Enjoy Rio Carnival, the biggest in Brazil.
A big party invades the city, with lots of music and revelers from everywhere, singing and having a blast in the streets, and not for nothing, is a world reference for fun.
Therefore, we have prepared this practical guide to help you make the most of Carioca Carnival with safety, planning and, of course, the best Carioca tips!
Here you will find information on when you should be careful, how you can get around and what you should not miss out on. Thus keep reading this article so you can participate in the Biggest Party in the World: Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, without being in for trouble.
What is and how to enjoy Rio Carnival
Rio de Janeiro Carnival was elected in 2004 by the Guinness Book as the largest Carnival in the world. The event takes place in February or March. The date is chosen according to the Catholic calendar, the majority religion in Brazil. Officially, the party lasts 5 days, from Friday to Tuesday, ending on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.
The Carioca Carnival is currently divided into two main events: the Marquês de Sapucaí Carnival and the Street Parties Carnival. Below you will find the main characteristics of each of them.
The Samba Schools parade at Marquês de Sapucaí or Sambadrome
The Samba Schools are neighborhood associations that throughout the year prepare a true spectacle with music, costumes and floats for the procession in the Sambódromo towards Apoteose Square.
The parade lasts all night! One school succeeds another until the early morning of the following day. Each samba school has its “Samba Enredo” (Samba song), that is, a theme and a plot that they narrate in their parade. The samba is sung by the musicians and the crowd, boosted by the sound of the “Bateria” (The drumming wing), which is considered the heart of the parade. The group, formed by an average of 250-300 instrumentalists, is responsible for setting the rhythm and cadence of the samba-enredo.
The result is a magical combination that excites and thrills millions of revelers every year. And, this whole party is, in fact, a big contest whose winner is elected by a technical committee during Ash Wednesday.
How to watch the Samba Schools Parade
Rio de Janeiro has 27 samba schools divided into two groups: the access group, made up of schools with lower prestige and budget; and the special group, formed by schools of more important tradition and investment. The Special Group of Samba Schools parade always happens on Sunday and Monday of Carnival.
The Sambadrome, named after famed anthropologist Darcy Ribeiro, is the epicenter of the whole Samba parade, located in a downtown area called Praça Onze.
There are many seating arrangements to choose from, like the luxury suites if you have the money, the grandstands if you are on a strict budget, or the open boxes called the frisas, which are touted to offer the best view of the Samba parade.
The Grandstands:
Most affordable and cheerful places. The seats are large concrete steps with a great view of the parade. Grandstands tickets are not numbered or assigned, except for the Sector 9, the tourist sector, which provide more comfort and space, and a better structure overall.
Frisas:
The Front Box called Frisas are located at the floor level, as close to the runaway as it gets, in four rows of boxes, from A to D. Each box sits six people in numbered chairs. They are absolutely the best tickets you can get if your goal is to watch the parades. The front box areas are the least crowded of the sambadrome. Sector 9 also offers best structure and is close to transfers access.
Camarote:
Ideal for party people who wants to enjoy the parade and have fun at the same time. Usually the camarotes offers open bar, buffet, DJs, shows and roundtrip transportation from and to South zone.
An individual place in the Grandstands costs around R$ 100.00 and R$ 200.00. Front boxes with approximately 30 seats, however, can cost up to R$ 100,000.00.
But remember: Tickets should be purchased preferably in advance. Contact our sales team to purchase yours.
Street Carnival parties
The street carnival parties have their origins in the nineteenth century and were revived in the last decades with great enthusiasm. To enjoy the street carnival parties and parades is undoubtedly a much more economical and fun alternative to enjoy this popular party.
Currently, the city has more than 500 official street parties and, as many secrets, unofficial, that can start at any time, anywhere, without prior notice.
Here is how it works: the drumming wing play and sing, in an electric trio float or parading on foot; Behind them follows a crowd or a small group, depending on the party. In common, they have the animation of who commands the party and of who accompanies it.
Your participation in a street party is always free! Just join the group, taking with you your joy. If you can, go costumed. Costumes are not mandatory, but with them, the party becomes much more fun.
To choose your preferred street party, check the calendar of the official city street parties here or here.
And listen to word of mouth! Who knows, you have the fortune of finding an unofficial secret street party?
–> Want to know more about the secret street parties? Check out this article.
How about enjoying Street Carnival parties with Rio de Janeiro by Cariocas? Join us on the tour Carnival street parties (bloco de rua) with a Local created especially for this date.
Carioca Tip:
The Samba Schools Parade is during the night and has a pre-established time to start and finish. For Street parties, however, there are schedules of all kinds and, some good and traditional street parties usually begin early in the morning. Consequently, to enjoy Carnival Carioca well, staying in bed late is not a good option.
Carnival Balls
But if you’re the type that does not like to mingle and prefers a slightly more controlled mess, then the best alternative for you is going to a Carnival Ball. Carnival dances are organized by smaller groups or by clubs, nightclubs, restaurants and other types of institutions. Usually, they are paid events, or they charge at least a minimal consummation fee. Many of them need to be booked in advance. But it is a way to dance and enjoy the carnival with your costume, without having to face large crowds.
Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace
One of the best ball parties of the Rio Carnival is the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace. This eagerly anticipated event is the grandest and most luxurious occasion in the Carnival. The glamour quotient of the evening is at an all-time high with a host of local and international celebrities in attendance.
The Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace is without doubt the most elite event of the Rio Carnival and guests are dressed in their Carnival best. Men are expected to be attired formally with suit and black tie and women can wear a gala dress. However, to truly experience the flavor of the evening, a luxury costume is the way to go. These fanciful whimsical outfits add to the glittering Carnival atmosphere.
Plan ahead
Carioca Carnival is always full of locals and tourists (more than any other holiday of the year!). So plan ahead! You will save loads if you book your flight, your stay and, your tickets in advance.
Also remember that Rio de Janeiro is a city with a very high cost of living and, because of the high demand, prices can rise even more during Carnival. So if your trip is economical, take advantage of the supermarkets and avoid the exorbitant costs of street food and drink.
Also, choose in advance the street parties that you intend to attend. Organizing yourself can spare time to enjoy other wonderful city attractions as one of these 6 free and easy-access viewpoints or one of these 10 beaches in Rio.
Carioca Tip:
If you want to go to the beach during the Carnival, give preference to the beaches of the West zone (Barra da Tijuca – in the region of the environmental reserve, Prainha and Grumari, among others). In these beaches, there are no street parties. Therefore, they are usually always more appropriate for bathing and less crowded at that time.
Safety Tips
As in every major event, you need to take some precautions so that you do not get into any trouble or ruin your party.
First of all, be very careful with your belongings! Ideally, you should take to the parties as little as possible. These are hot days and lots of excitement. Many people drink more than usual and end up being inattentive and more careless: an easy target for malicious people.
So make sure that your things are very well kept and take what is strictly necessary. Here is a short list with some tips:
** Never put the wallet in your back pocket!
** Take a copy of your documents, rather than the original documents.
** Take only the amount of money needed to spend during the day and only 1 credit card, if necessary. (This tip is great because it helps in saving too)
** Do not flash your mobile phone around! Of course, you will want to take a lot of selfies and immediately post them on social media. But be mindful and stay alert!
**Eliminate excess weight from your bag! Makeup and other items that you “might”use, won`t be needed. Trust us… At the time you are having fun and jumping around, less is more! And your back will thank me at the end of the day.
Food
It may seem obvious, but during the excitement of Carnival celebration, you may forget this mandatory thing for all human beings: food.
Plan yourself, so you don`t simply eat street food. On the run, it saves time, but is not the healthiest and, definitely not the freshest! Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is always accompanied by sweltering days, so it’s important to think about it and prioritize light and healthy foods so that you have the breath to enjoy the Carnival. And, most importantly, do not forget to drink water!
You may prefer a beer or a caipirinha. But, believe me, your fun will be bigger and better if you drink water too!
In the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is very common cases of dehydration and insolation. But you will not want to interrupt your party because you didn’t drink enough water, right? Here’s the tip: Drink lots of water!
How to get around during Carnival
During Rio Carnival, the entire transit scheme of the city changes. For the street parties procession and to ensure the safety of revelers, many streets are closed or change their course.
There are so many events and street parties at the same time that not even Cariocas, who know their streets well, know exactly what the map will look like in the clutch. The consequence of this is a lot of traffic jams in many parts of the city.
Therefore, the best way to get around during Carnival is, without a doubt, to take the subway. Besides the air-conditioning and the ease of coming and going from one street party to another, we have the fact that the main and most famous street parties of the city happen precisely in the South Zone and in downtown, both regions very well served with this transport which, in addition to fast, is also the safest.
Every year MetrôRio announces the special working scheme for the carnival, with some stations running 24 hours a day! Visit the official website to check which stations will be open, closed or with a special operation and buy a RioCard – our integrated public transport card. You top it up into self-service machines with the amount you want, and then you do not have to queue to buy a ticket each time you get on the subway.
When leaving the subway and walking the streets, avoid alleys and empty streets. Look for locations with policing and higher concentration of people. Carnival is, the name already says, the Feast of the Flesh, and for many Christians, all sins are released.
Carioca Tip:
Take special care on the region around the Sambódromo. The place is in a very deserted downtown area so in doubt, stay on the subway-sambodromo-sambodromo-subway route.
The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is made by Cariocas for citizens of all around the world!
So it is considered one of the most democratic on the planet, with party and entertainment guaranteed for all types and styles. Our tip is that you search and look for that style that fits you the most. Often your style will not match the most famous or popular street party in town, but don`t worry! We guarantee that Carioca Carnival is for everyone, always with a lot of fun!
→ If you need help choosing the street party that most suits you or to organize all the tours you are interested in doing during Carnival, hire one of our Travel Planning Services and enjoy Rio in a way that’s all yours!
→ If you are visiting Rio de Janeiro in January and February but will not be here at the carnival, know that you can enjoy street parties and samba school rehearsals too! (And there are those who say that Pre-Carnival is even better than actual Carnival.) Also, request your custom travel itinerary that we will take care of everything for you. Or go to our post with options to enjoy samba from Monday to Friday, and choose your favorite place to enjoy this carioca rhythm.
This post was beautifully illustrated with the photos of the photographer Karen Eppinghaus. Follow her work on Instagram.
