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

Carnival 2009 in Florianopolis -II

Carnival in Florianopolis happens all over the Island, but the most traditional events, the Samba Schools Parade, Bloco dos Sujos parties and the Pop Gay Festival, all happen downtown.

During the 5 days (20-24th February), there are street parties animated by bands playing on stages distributed around the centre. Next to the Public Market, around the XV November Square ( a.ka. Praça da Figueira) and in Hercilio Luz Avenue, an area almost exclusively frequented by the LGBT crowd during Carnival. Music starts from 21h and finishes 2 a.m.

Saturday (21st Feb) is the night of the Samba Schools Parade in the local Sambadrome (Passarela Nêgo Quirido). Tickets are cheap but difficult to get hold of unless you queue for hours, so it is easier to get them from touts on the day. They should cost from around R$50. The parade starts oficially at 20h, but delays are very common, so expect to wait until 21-21:30 until the first School appears. The whole show lasts around 7- 8 h, going into the early hours of the morning. Dress warm and take a rain coat, as the stands are not covered!

Sunday is the day of Bloco dos Sujos, a very traditional part of the local Carnival. Hordes of cross-dressed man (most of them straight and married...) parade during the afternoon through the centre of town dancing, singing and drinking- loads!, frequently accompanied by their whole families. Quite a sight! Later on the smaller neighbourhood samba groups -"blocos"- compete at the Sambadrome. From 19h.

On Monday night the biggest event is the Pop Gay Festival, which is a competition of Carnival costumes for Drag Queens and Transexuals. Traditionally it was held in the Hercilio Luz Avenue (where the LGBT crowd gathers), but due to its huge success ( last year 50 thousand people attended) , it was moved this year to Tancredo Neves Square, a few blocks away from the original site. The crowd is very mixed with lots of families attending. Starts from 21h.

Apart from downtown, the neighbourhood of Santo Antonio de Lisboa has a more low-key but still very popular Carnival, with parties every night and also the Children's Carnival on Sunday. Campeche and Lagoa are also neighbourhoods that have "blocos" on Carnival Sunday.

Carnival 2009 in Florianopolis - I

Unknown to many, this 4-day festival is celebrated all over Brazil. Besides Rio's famous Samba School's Parades and Salvador and Olinda street parties, you will find a lot of other cities that have great Carnival events.

Florianopolis has one of the most popular Carnival festivals in Brazil, because it mixes all the above (samba schools, street parties, neighbourhood "bandas") in a safe and friendly environment. It has also, rivalled only by Rio, one of the biggest Gay Carnivals in Brazil.

This week we will post news about all the upcoming Carnival parties in Floripa. If you would like to join the fun check Brazil Ecojourney's carnival packages.

To kick-off the season you can attend a Samba School rehearsal. From now to Carnival there are almost daily rehearsals in different points of the city.

One of the main candidates for Champion, Consulado, rehearses at their headquarters on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays from 19h. Rua Custódio Fermino Vieira, 20
Saco dos Limões - Florianópolis. A small fee is requested after 20h.

The newcomer União da Ilha da Magia meets at the main square in Lagoa on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 20h. Free.

Another favourite, Copa Lord, rehearses downtown next to the Public Market from Monday to Thursdays at 20h. Free.

Have fun!

The New York Times: Florianopolis is the Place to Be

The New York Times recently declared Floripa the Party Destination of the Year and THE Place to Be in 2009.

The chic beach bars of Jurere and the famous gay Carnival parties of Praia Mole were mentioned, but beyond these areas that are favoured by visitors wanting to party, Floripa has many others that offer a lot of local fun.

Last night, for example, we took a stroll down Armacao main street , one of the oldest fishing communities on the Island and were met by a "bloco" formed by young drummers of a local NGO, rehearsing for Carnival.

Listening to the drums by the sea front while having an ice cream with the pretty old church of the Armacao in the background, I thought that this is what Carnival was really about in its origins: genuine community fun and not only a show for tourists.


Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys Team:

• These kind of events happen every weekend during January and February (until Carnival) in most neighbourhoods. Lagoa, Santo Antonio de Lisboa and Campeche, in particular, have good neighbourhood "blocos", so if you are in the Island during this time, check them out.
• The Afri Catarina NGO offers cultural workshops for the local youth of the south of the Island- check www.africatarina.com.br