BEAR ISLAND
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Canarians are used to diversity, and they consider themselves as one of the most liberal communities inside the already progressive Spain. That may explain why all the fun and most popular events in Gran Canaria’s cultural calendar are as gay as a Christmas tree! We are talking about the hugely successful Maspalomas Pride (mid May), the uproarious Gay German Carnival (mid November), and the Canarian Carnivals (mid February). The pinnacle of the later is a World-famous Drag Queen Gala which is broadcast live from the capital city of Las Palmas to the whole country. This year, they even had a public-funded drag queen school for kids… So, you get the idea?
After the 90s, Gran Canaria naturally became a “bear island” as the twinks and waxed muscle guys started to loose interest in favor of more “fashionable” places, such as Ibiza or Mykonos. Maspalomas Pride still attracts a massive younger and diverse crowd. But for the rest of the year, the common age range of visitors spans from 30 to 50, and their usual attitude is… well, nonexistent. The bear and masculine scene in Gran Canaria feels warmer than the equivalent in any big capital. Maybe it’s because all the patrons are on holiday but the inclusive and easy-going nature of gay bears is especially obvious around the island, no matter if you are in a fab beach club or a hardcore sex bar. By the way, let’s visit just some of the milestones along Maspalomas bear route! All of them are on walking distance inside the gay district.
Normally you’ll spend your mornings at the beach, though one day you may try the swimming pool of a gay complex, such as the laid-back Tropical La Zona, or Basement Studios if you’re feeling more adventurous (it also doubles as an open-air daytime nudist sex club!) Later on, many bears gather at Café Wien, in the Cita Centre’s 1st floor. You can’t miss the priceless contrast between the macho crowd and the camp décor. The most popular times are from 4 to 6 PM, when they usually run out of their remarkable cakes. After a shower and some dinner, you can take a first drink at an intimate terrace bar called Bärenhöhle… Keep calm about the name and just say “Barenhole”; you’ll be equally understood! The name means "bear cave", and inside it you will enjoy the charming manners of the owner, Paul, together with his hilarious music compilations and astounding teddy bear collection.
BEAR FUN UNDER THE SUN
He’s got hundreds of them, each one with a story! At midnight, ursine hordes take over several bars, such as Construction. They’re all the typical men-only clubs with good house music, and a gleeful colour scheme of black in every possible shade. If you’re feeling horny, at 1 AM you can look for someone to rub your fur at a sex club. The most popular ones among bears are Bunker, Reds and The Cellar, just meters away from the previous bars. A new alternative is Bourbon’s, a mid point between a sex club and a 100% “classic” bear pub. It’s located at Gran Chaparral shopping centre (right side), a 7 min walk from Yumbo. Finally, our bears go back to their dens around 4 AM at the latest. Discos and after-hour clubs are well away from the route in Gran Canaria. The bears usually prefer to enjoy outdoor activities early next day, such as visiting the dunes or joining a cruise or an excursion to the mountains!
PRACTICAL INFO
Gran Canaria is a budget destination, as a VAT-exempt territory with such a competitive offer. For a start, getting here is cheap if you consider the distance. A Ryanair return flight from London this November (high season here) is under 110 € at the time of writing this report. Once here, a regular apartment, shared among three friends, will usually cost less than 100 € per week per person. Men-only bungalows such as Villas Blancas are a bit more pricey, but the experience is well worth it. Beers and soft drinks at the Yumbo Centre are around 4 or 5 € at night, while a glass of booze is less than 6 or 7 €. The entrance to a men-only nightclub, from 0 to 7 €. Even luxury, Las Vegas-style hotels at the ocean front are reasonably priced. Finally, your regular shopping spree including designer clothing, perfumes, jewelry, tobacco or liquors could easily cost 40-50% less in comparison with your home country.
Petrol is just 1.10 € per liter and roads are quite good, so renting a car is an excellent idea to discover the island beyond the tourist area. You can also visit the Tourism Office in the outskirts of Yumbo Centre to get maps and personal information about guided excursions, all sorts of amusements, sports and adventure activities.
Maspalomas’ lengthy experience as an inexpensive gay Mecca also has a drawback: a part of the offer for the gay clientele can look obsolete. Yumbo Centre needs refurbishment and some of its shops can be screamingly tacky. Also, beware of the cheapest apartments as they can be in need of renovations. Those are really the only warnings for the prospective traveler. The rest is just pure, relaxing fun!
When is the best moment to meet bears in Maspalomas? Actually all year round, though you shouldn’t miss the next bear gathering in 2015: Bear Carnival, from February 28th to March 8th. It’s very different from any other bear event you may have visited before: imagine our funny bear route together with hundreds of bears partying in a wild pirate-themed Mardi Gras! You can get more information at www.Bearcarnival.com.
