RIO DE JANEIRO - CARNIVAL
Every year, 40 days before Easter carnival arrives in Rio. Pounding rhythms, Samba, incredible women moving and shaking their limbs in even more unbelievable ways, Caipirinhas, sunshine, smiling people! Party, party, and party again! This is the time of the year that Cariocas (people from Rio) have been waiting for all year and they can forget about all their worries. Read more at the special events section....
Carnival is the time of hope and the true start of a new year in which everything will be better. Carnival is an amazing event. There is so much energy, so many colours, so much music, so many people….. pure happiness!! It is wonderful. This is an event that everyone should experience at least once in his or her life.
Actually, you can experience Rio s carnaval already during the entire month leading up to the actual carnaval as energy levels are rising throughout the city... the samba schools hold full dress rehearsals and the blocos (drum corps) are all out in the streets. Blocos are typically groups of friends that get together and practice throughout the year to parade through the streets playing samba music, and eventually, some of the groups get very popular and lots of people join them in a parade! So it is much more like a parade where everyone participates... people bring their own drums, drum along, drink beer, flirt... it is a good time. Famous blocos are Banda Ipanema, Simpatia e Quase Amor, Suvaco do Cristo, During this time go out in Lapa where the streets are filled with people and Samba music is everywhere. There is a special venue there where blocos (drum corps) perform. Go around 19:00 or 20:00 as tickets will sell out. Also make sure to go and party at Samba school Salgueiro, the citys most famous Samba school. Come early as it may sell out.
Although there are many events throughout the city, the largest carnival parade is held during 5 days in the Sambadromo stadium. The parade is the worlds largest and you will be bedazzled by the colors, the people, the music. The largest parades are on Carnival Sunday and Monday, try to go during these days. The other days are cheaper, but less spectacular. In any case get your tickets in advance. Your hotel or hostel should be able to help you with that. During the carnival you should actually try to parade with one of the samba schools rather than just watch. You need to prepare this in advance though as you need to order your costume, rehearse, etc. If you would like to do this, contact one of the Samba schools in the following link http://www.rio-carnival.net/rio_carnival/rio_carnival_costumes.php. Again, you need to prepare this well in advance. If you cannot join the parade in the Sambadromo, it is still great to go as a spectator.
Carnival schedule:
2011: March 5, 6, 7, 8
2012: February 18-21
2013: February 9, 10, 11, 12
2014: March 1, 2, 3, 4
Last, but not least… Rio gets packed (!) during Carnival as people fly in from all over the world to witness this spectacle so make sure to book a place to sleep well in advance. Prices rise significantly and hotels and hostels really literally get packed.
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