The gay beaches of Rio are easy to find, emblazoned with the Gay Flag and full of the hottest guys from Rio and beyond.
The beach is an important element of the social and cultural lives of Cariocas; for the LGBT community, this is especially true. The beach is a place to meet, play, tan or show off your rock-hard body — and if you aren’t as toned as Brazil’s infamous Barbies, it can be enough just to sit and admire. The beach is also a place to find out about the hottest parties, as there will be cute gay club and party promoters making their rounds handing out flyers and selling tickets to some of the best events and parties of the night.
Farme Gay Beach
You won’t find lovelier stretches of sand anywhere. And the men on the sand — at Copacabana’s Bolsa Beach and Ipanema’s Farme de Amoedo (or “Farme Gay”) — are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
The ‘Farme’ gay beach, just East from the crossroads of Farme de Amoedo is Barbie land, a term used to describe the buffed, beautiful and rich gay men who favour this stretch of sand and come from the well off South Side of the city and who mix with local celebrities and the great and good of the city.
To get there, walk slightly east of Rua Farme de Amoedo until you see the rainbow flags and thousands of hot guys standing or cruising around between the umbrellas at Posto 9 (life guard tower 9). The beach is located between Postos 8 and 9 right next to the Ipanema Plaza Hotel — a particularly gay friendly hotel.
Copacabana Bolsa Beach
Copacabana also has a gay beach. Called ‘Bolsa’ it’s mainly frequented by the bear and trans crowds.The gay beach is located right in front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel in an area known as the Bolsa.The vibe at the Bolsa is much less “cruisier” than the atmosphere at Farme Gay, so while you’re more likely to meet new friends or get picked up at Ipanema, Copacabana is a great place to relax and enjoy yourself.
It is easy to spot the gay beaches in Ipanema and Copacabana – just follow the rainbow flags and the buff Carioca boys in their Sungas!
Look out for the hot promo guys handing out flyers for the latest party that night – its the easiest way to find out what’s going on!
Sunday Funday!
Sundays at the gay beach in Ipanema are a must, as are a pair of sunglasses to disguise your stares as the stunning pageant parades by. Ipanema shares with Waikiki a glorious vista of natural beauty (Rio has Sugarloaf, Honolulu has Diamond Head) and a promenade of luxurious hotels ringing the ocean. Yet Ipanema–and its more famous neighbor, the curvaceous Copacabana–also contains the playground athleticism, contented faces, and gleaming hard bodies of Mediterranean beach towns. There’s the happy backbeat of lapping surf, soccer balls smacking off thighs, the slap of paddleballs on wood. Silent capoeira dancers leap to these rhythms and to the laughter that accompanies another Brazilian invention, futevole, which resembles beach volleyball (only it’s played with a soccer ball, and you can’t use your hands)
Post Beach Fun – Rua Farme de Amoedo
After a morning, afternoon or entire day at the beach, head over to the heart of gay Ipanema at Farme de Amoedo Street, which runs from Vieira Souto Avenue and ends at Alberto de Campos Street. Busy during the day and at night, you’ll find a plethora of shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and cafes that cater to a gay clientele. Taking a stroll down the Farme Block (the broader area around Rua Farme de Amoedo) will land you at Cafeina e To Nem Ai (a popular spot for some cocktails at the beginning of the evening), Dama de Ferro, W, Café Felice, and Galeria Café.
Other Beaches
Reserva
This beach is part of a preservation area in Barra da Tijuca. Although not classified as a gay beach, it is gay-friendly and becoming a bit of a hub within the gay population. With white sands and enclosed by the vegetation from the Atlantic forest, it’s stunning, yet a bit further away from the usual tourist areas.
Praia do Abrico
While not exclusively gay, Abrico is gay-friendly and a nudist beach, so feel free to go around in your birthday suit. Off the beaten track, it is accessible through Grumari, which is at the far side of Barra da Tijuca. Be careful when taking photos there; though selfies will probably be overlooked, photos of the beach and its visitors can get you kicked out.
We recommend that you try and grab a beachfront room if your budget will stretch that far! 4 star hotels offer great value but book fast. The newer 5 star hotels in Rio are some of the most opulent in the Latin America.
A rooftop pool with stunning sea views, a spa & wellness center. luxurious beachfront accommodations on Ipanema Beach.
Next to Copacabana beach, Rio Othon Palace features a rooftop pool with excellent views of the Sugar Loaf Mountain
Facing Copacabana Beach, within a 5-minute walk from Ipanema Beach, this hotel features free Wi-Fi, a rooftop pool and a restaurant.
Located in Rio de Janeiro, just 100 m from the famous Ipanema Beach. The hotel has an outdoor pool and sun terrace,
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