Chapada Diamantina for LGBT+ travelers: a guide from people who live in Lençóis
"But is it safe and easy for people like us there?"
We get this question all the time on the pousada's WhatsApp. It comes from couples, trans people, solo travelers and groups of friends. Since we live and work in Lençóis, we decided to gather here what we usually answer.
The short answer is yes, especially in Lençóis. The long one has a few details...
Lençóis
It is the gateway to Chapada and has welcomed people from all over the world for decades. The historic center, where many of the pousadas, restaurants and bars are, is small and always full of visitors. An LGBT+ couple holding hands doesn't usually become a topic of conversation.
But it is not a bubble. It is a town in the interior of Bahia, with residents of all ages and ways of thinking. In the daily life of the center and on the tourist tours, coexistence is usually peaceful.
Outside town
Some tours pass through villages and rural communities that are more conservative. That is no reason to be afraid, only to pay attention: get a feel for the setting and decide how openly to show your relationship there. Traveling with a local guide helps a lot, because they know the region and know the people who live in it.
How to choose where to stay and a guide
Lodging. Our tip is to ask directly before booking. A quick, relaxed answer already says a lot. On Google Maps you can also check whether the property has marked the LGBTQ+ friendly attribute.
Guides. In Chapada, many tours require a certified guide. The tours in our packages are run by Chapada por Elas, a travel agency run by a couple of women from the region, with certified guiding and adventure insurance.
Your rights
Marriage between people of the same gender has been valid throughout Brazil since 2013. Since 2019, LGBT-phobia has been a crime, treated the same as racism. In case of discrimination, you can report it through Disque 100 (dial 100 in Brazil), which operates 24 hours, or at any police station.
A few more tips
Stay in the historic center. There is activity at night and you can do everything on foot.
Come with time. With 4 to 5 days you can see the highlights without rushing. We explain why in How many days in Chapada Diamantina.
Choose your season. Every season has its charm. Details in Best time to visit.
Celebrating something? There is the honeymoon itinerary for Chapada, which also works for anniversaries, vow renewals or any romantic celebration.
Where to stay
If you would like to stay with us, Solar Azul is a simple, welcoming pousada in the historic center of Lençóis, run by people from the LGBT+ community. It has six rooms, some of them in an old townhouse, a regional breakfast and help planning your trip from start to finish. Every kind of love is welcome here.