What is the Rio Carnival? Insider Travel Guide & Tips
Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s buzzing second-biggest city. The streets of Rio de Janeiro are alive with the smells of caipirinhas, the sounds of samba, and barbequed meat. Here one can view a few sequins, feathers, and vibrant colors. One can have a lot of joy at this place.
Rio Carnival is the world’s most famous celebration that draws the attention of around 2 million people who are ready to enjoy hard on the streets of Rio. You can see the best guide to surviving the Rio Carnival. You can take the tips from here and apply them to your life.
Table of Contents
All Guide You Need to Know About Rio Carnival
Where to Stay
In order to hit the night street parties, you would require to discover the place to revive. If you will check out the carnival packages on the internet, you can find that night accommodation is included in those carnival packages.
Safeguard your place in the Sambodromo
The key striking of Carnival usually held in the Sambodromo. At this destination, hottest samba schools of Rio perform their programs in front of a 90,000 strong crowd and everyone competes with each other to get crowned as the winners of the Sambodromo parade.
It is really worth time to watch this stunning spectacle on TV as nothing can convey the exhilaration and atmosphere you receive from actually being present in the event.
The Sambodromo stadium was constructed mainly for the carnival. Rio Carnival is taken place for 5 nights from 9 pm to 6 am.
The best Samba schools in Rio take part in the Carnival parade. You would need to buy tickets to see this parade. Even though you can buy tickets in Rio but it is better to buy them in advance.
The Blocos – Smaller Carnival Events
It is true that the Sambodromo is an unbelievable event and the best list item but you can enjoy Carnival without going to the Sambodromo in Rio. The other way to enjoy the Rio Carnival is to attend blocos.
Blocos are nothing but the block parties that are extended to a great extent. In this event, everyone enjoys the drink, everyone dances, samba bands beat permeate the air, and the people crammed into a few blocks.
During the Carnival, above 500 Blocos take place in Rio. Most of the great Blocos begin early in the morning that is around 7 am. You might feel that it is a crazy time for a party or an event but Rio revelers are always ready to skip their sleep for this carnival.
Does Rio Close During the Carnival?
Do not get into the misconception that all life stops in Rio during the Carnival. It is not at all true as there are many people who even do not attend a Bloco. You are totally free for your time in Rio as you can visit other major attractions and make your day in Rio without ever attending all the Bloco hoopla. Otherwise, one can also attend the parade in the Sambodromo and spend the rest of their time sightseeing.
Tips for Carnival Tour
Book all events online: It is always good to book your favorite events online as you will find long queues everywhere you go in Rio during the carnival. So always book major events like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf online.
Present at the opening time: Although you book tickets, you still might need to stand in line. Therefore, always save some precious time by presenting at the attractions early in the morning. Lines can be longer if you come during the day.
Use Metro Route: Metro route can help you to get around especially during the carnival. Also, it is even safer than Uber.
Hold a rain jacket: Brazil has a lot of rain and even at unexpected times however the show goes on.
During the carnival, Road closures are very common in Rio. If you want to reach the carnival without any block, you can use google maps.
Safety Tips for Carnival
When you visit a bloco, always wear a money belt under your clothes to carry your phone, a credit card, and some cash.
Always take care of not to carry valuables in your pockets as pickpockets are the biggest danger at blocos.
Always stay along with crowds after the bloco. Getting separate from the crowds might get you in danger as most crimes occur after blocos and not during them.
Do not take your backpack or camera equipment to a bloco.
The area around the Sambodromo is very unsafe so always prefer uber or taxi to go there as it is the safest way. You can also use a group bus arranged by your hotel for the Rio Carnival trip.
Women should always stay safe during the Rio Carnival.
