By KEVIN DU PLESSIS
I like to call it gaything, but gay sun bathing also works if you care to not sound like a big ol’ queen! There are not many things most gay men love more than seeing other men in tiny bathing suits (or without them) working on their tans and lounging about like there is no care in the world except to look desirable. Here, in no particular order, are our updated picks for the top ten gay beach destinations in the world.
North Bondi Beach, Sydney – Australia
Sydney is known as a big gay travel destination and one of its best features is surely its half-dozen gay beaches, among which North Bondi Beach is the most popular. Both queer boys and lesbians gather to enjoy the delights of the sun and the sand, and the further north you go, the gayer the beach gets! It is also lined with pubs, stocked up to offer fresh cocktails. Australia is home of popular swimwear brands Marcuse and Ausiebum, so you can be sure to see lots of hot men in Speedos, or as they term them “budgie smugglers.”
Pines Beach, Fire Island – New York, USA
Those of you who have been following the oh-so-dramatic reality TV show Fire Island, should be in the know of what an amazing gay party destination this is. Pine Beach is packed with eye ctandy and a diamond studded gay events diary. Cherry Grove is another of Fire Island’s gay enclaves and the two are separated by a cruising ground referred to as “The Meat Rack.” Surely one of the most desired holiday destinations for a gay guy who likes to party the summer away.
Playa Los Muertos, Puerto Voltarla – Mexico
Looking beyond the extremely creepy name which translates to “beach of the dead,” Playa Los Muertos is a favourite hangout for the boys from Zona Romantica, which is Puerto Vallarta’s pristine gaybourhood. The gay beach is at the south end of Playa Los Muertos and is referred to as “the blue chairs,” because (you guessed it) there are blue chairs out. There is a lot of flirty interplay between the locals and gay travellers from around the world.
Beach 19, lisbon – Portugal
South of Lisbon is this nude beach that, in recent years, has become predominantly gay. It is a big wild beach which forms part of a nature reserve and attracts many gay visitors to the Atlantic ocean (and to the dunes behind it). Some call it the most beautiful gay beach in Europe and it gets its name from it being at stop number nineteen on the beach train.
Elia Beach, Mykonos – greece
There are two gay beaches on this idyllic Greek island, Elia and Super Paradise. Elia is tucked away in a small cove and the beach is a tree-lined hotspot for gay boys to gather and soak up the sun. It also offers a variety of laid-back restaurants and is very close to Watermania waterpark. The majority of the gay sunbathers can be found on the far right side of the beach. Mykonos is known as the most popular gay island in Greece so a trip there should satisfy all your gay leisure desires.
Clifton Third Beach, Cape Town – South Africa
There are two gay beaches on this idyllic Greek island, Elia and Super Paradise. Elia is tucked away in a small cove and the beach is a tree-lined hotspot for gay boys to gather and soak up the sun. It also offers a variety of laid-back restaurants and is very close to Watermania waterpark. The majority of the gay sunbathers can be found on the far right side of the beach. Mykonos is known as the most popular gay island in Greece so a trip there should satisfy all your gay leisure desires.
Hilton Beach, Tel Aviv – Israel
The Middle East is not known for its acceptance of the LGBT community, but Tel Aviv is known by its vibrant and eclectic gay life. The beach can be found just north of the Hilton Hotel and the boys gather under the eagle statue on top of the cliff. It is normally packed with sunbathers, both olive-skinned locals and travellers from all over looking to tan their buns. Nearby, Independence Park has been a popular cruising spot since the ‘50s.
Es Cavallet, Ibiza – Spain
“Naked in Ibiza” is a favourite lyric of mine, and it is the song you should play on arrival in one of the world’s favourite vacation and party hotspots. Ibiza, of course, has a very active gay scene and the boys have colonised a beach for themselves. It is called Es Cavallet. The g-spot is located on the southern end of the island where you will find plenty of hot naked gays carelessly lounging about on the south side of this large beach.
Ipamena, Rio De Janeiro – brazil
In Rio the buff gay boys are called Barbies, and they can be found relaxing under Mister Sun along with all the other gay boys of different shapes and sizes at Ipanema beach. Rio has become a hot gay destination and home to a sizable gay community. The gay section of the beach is to the east of Rua Farme de Amoedo where promoters often give out flyers announcing the biggest gay parties.The scenery is jaw dropping, as are the men.
South Beach, Miami – Florida
In Miami, gay boys congregate at 12th Street and Ocean where oftentimes the lifeguard stations even have gay flags flapping in the wind. Before hitting any of the many gay clubs at night, the best place to find a spot among this party town’s man meat is on South Beach. Miami is known for its paradise-like beaches and gay-friendly profile and most of the big LGBT events take place at or near South Beach.
