attract a mixed crowd of hetero- and homosexual patrons looking to samba dusk to dawn. Of course, we haven’t even mentioned Carnaval, the gayest nongay festival in the entire world!
Rio—Rua Teixeira de Melo is a beachside neighbourhood and the heart of gay Rio.
Rio—Lapa is a bohemian neighbourhood that’s also very popular with the LGBT community.
São Paulo—Frei Caneca / Consolação is the largest gay strip in the city.
São Paulo—Largo do Arouche / Centro is relatable to New York’s West Village. It’s grittier than Frei Caneca but absolutely worth a visit.
Salvador—Although LGBT people are welcome in most areas of the city, The Barra neighborhood is quite popular with gay men.
Rio—Farme de Amoedo (AKA Barbie Land) is a gay beach in Ipanema. Look for the rainbow flags.
Rio—Praia de Bolsa in Copacabana right in front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel. It’s nicknamed Bolsa after the bears that tend to frequent it. It’s also popular with the transgender community.
Rio—Praia do Abrico in the the Grumari district is a gay-friendly nudist beach.
Rio—Reserva in Barra da Tijuca has a lively LGBT stretch.
Salvador—Porto da Barra
Rio de Janeiro Gay Pride—Annually in September
São Paulo Gay Pride—Annually in February (2021’s festival has been pushed back to June). Famously one of the largest gay Pride festival.
Salvador de Bahia Pride—Annually in September
Rio—Boate 1140 (Club)
Rio—Buraco da Lacraia (Cabaret and nightclub)
Rio—La Cueva (The oldest gay bar in Rio)
São Paulo—1007 (Mixed younger crowd. Nightclub)
São Paulo—ABC Bailão (Legendary bar for the over-50 crowd and their admirers)
São Paulo—Bar da Lôca (Open-air gay punk bar)
São Paulo—The Week (The largest, most famous LGBT club in Brazil)
Salvador—Bar Caras & Bocas (Gay bar and cabaret)
Salvador—San Sebastian Salvador (Relaxed club)
Salvador—Boate Tropical (Disco and retro bar/club. Located on an UNSAFE street. Always taxi or uber to the venue)
Salvador—Bar Ancora Do Marujo (Drag bar)
São Paulo—The L Club (Friday night even for lesbian and bisexual women)
The capital city of Brazil’s Bahia brings together two of the country’s most prominent cultural heritages: Portuguese and Afro-Brazil.
While Brazil’s largest rainforest continues to face larger and larger threats, it is still one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and home to all of the country’s poster-children including toucans, macaws and pink dolphins.
This vibrant city hosts the largest Pride Festival in the world and the largest gay club in Brazil (The Weekend).
On the border of Brazil and Argentina, 275 roaring falls collide creating what is widely considered the most beautiful waterfall in the world.
No gay tour of Brazil would be complete without an afternoon on either Ipanema or Cocacabana beach sipping caipirinha and watching gorgeous sun-kissed Brazilian men and women walk by. As the sun dips, ride the gondola up Pão de Açúcar for an otherworldly sunset. Finally, allow the rhythm of this festive city to take control of your hips as you samba your way through endless LGBT-welcoming bars and clubs.
Best Time of Year To Visit: If you’re looking to experience Carnaval, you’ll need to book during high season (Dec–Mar). For those interested in just a beach getaway, we recommend the shoulder seasons (Apr & Oct). Finally, a visit to the Amazon or Pantanal is best between July and September.
Electricity: In Brazil the power plugs and sockets are of type N. The standard voltage is 127/220 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. For more information visit https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/brazil/.
Time Zones: Fernando de Noronha Standard Time (GMT-2), Brasilia Standard Time (GMT-3), Amazon Standard Time (GMT-4), Acre Standard Time (GMT-5)
Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements: Out Adventures requires proof of full Covid-19 vaccination from all guests, following recommendations by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more details please see our Covid-19 FAQ.
Other Vaccinations: The WHO recommend the following vaccinations when travelling to Brazil: Measles, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Rabies, Yellow Fever. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, you should consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic, as Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.
Visas: Most travellers from Australia, Canada, The United Kingdom and The United States do not need a visa to enter Brazil for up to 90 days. Exceptions may apply and all visas are the responsibility of the traveller.
LGBT Rights in Brazil
Brazil is a famously LGBT-welcoming destination. Public opinion tends to be strongly in our favour and among South American countries, Brazil ranks as one of the friendliest. Of course, the country is extremely large and attitudes and acceptance change drastically depending on the region. While Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Salvador have become queer meccas, prejudice is still strong in more remote and rural regions. It should also be noted that while Brazilian law is overwhelmingly in our favour, the incumbent president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, self-describes as “homophobic” and has notoriously claimed the country shouldn’t become a “gay tourism paradise.”
Gay Activity: Legal
Lesbian Activity: Legal
Gay Marriage: Legal
Right to Change Gender: Legal but requires surgery
Same-Sex Adoption: Legal
LGBT Discrimination: Illegal in some contexts
Gay Brazil Travel
Brazil is one of the world’s greatest gay hotspots. It is famously accepting of all sexual orientations with robust gay villages and annual Pride Festivals (São Paulo’s Parada do Orgulhoin is said to be the biggest in the world) in every major city. The massive coastline is littered with gay beaches brimming with bodacious men and women. Meanwhile, LGBT-oriented clubs and bars tend to attract a mixed crowd of hetero- and homosexual patrons looking to samba dusk to dawn. Of course, we haven’t even mentioned Carnaval, the gayest nongay festival in the entire world!
Rio—Rua Teixeira de Melo is a beachside neighbourhood and the heart of gay Rio.
Rio—Lapa is a bohemian neighbourhood that’s also very popular with the LGBT community.
São Paulo—Frei Caneca / Consolação is the largest gay strip in the city.
São Paulo—Largo do Arouche / Centro is relatable to New York’s West Village. It’s grittier than Frei Caneca but absolutely worth a visit.
Salvador—Although LGBT people are welcome in most areas of the city, The Barra neighborhood is quite popular with gay men.
Rio—Farme de Amoedo (AKA Barbie Land) is a gay beach in Ipanema. Look for the rainbow flags.
Rio—Praia de Bolsa in Copacabana right in front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel. It’s nicknamed Bolsa after the bears that tend to frequent it. It’s also popular with the transgender community.
Rio—Praia do Abrico in the the Grumari district is a gay-friendly nudist beach.
Rio—Reserva in Barra da Tijuca has a lively LGBT stretch.
Salvador—Porto da Barra
Rio de Janeiro Gay Pride—Annually in September
São Paulo Gay Pride—Annually in February (2021’s festival has been pushed back to June). Famously one of the largest gay Pride festival.
Salvador de Bahia Pride—Annually in September
Rio—Boate 1140 (Club)
Rio—Buraco da Lacraia (Cabaret and nightclub)
Rio—La Cueva (The oldest gay bar in Rio)
São Paulo—1007 (Mixed younger crowd. Nightclub)
São Paulo—ABC Bailão (Legendary bar for the over-50 crowd and their admirers)
São Paulo—Bar da Lôca (Open-air gay punk bar)
São Paulo—The Week (The largest, most famous LGBT club in Brazil)
Salvador—Bar Caras & Bocas (Gay bar and cabaret)
Salvador—San Sebastian Salvador (Relaxed club)
Salvador—Boate Tropical (Disco and retro bar/club. Located on an UNSAFE street. Always taxi or uber to the venue)
Salvador—Bar Ancora Do Marujo (Drag bar)
São Paulo—The L Club (Friday night even for lesbian and bisexual women)
Best Places to Visit in Brazil
The capital city of Brazil’s Bahia brings together two of the country’s most prominent cultural heritages: Portuguese and Afro-Brazil.
While Brazil’s largest rainforest continues to face larger and larger threats, it is still one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and home to all of the country’s poster-children including toucans, macaws and pink dolphins.
This vibrant city hosts the largest Pride Festival in the world and the largest gay club in Brazil (The Weekend).
On the border of Brazil and Argentina, 275 roaring falls collide creating what is widely considered the most beautiful waterfall in the world.
No gay tour of Brazil would be complete without an afternoon on either Ipanema or Cocacabana beach sipping caipirinha and watching gorgeous sun-kissed Brazilian men and women walk by. As the sun dips, ride the gondola up Pão de Açúcar for an otherworldly sunset. Finally, allow the rhythm of this festive city to take control of your hips as you samba your way through endless LGBT-welcoming bars and clubs.
More Info
Best Time of Year To Visit: If you’re looking to experience Carnaval, you’ll need to book during high season (Dec–Mar). For those interested in just a beach getaway, we recommend the shoulder seasons (Apr & Oct). Finally, a visit to the Amazon or Pantanal is best between July and September.
Electricity: In Brazil the power plugs and sockets are of type N. The standard voltage is 127/220 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. For more information visit https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/brazil/.
Time Zones: Fernando de Noronha Standard Time (GMT-2), Brasilia Standard Time (GMT-3), Amazon Standard Time (GMT-4), Acre Standard Time (GMT-5)
Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements: Out Adventures requires proof of full Covid-19 vaccination from all guests, following recommendations by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more details please see our Covid-19 FAQ.
Other Vaccinations: The WHO recommend the following vaccinations when travelling to Brazil: Measles, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Rabies, Yellow Fever. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, you should consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic, as Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.
Visas: Most travellers from Australia, Canada, The United Kingdom and The United States do not need a visa to enter Brazil for up to 90 days. Exceptions may apply and all visas are the responsibility of the traveller.
Insider tips to help you book your next gay Latin America vacation.
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