The Nomadic Boys Do Maspalomas Pride

Maspalomas Pride - Nomadic Boys

What’s big, wet, and sparkly? Nope, not us after a glitter fight. We’re talking about Maspalomas Pride in Gran Canaria. A cacophony of sound, color, lights, and queer joy! And perhaps an iconic LGBTQ celebrity or two… Conchita Wurst has been known to attend in the past.

Maspalomas Pride is one of the biggest and best gay events in Europe, with over 100,000 attendees flocking to the super gay bars of Gran Canaria each year.

Known as a gay hotspot, Gran Canaria is a Spanish island off the coast of West Africa, full of lavish hotels, epic beaches, dozens of gay clubs and bars, and year-round sunshine. Most of the gay events happen around the water, be it by the pool or on a boat, meaning Maspalomas Pride has more sea men than a bathhouse in gay Berlin!

Venues around the island host drag shows, run cheap drink deals, and themed nights, which only add to the fun. And who can forget the giant parade through the streets, which culminates at the lively Yumbo Centre, full of shops, boutiques, bars, and restaurants? Maspalomas Pride is one of our favorite gay Pride events. It’s always a lot of fun – plenty of sun…and, if you’re lucky, the vitamins mightn’t be the only D you’ll catch…!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Canary Islands Gay Travel Resources

The World’s Best Gay Beaches – wolfyy

The world’s best gay beaches span the globe, and some might not be in the places you’d expect! The list below includes all sorts of gay beaches, from the most popular and densely packed party spots near the biggest international gay destinations to lesser-known and secluded hangouts that only locals know about.

Ipanema – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

There’s no doubt that the gay beach in Rio de Janeiro’s hotspot of Ipanema is the world’s most talked-about gay beach. Tons of sexy Brazilian men (along with the tourists) are always taking photos with the iconic Dois Irmaos (Two Brothers) mountains in the backdrop.

gay beach in rio

The exact center of Rio’s gay beach is between Posto 8 and Posto 9. You can’t miss the enormous crowd of gay men!

Will Rogers Gay Beach – Los Angeles

Will Rogers is the most popular gay beach in greater Los Angeles. It’s another one of the most well-known gay beaches, at least among Americans. The gay area of Will Rogers is near lifeguard tower 18, There’s so much to do here, from playing volleyball (or watching other guys play volleyball) to drooling over the gorgeous lifeguards.

The Will Rogers gay beach is informally known as “Ginger Rogers Beach” and has a ton of history. The LGBT crowd has been coming here since the 40s!

See The Full List

Coastal Spanish cities, Italian islands, the coast of Croatia, all the best gay beaches in the United States and dozens more are all on wolfyy’s ultimate guide to gay beaches worldwide.

Discover all the Best Gay Beaches Around the World on wolfyy

More by wolfyy on Purple Roofs

10 Gay Friendly Spanish Destinations – Two Bad Tourists

gay friendly Spanish destinations - Canary Islands - Deposit Photos

10 Places You Should Visit in Spain Beyond Madrid & Barcelona

Spain has so many famous landmarks and there are so many parts of the country that are worth going to. Barcelona and Madrid are undoubtedly at the top of many people’s wish list. Both cities are known for incredible history, warm weather and welcoming and open-minded locals. In fact, the country as a whole is considered one of the most progressive countries in Europe and Spain is well known for being very gay-friendly. But once you’ve checked them off, where to next? Here are some other gay friendly Spanish destinations – the best places you should visit in Spain after seeing its two biggest cities.

The Canary Islands

This might seem to be a very traditional destination for many people and indeed it appears that there are plenty of places that are overrun by tourism in the Canary Islands, but there is an equal number of places untouched by it. The islands of La Gomera and El Hierro in particular are good contenders in this regard. The other islands are also extremely diverse. From Gran Canaria with its old walled capital, beautiful beaches and natural diversity, giving it the nickname of ‘the mini continent’ to the lunar landscapes of Lanzarote and the endless, desert-like sand dunes of Fuerteventura. This group of islands off the coast of Morocco, but which are very much culturally and politically part of Spain, has a lot to offer including a year-round temperate climate. Gran Canaria in particular is a gay haven and Maspalomas is famous for its gay nightlight, clothing optional guest houses and popular drag culture. 

Galicia

Spain is not all arid farmland and olive groves, but also lush, green forests and harsh, pebbly beaches that make you think more of Scotland than Spain. Galicia may be one of the wettest and coldest parts of Spain due to two Atlantic coasts, but the rich verdant landscapes that result are what pull you in to experience more of this region in the extreme north-west of the country.

Valencia

If you’re a city person, Valencia is a great option after Madrid and Barcelona. This Mediterranean city offers quirky and unique architecture, café culture, and a creative spirit. Being right on the Mediterranean coast and having some excellent street art doesn’t hurt either. Valencia is 3rd largest city in Spain so there is quite a decent gay scene including bars, clubs and a gay sauna. Although a bit farther out from the city center, Valencia does have long stretches of beaches which are nice for relaxing during the summer months or strolling the boardwalk during the cooler months. 

Tenerife

Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, is the largest of the seven as well as the most visited by tourists and therefore deserves its own spot on the list. It’s the most populated of all Spain’s islands as well. One of the things you can look forward to doing is visiting Parque Nacional Las Canadas del Teide. The spectacular views and strange volcanic rock formations are the attractions here. For a beach day, you can head to Playa de las Vistas. This popular beach is kept clean, has plenty of space and soft sand, and there’s no shortage of restaurants and cafes for a tasty treat.

Córdoba

There are many reasons to visit this beautiful city in southern Spain. The gardens at Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Palace of the Christian Monarchs), a 14th century castle, are a great place to start especially if you enjoy gardens. There’s also the Light of Cultures, a water, light and sound show within the gardens during the evening. Then there’s the Mezquita, a sort of religious crossbreed between a mosque and a cathedral. It was constructed in 785 AD as mosque, but when the Spanish reconquered Córdoba it became a Christian Cathedral. 

Granada

Granada is one of the first destinations people visit in Andalucia. Though there are palaces and cathedrals that are certainly worth the visit in Granada, you should also experience the different neighborhoods that make up the city. Albayzín is the old Moorish quarter with historic buildings and winding cobblestone paths that create an atmosphere in which you know that just being there is the activity for the day. Views of the Sierra Nevada and Alhambra (a palace) can be enjoyed from the Mirador San Nicolás. Sacromonte is somewhat of a gypsy (gitano) quarter in Granada. The cave homes, flamenco shows, and views of the Sierra Nevada are what make it worth a visit.

Costa Brava

Many parts of Costa Brava have been specifically developed to promote tourism so this is generally a more packaged vacation destination, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. From a rough coastline to sandy beaches, Costa Brava has quite a few options for experiencing its shorelines. The Camí de Ronda is a footpath with marvelous views that connect some of the coves and tourist beaches along the coast. One of the recommended beaches from this path is Platja Sa Conca, a gorgeous and quiet spot. It’s perfect for a daytime stroll or hike and hopefully just the beach you’re looking for. Perhaps you’ll have to just see where the Camí de Ronda takes you. 

La Rioja

You should not miss a vineyard opportunity while in Spain and La Rioja is one of the most popular wine regions in Spain. In addition to touring the vineyards and museums, check out a couple of their annual events, like La Batalla del Vino and La Fiesta de San Mateo. La Batalla del Vino occurs June 29th of every year in the town of Haro. People throw and squirt wine at one another in a tradition that originates from a land dispute with Miranda De Ebro. La Fiesta de San Mateo is a week long harvest festival in Logroño that begins the Saturday before September 21st.

Eastern Andalucia

Most travellers to Andalucia visit Seville, Granada as well as Córdoba and Cádiz on the coast, but never get any further east. It’s worth seeing what gay friendly Spanish destinations this part of Spain’s largest region has to offer, like Jaén or the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada National Park, which boasts a large variety of unique flora and fauna. Also, because much of the park is at high altitude, it is often covered in snow, giving it a remarkably different appearance to the rest of this region of Spain. Beachside resorts like Fuengirola near Malaga and small costal towns like Almuñécar in Costa Tropical make for great stops on a road trip of Spain’s southern coast.

Toledo

Taking an escalator into a city center may be one of the more unique ways to make an entrance. Located at the top of a steep hill just 70 kilometers south of Madrid, Toledo makes for an easy day trip from the capital. It’s well connected to Madrid via a 45 minute bus ride or a 30 minute train ride. If you enter the historic center from Puerta de Alfonso VI, there’s an escalator that allows the steep walk to be avoided. It was once the capital of Spain until the 16th century when this status was moved to its current city of Madrid. Toledo is a perfect representation of the many religions that have influenced Spanish history over the years of power shifting between cultures. At its height, the city maintained a relatively amicable cohabitation of Catholics, Jews, and Muslims. Though this was short lived when the reconquest of Spain turned on the Jews and Muslims. Today the remaining mosques, synagogues, and cathedrals echo what was once a diverse multi-religious, thriving capital.

Have you been to any of these places? What other gay friendly Spanish destinations would you recommend visiting in Spain? 

Best of Gay Spain – The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Spain - The Globetrotter Guys

As a gay couple, Spain is our number one country in the world to travel to. We have visited and lived in gay Spain and the level of comfort as a same-sex couple has consistently been incredible. We have never felt discriminated against, never felt uncomfortable and never had to second guess ourselves no matter where we have travelled to – for us, this is a priceless feeling.

In 2018 we lived in Madrid, Barcelona was one of our very first holidays together 10 years ago, Sitges is one of the best prides we have been to and we have been to Gran Canaria more than 7 times – this country has a special place in our hearts. There is an inherent feeling of safety, acceptance and normality when it comes to being gay here.

In our ‘Best of Gay Spain Guide’ we want to celebrate all the amazing destinations we have travelled to and share our best recommendations with you. First, let’s take a quick look at gay rights for some context:

Gay Spain: Rights and Culture

When it comes to LGBTQ rights in Spain, these are all very positive. Same-sex intercourse has been legal here since 1979, unsurprisingly this happened the year after democracy came to this country and they said good riddance to their dictator Franco. It was also the third country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in 2005 and discrimination protections run nationwide.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Spain Travel Resources

Gay Spain – The Best Things to See and Do – The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Spain - The Globetrotter Guys

As a gay couple, Spain is our number one country in the world to travel to. We have visited and lived in Gay Spain and the level of comfort has consistently been incredible. We have never felt discriminated against, never felt uncomfortable and never had to second guess ourselves no matter where we have travelled to – for us, this is a priceless feeling.

In 2018 we lived in Madrid, Barcelona was one of our very first holidays together 10 years ago, Sitges is one of the best prides we have been to and we have been to Gran Canaria more than 7 times – this place has a special place in our hearts. There is an inherent feeling of safety, acceptance and normality when it comes to being yourself in this friendly country.

In our ‘Best of Gay Spain Guide’ we want to celebrate all the amazing destinations we have travelled to and share our best recommendations with you. First, let’s take a quick look at gay rights in Spain for some context:

Gay Spain: Rights and Culture

When it comes to gay rights, these are all very positive. Same-sex intercourse has been legal since 1979, unsurprisingly this happened the year after democracy came to Spain and they said good riddance to their dictator Franco.

Spain was also the third country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in 2005 and discrimination protections run nationwide. The laws here are also reflected in the culture of the people. In most destinations we felt that no one even noticed we were a gay couple – it was simply by the by.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Spain Travel Resources

Gay Maspalomas, Canary Islands – wolfyy

gay maspalomas

The Canary Islands are a fantastic destination for gay travelers, especially once the bustling summer tourism season slows down in mainland Europe. Maspalomas is known for being a completely gay resort town in Gran Canaria, the largest of the Canary Islands. Full of outgoing, friendly guys, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time.

What’s so special about the Canary Islands? Well, other than breathtaking landscapes (check out the Maspalomas Dunes), summer never really ends here in the Canaries. Spain’s southernmost territory, they’re just off Africa’s Western Sahara coast! With so much warm weather to spare, Maspalomas actually hosts two gay pride festivals every year.

Before summer even begins, Maspalomas hosts their first pride of the year, typically in May. As November rolls around, travelers ditch the cold weather up north for sunny dance parties at Maspalomas Winter Pride. I had an absolute blast dancing at the enormous Yumbo Centre. I made dozens of international friends through the week, many of whom I’ve planned more travel with!

gay maspalomas winter pride

Maspalomas Gay Events & Hotels

Gran Canaria has way more to offer than just gay pride weeks. There are a bunch of other gay event weeks to choose from. Summer Fiesta, Bear Carnival, and Festish Week Maspalomas are just a few. What makes these events even more special though, is how conveniently close most Maspalomas hotels are to the main events. It’s easy to find a hotel or resort in the center of the action. Having everything within arm’s reach makes a party-filled vacation so much more relaxing.

Gay hotels in Maspalomas are pretty easy to find, but there are definitely a few crowd favorites. Especially if you want to have convenient access to the main event locations on foot, you might want to consider booking in a certain part of town. I’ll give you all the details about where to stay based on your personal preferences and preferred vibe!

Full Maspalomas Gay Travel Guide on wolfyy

Gay Canary Islands Resources

Gay Spain – The Best Gay Cities – The Nomadic Boys

BLOG - Gay Spain - The Best Gay Cities - The Nomadic Boys

Madrid Pride…Barcelona Circuit…Sitges gay nude beaches…Gran Canaria Yumbo Centre…a mere humble sprinkling of gay highlights happening across Spain each year!

We’ve been coming to Spain religiously every year since we came out as baby gays. We love it here. Not only is it one of the most gay friendly countries in the world, but there is always a fantastic party taking place across all the major cities and islands. Spain also has some of the world’s most famous gay parties like Madrid Pride (one of the largest Pride events in the world) and Barcelona’s Circuit Party (the biggest international gay festival in the world).

Whilst Spain hosts some of the best mega parties on our planet, what we also love about the country is the variety of different events on offer. So whilst the muscle boys will thrive at the Circuit parties, bear gays and their fans are also spoilt for choice in Spain. The country has some of the biggest and best bear events, in particular, the Bear Carnival in Gran Canaria every March, and the Sitges Bear Week every September.

In short, the Spanish know how to throw a decent party…especially a gay party! These are some of the best places in Spain to check out for gay events and parties:

Madrid

The Spanish capital is famous for being the best gay city for partying in Spain. We love visiting Madrid, whether it’s for Pride, or just an ad hoc weekend of partying. Either way, we know that a visit here is always going to be a lot of fun.

The Madrid Pride (“Orgullo Gay de Madrid”) takes place every year in June/July, and it is huge. It is not only one of the best Pride events in the world but also one of the largest. Every year, around 3-4 million people descent on the Spanish capital from all around the world. We absolutely love it because as well as guaranteed beautiful weather (remember to pack plenty of sunblock cream!), the entire city gets involved and it becomes one giant rainbow street party. The focal point is around the gay neighbourhood in Chueca, where the bars spill out into the streets, and free outdoor concerts take place.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Spain Gay Travel Resources

Gran Canaria Gay Bars -The Globetrotter Guys

Gran Canaria Gay bars -The Globetrotter Guys

If you are looking for Gran Canaria gay bars, then look no further!

We have been to Gran Canaria over 8 times now and for good reason. It is one of the most welcoming and gay friendly destinations we have ever travelled to and has some incredible gay nightlife.

The majority of the gay bars in Gran Canaria can be found in the Yumbo Centre in Maspalomas. The Yumbo centre is a large multi level outdoor shopping centre by day and gay nightlife hub by night.

On our last visit we counted that there were over 30 gay bars in the Yumbo Centre alone ranging from drag bars, to casual bars, clubs and cruising bars.

We are always completely spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a gay bar in Gran Canaria which is why we have put together a shortlist of our personal favorites.

The idea (or challenge) is to follow this list in order for the perfect big gay night out in the Yumbo Centre!

Lets get started!

Our Top 6 Gran Canaria Gay Bars

1. Sparkles

Sparkles is one of the best show bars in the Yumbo centre and the perfect start to our gay bars in Gran Canaria guide.

We went for the first time in 2019 and wished we had gone sooner. We haven’t laughed so much in years.

The show lasts up to 5 hours and we were thoroughly entertained and kept in hysterics for the entire time.

These queens can dance, sing live, lip sync for their lives and seriously get the crowd going and up on their feet. In my case quite literally as towards the end of the evening I ended up in a lip sync competition myself as Nicki Minaj – it was scary but so much fun!

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globtrotter Guys

Canary Islands Gay Travel Resources

Five Gay Spanish Party Cities – The Nomadic Boys

Five Gay Spanish Party Cities - The Nomadic Boys

Spain is famous for being very gay friendly and we absolutely love it!

As well as having some of the hottest men you’ll ever see, it also has some of the best gay parties we’ve been to, from the famous Madrid Pride, to Barcelona’s Circuit festivals. We’ve put together our 5 favourite gay cities in Spain to come and party like crazy.

Madrid

The Spanish capital is famous for being the best gay city for partying in Spain. We love visiting Madrid, whether it’s for Pride, or just an ad hoc weekend of partying. Either way, we know that a visit here is always going to be a lot of fun.

The Madrid Pride (“Orgullo Gay de Madrid”) takes place every year in June/July, and it is huge. It is famous for being one of the best and largest gay pride parades in the world with around 3-4 million people attending. We absolutely love it because as well as guaranteed beautiful weather (remember to pack plenty of sunblock cream!), the entire city gets involved and it becomes one giant rainbow street party. The focal point is around the gay neighbourhood in Chueca, where the bars spill out into the streets, and free outdoor concerts take place.

The annual WE Pride Festival in July is another huge party highlight in Madrid. It is 5 days of parties with the biggest brands and famous DJs.

During the winter months, there is another huge gay party: the We Party New Year Festival. This is the biggest gay winter event in Europe, with around 20,000 people attending to see in the New Year.

The gay clubs of Chueca always have a party taking places every weekend. The main ones are Boite, DLRO, MalaMala, Kluster and Baila Cariño. Just one word of advice, the Madrileños LOVE to party till the early hours of the next day – so fact in a disco nap before heading out!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Spain Gay Travel Resources

Casa Felix – Chio, Canary Islands, Spain

Casa Felix

Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:

We are a happy lesbian couple, but we welcome people of all spots, stripes and labels. One of us will most likely always be around, and we are adventurous enough to communicate with you in English, French, German and more. We are able to tell you about anything you want to know about Tenerife: one of the most diverse islands we have ever visited and we have travelled extensively.

Casa Felix is our dream house. The house, which is actually made up of three completely independent apartments, was lovingly remodeled by our predecessors, a charming retired Austrian couple. The moment we walked onto the property it was clear to us that a lot of love and care had gone into creating this small oasis on the Island of Eternal Spring (the nick name for Tenerife).

Before you even enter the house, the garden will blow you away. There are three very mature palm trees which serve as visual anchor points. A collection of various cacti shout out to any visitor: this location is warm all year round! There are various fruit trees (e.g. plum) but our personal favourites are two very healthy lemon trees with copious amounts of phenomenal fruits. And, of course, flowers are always blooming! Much of the ground is covered by flagstones and gravel imported from the local quarry and a groundcover that at first glance may look like a grassy lawn but is actually a thick patchwork of a local, drought resistant groundcover, shorn to look like grass.

The house and the grounds gaze across an expanse of banana plantations and wild shrubbery towards the Costa Adeje. You can admire the Atlantic, sparkling in the not too distant vista distance (15 minutes by car), and the distinct shape of Tenerife’s small sister island, La Gomera, from all the balconies, sun terrace, and much of the garden. Indeed, while visitors to Casa Felix sip their beverage of choice, the sun sets behind La Gomera in the most wondrous of ways and warm days turn into warm nights, with the bright stars sparkling in a black velvet sky to remind poor city dwellers that orange skies are not the norm in nature!

Since you will look at our website there is no need to describe the charms and benefits of our two, fully self-catering apartments. But remember: Casa Felix is a passion of ours. Our aesthetic is crisp, state-of-the-art functionality, and in tune with the natural surroundings, and we are constantly trying to improve the existing comforts and design sensibilities of Casa Felix. Cleanliness is incredibly important to us, and we believe you will appreciate it as well.

We are always interested in hearing suggestions for improving people’s stay. If you have any ideas to make the apartments even more special, please let us know. After all, if you have chosen our place for your vacation, it means we have very similar tastes.

La benvinguda a Felix Casa (Catalan for Welcome to Casa Felix!)!

See the Casa Felix Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in the Canary Islands