Rio Carnival in Useful Information @ Tucan Travel

Rio Carnival 
Experience the world's biggest street party with Tucan Travel!

On this page:
About Rio Carnival
 - Rio Carnival Dates
About the Sambadrome
About group tours to Rio Carnival
 - Rio Carnival Package Prices
 - List of group tours which meet Rio Carnival
About Independent Travel to Rio Carnival
 - List of Independent Travel packages for Rio Carnival
 - Rio Carnival Independent Package Prices
Enjoy Rio Carnival on a Budget
Rio Carnival Tips


About Rio Carnival
Rio Carnival is the biggest street party in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people pouring into the city each year to take part in the festival. During the last 4 days and nights prior to Ash Wednesday the whole city closes down for wild and euphoric celebrations. The party hits the streets in a huge way - with colourful feathers, sequins and silk as far as the eye can see, and samba drums filling the air with an infectious rhythm. The entertainment continues well into the night with carnival balls each evening as well as free street parties and parades all over the city, but the major highlight of carnival is the spectacular Sambadrome parade, where samba schools battle it out to win the hearts and minds of carnival goers, with glittery costumes, fabulous floats and elaborate dance routines.

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Rio Carnival Dates
Carnival occurs annually on the weekend before Ash Wednesday.

Rio Carnival 2010     Friday 12 February to Tuesday 16 February
Rio Carnival 2011     Friday 4 March to Tuesday 8 March
Rio Carnival 2012     Friday 17 February to Tuesday 21 February
Rio Carnival 2013     Friday 8 February to Tuesday 12 February

Important Note: Due to the popularity of this spectacular event, if you wish to experience the carnival it is important to organise your flights and accommodation well in advance. Accommodation for Rio Carnival can be booked independently or through Tucan Travel.

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Sambadrome at Rio Carnival
Feathers and flesh, sequins and samba!

For many Rio Carnival revellers the highlight of the festival is the main parade, where hundreds of samba schools come to show off their dancing skills... and other feather-covered talents... in a purpose-built stadium called the Sambadrome. Parades in the Sambadrome run from Friday to Tuesday nights but the most spectacular are on the Sunday and Monday evenings.

It takes many months, if not a whole year for samba schools to prepare for Sambadrome parades. Some schools have thousands of members parading a time, with dozens of dazzling floats and hundreds of drummers. The choreography and practice of the dance steps, design and creation of the intricate costumes, and building of the parade floats is a complex and expensive business, but the end result is a fantastic display of colour, rhythm and dance that can literally take your breath away.

The samba schools pull out all the stops to win the support of the crowds and whip the spectators into a frenzy of singing and dancing. Judges at strategic points along the parade route score the competitors on everything from their passion, discipline and costumes to music and dance choreography.

Tickets for the Sambadrome are available through Tucan Travel and are included in the Rio Carnival package. We offer sector 13 tickets (see Sambadrome map), which are free seating and allow you to choose your vantage point. This sector is at the end of the Sambadrome pista (parade route) which also gives you the unique opportunity to ‘recycle’ the costumes left behind by carnival dancers!

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Group Tours to Rio Carnival
Travel Styles: Adventure Tours, Overland Expeditions, Budget Expeditions
Learn more about our travel styles

Tucan Travel block books Rio Carnival rooms well in advance and can offer a 4 night carnival hotel package on a shared room basis, with breakfast included. Please note we are only able to secure hotels in 4 night packages and cannot book fewer nights. The cost for this 4 night package is shown below and is per person. Your travel agent may also charge an administration fee.

We strongly recommend that you book your Rio Carnival package early as this is a very popular event and can sell out.

Rio Carnival Group Tour Package Prices 2010

All Rio Carnival packages for group tours include a sector 13 Sambadrome ticket (see map above).

If you are an independent traveller and would like to enjoy all the glam and festivities of Rio Carnival then why not book one of our Independent Travel Rio Carnival packages? We offer accommodation at Pleasant, Pleasant plus and Superior level hotels. The packages include transfers to and from the airport, 4 nights’ accommodation including breakfast and a ticket for the Sunday evening parade at the Sambadrome (see map above). Accommodation is available in single, twin share / double or triple rooms.

We strongly recommend that you book your Rio Carnival package early as this is a very popular event does can sell out.

Rio Carnival Independent Travel Package Prices

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Group tours that meet Rio Carnival
Check out the tours that go into or depart from Rio Carnival
Tip: You can also search for Rio Carnival tours under highlights on the Advanced Search

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Independent Travel packages for Rio Carnival
Choose your preferred hotel, Sambadrome ticket included