Recife, October 2025

[Latbear4blk]

New destiny, new thread. This Monday I am arriving to my new base for the following month, an airbnb in Boa Viagem, just one and a half block from the beach, nearby Parque Dona Lindu. It is going to be my first time in the city, so I would highly appreciate any wisdom other friends were willing to share. 

I know there are two GP saunas. Blue Thermas is at walking distance from my new base, but the info I am gathering tells me that it is not the best option. Please, correct me if I'm am wrong. The other sauna is Thermas Boa Vista, and apparently the one I should focus on.

Besides the saunas, any other recommendations will be appreciated. 

[buttercawan]

@Latbear4blk

There are quite a few saunas in Recife. According to the locals I talked to, all saunas in Recife are mixed. I have only been to three: Termas Boa Vista (TBV), Recife SPA Sauna (SPA), and Blue Termas. Personally, I would rank them in that order. Not sure you'll like Blue Termas, I did have fun the one time I visited but it was with another patron. But this was based on a visit, also I didn't stay long. Having said that, since it is so near, why not check it out at least 1 time?

Most of the saunas and gay venues are in Boa Vista area - maybe 20-40 mins Uber from you, depending on the traffic.

https://www.instagram.com/termasboavista/
https://www.instagram.com/recifespa/
https://www.instagram.com/bluethermasbvg/
https://www.instagram.com/thermassossego/ or https://www.instagram.com/sossego_spar/

[12is12]

For what it's worth:

https://www.gayguides.com/topic/70007-report-from-recife/

[Latbear4blk]

If you are looking for sex stories, you can skip this post.

I arrived last Monday after a short flight from Salvador. I like Recife's airport, specially its location in the middle of the city. The Uber trip to my airbnb was not even 15 minutes. I do have to say something about my airbnb. It is not bad, it is just weird, the weirdest place I have stayed in.

It is a tall, 20 story building two blocks from the coast. I am guessing it was innovative 20 yeas ago, but I feel like in a failed technology experiment. For instance, look atnthe lights controls.

Instead of having the needed switches in each room, I have to memorize 20 different numbers and what light each one switches on/off. Of course I am not memorizing any shit, and I feel like texting messages until I find the lights I want. The white control atnthe bottom is for the table.

You cannot move the table around, it is fixed to the floor. You can use the control to set the table's height. Then, you have the bathroom.

That is what I see when I am standing in front of the bathroom mirror, because it is not vertical but with a slope, like it is designed for a dwarf or a kiddo. The top mirror is OK, but it is above my head (I am 5'7 tall). You can also see the round mirror, that should be installed at a higher level. I have not yet shaved since I arrived, but I will have to bend like when I have to suck a tall guy's cock. And there is more.

There are two showers, both on top of the toilet. I guess whoever designed the apartment liked to shower while seating taking a shit. There are good things, though. Surprisingly, I have hot water in all faucets in the bathroom and the kitchen. Talking about the kitchen, it is not well equipped for a long stay. If I was staying for a week, it would be perfect, but I am going to be here for an entire month. I made an inventory and asked the host whether he can bring me a kitchen knife, a can opener, a potato peeler, and a bowl, and he graciously responded positively to my request. I would love to have an oven, but I can handle with the small pans and pot I have. It is a 15th floor, with a nice city view and a refreshing breeze. So far I did not have to turn on the A/Cs.

There is also a medium size swimming pool I have not yet tried, and a well equipped gym I will not try.

I am loving the city so far. I walked north about three kilometers, the waterfront avenue and the beaches are beautiful. I was surprised by the huge number of city workers, but I guess that is because they are making improvements getting ready for the high season that is about to start. There are warnings about sharks everywhere, and therefore people is swimming only in the natural pools. It was Tuesday, and it is still the low season, there were not a lot of people.

 

The best beaches and the more gay friendly were towards the end of my walk. I will be back the next sunny day and report again. I did not yet walked towards the South. Unfortunately, the beautiful nature is not framing beautiful men. Compared to Rio or Salvador, where it is hard to walk for a couple of blocks with finding a lot of eye candy, Recife seems to be a disappointment so far. I walked three kilometers up and down, and saw only two guys I found attractive. (without counting the military police agents)

I lost my earphones in Salvador, so I went today to the shopping mall. Huge building, spacious and labrynthic. I had to use the touch screens maps (great interface) a couple of times to find my way. For those who like malls, this is a great place to hang out and do shopping. Countless stores and good options for eating, from cheap fast food to OK quality restaurants. I just had a quick breakfast.

Later I tried Thermas Boa Vista. I also got lost like in the mall. Huge sauna, the installations are very nice, but it was empty. The few guys who seemed to be GPs were not hire material for me. I stay for one hour at the bar drinking a good capiroska, and did not dare to explore much because when I check in I was told that I could be dressed only at the bar. However, I saw patrons walking around in full cloth. One of guys I talked to, who offered me massages, told me that I should try again this Friday or Saturday. Considering the lack of eye candy throughout the city so far, it looks like this is going to be good for my budget, after over expending in buys in Rio and Salvador. I will not go again to that sauna during the week, perhaps I will try tomorrow Blue Thermas without much enthusiasm. 

 

[floridarob]

4 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

If you are looking for sex stories, you can skip this post.

I was waiting to see pics of you naked at the bar drinking.... or at least fanning money at the guys.

 

 

4 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

but I will have to bend like when I have to suck a tall guy's cock.

I'll let Joe know you are practicing.

 

 

4 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

It is a 15th floor, with a nice city view and a refreshing breeze.

Maybe leaving the curtains open is safe here, or even balcony sex?

 

[Latbear4blk]

I asked the cleaning lady (she comes every day but Sundays) whether all the units in the building were designed as the one I am occupying. I laughed at her expression when she told me no. Obviously, everyone comments about the two showers and the other weirdo things. After she finished cleaning up and left, she even rang my bell a few minutes after to show me how "normal" other unit was. I think the only explanation is that this apartment was designed for someone on a wheelchair. That would explain everything.

I continued the exploration of the city. I spent a few hours this week walking the old town, starting at Marco Zero. Everything is remarkably clean, and public work and private developments are everywhere. According to my conversations with multiple airbus drivers, the local prefeito is doing a good job. I loved the old city, although I decided not to cross to the Parque Das Esculturas after reading bad reviews about missing and crumbling pieces of art.

Right at Marco Zero there is a huge expo building with local art craft. I found specially appealing some of the stuff made with natural elements.

The famous bonecos museum was a disappointment, I would have not spent those 30R if I knew better.

 

 

Although I am saving money by cooking, I could not resist the temptation to sit by the ocean and enjoy a meal outdoors and under the refreshing breeze.

Last Friday, I moved away from the coast and visited the local Botanic Garden. It was a disappointment, I was expecting something bigger and more impressive, but it was a nice stroll anyways.

This week I went to Termas Boa Vista three times. I am very impressed at the size and the high quality of the building and the service. The venue is just huge, I got lost the two first days. They have generous administrative offices, with a desk for checking in and a different one for checking out. Several rooms to sit and relax, a dressing room with more than 300 lockers, showers and restrooms everywhere, a barber, a massage room, a generous bar with a movable roof, a disco with a stage and a second bar, a store with clothing and many many sungas, at least 6 luxury suites you have to pay for, a straight and a gay porn room, a semi dark labyrinth full of free cabins, and a dark room I did not dare to walk in into (yet).

I am shy (fuck you in advance @floridarob for any eventual piadas), so I am slowly feeling more comfortable with the place. My first visit was on a Wednesday. Only the main bar was opened, and very few people were lurking around.  At checking in, I was told that I was allowed to be dressed if I stayed inside the bar, but the policy was to be undressed if I was going to be circulating around. So I tried to do the same I always do, and stayed at the bar. As I would learn later, it was a mistake. As I did not see anyone attractive, I drunk my two regular caipiroskas and left after one hour (6:30 to 7:30). The drinks are good and affordable. Everything is.

The second visit was Saturday. There were a lot of people. At the bar, besides all the regular Brazilian snacks, they also seem to always have two major dinner dishes, generously served, at 24R. This time I saw several eye candy, and I understood the friends who commented in other threads about the difficulty to distinguish regular patrons from GPs. This sauna is not a GP sauna like the ones I am used to, but a mixed one. Most of the hot action takes places amongst civilians. 

After my first drink, I befriended a local guy. Thanks for Brazilian hyper sociability, otherwise I would have spent the entire night alone (fuck you @floridarob). He gave me a tour through the labyrinth and explained the cabins system. He also pointed out to the difference between the two porn rooms, one next to the other. Where you can see gay porn on the screen, is where the gay patrons cruise each other. The straight porn room is where the GPs exhibit their tools. I did the entire tour all dressed up, and noticed other few locals doing the same, so the rules are apparently bendable. However, it was late and I was not in the mood for changing, you I just had fun chatting and learning from my new friend. He told me that to distinguish GPs from civilians you have to look at the towels, the GPs, he said, wear it with the sauna watermark on the front. However, my experience taught me that this is not accurate. After saying goodbye to him, I went back home virgin again.

My third visit was yesterday, Saturday. Damn, the place was packed! I arrived about 7:25 and there were a lot of guys in all the different ambiences. The thing would get more comfortable for me (remember, I am shy and do not like crowds -fuck you Floridarob) at 9, when they open the access to the disco room. This time, I followed my Brazilian friend's advise and change to the towel. You know, when in Rome... 

I did it after my first capiroska. First, I wanted to check whether or not it was worthy. I saw a lot of eye candy, and thought it was not really that hard to distinguish between GPs and clients, although I do recognize the difficulty. After my first drink I changed. I thought bout sending a selfie to Floridarob with me semi naked and using my reais as a fan, but the dressing room was packed, and that bitch would probably use my selfie to create a meme.

Undressing was a great decision. I immediately mingled with the crowd. When I went to the bar to order my second capiroska, several guys engaged in conversation. Not only was it fun, but very good for my ego and my self esteem, as a few guys considerable younger than me (probably in their late 30s/early 40s) made advances. Unfortunately, I am spoiled by GPs and was only looking for hotties in their 20s. 

After a long while, I broke out from the pointless flirting and went to the labyrinth. I connected with a GP, got a suite, and had my first (and only so far) programa in Recife. It was OK, but forgettable and will not repeat with him.

What impressed me was the suite. At the reception they only give you the key and warn you that you have 1 hour (yes! one full hour!), if you go over that time you have a new charge. The room was spotless. A double bed with real sheets, A/C with the remote control there, camisinha, lube, two clean towels, and a perfectly working double shower with hot and cold water. In the ticket the charge says "presidential suite", and it was only 40R.

After going to the locker to pay for the programa, I tried to get a second one. There was a guy I had already seen the night before and was smoking hot. Unfortunately, he was only top. I saw a couple more of very hot guys but they were civilians. My local friends advised me to stay to see the stripper (one guy) show at 10, but I was tired and went back home by 9:30. The place is open up to 6am, and invite you with a free breakfast at 5:30 if you stay. I would have taken the offer in my other life, but 25 years in DC killed my vampire gen. The prices are very affordable, and all the staff is super professional. Unlike the other saunas I've been too, this place is managed as a very serious business. I do not know whether or not it is true, but the locals told me it is the melhor sauna gay do Brasil, and they seem very proud of it.

Today, Sunday, my plan was to hang out in the beach. I walked up to Paris Plage Recife, the barraca with the best recommendations in the web. I got there at 10;30 am and they already had ran out of places in the first line. As I did not want to be sitting watching someone's back, specially when families with kiddos were everywhere, I went back home to enjoy the swimming pool. But damn it, the breeders had also taken it over. So I am relaxing and catching up at my place. I will probably go out tonight, my new local friend is recommending another sauna. Recife Spa, also located in Boa Vista.

In summary, weekdays do not seem to be popular in Termas Boa Vista and I will probably will not return on those days. The two levels facilities are huge and impressive, everything looks modern, new, and perfectly maintained, as if the place just opened for business. The staff is friendly and super professional, and the patrons are very friendly. The GPs are very different compared to my previous experience. They do not advance when you are in the bar, most of them don't  even look at you, and do not go to the bar. The hot are is in the labyrinth, but it is straight to the point. For instance, when I told my GP that I would not make the decision to have a programa with him without previously making out and checking the chemistry, he did not kiss me in public. Instead, we went to one of the free cabins and closed the door behind us before making out. They are very discrete and I did not see them hanging out with clients in the bar. Prices are similar to Salvador. I paid 150, I was told locals pay between 50 and 100. 

Also, remember that I do not like the wet or the dry saunas. I was told a lot of action takes place there, but I did not step in. 

[Mavica]

1 hour ago, Latbear4blk said:

In summary ...

Thanks for the excellent report, and photos!

[Lucky]

I signed in just to show my appreciation @Latbear4blk's thread.Well done, and now you have me wanting to visit Termas Boa Vista!

[floridarob]

3 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

he did not kiss me in public. Instead, we went to one of the free cabins and closed the door behind us before making out. They are very discrete and I did not see them hanging out with clients in the bar

So much for open curtains or balcony sex then?

Also, you missed places for a couple more fuck you's 🤷‍♂️

[Latbear4blk]

31 minutes ago, floridarob said:

So much for open curtains or balcony sex then?

Also, you missed places for a couple more fuck you's 🤷‍♂️

[Lucky]

How could one hate floridarob? He's an interesting poster and a pleasant guy to hang out with at a Rio sauna!

[Xclay]

On 10/4/2025 at 2:28 PM, Latbear4blk said:

Blue Thermas is at walking distance from my new base, but the info I am gathering tells me that it is not the best option. Please, correct me if I'm am wrong. 

I'll suggest you check out Blue Thermos soon. It was convenient to my hotel as well and I had lots of fun there.

Most days there were no GPs while I was there, but I always got lucky. Helps to be the new guy in town. There were some under 30 btms (not models but not bad looking) who were eager to please -- no tip required. The custodian wanted to play too and wanted a tip. He was fit and  cute with salt and pepper hair.

Your mileage may vary but I think it's worth a trial run.

[Latbear4blk]

18 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

Lucky, I consider @floridarob a friend. This is an inner joke, I hope you understand.

[Latbear4blk]

5 minutes ago, Xclay said:

I'll suggest you check out Blue Thermos soon. It was convenient to my hotel as well and I had lots of fun there.

Most days there were no GPs while I was there, but I always got lucky. Helps to be the new guy in town. There were some under 30 btms (not models but not bad looking) who were eager to please -- no tip required. The custodian wanted to play too and wanted a tip. He was fit and  cute with salt and pepper hair.

Your mileage may vary but I think it's worth a trial run.

I will give it a try, I have plenty of time. Remember, I am not on a short vacation desperate to take advantage of every minute. I am retired, slow traveling, and enjoying myself. Always, but specially at almost 63, life has much more to offer than saunas and sex. That said, I am planning to explore the two other saunas, Blue Termas and Recife Spa, but I am going to do it only on the weekends. My plan was going yesterday to Spa, but my nap went longer than expected and instead I stayed at my airbnb chilling in the swimming pool until 10 pm. 

Today my plan was going to the beach, but the forecasting speaks of a cloudy day. So I walked to the South, a much quiete area of the city in this zone. I crossed the Parque Dona Lindu, and took this photo, so you all see what I meant in another post when I said that I like Niemeyer, but not to design a park.

Actually, I think the lack of trees may be a local issue. Before deciding to go for the walk, I was in the mood to go to a nice park with a forest. I loved the Jardim Botânico, but I found it too small, it only took me about 30 minutes to explore. I checked two big parks using Google Maps, and they look like a prairie with no trees and shade, which is not what I was looking for.

Most of my walk was disrupted for the public works I also mentioned before. I took the following picture from the North, once I reached the end of the public works.

But once I passed that area under renovation (almost two kilometers), I was able to see how the oceanfront will look like, as I reached a zone where the renovation was completed:

As most times here, the forecasting was wrong and I could have gone to the beach. Instead, and in order to avoid the ugly area under renovation (the workers here are overdressed despite the heat, so there was nothing to look at), my walk back was on the beach, bordering the waves.

 

Rain is forecasted for tomorrow and a sunny day for Wednesday. I will be ready to spend a day in the beach tomorrow or the following day. Now, I am heading to the swimming pool.

[Latbear4blk]

Another relaxing week in Recife. A little bit because I have not yet been seduced by the local sauna scene, a little bit because of the weather (rain, cloudy days), and a little bit because my free lance gig kept me busy some days.

I spent my first day in the beach, after my frustrated expedition last weekend. I went to Paris Plage Recife, according to ChatGPT the most gay friendly barraca in Boa Viagem. The AI advised me to go on the weekend, but you have to get up very early those days. I went over there last Wednesday and got my front raw location at 10:30 am. The service was great, a cute boy that made sure I was happy. The drinks were amazing, but not the food.

I dropped the rice and beans on top of everything, it came in a separate tray. The chicken was dried and poorly cut, like Jamaicans do, leaving bone splinters that are dangerous for your mouth and the rest of your digestive track. Instead, I should have taken advantage of the many vendors offering much more affordable and better food.

The beach was full of families, perhaps the weekend is different but I do not think so. I love Pernambucanos, they are super friendly and kind, but they also are super religious and socially conservative, which I do not like at all. Very, very few ice candy for my eyes. I got you an example.

I spent 6 hours in the beach, and my fingers are more than enough to count the hotties I saw. So far, beautiful men are not a strong point for Recife.

A word of appreciation goes for the friend @Mavica. I am not really a beach person, I find sand and waves annoying, but I do like the experience now and them. But I always do it when I have company. Mavica's post encouraged me to try it by myself and the entire experience was great. Muito obrigado, Mavica meu querido!

This week I also walked around the old town. I visited the Museu de Arte Moderna Aloísio Magalhães. It is a nice small museum set in a colonial house.

Close to the Museum, I found a street fair for plants and fish lovers.

The city is full of rivers and bays, crossed by a wide array of bridges.

And you have to be alert all the time, because there are jewels everywhere.

I am walking by myself and during day light, I have not perceived any threats. The locals are extremely friendly, and the few times I got lost I always found a loving soul to help me. Actually, they found me. They noticed me trying to get oriented with my phone and without me asking for help, they came to rescue me. Mostly humble, street workers. 

I found the Casa da Cultura de Pernambuco. It is an old jail that is now occupied by artisans and other sellers of local products. The stores are set inside what used to be cells and dungeons. It has a second level but I did not dare to clim the stairs due to my vertigo.

I also visited the Museu da Cidade the Recife, which is just a fortification built by Dutch colonizers back in foundational times. The edification is beautiful but there is not much more to see. The site's name is quite misguiding.

That lady was walking in circles around the flag pole when I arrived. I counted four circles after my arrival. I thought that perhaps she was some kind of religious weirdo. She left after her fourth circle.

Today I went out for a walk and found paradise: a bakery like the ones we Argentineans love. Real artisanal bread, pastries and cakes. They offer a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I am going to visit them often.

Last night, Friday, I returned to Termas Boa Vista. The day was weaker than the previous Friday. Very few GPs, none of them motivated me to hire them, and also less civilians. I ended in a free cabin with a local, a 40 years old, very sexy Pernambucano. We made up, suck each other, and came together, I did it on his face and he did it on the floor while I was milking his sexy face. This time I went straight to the lockers when I arrived, and remained shirtless the entire time. I do keep my short pants on, so I have pockets for condoms (local camisinhas are a little bit too tight for me), money for tips, and my phone. By the way, I have to insist with the bar boys for them to accept my tip. Even before they knew I was tipping, they fixed an extra strong caipiroska for me. They all are amazing.

I think this sauna is a great place to hang out with friends, as the drinks and the food are good and very affordable, much more affordable than a conventional bar o restaurant. It is also cool to hook out with other men and have non transaccional sex. But so far, I do not see why so many friends praise the local GPs scene. Not good for me. I am actually with saudade for Rio and Salvador.

My plan is to have today my first visit to Blue Termas (it is a 15 minutes walk from my Airbnb), and tomorrow is Recife Spa's turn. I have seen so many bad reviews of Blue T that I have not found the motivation to visit it even when it is so close. Today, I go prepared to leave early and head towards TBV, Saturdays is a very strong day over there.

I'll keep you all posted.

[Mavica]

Great report, love the photos!

[Xclay]

Envious as I read your casual comment, in passing, that Brazilian condoms are "too tight" for you! 

🍆 🌽🌭🍌🥕🥒🥖

[Latbear4blk]

3 hours ago, Xclay said:

Envious as I read your casual comment, in passing, that Brazilian condoms are "too tight" for you! 

🍆 🌽🌭🍌🥕🥒🥖

My apologies if your mouth is watering. 😇

I did not mean to say all Brazilian condoms. The condoms in Salvador were just fine. But the condoms in Recife and in Rio are too tight for me.

I just came back home from my night tour. I started in Blue Termas. I arrived about 7:15, and the place was empty. Perhaps 15 people, I doubt any of them was a GP. There were a couple of younger boys, probably about 30. I engaged in conversation with them and thy advised me to try again but earlier. I walked around he facilities, small but nice and clean. I was checking out about 7 minutes after checking in. The guy in the reception desk was very nice and did not charge me. He also advised me to try at an earlier time.

I called an Uber and went to TBV. Great night, but as yesterday, not as crowded as a week ago. I think that a festival that is going on in the Marco Zero area may have affected the attendance. The smoking hot guy that I tried to get a programa with a week ago to find out that he was only top was there. He is so hot for me that I tried to negotiate a programa without penetration. Unfortunately he does not kiss either. No penetration, no passionate French kissing, no pleasure for me. 

When I was about to give up. H, showed up. Shinning huge smile, when he greeted me I thought he was mistaking me for someone he had met before. He seemed to be so happy to see me. He delivered what I need. A little bit of conversation, some hot make up, now that I am older I need to warm up the stew before eating it. We ended in the presidential suite and he did a great job job. I would repeat with him. H told me that he had lived several years in Rio (not working in the saunas, he is a music artist), perhaps that has to do with his style, miles away from the local discretion.

The drinks I was served were super strong, and the food they were serving looked delicious. Chicken Stroganoff with white rice and crispy fried potato sticks, chicken pie, and lasagna. 

Overall, I am consolidating my opinion. The local sauna culture is not my favorite. Even when I am having a good time, the guys are not what I like the most, twinks close to 20. Most of the guys here are closer to 30 and above.

[floridarob]

10 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said:

But the condoms in Recife and in Rio are too tight for me.

Are you using these or just bragging....🧐

[Latbear4blk]

For those interested, full report published in my new substack.

https://sopla.substack.com/p/termas-boa-vista-the-best-gay-sauna