Florianopolis is the 3rd major destination for gay tourists in Brazil and a favourite summer destination for Brazilians & South Americans.
During Carnival - from 17th to 22nd February, in 2012- Florianopolis is second only to Rio in the preference of Brazilian and South American gay men. In recent years major label parties and mega clubs moved their parties to Florianopolis helping to make it a big contender to be the biggest and hottest gay Carnival in Brazil.
As it becomes more and more popular, you need to book your accommodation in advance. Choosing where to stay is a critical decision, since traffic is heavy during the long bank holiday and parties happen in different locations. Here go some tips:
Praia Mole beach is the hub, both at the sand stretch in front of Bar do Deca during the day and at the themed parties of The Week club, packed with gay visitors from all over the world. The choice of accommodation and restaurants, however, is limited.
Downtown you have all the Gay & Lesbian clubs and bars favoured by the locals, as well as the street parties and traditional Carnival events such as Samba Schools Parade and the Pop Gay festival, a very camp Carnival costumes competition for drag queens. The drive to Praia Mole gay beach can be long, though.
A good compromise is to stay in the bohemian Lagoa neighbourhood, located between downtown and Praia Mole. There you will find more mid-range accommodation options and good restaurants and cafes within walking distance. If traffic is bad you can walk to Praia Mole (4 km away) and in the evening you can use direct public transport to town, avoiding the worse of the traffic.
Brazil Ecojourneys offer 5 to 7 nights packages in gay-friendly accommodation, including meet & greet by a knowledgeable guide, return transfers and a welcome information pack for the local gay and lesbian scene. They can also purchase tickets for the best parties.
Please consult prices & availability - info@brazilecojourneys.com
