Recife, October 2025

[+ José Soplanucas]

I continue my post-retirement slow traveling journey. Today, I am starting my third week in Recife, my first time in the Brazilian NE. By the way, I just realized I did not open here a thread for Salvador. You can check that travel log in this thread in Gayguides.

I am having a great time, and you can check more in detail my adventures and misadventures in this thread in Gayguides. So far, I love the city but I am longing for the saunas and the men from Rio and Salvador.

My apologies to everyone and to the moderators for not duplicating the threads here, but hopefully we all are sisters and there is no issue on sharing traffic. If there is any, please let me know.

I am impressed with Termas Boa Vista, the biggest local sauna and reportedly the best gay sauna in Brazil. I just published a full report in my new substack. The venues are amazing, and you can hardly find a better place to have non transactional sex. However, the GPs scene is not my favorite and in general I find men here far less attractive than men in Salvador, Rio, and São Paulo.

Prices are ridiculously low.

Drinks are cheaper than in a regular bar, and the best suites are only 40R and you have them for a full hour (in the other cities you have the suites for only 40 minutes). GPs' prices are similar than in Salvador, slightly cheaper than Rio. Locals pay between 50 and 100R. I could get a programa for 100, but I am paying 150 and the guys are extra happy and engaged.

I will be here until November 6th, and then I have to leave Brazil or ask for an extension for my visa. I will be moving to Medellín, where I will stay until December 15th.

My original plan was slow traveling for 2 or three years, but I do not think this is the life style for me. At the moment (I may change my mind), I am planning to travel until June 2026. In June I may return to DC to attend graduation at my last school if the World Cup allows me to. And then I would return to South America to find my new home. Right now, there are two contenders left: Rio de Janeiro and Medellin. I think I want Rio to win.

 

[+ azdr0710]

$26US......embarrassingly inexpensive!

[+ José Soplanucas]

3 hours ago, azdr0710 said:

$26US......embarrassingly inexpensive!

Everything is at that level. If you are following my travel log, in my last post I mention a meal at Alto da Sé, in Olinda. This is a touristic hot spot, so of course the restaurants there are overpriced, specially the one I chose, with an astonishing view of Olinda and Recife. I had a spring water, a huge chicken dish, a generous dessert and one of the best coctels I have tried over here, and my bill was less than 20 bucks.