Gay Carnival 2014 in Florianopolis, Brazil

Florianopolis is the 3^rd major destination for gay tourists in Brazil and a favourite summer destination for Brazilians. During Carnival, 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.

Praia Mole beach is the hub, both at the sand stretch in front of Bar do Deca and at the hotel in front, packed with gay visitors from all over Brazil.

Gay girls concentrate in Lagoa, at the fun themed parties @ Caravana Fusion Food.

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. 

Floripa Carnival 2014 Schedule:

From 28 February to 8 March: Bars & Clubs open every night with Carnival specials

Saturday 1 March: Samba Schools Parade & Competition

Monday 3 March: Pop Gay Festival

Plan your trip in advance- quality accommodation (especially in Praia Mole) sells out early. Consult us now.

Read more about Gay & Lesbian Florianopolis in the international LGBT media:

Passport;

Spartacus Traveler;

ManAboutWorld; 

The Edge on The Net;
Curve Mag;

Surf, Yoga and Whales : 8 days/7 nights Surf Camp for Gays, Lesbians and Friends in Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina, in South Brazil, is a secret Brazilian kept for many years. Known for its gorgeous beaches and mild climate it has grown in recent years as a gay and lesbian-friendly destination.

 

Praia do Rosa, on the Southern Coast of Santa Catarina, is famous in Brazil for its perfect waves, its rustic-chic guesthouses and restaurants and for receiving the visit of the Southern Right whales in winter.

Due to its shape, the half-moon bay of Rosa is considered a “Disneyland” for surfers, as there is always an option for good surfing, independently of wind or swell direction. Winter sometimes brings big swells that attract pro-surfers, but most of the year it offers good conditions for all abilities.

Adding to that, there is Capitão David: surf coach and owner of the oldest local surf school, established in Rosa since 1995. The Captain, as he is known by his more than 13,000 student/friends, is a friendly character that has taught generations of beginners and trained some serious surfers. His first lesson can last hours and it will teach you more than any other surf school ever did!

For experienced surfers we offer a chance of touring the nearby beaches searching for the best waves in Brazil with a friendly local.

We add to the surf camp, a 2-night stay in Florianopolis, the Magic Island, and a place known for its surfing culture and gay-friendliness since the 80’s!

To make the week even more special, you might have a very close encounter with one of the gentle giants of the seas- the Southern Right Whale.

This will be a Surfing holiday that you will never forget!

Group size: minimum 6, maximum 12

Package includes:

·         All transfers starting/ending Florianopolis airport with English-speaking driver or guide

·         2 nights accommodation at a Town Home in Praia Mole, Florianopolis, with breakfast (shared house, private ensuite rooms)

·         5 nights accommodation at the charming Pousada Casa do Ceo in Praia do Rosa (private ensuite rooms)

·         4 surf lessons/clinic for beginners with Capitão David School or 4 Surf  sessions /clinicwith a local for experienced surfers  + 1 Surfari

·         2 Yoga  Group Sessions

·         2 dinners

Package does not include:

Flights, Visas, meals not mentioned, optional tours, insurance, tips, equipment (except during surf lessons)

Read testimonials about this trip.

**Extensions to Rio or other destinations in Brazil available- please consult us.**

Florianopolis Gay Carnival 2012 - where to stay?

Florianopolis is the 3^rd 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

Brazil LGBT Travel - Pernambuco, Nov 2010

Buenos Aires Welcomes Gay & Lesbian Tourists

WELL, I am definitely going way down south on this one, but there is a good reason for it.

Last week we were in Buenos Aires for the GNETWORK event - the 2nd International Meeting for Gay and Lesbian business. The event was at the beautifully designed Axel hotel , the first "hetero friendly" hotel in South America. It was a great event with speakers from all over the world and with a big audience on both days.

I gave a talk on incoming LGBT tourism in Brazil and the promotion of destination Florianopolis for the international LGBT market (here is the connection to this blog!).

Another reason to link Buenos Aires to Florianopolis is that a lot of Europeans and North Americans that visit one, want to visit the other. And it is a great combination for a short holiday: Buenos Aires with all its culture, excellent restaurants and parties and Floripa with its great beaches and relaxing atmosphere (and parties too!).

In summer, there are direct flights (a mere 2 hours journey) between the two cities, making it a very easy going holiday.

Brazil Ecojourneys tips:

• To find your way around gay and lesbian Bs As grab a GMaps guide. Updated every 3 months the guide is a great help for any G and L visitor;
• An economical alternative for accommodation in Buenos Aires is to rent a flat. There are many options but these two companies cater mainly for the LGBT community: BA4U and Friendly Apartments.
• When going out to clubs , remember that Argentineans go out even later than Brazilians- places don't get busy until 3 am!

• Tango has become popular once again with the younger crowd and there are venues that cater for same-sex tango classes- check GMaps for details;