Each year, more and more gay men seeking a sexy, exciting New Years vacation are trading in their “Cosmos” for “Caipirinhas,” and heading to Rio de Janeiro, leaving the usual winter get-aways like South Beach behind.
“Rio today reminds me of what
South
Beach was like 10 years ago,” said Joel Cabrera, “The beaches are loaded with eye candy as far as the eye can see, and the night scene explodes with some of the best venues and music in the world.”
The center of
Rio’s gay scene is Ipanema, with its huge gay beach, trendy restaurants, and unique gay bars.
“Everyone wants to stay in Ipanema,” said Cabrera, “It’s unlike any place I’ve ever been, and you do things you probably would never do back home, like walk around town, go shopping, and go for lunch wearing nothing but a Speedo and flip-flops. But, everyone does it, and it’s totally normal...”
A typical day in
Rio starts with a big Brazilian breakfast buffet at your hotel with fresh exotic fruits and juices, freshly baked breads, and incredible meats and cheeses. After breakfast, you should try hang gliding, which takes you over
Rio’s beautiful beaches and tropical jungle.
On other days you may do a little morning shopping or perhaps take a trip to
Corcovado, where the famous Christ Statue, Cristo Redentor stands watching over the city.
At some point everyone flocks to the beach to mingle, reconnect with people they met at a club the night before, and drink caipirinhas.
After a few hours in the sun, it’s time for a late lunch at a Brazilian BBQ place, (churrascaria), or perhaps an outside café where you can enjoy a sandwich and a draft beer.
Your Rio vacation reaches its climax on December 31st, where you will see everything you’ve been missing all these years spending New Years back in the States.
On New Years Eve in Rio, everyone from the tourists to cariocas (the name given to the locals of Rio de Janeiro) dress in white, and walk into the water to cleanse their past year’s sins by giving an offering to the sea goddess, Yemanja. Millions of people flock to
Copacabana
Beach to hear live music and watch the world-famous fireworks display.
It is truly a destination of beauty and contrast. Everyone is sun-kissed from a week of beach parties, hang-gliding, and touring this sensual city, and dressed all in white, the contrast makes even the once-pale tourists look beautifully exotic.
However, the most unique dichotomy is the week of partying contrasted with the spiritual “cleansing” of New Years Eve in
Rio.
Franco Castiglione of NYC says the best things about
Rio for New Years are "Fabulous beaches and hot spots, gorgeous guys, and it’s so cheap!"
Links:
Rio Gay Guide
Gay.Com
