Rio de Janeiro 4-Day Carnival Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Friday (21 February): Rio Arrival & Welcome Briefing

Stop At: Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Avenida Atlantica Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Welcome to Rio de Janeiro! Upon arrival to the airport, please make your way to your accommodation. There is an optional airport transfer (additional cost) or just hop in a taxi (not included).

Your accommodation is located in Lapa, Rio's colourful bohemian centre, where many of Carnival's major events and block parties take place. The neighbourhood is full of samba clubs, theatres, capoeira halls, trendy antique stores house in historical buildings, funky bars and much more for you to discover. Feel free to arrive when you wish, however remember check-in is from 3PM on. Our crew will be awaiting your arrival to start your experience, showing you your room, sharing local maps and great tips for you to make the most of these days.

At around 6PM you will meet with the rest of the group for a meeting to revise the schedule of all the planned events. You are now ready to get the party started! Enjoy your first caipirinha and get ready for your group samba class where you can show off your skills. Get your face painted by a professional make-up artist before hitting the streets for your first night out in this paradise! Your Tour Leader will take you to the best parties in town to experience a true electric atmosphere!

For those who pre-booked a Samba School Costume -Dance with Samba School Option- you are going to be part of the Sambadrome Parade tonight! Your costumes will be delivered to your accommodation room and waiting for you when you arrive.

*Pre-booked Optional: Dance with Samba School (to pre-buy a costume and be part of the Samba Parade!)This option MUST be booked and paid for before arriving to Rio. You will need to give your costume size (universal small, medium, large, extra-large) and European shoe size (a size chart will be provided). Please book well in advance for this option to ensure you don’t miss out!

*Pre-Tour Night: Please note an optional night is available before the beginning of the tour for an additional cost. We highly recommend that you book an extra night, especially if you’ve travelled a long way to get here, to give you time to recover, settle in and visit more of Rio’s sites before Carnival.

*Shopping Note: Today is the day most shops and big markets will be open in the area. During Carnival it is customary to wear ‘fancy-dress’ costumes to all street parties; so if you haven’t packed any fancy dress items today is the day to go shopping! Our Tour Leaders can tell you where to go.


Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Lapa

Day 2: Saturday (22 February): Morning Bloco, Beach Trip, Lunch & Sunset Boat Party Cruise (B/L)

Stop At: Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Avenida Atlantica Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
During today's breakfast your Tour Leader will be available to revise today's plans and solve any questions you may have.

One of the biggest and most fun blocos in Rio -Céu na Terra- traditionally performs on Saturday morning in Santa Teresa during Carnival so if you're feeling up for it, this is a great opportunity to get in the Carnival mood and start the party bright and early! If you are looking for a quieter plan, head to the beach as a group as one of the Tour Leaders will be ready to meet after breakfast to take you on the metro to the best part of Ipanema beach.

You will meet around midday with the rest of the group in your accommodation to cruise on down to the Marina da Gloria for a nice lunch on your way. You will then hop aboard a magnificent schooner boat that will cruise around Rio's spectacular Guanabara Bay for around 3-4 hours. Enjoy an open bar and snacks during the first hour of the cruise and make the most of the dance floor, music and chill-out area. Returning just after sunset, you'll have the chance to view the city, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Christ the Redeemer from a stunningly different light and angle.

After some relaxing time back in your accommodation, prepare yourself for another night in town attending the best parties.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Lapa

Day 3: Sunday (23 February): Rio City Tour & Sunday Sambadrome Parade (B)

Stop At: Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Avenida Atlantica Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
After breakfast you will drive through the Tijuca National Park to Corvocado to begin an incredible city tour of Rio de Janeiro. After visiting the statue of Christ the Redeemer, head to Santa Theresa to be amazed by some of the most impressive old mansions, arte galleries and the famous Santa Teresa trams. Next stop will be the Cathedral and then the tiled Steps of Selaron in Lapa.

The final stop on the tour will be Sugarloaf Mountain, which we will traverse via cable car. You will have the chance to see Guanabara Bay and its islands, Rio-Niteroi Bridge, and the Christ the Redeemer statue. Afterwards, a second cable car will take you to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain (295m), where the views are simply breathtaking!

After the city tour, you will be dropped back to your accommodation where we'll have time to prepare for the main Carnival event of the week: the Sunday night parade at the Sambadrome!

All of the city's best samba schools parade, their outrageous floats and costumes down the runway, and you will be able to view it all from the stands above.

We will start meeting at the roof-top terrace of the accommodation where you can get your face painted by a professional make-up artist and have your picture taken by a professional photographer before heading to the Sambadrome. You will be sitting in Sections 12 and 13 of the Sambadrome, located near the end of the runway and known to be one of the liveliest sections, full of fun, rowdy locals! There were no fixed seats but a hidden perk of this section is the potential to salvage abandoned costumes to wear later, as many dancers leave their costumes behind after the parade!

*Optional Sambadrome Sector Upgrade: If you wish to get closer to the parade and get a better view you have the option of purchasing an update at an additional cost.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Lapa

Day 4: Monday (24 February): Bloco Street Party & Rio Accommodation Check-Out (B)

Stop At: Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Avenida Atlantica Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
This great adventures comes to an end today. The rest of the day is yours, just remember the check-out is at 11AM. If time permits, join one of the city’s BEST blocos -Sergeant Pepper’s Bloco-. This party is a Beatles-themed party, featuring over 100 samba percussionists.

We wish you safe travels for your onward journey!

*Airport Drop-Off: Please note an optional transfer to the airport can be scheduled for an additional cost.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.