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Map of Rio Carnival Experience including Brazil

Join the world's greatest party on the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

Take centre-stage in this epic annual event and let the rhythm of Rio take over. Don an elaborate costume and samba your way through the non-stop action as you get swept up in the energy and euphoria of the biggest party on earth. Witness the festivities reach their dizzying climax, join the conga line with the locals, move and shake among the drum-fuelled street fiestas and revel in the magic celebration of life. With a mix of festival-specific activities and iconic Carnival experiences – you don’t want to miss the party of a lifetime.

Start
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Finish
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Destination
Brazil
Style
Comfort
Theme
Festivals and Events
Code
GGSR
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Perfect your samba steps at a local club and learn how to blend in with the Carioca crowds, a great introduction for your first night in this pulsating city.

  • Witness a parade of elaborate floats and costumes as samba dancers show off their moves in the Sambadrome – a party that stretches well into the early hours.

  • Leave the guidebook at home and get to know the rhythms of Rio on a city tour of the top sites. See Christ the Redeemer up close and soak up sweet views from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain.

  • Be a part of the biggest stage in the world – don a costume and take part in the parade – dancing your way down the Sambadrome runway, a truly once in a lifetime experience.

  • Experience the best of Carnival under the safe and knowledgeable guidance of your expert leader. They’re on hand to make sure you have a hassle-free, fun-filled adventure!

Is this trip right for you?

  • Carnival in Rio is a busy, hectic and chaotic time, which is all part of the fun; however, this means there can be long queues and delays when joining included and optional activities. The concept of personal space may also be quite different to what you’re used to at home – particularly at crowded street parties.

  • While one of Intrepid’s local leaders will be with you throughout the entire trip to help you understand the fantastic happenings around you, plenty of patience and flexibility will help you make the most of the Carnival experience.

Carnival in Rio with Intrepid Travel - performers in the parade take a selfie
Watch the locals enjoy the a game of soccer on Copacabana beach
Join some blocos on the streets of Rio
Sip the best caipirinhas
Rio is vibrant day and night
An aerial view of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Itinerary
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Bienvenidos! Welcome to Brazil. The locals like to say that 'God made the world in six days, the seventh he devoted to Rio', and we tend to agree! In this vibrant city – set against the luminescent green of Guanabara Bay and surrounded by the slopes of Sugarloaf and Corcovado – it's hard not to be caught up in the passion of the city's residents (known as Cariocas), especially during Carnival. Your adventure kicks off at 4 pm with an important welcome meeting – afterward, head out for an included dinner with the group to try out some of Carioca's specialties before making your way to a local Samba club for a fun initiation on this popular dance. During Carnival, Rio pulsates to the rhythm of Samba. You won't need to be an expert Samba dancer to make the most of your time in Rio but knowing one or two Samba steps will help you blend in with the local Carioca crowds.
Included Activities
  • Rio de Janeiro - Welcome dinner
  • Rio de Janeiro - Samba Club visit
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

Today your local leader will take you on a guided tour around two of the most emblematic landmarks of Rio de Janeiro. It wouldn’t be a trip to Rio without visiting Christ the Redeemer – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Head to Corcovado Mountain to take in the sweeping views of Rio from the 710-metre-high peak and gaze up at the iconic statue from its base. Next, head to Sugarloaf, another mountain that juts out over Guanabara Bay. Its name comes from the mountain’s resemblance to a traditional sugarloaf – a tall cone of refined sugar that was popular in the Caribbean and Brazil until the late 19th century. This evening, enjoy time to yourself to explore the nightlife of Rio – your local leader will have plenty of recommendations if you want to try some classic Brazilian fare like feijoada or barbeque for dinner.
Included Activities
  • Rio de Janeiro - Christ the Redeemer
  • Rio de Janeiro - Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning your leader will take you to a local bloco. Blocos are the true expression of Carnival in Rio, simply put, they are street parties, unlike any party you’ve been to before! Each bloco is themed, with DJs or bands playing all day and people of all ages and walks of life dressing up to join the party every day throughout the Carnival. Your local leader will be at hand throughout the visit to help you make the most of this experience. Today's afternoon and evening is free for you to explore Rio at your own pace, or perhaps head to the beach for a swim. If you’re looking for an active adventure that takes you off the beaten track, ask your leader about one of the incredible hiking trails – a climb up the nearby Morro Dois Irmaos provides arguably the best view over Rio.
Included Activities
  • Rio de Janeiro - Bloco experience
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Enjoy a sleep in this morning, or perhaps grab a traditional acai bowl for a morning boost. Later, meet with your leader and head to the main event of the week – the parade in the Sambadrome. Here, more than 100 of the top samba schools in Brazil parade their fantastic floats and costumes in an annual competition for the title of Rio Carnival Samba Parade Champions. Witness an exhilarating display of dance and design as the dedicated performers samba down the runway, showing off their skills and you'll have a prime spot in Sector 11 where you’ll get a close-up view of the parade and the chance to snap great photos. The rhythm of Rio’s Sambadrome celebrations pulses into the early hours of the morning – feel free to party all night or return to the hotel with your leader – the night is yours!
Included Activities
  • Rio de Janeiro - Sambodrome (Seating in sector 11)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
You’ll take the metro from the hotel to the Sambadrome with your leader and the rest of the group but will have the option to either leave with the leader and group and head back to the hotel in the evening or stay later if you wish.

Make the most of a free morning to recover from the craziness of the Sambadrome – you may want to go for a refreshing dip at one of Rio’s many beautiful beaches or simply relax at the hotel. This afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to don a costume and take part in the parade – dancing your way down the Sambadrome runway – a once in a lifetime experience! Each Samba School has around 4000 dancers, split into twenty-five ‘alas’ or wings, each wing telling part of the overall story or theme of the school. You’ll get to join one of these ‘alas’ and spend 30-40 minutes celebrating within the Sambadrome. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be able to samba, just use your utmost enthusiasm to jump, bounce and dance around. Soak up the energy and make the most of every moment as you play a part in the biggest stage in the world. Afterward, you’re welcome to head back to the hotel with the leader, who will be able to recommend places to go for a final cold caipirinha or group dinner.
Optional Activities
  • Rio de Janeiro - Join the Parade with costume - USD600
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Joining the parade is a popular activity and you will need to book it in advance. It is a once in a lifetime experience, but it will be very hot and you need to be physically fit to partake.

We will purchase the costume & shoes for you to confirm your spot in the Parade. The price above includes the costume and shoes. Please provide your shoe & clothing size at the time of booking this optional activity. Refer to rio-carnival.net/costume-sizes.php for costume sizing. We suggest ordering one shoe size larger than usual as the shoes are often very tight. Once the costume and shoes are purchased, they can't be returned or refunded.

The spectator's ticket for today's Parade is not included.

Today is the final day of your Rio Carnival trip and there are no activities included. The trip finishes after breakfast and you can check out of the hotel any time before midday.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

5 breakfasts, 1 dinner

Transport

Private Bus, Metro

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights)

Included activities

  • Rio de Janeiro - Welcome dinner
  • Rio de Janeiro - Samba Club visit
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Rio de Janeiro - Christ the Redeemer
  • Rio de Janeiro - Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car
  • Rio de Janeiro - Bloco experience
  • Rio de Janeiro - Sambodrome (Seating in sector 11)

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Rio Carnival Experience trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. While there will be one leader for every 16 travellers, there may be more than 50 travellers joining you on this experience.
4. The order and days of the activities may change depending on availability.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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