LGBTQ Pride Month began its history on June 28, 1969, in New York City. In the early hours of that day, police officers invaded a gay bar called The Stonewall Inn and arrested several people, especially transvestites and drag queens, for being dressed in clothing of the opposite sex. The LGBTQ community was at Stonewall for several days to protest for the right to be who they are. This event started a series of political and social discussions and culminated in a worldwide movement to fight for the rights of LGBTQ community members. The event is the reason why we celebrate Pride Month in June.
Today, after years of struggle and protest, the world is closer to accepting and including people of different identities and sexualities. While it’s still not perfect and there’s a long way to go, this progress is still definitely something worth celebrating!
Fun fact: summers aren’t just about Pride events. Since 2020, the 10th of August every year has been World LGBTQ+ Tourism Day. This is a special day where businesses and organisations in the tourism industry come together to use tourism as a tool to combat homophobia, by raising awareness of the importance of LGBTQ travellers and their role in the industry’s development.
With that, may we present 10 lovely destinations in Latin America and Brazil that make everyone feel included and safe during their leisure trip, honeymoon or business trip. Ready to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
10. Santiago, Chile
Legally, Chile is still relatively conservative on some fronts, despite being a liberal economic powerhouse in South America. But once you arrive in the city, you’ll soon feel very welcomed by those in the LGBTQ community, especially when in the Bellavista neighbourhood.
One of the most famous streets frequented by the community is Calle Bombero Nuñez. It’s a ton of fun, but it’s not cheap, so be prepared to invest a little extra money for a night out there. If you’d also like to check out some of the must-see attractions and cultural activities, see what our Santiago guide offers.
9. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Mexico has a reputation of traditionally being gay-friendly – did you know that the Mayans, for example, had same-sex relationship rituals? This is what makes it a very popular destination amongst the LGBTQ community. Mexico was the first country in Latin America to legalise same-sex marriage, in 2010. Today, the country continues to open its arms to the community.
The main destination is Puerto Vallarta and its surrounding region. The area has many LGBTQ-friendly options as far as hotels, tours, cruises, restaurants and bars. When you consider its complete beauty, both in terms of its nature but also the beauty of its locals, you could call it a true paradise.
The city even has a Vallarta gay guide, so you can see what’s happening in the area. You can also check out more experiences and highlights in our Puerto Vallarta guide.
8. Bogota, Colombia
Wondering how LBGTQ-friendly Colombia is? Well, in 2017 the country was elected the best LGBTQ tourist destination by the International Tourism Fair, and the capital is one of the reasons for this choice. Despite being a recent newcomer to the scene, the city has continuously introduced more bars, restaurants, hotels and events for the community. The most famous of them, open since 2002, is the Theatron, which has parties, dances, shows and events catering to the gay public. If you want to have fun and meet people, this is the place to be in Bogota.
7. Montevideo, Uruguay
Uruguay has been featured in international news since 2012, thanks to its liberal and progressive policies. The country’s implementation of several public policy changes, including the approval of same-sex unions having the same rights as heterosexual marriages, was a milestone. Since then, it has been considered one of the most gay-friendly destinations in South America – so you can rest easy and book those flight tickets.
If you’re going there for the beaches, you won’t want to miss Punta del Este, which is a real charmer, and Cabo Polonio, reputedly one of the more affordable destinations on the continent. And both are gay-friendly, of course!
6. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires shares the title of ‘Gay Latin American Capital’ with Montevideo on many lists. The legalisation of same-sex marriage took place in 2010, including full adoption rights, making Argentina the first country in Latin America to advance this right.
In the capital, you’ll have several options to enjoy the colourful side of the city: Glam Club in the Recoleta neighborhood; the Sitges bar in Palermo; Contramano Bar in Recoleta and, in San Telmo, the Pride Café. Don’t forget to check out our Buenos Aires guide to make the most of this amazing city.
5. Salvador, Brazil
Close your eyes and imagine yourself at Salvador’s carnival. Or on the Bahian beaches of Arraial d’Ajuda, Trancoso, Morro de São Paulo… there are actually so many amazing places that it’s hard to choose. As one of the most internationally-known destinations in Northeast Brazil, Salvador welcomes visitors with open arms and pastel colours. Within the city, the neighbourhoods with the most concentrated LGBTQ attractions are Rio Vermelho and Centro. Learn more about Salvadore in our guide.
4. Belo Horizonte, Brazil
In several lists that you can find online, Belo Horizonte appears as one of the emerging destinations in the LGBTQ scene. In addition to the street Carnival, which of course is one of the main attractions of Brazil, Belo Horizonte has tons of bars where you can meet people and lose track of time. The city is actually reputed to have more bars per person than any other city in the world! Most of the bars and clubs catering to the LGBTQ crowd are located in the Savassi neighbourhood. You can see more of what to do in this fun city in our Belo Horizonte guide.
3. Florianopolis, Brazil
Did you know that Floripa is better known as the Island of Magic? And for good reason: with plenty of gorgeous beaches, famous parties and welcoming locals, the capital of Santa Catarina was chosen as one of the LGBTQ community’s prime party destinations by The New York Times all the way back in 2009. The city has continued developing and expanding its gay scene since – so much so that even in Praia do Rosa, 90 km from Floripa, you’ll find the Gay Surf Brasil tournament. So if your path takes you to the south of Brazil, be sure to include the city in your itinerary.
2) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Of course there’s no way this marvellous city could be left out of the list. Rio de Janeiro is a perfect destination for any traveller, whether you’re looking for the classic tourist attractions, seek to understand the culture and rich history of the area, or are looking for a beautiful backdrop on which to enjoy your holiday. The fact that it’s also a super gay-friendly destination is just the icing on the cake! In fact, the capital has been voted the sexiest LGBT destination by Trip Out Gay magazine two times.
1) São Paulo, Brazil
One ‘big’ reason this grand city has gotten the top spot on our list is, quite simply, because it has the biggest Pride Parade in the world! But São Paulo is also the city with the greatest variety of attractions, bars, restaurants, hotels and everything else you could want to experience here. For example, it’s home to the Museum of Sexual Diversity, conveniently located at the República Metro Station for easy access. This popular area is also where the street carnival is held, and where you can stroll around enjoying music on Rua Augusta or even an electronic party on special occasions.
You could say that diversity is the beating heart of São Paulo. But really, choose any city on this list and you’re sure to have the time of your life – especially if you come around Pride!
