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Cover of Gay Latin America and the Caribbean, the collection

Latin America

Gay Latin America and the Caribbean, the collection

Five cities for the gay traveler over 50: Puerto Vallarta, Rio de Janeiro, Medellin, Mexico City, and Cartagena, a Compasserie Collection.

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One book, 3 formats.

Researched and verified September 2026, against official or primary sources.

How it begins

There are gay destinations that feel like a night out, and there are gay destinations that feel like a homecoming. Puerto Vallarta is firmly the second kind, and that is precisely why it has quietly become the most beloved gay beach town in the Americas for men of our generation.

Gay Latin America and the Caribbean, the collection, chapter one

What is inside

5 places, in one book.

Each gets the full treatment, the same 12 chapters a single guide would give it.

Puerto Vallarta

  • Why Puerto Vallarta Became the Gay Man's Second Home
  • The Lay of the Land: Zona Romántica and Beyond
  • Where to Stay: Choosing Your Base
  • The Beach Is the Point
  • After Dark, at Your Own Pace
  • The Table: Eating Well in Puerto Vallarta
  • Beyond the Zona: Day Trips and Slower Pleasures
  • Getting There and Getting Around
  • Feeling Safe, Feeling at Home
  • When to Go
  • A Sample Week
  • Your Pre-Trip Checklist

Rio de Janeiro

  • Why Rio Became a Gay Icon Among Cities
  • The Lay of the Land: Ipanema, Copacabana and the Zona Sul
  • Where to Stay: Choosing Your Base
  • The Beach Is the Point
  • After Dark, at Your Own Pace
  • The Table: Eating Well in Rio
  • Beyond the Beach: The Mountains and the Marvelous Views
  • Getting There and Getting Around
  • Feeling Safe, Feeling at Home
  • When to Go
  • A Sample Week
  • Your Pre-Trip Checklist

Medellin

  • Why Medellín Became a Favorite for the Gay Traveler
  • The Lay of the Land: El Poblado, Provenza and Beyond
  • Where to Stay: Choosing Your Base
  • The City of Eternal Spring: Days at Your Own Pace
  • After Dark, at Your Own Pace
  • The Table: Eating Well in Medellín
  • Beyond the City: Guatapé and Slower Pleasures
  • Getting There and Getting Around
  • Feeling Safe, Feeling at Home
  • When to Go
  • A Sample Week
  • Your Pre-Trip Checklist

Mexico City

  • Why Mexico City Became a Great Gay Capital
  • The Lay of the Land: Roma, Condesa and the Zona Rosa
  • Where to Stay: Choosing Your Base
  • The City of Culture: Days at Your Own Pace
  • After Dark, at Your Own Pace
  • The Table: Eating Well in Mexico City
  • Beyond the City: Pyramids, Canals and Slower Pleasures
  • Getting There and Getting Around
  • Feeling Safe, Feeling at Home
  • When to Go
  • A Sample Week
  • Your Pre-Trip Checklist

Cartagena

  • Why Cartagena Is the Caribbean's Most Romantic City
  • The Lay of the Land: The Walled City, Getsemaní and Bocagrande
  • Where to Stay: Choosing Your Base
  • The Walled City: Days at Your Own Pace
  • After Dark, at Your Own Pace
  • The Table: Eating Well in Cartagena
  • Beyond the Walls: The Islands and Slower Pleasures
  • Getting There and Getting Around
  • Feeling Safe, Feeling at Home
  • When to Go
  • A Sample Week
  • Your Pre-Trip Checklist

Nothing in any Compasserie guide is legal, medical, or immigration advice. Every guide names the authority that decides and the date it was checked.

Three lines from the checklist

Specific, or it is not worth your money.

The last working chapter of every guide is a checklist. Three of its lines, quoted exactly, as verified September 2026:

  • A little Spanish. English is less widely spoken than in some destinations. A handful of polite phrases and a translation app on your phone will carry you a long way and are always warmly received.
  • Layers for a mild climate. The days are pleasant and the evenings cool, especially in the dry season. Pack light layers, a sweater or light jacket, and a compact umbrella for the afternoon showers.
  • A little Spanish. English is spoken in hotels and better restaurants but is far from universal. A handful of polite phrases and a translation app go a long way and are always warmly received.

Quoted from the edition on sale today. Fares, opening hours, and entry rules move, which is why the book names the authority to confirm each one with and the month it was checked. If one of these has gone out of date, tell us at hello@compasserie.com and the edition gets corrected and reissued.

Stay current

When this guide stops being true, you will know.

Entry rules change, a museum moves its free hours, a neighborhood changes character. When that happens in a guide you are relying on, we correct the edition and we write to tell you. You will also hear when a new city goes up. That is the whole list.

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