If you want to hang a bit closer to home there are three main options. Late in the afternoon (meaning 4 p.m. in Brasil’s summer and 2 p.m. in the winter) some garotas gather at three cafes looking for customers–Meia Pataca (next to the Othon Palace hotel), the Balcony (Av. Atlântica, 1424, in Copa) and Mabs (in Leme, at the other end of Copa). There are occasionally some beauties to be found at these places, but I’ve only once taken a girl from Meia Pataca back to my hotel. If you see something of potential interest, just grab a table and make eye contact. These girls are pros and are quite assertive … you won’t have to wave them over. More likely you’ll have to chase them off. Note, however, that the girls that hang out at Meia Pataca and Mabs, in particular, tend to be pretty hard core. The Balcony Bar stays pretty busy well into the evening while the other two place s are only afternoon venues.

e second option, earlier in the day, is on the beach directly in front of the Othon Palace hotel. On nice days about 20 or so pros work this beach, known to some of us as “Praia das Putas.” You can rent a beach chair from the guys there (negotiate in advance what all costs are; these guys will cheat you if given a chance) and, again, just make eye contact. The guys renting the chairs fashion themselves as big time pimps, but don’t let them serve as intermediaries or the price will go up. I’ve never taken a girl from the beach, although there are occasionally some really beauties there, and some enjoy prancing around topless. Let me reiterate one point: the guys working the beach here are thieves. Have as little to do with them as possible. If you don’t pay as you go, you’ll receive an unpleasant surprise when you leave.

Pros also work the beaches in a few other spots: in front of the Le Meridian hotel in Leme, in front of the Marriott hotel in Copacabana, and in front of the Cesar Park Hotel in Ipanema, but in much smaller numbers than the Othon Palace location.

A mid-day short-time experience should cost you no more than $75-150 reais depending upon the amount of time you’re looking for.

Escorts are the third, and in my mind best, option. Many independent escorts advertise their services in the local papers (see O Dia and O Globo classified sections, for example) and they are very reasonable. Take note, however, of that fact that quite a number of transsexuals advertise in the papers. If that’s not your style, avoid the ones who use the term “quase mulher.” Better yet, use one of the many escort agencies.

Termas are a marvelous institution … they should exist everywhere. The termas is a combination spa/health club/massage facility/bar/brothel (literally, it means “bathhouse”). There are dozens of termas in Rio, and they are to be found in all major cities in Brasil (under different names). I will give some information on the ones I know best. Newbies should take not that there is no such thing as a terma (singular).

Termas Basics:

In most cases, after arriving you’ll be sent to a locker room to change into a robe and sandals. You’ll have a key to your locker that you’ll wear on a band around your wrist. Your locker number is what all charges are credited against, so bartenders will ask for the number when you order drinks and the girls may ask you to give them your key when you’ve agreed to go back for a session (“programa”) in one of the rooms. Don’t put the key in the pocket of your robe; the robes can get accidentally swapped in the shower rooms, and you don’t want to lose that key (trust me, I speak from experience on this one). One friend gave his key to a garota and then took a nap. While he was napping she charged about $50 worth of drinks to his account! Keep track of your key at all times.

After changing you can head to the shower room for a shower and sauna (advised; the cleaner you are, the more comfortable the girls will be in exploring your body) and then to the bar. When you first enter the bar area where the girls are, you might want to walk around awhile and check the talent out before taking a seat. If you see someone you want to check out closer, just say hi and ask if she wants a drink. If you sit down when you enter, you’re likely to be trapped by one of the more aggressive girls, and my experience is these girls use this tactic because they’ll get no takers otherwise. If you get trapped by a girl you’re not interested in, head off for a shower or sauna, or tell her you’re looking for a specific girl you’ve been with before (you can claim you’ve forgotten her name). They’ll get the picture.

Relax and enjoy yourself. Have a few drinks and chat with the girls. Drinks are pretty reasonable (with some exceptions, such as the ever-popular Red Bull and Whiskey), so be generous and offer girls a drink even if you don’t plan on getting to know them “up close and personal.” Eventually you’ll probably find someone who appeals to you, but don’t just rush back to the rooms for a session; take some time to get to know her. These girls can be very affectionate, and you’ll enjoy your time in the room more if you get to know your girl a bit first.

So you’ve decided on the garota of your dreams, or at least the one you’d like to spend the next 20-90 minutes getting to know better. You’ll have to decide for how long (sessions vary in length from 20 minutes (only in the low-end termas) to 90 minutes)—with the most typical options being 40 or 60 minutes—and in what kind of room (they vary from small “cabines” to very fancy suites with huge beds, whirlpool baths, etc). You can get the prices for the various options at the desk. When you’re ready to head back to the rooms, just tell her and she’ll let you know what to do. The routine varies in the different termas, so just follow her lead. Also, it’s common to experience “buyer’s remorse”—after settling on a particular garota, you’ll invariably see some stunner who will cause you to question the choice you’ve made. Get over it … there are too many beauties, and you can always come back another day. As the song says, “love the one you’re with.”

Speaking of return visits, sometimes you will find that a girl you spent time with earlier in your visit will lay claim to you. If you do not want to spend your time with her, be nice but direct and tell her you’d like to meet some of the other girls at the termas. I have never had a girl make a scene when I’ve done this. Just be friendly and polite … give her a kiss, buy her a drink, and maybe even ask her advice.

If you don’t speak Portuguese, you’ll be fine. The girls all know why you’re there, and the only things you have to decide are which girl (or girls), which room (cabine or suite) and for how long. If you do speak the language, even if just a little bit, you’ll have even more fun. I often arrive around 4:30 or earlier, in order to beat the crowds of men coming after work. Some of the termas will only have a few women around at that time, but many more will be showing up around 5:00. Between 5 and 6 is a good time to find the best selection, and, not surprisingly, the women often seem more energetic early in their work day.

Termas rules (these rules apply more generally when interacting with the working girls, or garotas de programa): Repeat after me—this is not your first trip to Rio, you will be in Rio for several weeks, and you won’t be leaving for at least another week. None of this may be true, but these are the correct answers to the invariable questions you will receive from the girls. “Is this your first time in Rio?” “How long will you be in Rio?” “When are you leaving?” You may think these questions are just an effort on the girl’s part to make polite conversation, and in a sense they are, but the girls are also sizing you up. Neophytes will be seen as someone who can potentially be taken advantage of. Newbies don’t know the ropes and may be worked for expensive drinks and underserved. The person who is staying only a few days may receive less attention and poorer service because he is less likely to be a steady customer. Similarly, the guy who says “I’m leaving tomorrow and won’t be back for a year” is begging for an unenthusiastic quickie from the girl (known by veterans as the RTF, or “Rio Tourist Fuck”). If, on the other hand, you tell the girl you’ve been in Brasil several times and will be around for awhile, she’s more likely to give her best effort in order to assure customer loyalty and repeat business (yes, from her perspective it is about business; more on this later). Only after you’ve been around awhile and know specific girls pretty well should you answer these questions truthfully.

FF Programs: An interesting innovation has been popping up among the termas over the past year: customer loyalty—or Frequent Fucker—programs. Termas 65, Solarium, and Monte Carlo all have programs in place. I wonder if I can convert some of my airline miles into termas points? Check for details at the termas. If you’re favorite termas doesn’t have a Frequent Fucker program, recommend that they join in or lose out. Most work by giving you a free entrance after five paid visits.

Promotions: Several of the termas have special promotions which can save you money on your visits. For example, if you visit the Solarium website you can sign up for the “Festa do Internauta” (Internet Party) promotion. When you register, a certificate will be emailed to you that is good for the price of admission on any Monday. The certificate is valid for two weeks, so request on just before you leave for Rio. You can also register for “Semana Maluca” (Crazy Week), and you will be sent an email notification a few days in advance of the occasional crazy weeks (discounted prices on rooms and sessions). Presently, you have to enter the Solarium website through the Portuguese language portal to register, as the promotions are not yet listed on the English site. Solarium also has a contest every Wednesday (“Quarta-feira da Sorte”): at 9:00 pm, one client’s locker number will be selected in a drawing. The winner will have all of the expenses he’s incurred up until 9:00 covered by the house, including entry, room and garota fees, massage services, and bar tab!

Termas Monte Carlo has a promotion similar to Festa do Internauta, called “Terça do Prazer” (Tuesday of Pleasure). Register on the Monte Carlo website (you can use the English section here) and you’ll be emailed a certificate covering admission for a Tuesday, good for the following 15 days.

Termas Rio Antigo and Termas L’uomo have occasional promotions which are announced on their websites. Give their sites a look just before you come to town to see if anything is happening.

Termas Festas: Some of the termas have occasional festas, or special parties, which often involve larger than usual numbers of girls and special decorations and costumes. Some of the termas post this information on their websites (Rio Antigo, 65) while others (4X4, L’uomo) post signs in advance of these parties. The Halloween parties are often great fun, and the festas at 4X4 feature as many a 180 garotas!

Paying and Prices: Your bill is paid as you leave the termas. While credit cards are accepted at most termas, in many cases you must pay the girls’ fees in cash (only 4X4, among the major termas, will allow you to charge the girls’ fees). All other charges can typically be put on your card. The charges appear on your billing statement in an innocuous form (“Harry’s Grill”). Some add an additional charge for using a credit card. Tipping the girls is not expected and in termas is generally inappropriate, but a small tip for the locker room attendant is always in good form.

With respect to prices posted in this Guide, please keep in mind that prices seem to change fairly regularly, depending on inflation, currency exchange, etc. These prices may not be exact due to these changes, but they are a good guide to what you will pay.

“Butterflying:” If you’re going to be flitting between “favoritas” at several termas, there’s something you need to know about. Eventually, there’s a very good chance your favoritas will learn about one another and your philandering. “GarotaNet” is an all-powerful, all-knowing communications/espionage network that allows the garotas to keep tabs on your whereabouts. Don’t think for a second that you can sneak off and bang that cutie at L’uomo without your regular at Solarium learning about it. You will be caught. Unlike Las Vegas, what happens in a termas does not stay in that termas.

I’ll share a brief story about the reach of GarotaNet: In January 2004, I was leaving Terraço Atlântico (more on this spot later) when my cell phone rang. I answered only to be greeted by a regular of mine who was living in Italy at the time. She just wanted me to know that she knew I was in Rio (I hadn’t told her!) and that she hoped I was having a good time but not too good of a time, and that she’d heard I’d been to a termas (I had, but how she found out I don’t know; lucky guess, I suppose). A friend of hers who had met me on a prior visit saw me at the Terraço and called her in Italy to let her know I was in town. I got a call a minute later. Moral of the story: there is no escaping the reach of GarotaNet.

This is why it may be better to admit upfront to the girls that you’re a dog (“cachorro safado”) and that you’ll be seeing various girls around town. If you take this approach, you do have to be somewhat tactful or you risk less than inspired service. Always give the girl at least the illusion that you’ll be back another time to be with her, even when telling her that you want to fuck her best friend.

Termas L’uomo (Rua Siqueira Campos, 143, second level): in Copacabana, is an old favorite of mine. It was the first termas I visited, so there’s a soft spot in my heart for it. It’s in a little shopping/antiques mall, on the upper level facing out onto the street. The set­up is like every other termas–there’s a dressing room, shower and sauna area, a place to sit and relax and watch TV, a bunch of rooms (suites and cabinas) for “doing the deed,” and the bar area where most of the girls hang out. The facilities are decent, having been renovated in 2001. Prices, unfortunately, have recently risen. In late November 2005 they increased the entry fee to 60 reais (which is reduced to 50 if you have a session with a girl and 30 have two sessions), and the rest depends on type of room (cabine or suite) and length of time. A standard cabine is quite small and includes 40 minutes with the girl and now runs $200 plus $50 for entry. A suite for an hour will cost you over 300 reais total, excluding drinks. On Saturdays they have typical Brasilian food for free, and other days they have other specials. The girls are less numerous than Quatro por Quatro (4X4) or Centaurus, and more variable in quality, but the best are great, and they seem to want to work harder to please you than many other places. L’uomo sometimes has the feel of a neighborhood bar, and I think of it as my “Cheers” in Rio. Some of my most memorable termas experiences have been at L’uomo.

When you enter L’uomo you’ll first go to a dressing room and change into a robe and sandals. You can then head through the bar and to the sauna area for a shower, a steam bath or sauna, etc. The bathroom has disposable toothbrushes, razors and shaving cream, etc. Next to this room is a large room with a television and chaise lounges. Here you can kick back and relax alone for a few minutes. The action takes place in the bar area. Head into the bar, grab a seat, order a drink, and watch the action. Depending on the day of the week and the time of day, between 10 and 30 girls will be working. If you see a girl who strikes your fancy, motion her over. It’s really very simple. It is perfectly acceptable to talk with a number of women before settling on one. Once you find a good candidate, take a seat with her and get friendly. She’ll soon likely have her tongue down your throat and her hand on your cock. Take your time, and don’t rush back to the rooms … the Brasilian women are great at foreplay and love to get close. When you do decide it’s time to get to know her even better, let her know and she’ll arrange the rest. Like I said, they tend to be great at their work. You can expect oral and standard sex. The oral sex may or may not be bareback (but is usually BB); while some girls propose using a condom for oral sex, most do not and it is often negotiable. Condoms are always used for standard sex. Anal sex is an option with many of the girls. After your time is up you can shower and leave, or shower and head back to the bar and have more fun. If the place isn’t crowded, the girl you’ve been with will often be content to just sit with you and play around. It’s a great way to spend an evening. You’ll pay your tab when you leave.

L’uomo is open Mon-Sun. (one of only four termas open on Sunday), and they open at 4 p.m. (but it’s pretty quiet until 5:30) and close at 2 a.m. on M-F and 12 a.m. on weekends. It’s located just a block from the Siqueira Campos metro station. Their web site is http://www.luomo.com.br.

Termas Monte Carlo: Just a few blocks away is Termas Monte Carlo, also known as Club 19 (Rua Hilario de Gouveia, 19, in Copacabana). Monte Carlo is very convenient, just a block from the beach and Avenida Atlântica. It’s also just a few blocks from L’uomo, making it convenient to run from one to the other. The routine and set-up at Monte Carlo is nearly identical to L’uomo. You enter and change clothes on the ground floor, take the elevator or stairs to the showers/spa on the second (facilities are nicer than L’uomo’s) and take the elevator to the club on the 3rd floor, where the girls are to be found.

Monte Carlo is the one termas I’ve been to where I find it essential to discuss your expectations with girls in advance. Specifically, I and others have had more sessions in which girls have insisted on using condoms for blow jobs (CBJ) at Monte Carlo, leading some of us to speculate that “MC” stands not for Monte Carlo but for “Mostly Covered.” In the past I had not found the girls at Monte Carlo to be as attractive on average as those at L’uomo, but that was not the case during my last two visits, and it only takes one (unless you want a “three-way”, which is available at all the termas). MC always has a few stars around who will make a visit worthwhile.

Monte Carlo is open Mon.-Fri. from 3pm-2am and Sat. and Sun. from 3pm-12am. Their fees seem to be similar to those charged at L’uomo (entry is 50 reais), and they are actually owned by the same folks that run Solarium. Their web address is http://www.termasmontecarlo.com.br/.

Centaurus (Rua Canning, 44 in Ipanema) is considered by many to be the star of the termas. I have mixed feelings about the place, and rarely go there. They often have more women, and more gorgeous women, than the other termas I’ve been to. When Centaurus is crowded, the place really jumps. Thursday nights, for some reason, are particularly zoo-like. One the other hand, the place is poorly managed and the facilities (showers, etc.) are less well maintained than should be the case. It’s also been hard to figure out the prices at Centaurus. I’ve had them try to charge me different amounts for the same services on different nights. When you enter Centaurus, you are generally required to leave a deposit (usually around 290 reais); this is the only termas that has such a requirement (that I’ve been to, at least), and it seems tacky. Tourists are charged more than locals, a practice I find offensive. If you’re a regular here these practices (advance payment and “tourist surcharge”) are dropped, and you can often talk your way out of them. It simply bothers me that they have these policies in the first place.

After you pay they may assign a girl to you to help you change into your robe, and of course she immediately wants to hook up with you. This is something I don’t care for, and I always ditch the girls by telling them I’m heading to the sauna. After a shower on the ground floor you head upstairs to the bar area. There is a small room with a TV and massage tables that is often crowded with guys and girls getting friendly while watching soccer (what else!). This “relax” room is the staging area used by couples when the rooms are all full and they must wait for one to open up. The bar area is fairly large and has seating at the bar and bench seating elsewhere where it is easier to get to know the girls. There is a small stage where they have live music on some nights and where the girls do striptease routines every evening.

The great thing about Centaurus is the girls. The girls at Centaurus are on average very attractive and good at what they do. I detected more pressure to go with the more expensive “suite” option, but I suspect this is partly due to the fact that there are a limited number of cabinas, and there is often a backlog to the point that you have to cool your heels for a ½-hour or so waiting for a free one. Centaurus is clearly the most expensive of the termas I’ve visited. The 290 reais deposit will cover 40 minutes in a standard cabine ($200 for the room and girl, $70 for the entry, and a $20 “tourist tax”). If you decide to do something out of the ordinary, like take two girls with you to a suite, they may require that you go back downstairs and pay in advance, something I’ve never experienced in any of the other termas.

As you can tell, I have qualms about the place, but you’ll find few who would disagree with the claim that you’ll often (though not always) find more stunners here than anywhere else. Many of the girls at Centaurus are college students (many from one of the local Catholic colleges, and they all seem to be law students or psychology majors) and are better conversationalists than girls at the other termas. I have heard from guys who have had unsatisfactory experiences at Centaurus, though. Unfortunately, their policies have pissed me off to the point that I prefer other options and rarely visit Centaurus any longer. Centaurus is open Mon.-Fri. from 4-2 a.m. and until midnight on Sat.

Termas Solarium (Rua JJ Seabra, 21, Jardim Botânico) is another favorite, located in a nice neighborhood about 15 minutes from Copa or Ipanema. The facilities are quite nice, the location is accessible, and the girls work hard to please. Solarium is located in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood, just a couple of blocks from the Lagoa. It’s a nice, safe neighborhood with some excellent restaurants in the surrounding area.

One of my favorite aspects of Solarium is their truth in advertising. Their prices are posted right on the wall as you enter, along with any daily specials. On average, entrance is 50 reais, a cabine is R$30, and the girls are R$130 for 40 minutes. It runs closer to R$280 for an hour in a suite with a Jacuzzi. Solarium has a series of promotions they run that can save you money (see “promotions” above) The management is extremely friendly and go to great lengths to make sure you have a good time. They will recommend girls if you’re looking for something specific. The girls are on the whole very attractive, with a few real stunners, although fewer in number than many of the other places mentioned. The “swing nights” that used to take place on Wed. and Sun. have been moved elsewhere; probably a good thing, since most of the couples that showed were a bit on the scary side.

They are open 7 days a week: Mon. through Fri. from 3 p.m. until 2 a.m., Sat. from 3-11 p.m., and Sun. from 4-midnight. Their web site can be seen at: http://www.solarium.com.br

Quatro por Quatro, located in the Centro area (Rua Buenos Aires 44, Centro), has emerged as my favorite termas. 4×4 is an excellent termas, with loads of friendly women. It is the largest termas I’ve been to, and there always seem to be 60-100 or more women around. The management seems helpful and upfront about costs and such, which are posted in several locations. There are plenty of women available and they are of comparable quality to other termas. The place is so big that one can get lost in it.

You enter through a narrow hallway and go up a flight of stairs to the desk, where they give you a locker key. The lockers are to your right, down a half flight of stairs. After changing you can go to the showers and sauna (go back to the stairs you entered up, and go up one more level). The shower and sauna facilities are not the best, but I’m not there for the “health club” amenities. After that you can hit the bars. There are two bar areas, one on the second floor (directly across from the desk) where most of the action is (including regular strip and “shower” shows) and another large one on the third floor (the VIP lounge), which is much quieter and a good place for conversation, cuddling, and getting something to eat. The bar areas were very recently redecorated, and the owners added a cyber cafe in a room adjoining the upstairs bar.

Prices are quite reasonable: entrance is $30 reais and an hour in a suite is only $170 reais(!), and the management gives you a clear up-front indication of how much the different services cost. 4X4 offers an “early bird” special: if you take a girl to a room to do the deed before 5:00, your entry fee is waived. The basic cabine is smaller at 4×4 than at some other places, but large enough not to feel cramped. Larger and fancier suites (including some with Jacuzzis, KS beds, ceiling mirrors, and dance floors) are available at higher prices, beginning at $220 for an hour in a “super suite.”

The only downside is location: 4×4 is in Centro and thus a bit of a haul for those staying in the Zona Sul neighborhoods of Copa or Ipanema (my preferred location), although it is easily accessed via Metro (just a few blocks from the Uruguaiana station). It is, nevertheless, absolutely worth a visit. I’ve imbibed in numerous threesomes and three foursomes at Quatro X Quatro and have always had a great time. Quatro X Quatro does not have a web site. This termas is located in the center of Rio’s business district and caters to businessmen. As a consequence of its location, it is open only Monday-Friday, from 2 until midnight. One interesting aspect: I’ve noticed an inordinate number of blondes at 4X4, and one of the girls there told me they “specialize” in blondes, so if that’s a fetish of yours, this may be your termas!

Termas 65 (Rua do Rosario, 65, Centro) also has some fans, and I count myself among them. This is another termas located in the Centro business district, just a short walk from 4X4, and it primarily attracts a local business clientele. Prices are high for downtown termas: entrance is $60 (no reduction for having a session like L’uomo) and session fees start at $190 for a 40-minute session is a cabine. The folks working at the front desk are helpful and will explain the prices and options in English.

Termas 65, like 4X4, is located on several floors. Just follow the noise to the boite upstairs where you’ll find about 30-40 girls crammed into a fairly small space. During my last visit I was very impressed with the quality of the options here, and there were enough stunners to make a visit definitely worthwhile. There are other rooms where you can get something to eat and have a quieter conversation, but the action takes place in the main boite. Termas 65 has a “Frequent Fucker” program: entrance is free on your third visit within a month, but you must register for the program at the termas. Sadly, you don’t get a “Termas 65 Frequent Fucker” card to carry in your wallet.

Like the other downtown termas, Termas 65 is a midweek place: open M-F from 2 p.m. until midnight. It is located just two blocks from Quatro por Quatro. Their website can be found at http://www.termas65.com.br/

Termas Aeroporto (Av. Beira Mar, 216-C, Castelo) was once a highly-regarded termas but has fallen on hard times, and has been weak for several years running. I have never found the choices attractive here. I was surprised that Termas Aeroporto is as small as it is—just a bit larger than L’uomo or Solarium)—and was not particularly impressed by the quality of the girls (although I once had great fun with a set of twins!). Recent reviews have not been very positive.

Termas history buffs may be interested in knowing the Aeroporto was the first termas opened in Rio, in September of 1977.

Like Centaurus, many of the garotas here seem to be college students, and I ran into several girls who spoke English quite well. Also like Centaurus, when you enter a girl is assigned to you to help you change into your robe and such. It is quite easy to get away from the girl, assuming you haven’t fallen instantly in lust, by heading to the saunas and showers, which are very clean. An upstairs bar is where most of the mixing takes place, but there is also a “relax” room on the first floor where many of the girls hang out. Prices are Centaurus-like: $50 reais to enter and $240 reais for an hour in a suite. Unlike Centaurus, you pay when you leave, although you may be asked to pay the entrance fee upon arrival. Aeroporto is just a few (5-6) blocks from the Cinelandia metro stop and just a door or two from the Othon Aeroporto hotel.

Like 4X4, this is primarily a businessman’s termas, being located in a business neighborhood. It is open from noon to midnight, Mon.-Fri., and is a reasonable place for an early afternoon romp.

Rio Antigo (Joaquim Silva, 2, in the Gloria neighborhood) has some fans, although I’m not among them. Prices are fairly similar to L’uomo and the set-up is fairly standard. There is a main bar area where most of the girls hang out and occasional strip shows are held. A TV room nearby is a quieter place to sit with the garota of your choice and watch soccer or the ever-present telenovela (Brasilian soap opera). The facilities (showers, sauna, and steam bath) were all recently renovated and are the nicest of any termas I’ve visited.

I have not found this termas to be as interesting as many of the others on this list, but others have told me they’ve had good experiences here. The problem has mainly been a fairly limited selection of quality girls. On my last visit there were about 40 garotas on the floor, and I didn’t find a single one do-able. One guy on the Brasilian boards opined that Vila Mimosa (see below) has a better selection of garotas! I did visit here several times in 2003 to enjoy the company of the marvelous Patricia, but she has since left Rio Antigo. It’s probably worth at least one visit. Every once in awhile a stunner wanders into the place. My favorite Solarium garota worked at Rio Antigo briefly.

Entrance here is $40, a 40 minute session will set you back $140, and expect to pay $200 for an hour in a suite. Again, because of its proximity to downtown, it is only open on weekdays, from 2 p.m. until midnight. Rio Antigo is within walking distance of the Gloria metro station. Their web site can be found at http://www.rioantigo.com.br/ If you can read Portuguese, enter their website through the “Portuguese” rather than English portal, as the Portuguese section has a link to special promotions that is not available on the English pages.

Bononia Termas (Rua Min. Alfredo Valadão, 36, Copa) opened in November of 2005, and is located on a side street just a block above L’uomo. Formerly a gay termas, Bononia is being run by former L’uomo staff, who are trying to give L’uomo a little competition, something very welcome given recent price increases at many of the termas, including L’uomo.

Bononia is smaller than L’uomo, with about 10 cabines and suites upstairs. A small locker room (the gay guys must have liked close quarters) opens into the boite, which is reasonably nice. The dj cranking out the music here came over from L’uomo. The sauna facilities are modest; three showers (w/ hot water) and a small steam room. Cabines and suites feature nice mattresses and are reasonably comfortable.

The talent at Bononia is, well, developing. I stopped by one afternoon and saw about 15-20 garotas on duty, about 1/3 of whom I considered doable. I expect the talent will pick up as business builds. The best news is the price: entry is $35, 40 minutes in a cabine is $135, an hour in a standard suite is $165, and an hour in a nicer suite is $200. Duplas can be had in the larger suite for $350 for an hour.

While small, if Bononia can build their talent, it will represent a great addition in the Copa area, especially given how prices have risen elsewhere.

Bononia is open Mon.-Fri. from 4-midnight and Sat.-Sun. from 3-10. They are currently offering a variety of special offers. On Mondays the cabine fee is waived until 8pm; on Tuesdays entrance is free until 8pm; on Wednesdays a cabine is raffled off at 9pm; and on Thursdays and Fridays you’ll receive two free drinks with your entrance fee. This is the type of competition Rio needs!

Cancun (Rua do Carmo, 64, Centro) also opened in November, and is a spinoff of 4X4. This new place, with a “whiskeria” next door, is a great addition to the downtown options. All facilities are brand new, and the owners have invested a fair amount in the facilities. The rooms are among the nicest in Rio, and the shower and sauna facilities are a definite step up from their sibling. The suites are especially nice, with some having both small saunas and Jacuzzis.

Cancun recruited about 50 garotas from other downtown termas, so they are off to a quick start, and I expect the numbers will grow as the client base increases. The talent level is just below that of 4X4 and 65, but that’s likely to change, especially given the prices at Cancun.

Cancun is located on a side street between Rua Buenos Aires and Rua do Rosario; in other words, just a block or two from both 4X4 and 65! That means there are 4 “first division” termas within a four-block radius in Centro, giving Centro the highest major termas density in Rio.

Prices are similar to 4X4. Entrance is 30 reais and the costs of programs range from $150 for 40 minutes in a basic (but quite nice) cabine to $350 for 90 minutes in a super-lux suite, with 60 minute sessions running between $170 and $220, depending on the features of the suite.

Cancun, like any new establishment, has some bugs that need to be addressed. The AC is working too well in many of the rooms, and guys report near-frostbite conditions in some cases. A more serious problem is that management seems to watch the clock too closely and the calls have been coming to the rooms (signaling the end of the session) a few minutes too early. Hopefully management is getting the message that this is clearly a counterproductive policy.

As with most of the other downtown termas, Cancun is open Mon.-Fri. from 2pm until midnight.

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