Argentina Penciled in as Gay Travel Paradise

Buenos Aires is in the midst of a tourism boom. The Argentine peso lost two-thirds of its value shortly after the country´s 2001 economic collapse. Though bad for Argentines, that drop has been good for tourists, who are now flooding what was once the most expensive city in South America.

In November, the most recent month for which figures are available, tourists spent more than $220 million in the city.

No figures exist on how many of those tourists are gay, but several signs point to a significant growth in their numbers.

Other travel agencies are adding gay-oriented offshoots. And five months ago Friendly Apartments opened its doors, renting upscale city apartments to gay travelers. The agency currently maintains 15 apartments and will be adding 11 more, said Matias Pico, the agency´s coordinator.

Buenos Aires, a city of 3 million, is often called the "Paris of South America" for its cafe culture, French-style architecture and sophistication of its residents, most of whom descend from Spanish and Italian immigrants.

The city boasts a lively gay scene. Buenos Aires is famed for its nightlife, with dozens of bars and discos open every night and portenos –as the multinational denizens of Buenos Aires are known-dancing until the sun comes up. Numerous gay bars and dance clubs have opened recently, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to party like the locals.