 Carnival is Brazil’s most spectacular time. It is every year the long-waited holiday in the entire country. The 5-day celebration takes place at the peak of Summer when Brazilians are at their best.
Each city in Brazil celebrates its own unique Carnival. Rio de Janeiro is famous for the best – and biggest - Carnival party on earth. Salvador and Recife/Olinda have their different Carnival celebrations. But regardless of where you go, or where you decide to put your endurance to the test, and see just how much festivity you can possibly sustain, you are guaranteed to have an all around unforgettable experience!
 In Rio de Janeiro will you encounter the mesmerising multi-sensory effects of the parade of samba schools. Combined, the extravagance of the floats, the colorful brilliance of the costumes, the magic of the music, the infectious laughter and the energy of the dancers makes for a complete integration of the arts. And, the excitement of the crowd is absolutely unimaginable! It all takes place in the Sambodromo, a half-mile long pathway built specifically to hold the event back in 1984.
The Samba schools, now copied nationwide, were founded in Rio, making Cariocas nearly as passionate supporters of certain samba schools as they are fans of certain soccer teams. Join the Cariocas, and decide for yourself which school deserves the champion title. Allow yourself to enjoy the fantasy of a lifetime by celebrating Carnival in Rio, like a Carioca!
 In addition to the parade, Rio is known worldwide for its’ street parties. 24/7. Party. Party. Party. Some people say that the street parties are the real fun of Rio’s carnival. Here, the magic of the parade is recreated improvisationally as people dance and sing to the endless beats of samba. The streets overflow with an exhuberance impossible to match. People from all walks of life radiate the joy of Carnival.
Rio de Janeiro is also famous for its elaborate Carnival costume balls. Some of the best are found at Scala or in five star hotels, the Sugar-Loaf Ball, and the Gala Gay. Group after group of live artists keep the people moving all night long. The balls generally kick off around 11:00 p.m. and the people don’t stop until the early morning! |
