Rio de Janeiro Carnival Experience

Arrive at any time and take advantage of your included arrival transfer. This evening, meet your CEO and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting and orientation walk around the neighbourhood.

On Day 1, upon arrival at your hotel, you will find a note at reception with the time of your Welcome Meeting with your CEO and group. During this meeting, your CEO will provide you with a welcome package containing detailed itinerary information, documentation/vouchers, pick-up times for all included activities, and contact details for any questions you may have.

Included Experiences

• Airport Transfer: Enjoy and included transfer from the airport to your accommodations in the city.
• Free Time: There are no planned activities until the Welcome Meeting this evening. Either explore the city or soak up some sun on the beach.
• Welcome Meeting & Orientation Walk: Meet your CEO and fellow travellers before heading to a beach “quiosque” for your welcome meeting. Then, set out on an orientation walk around the neighbourhood surrounding your hotel, getting familiar with the local sights, sounds, and rhythms of Rio. Discover the atmosphere of your new surroundings and get your first taste of the city before the adventures ahead. Check the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official meeting time and place.

Enjoy free time to experience Rio your way, whether relaxing on the beach, playing a game of volleyball, or joining an optional favela tour. Later, step behind the scenes of one of Brazil's biggest celebrations with a visit to the barracão of Académicos do Grande Rio. Discover the stories, traditions, and artistry that bring Rio's legendary Carnival to life. Many visitors head to the famous Copacabana beach, although the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon can be less crowded and are equally as alluring.

Please note that the activities on Days 2 and 3 may be switched depending on scheduling. All included experiences will still take place as planned.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Take advantage of your free time to experience Rio like a local. Challenge friends to a game of beach volleyball or choose to book a favela tour to explore one of the city's vibrant neighbourhoods and learn about its culture firsthand.
• Behind the Scenes Carnival Experience: Go behind the spectacle of Carnival with a visit to the barracão of Académicos do Grande Rio, the creative hub where the samba school brings its legendary parade to life. Discover the history and artistry behind samba, step into dazzling costumes, and learn the rhythms and moves of Carnival with a professional passista. With a refreshing caipirinha in hand, experience Carnival not just as a spectacle, but as a tradition built through the passion, creativity, and dedication of an entire community.

Optional Experiences

• Favela Tour: Get a feel for what life in a Favela is really like. We take you to the top of the Rocinha Favela and then descend on foot. On the way down, you get a unique insight into the vibrant spirit of the people, especially the kids.

Explore two sides of Rio today, from the creative charm of Santa Teresa to the vibrant energy of Carnival. Wander the cobbled streets of this bohemian hilltop neighbourhood with your CEO, discovering colourful architecture, local art, and the iconic Selarón Steps before stepping into the rhythm of a "Bloco" street party. Follow the music, costumes, and crowds as cariocas celebrate the "people's Carnival" in true Rio style. Known as blocos, these free outdoor parties are a central part of Rio de Janeiro's Carnival. Blocos are known for their loud music and performers. There can be marching bands, stilt walkers, theme inspired costumes and lots of fun! The parties take place all over the different neighbourhoods within the city. Each night during Carnival there are more than 300 different parties to choose from. You will be able to use your included subway pass to go to the different street parties with your CEO as your guide.

Please note that the activities on Days 2 and 3 may be switched depending on scheduling. All included experiences will still take place as planned.

Included Experiences

• Santa Teresa & the Selarón Steps: Spend the morning exploring Santa Teresa, Rio's bohemian hilltop neighbourhood known for its cobbled streets, colourful architecture, and thriving arts scene. Wander its charming lanes with your CEO and visit the world-famous Selarón Steps, a vibrant mosaic staircase crafted from more than 200 hand-laid tiles from around the globe. It's a fascinating glimpse into one of Rio's most creative and character-filled districts.
• Carnival Street Parties: Experience Carnival the way cariocas do. Blocos are free-roaming street parties that take over Rio's neighbourhoods, each with its own name, route, and unique sound. Follow the crowds as they sing, dance, and celebrate through the streets in a colourful wave of costumes, music, and glitter. With your CEO guiding the way, step into the heart of Rio's "people's Carnival" and experience one of the city's most unforgettable traditions.

Discover Rio's most iconic sights on a guided tour, including Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to relax and recharge before an unforgettable evening at the Sambadrome. Experience the energy and spectacle of Carnival as dazzling samba schools, vibrant costumes, and infectious rhythms bring Brazil's biggest celebration to life. This evening between 6-7:30 we transfer to the Sambodrome for the big spectacle. Your CEOs will accompany you throughout the evening and after the parade you'll transfer back to your hotel. Samba Schools is an association of people from the same neighbourhood or community (favela) who get together on a regular basis for samba meetings and rehearsals. Samba Schools provide valuable jobs to the community in the production of costumes and floats. Each year, schools choose a different theme and may take to the parade from 3,000 to 5,000 members, and 6 to 8 floats. They have to make it through the runway in a period from 60-80 minutes, which means each member will spend only about 25-30 minutes inside the Sambodrome.

Included Experiences

• Rio de Janeiro City Tour: There’s so much to see and do in this vibrant city pulsing with passion, music, and the waves of the sea. Experience Rio's highlights on a city tour accompanied by your CEO and a local guide. Your itinerary includes a visit to the iconic art deco statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain, followed by a cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, where you can marvel at magnificent views of the bay, the city, and the beaches beyond.
• Free Time: Take the afternoon to unwind, explore at your own pace, or rest up for tonight's main event: an exhilarating evening at the Sambadrome.
• Carnival Parade: The main event. Step inside Rio's iconic Sambadrome to witness the city’s legendary samba schools bring Carnival to life in a spectacular display of music, movement, and creativity. Watch as dazzling floats, elaborate costumes, intricate choreography, and powerful bateria drums fill the parade avenue, with each school sharing its unique story, or enredo. From your allocated seats, experience one of the world's greatest celebrations unfold before you.

Enjoy a free morning to relax and recharge after the excitement of the previous night's Carnival celebrations. For those eager to keep the festivities going, Rio's lively street parties continue throughout the afternoon and evening. As your adventure draws to a close, gather with your fellow travellers to watch the sunset over Rio. With golden skies, great company, and a week of unforgettable experiences behind you, it's the perfect way to celebrate an incredible journey. After an all-night samba party, relax and enjoy the sun and surf of the city. Take a book to Copacabana beach, shop along the main streets of Ipanema and Leblon, try some Brazilian beef at a churrascaria, or just sleep in and get some rest. In the afternoon, there will be the option to meet up with your CEO and group and use your included subway pass to attend one more Bloco. Soak in your last day in the charged atmosphere of Carnival.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy a relaxing morning to recover from the all-night party.
• Carnival Street Parties: Experience Carnival the way cariocas do. Blocos are free-roaming street parties that take over Rio's neighbourhoods, each with its own name, route, and unique sound. Follow the crowds as they sing, dance, and celebrate through the streets in a colourful wave of costumes, music, and glitter. With your CEO guiding the way, step into the heart of Rio's "people's Carnival" and experience one of the city's most unforgettable traditions.
• Rio Farewell Sunset: As the journey comes to a close, come together for one final Rio sunset. It's the perfect chance to reflect on the week's adventures, share a few laughs, and savour the magic of the city one last time.

Depart at any time.