Imagine you’re in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s buzzing second largest city. The streets are alive with the sounds of samba, the smells of caiprinhas and barbequed meat. Everywhere you look you see vibrant colours, feathers and quite a few sequins. It can only be the Rio Carnival, the world’s most famous celebration that attracts around 2 million people all ready to party hard on the streets of Rio.
Check out our guide to surviving the Rio Carnival. It’s full of handy advice and tips to help you make the most of every single sequinned-head-dressing, street-party-dancing, samba-moves-busting minute.
Image by Leandro Nuemann Ciuffo
The ultimate guide to surviving the Rio Carnival
Where to stay
Don’t slum it – trust me, you’ll need somewhere vaguely hospitable to rejuvenate after some all-night street parties (showers will be needed, for sure). Take a look at this Carnival package, 5 nights accommodation is included.
Secure your spot in the Sambadrome
The main spectacular of Carnival takes place in the Sambadrome. Here, Rio’s hottest samba schools strut their stuff in front of a 90,000 strong crowd, each vying to be crowned the winners of the Sambadrome parade. Watching this awesome spectacle on TV just doesn’t do it justice; nothing can describe the atmosphere and exhilaration you get from actually being in the middle of it.
Tickets for the parade on Sunday and Monday are the most popular and can sell out months in advance – so book as soon as you can. Check out our hostel package that includes a ticket into Section 11 of the Sambadrome.
Sections 5 and 7 in the Sambadrome will get you the best views, but if you want a guaranteed seat, go for Section 9 – it’s the only section with allocated seating. Even better, get a seat in Section 13 and you’ll have first dibs on the costumes left behind by the samba dancers. This Carnival Essential Experience gets you access to section 13… hellooooo leftover costumes!
Don’t want a sore behind? Take a cushion to sit on – those Sambadrome seats are quite hard and won’t be kind to your bottom.
Money, money, money
Cash machines have been known to run dry during Carnival – so get plenty of cash out before you go. Those caipirinhas won’t buy themselves!
Book ahead to make sure you get views like this in the Sambadrome
Take to the streets
A seat in the Samabadrome is all well and good if you want to watch the Carnival – but what if you want to be a part of the action? Take to the streets, my friend! Chat to other travellers in your hostel and keep your ear to the ground, and you’ll soon find where the hottest blocos (or street parties) are taking place. Lapa and Santa Teresa are known for their great blocos, so they’re a good place to start.
Put yourself on parade
If watching the parade isn’t enough for you, then why not take part in it? Seriously! Some of Rio’s samba schools are open to keen travellers willing to arrive early, rehearse for a few weeks, master the moves and don a costume. Oh, and wear it in front of several hundred thousand people, of course.
Chow down
Keep your energy levels up with a bowl of feijoada – a typical Brazilian dish made with beans and pork. It’s a famous Carnival staple, and it’s really rather tasty.
Dress up
You can’t go to Carnival and not expect to get involved in some of the fancy dress action. Don’t let a costume take up precious room in your backpack, though. Head to the Sahara district to buy your costume – you’ll feel like a kid in a toy shop with the array of costumes on offer. Sparkles for days.
1 caipirinha, 2 caipirinha, 3 caipirinha, 4…
I don’t want to sound like your mum, but go easy on the caipirinhas – it’s likely they’ll be a lot stronger than what you’re used to, and the Brazilians don’t tend to knock them back like we do. Try a caipivodka instead, made with vodka instead of cachaça.
A sunrise finish
After you’ve partied at a bloco into the early hours, finish it all off by watching the sun rise at Copacabana beach. Try not to get the song in your head… oh, it’s too late, isn’t it? Altogether now: at the Copa, Copacabana…
Recover from the night before on Copacabana Beach
Hang around
Don’t leave Rio as soon as Carnival ends. If you hang around until the following Saturday, you’ll have the chance to see the winner’s parade at the Sambadrome. Not only is this show guaranteed to show you the best of the best of Rio’s samba, it’s also the parade that most of the locals attend, so you’ll get an authentic Brazilian party experience.
Not had enough?
Carnival is celebrated all over Brazil, and many of them continue the party for weeks afterwards. Check out Salvador, Recife or Olinda for the best pre and post Rio parties.
Fancy heading to Rio and getting involved in all the action? Of course you do! Check out this 6-day complete Carnival experience or the 6-day essential experience. Alternatively, if you want a bit more info give us an email or come and see us, and we’ll sort you out. Want to get your flights booked pronto? Search flights now!