Rio Carnival: Sequins & the Sambadrome (Hostel Experience)

Arrive at any time and settle into a dorm in a hostel, located within walking distance to street parties, the beach, and public transportation. Later, meet your CEO and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting and orientation walk around the neighbourhood.

On Day 1, upon arrival at your hostel, there will be note at the reception letting you know the time of the Welcome Meeting at which you will receive the welcome package providing a schedule, documentation/vouchers, and pick-up times for all included activities. It also will contain contact information, should you have any questions about your tour.

Included Experiences

• 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.
• Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.

Enjoy a free morning to relax on the beach, play volleyball, or explore the city on an optional Favela Tour before an evening dedicated to samba. Learn the basics from a professional instructor, then put your moves to the test at a local samba club with live music, dancing, and a true taste of Rio’s nightlife.

Please note that the activities on Days 2 and 4 may be switched depending on scheduling. All included experiences will still take place as planned.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy some free time to discover Rio your way. Relax on the beach, join a friendly game of beach volleyball, or opt to visit one of the city's vibrant neighbourhoods on a Favela Tour and gain a deeper understanding of local culture and community.
• Samba Night Tour: Start by learning the rhythm of samba in a studio in Copacabana, where a professional instructor and bilingual guide will introduce you to the basics, from footwork and timing to the rhythm and attitude that brings it to life. Then put your new moves to the test with a transfer to a local samba club for a night of live music and dancing. With your guide there to help you find the beat, experience samba the way Rio does it. When the music winds down, you’re free to return to your hotel or stay out and enjoy Rio’s nightlife a little longer.

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.

Enjoy a city tour that visits some of the city's best features including Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. Admire the cityscape from different viewpoints and be sure to snap a few photos. After, you will have some free time to get ready for the Carnival Parade! Head to the Sambadrome to watch the parade, dance with friends and admire the flashy costumes passing by. This evening between 6-7:30, travel with your CEO via metro to the Sambodrome. You will watch the parade from reserved seating. After the show, return to your accommodation by metro accompanied by your CEO. Samba schools are associations 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. Take a city tour and visit some of Rio’s hot spots. Visit the art deco statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain, the colourful Lapa Steps and the Rio Cathedral. Ride a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain and marvel at the magnificent views of the bay, city and beaches beyond.
• 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.

Explore Experiences

Take a slow morning to recharge after a night of Carnival celebrations. Sleep in, grab a coffee, or ease into the day at your own pace before the city kicks back into gear. For those who aren’t ready to stop the party, Rio’s buzzing street celebrations continue throughout the afternoon and evening. Take part in Rio’s famous Carnival street parties (blocos) together with your CEO. Locations vary daily and your included subway pass gives you access to different celebrations across the city.

Please note that the activities on Days 2 and 4 may be switched depending on scheduling. All included experiences will still take place as planned.

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.

Explore Rio’s creative side with a morning visit to Santa Teresa, wandering its colourful streets with your CEO and stopping at the iconic Selarón Steps. Later, join for one last Bloco experience with music, dancing, and celebrations filling the streets. Take part in Rio’s famous Carnival street parties (blocos) together with your CEO. Locations vary daily and your included subway pass gives you access to different celebrations across the city.

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.

Explore Experiences

Depart at any time.