by Marc Lallanilla and Ed Salvato, Travel EditorDoes the thought of lazing by the pool for two weeks a year leave you cold? Perhaps you need a vacation from your vacation. Instead of running up a bar tab, try running up a moonlit tropical beach. You could spend days shooting the breeze at a motel, or shooting the rapids on a wild, scenic river. If you're tired of chasing tequila with beer, maybe chasing dolphins through azure waters sounds tempting.
And if "gay adventure travel" sounds like an oxymoron, remember that more and more gays and lesbians -- tough kids, sissy kids, kids who climb on rocks -- are living the Discovery Channel lifestyle in style or finding gay tour operators who can show them the way.
Download our Gay Adventure TravelGuide.
This sampling of adventure trips covers the Americas, from the frozen tip of Alaska to the thundering waterfalls of South America. With trips in all climates, price ranges and activity levels, there's no reason not to dive in! We've bundled in suggestions for enjoying some local gay life, too. Design your own adventure or use the services of one of the gay tour operators in the sidebar.
Peru: Machu, Machu man
The mist-shrouded temples of Machu Picchu conjure up images of muscular warrior gods dressed in colorful native garb, torchlight flickering off their bronzed pecs. Or was that the video you rented last night? Either way, if there's any location on Earth guaranteed to put the world-weary traveler in touch with the mystery and splendor of ancient civilizations, this is it.The famous mountain citadel is only one of several impressive ruins along the Inca Trail. The entire region is, in fact, replete with archeological treasures, notably the Sacred Valley of the Incas, acknowledged as the ceremonial center of Incan culture.
Climbing builds an appetite, and some say Peruvian cuisine is the best in South America. When hunger strikes in Lima, the bustling capital city, head to Miraflores, the city's gay district. A wealth of restaurants awaits, including El Señorio de Sulco (Malecon Cisneros 1470; +51-1/441-0389; dinner entrées: $8-11) and Tarata Caffé (Pasaje Tarata 260; +51-1/446-6330; $5-9). The most popular men's club in the city is probably Minotauro Club (Manuel del Pino 694, Santa Beatriz, +51-1/471-8141, http://minotauroclub.tripod.com).
British Columbia: Whoa, Canada!
Many visitors to the 1990 Gay Games in Vancouver were spellbound by the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of British Colombia. But the locals knew it all along. The soaring peaks and glistening ocean waters are the reason many residents moved here in the first place.After the adventure, pamper yourself in gay Vancouver.
The coastline of British Columbia is dotted with countless uninhabited islands, each wearing a crown of verdant green. And no adventure trip to this region would be complete without exploring the islands by sea kayak, if only to take in the cool, quiet beauty while watching for whales, puffins, orcas, sea lions, eagles and porpoises.
Vancouver, B.C., is certainly no slouch at entertaining gay adventurers, and the city is known for its exciting Pan-Asian cuisine and charming bed-and-breakfast inns. In the gay West End, try Szechwan eatery Won More (1184 Denman St., 604/688-8856; C$10-15) or Kam's Place (1043 Davie St., 604/669-3389; C$6-13). Feeling Victorian? Stay at West End Guest House (1362 Haro St., 604-681-2889; www.westendguesthouse.com; C$95-255), a 1906 marvel in pink.
Argentina: Don't cry for me
From the towering splendor of the Andes to the posh cafés and sizzling Latin nightlife of Buenos Aires, Argentina is a dream come true for the gay adventurer. Most trips to this large South American nation begin and end in the cosmopolitan capital of Buenos Aires. For dining here, try Babieca (Av. Santa Fe 1890; +54-11/4875-1985; prix fixe: 12.50, à la carte: $5-18), a gay-friendly bar and restaurant, or Inside (Bartolome Mitre 1571; +54-11/4372-5439; prix fixe: $12, à la carte: $8-16). All gay Argentina adventures begin or end in Buenos Aires.
"Poor Niagara," Eleanor Roosevelt remarked after experiencing the thundering grandeur of Iguazu Falls, an enormous series of cascades that dwarfs other waterfalls. Situated on the border of Argentina and Brazil, the entire region is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Los Glaciers National Park stretches from the pampas of Patagonia to the rugged peaks of the Andes. In addition to the glaciers, the park is famous for calving icebergs, mountains of granite, rushing rivers, pristine lakes, dense forests and abundant wildlife.
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