Essential Guide to Rio Carnival

“The Rio Carnival is an extravagant festival that includes samba dancing, lively music and Brazilian food and drink. Traditionally, Carnival is an event that was celebrated before the Roman Catholic Lenten period as a way to indulge before the long fast. Over the years, Carnival celebrations evolved to include masquerade balls with elaborate costuming, and Rio Carnival became a popular street party with loud, live music and colourful costume parades that attract millions of people.

If you’re planning to attend Rio Carnival, check out our advice and tips to navigate the event and prepare yourself for the time of your life.

See an event at Sambadrome
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Samba is the heart of Carnival and it’s incorporated into all of the music and dance routines. Samba schools are a vital part of the celebration, and many venues have samba events. The iconic Sambadrome holds the most spectacular of all in a huge stadium with local students dancing in the parade in sensational costumes. The parade also includes parade floats, local Brazilian dancers, lively percussion music and cheering fans. Even if you’re not part of the local schools, you can pay to be part of the parade and join in the festivities.

Each school performs a routine in costumes that reflect different cultural influences or themes, and each winner moves up to the next level the following year. The Special Group, which is the main event of Sambadrome, includes the best samba schools in the city.

On Ash Wednesday, the judge names the winner. On the following Saturday, the venue hosts the Champions’ Parade that features the winner and the top five samba schools. The event is one of the most popular of Carnival, so it’s important to get your tickets early to gain entry into the event.

Experience Rio’s street carnivals
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Rio’s street carnival group events, or blocos, include percussion and musical groups that parade through the streets to represent individual neighbourhoods. The street party dominates the streets and draws passerbys into the event and the elaborate costumes and accessories.

Some of the most popular groups include the traditional bands of Cordao da Bola Preta, Banda de Ipanema and Carmelitas, which is rumoured to be run by nuns from the Carmelo Convent.

When all these groups get together, the streets can get very crowded, so it’s important to keep safety in mind. It gets hot in Rio, so you should drink plenty of water to counteract the rising temperatures with the crowds, and keep your valuables close to avoid losing your personal items to pickpockets.

Attend a Carnival ball
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If you prefer a more luxurious side of Carnival, you can attend a ball where you can dress up in upscale costumes or black tie attire and experience the good life. Carnival balls date back to European immigration and take a more traditional approach to Rio Carnival, prior to the arrival of samba and the street parades.

Some of the best balls in the city include the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace, a glamorous and sophisticated event with fancy attire and VIP guests, and Rio Scala Carnival Ball at the Scala Nightclub, a popular ball with themed dances. The Masked Ball, an event with live samba music and local samba dancers, is another popular option.

Where to Stay
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Rio Carnival is a busy time in the city, so it’s important to stay in a great location to ensure you make the most of the experience. During Carnival, the main events take place around Zona Sul, so it’s best to get a Rio de Janeiro holiday home in Copacabana, Leblon or Ipanema to take part in the best experiences. In these areas, you’ll be close enough to the events to walk, so you won’t need public transport in the heavy traffic.

Carnival brings many tourists, so it’s possible that local rentals will have higher rates. Because of this, it’s important to book as early as possible to ensure you get close accommodation and save on inflated hotel rates.

If you’re ready for the time of your life, visit Expedia to find great rates on Rio de Janeiro holidays to prepare for your trip to Rio Carnival!”