Helen Bateman Travel
Rio Carnival
Every year the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's striking & vibrant coastal city, is transformed to host the Carnival celebrations. Rio is a fantastic city to visit at any time of year, a firm favourite for many visitors. But it becomes something quite different, spectacular & unique for Carnival or Carnaval, as it is known. Businesses close their doors, people dress up and street carnivals begin all over the city, each with their own theme, from dogs & cats to the Beetles! The main event, a huge competition held over a number of nights is held in the Rio's Sambadrome. It sees the top 12 Samba schools parade their elaborate floats & outlandish costumes, with dancers sometimes floating on hover boards, or perched high-up on a stage resembling a dragon or a parrot, each led by their samba Kings & Queens. Each school's parade lasts around an hour, as they progress through the Sambadrome to wow the judges and delight the crowds. Sometimes the Samba schools use their performance to communicate an important or political message, such as protecting the Amazon or indigenous communities.
Despite the importance and high regard of the competition, it is possible for visitors to join in with the parade. You'll join one of the Samba schools, be given a costume, and you'll have the chance to dance alongside Brazil's top samba performers. The costumes are big and whacky and you can even take them home afterwards. A once in a lifetime experience.
Rio Carnival is held at the beginning of Lent, which means February or March, this is Rio's hottest time of the year and it is not uncommon for there to be heavy downpours, followed by glorious sunshine. The rain often brings a welcome refresh from the heat. There's plenty of time to explore the city by day or simply kick back and relax on one of the beaches, with a caipirinha in hand.
The history of Carnival
It is believed that Carnival can be traced back to the ancient Greeks & Romans who celebrated the rites of spring. It was later adopted to celebrate the beginning of Lent. Across Europe, including France, Spain and Portugal, people annually gave thanks by throwing parties, wearing masks and dancing in the streets. Such traditions were carried over to the New World. The idea was to enjoy to the full the last days before Lent followed by 40 days without any kind of excess.
The Carnival was first celebrated in Brazil in 1723 and was influenced by the celebrations taking place in Europe with their masks and costumes. Characters like the Columbian, the Pierrot and King Momo were also incorporated into the Brazilian Carnival, although they had European origins. In the late 19th century, the first street carnivals or ‘blocos’ began to appear in Brazil. People used to dress up and decorate their cars and parade in groups through the streets of the cities. This is the origin of the famous floats, typical in samba schools today.
In the 20th century, the Carnival grew fast and became an increasingly popular festival. This growth occurred with the help of Carnival street music. The first Samba School (as we know today) was born in Rio de Janeiro followed by more samba schools both there and in Sao Paulo. The schools started to organise themselves as a Samba School League, beginning with the first championships to see which samba school was the most lively.
In those early decades, the samba schools did not have the structure and organisation of today. They used to have few members and small floats. The competition between them was not the most important element - it was the joy and fun of taking part.
Nowadays, in Rio de Janeiro and in several cities in Brazil, the Samba School Parades are organised as real contests providing thousands of jobs during a whole year of preparation.
Visiting Rio for Carnival
If this has whet your appetite to join Carnival, planning early is important to secure your hotel in a great area of the city, Sambadrome tickets and perhaps even a place in the parade. Whilst in Rio, a visit to the incredible Christ the Redeemer statue which towers over the city on Corcovado mountain is a must. Pão de Açúcar, or sugar loaf mountain, connected by two cable cars, offers fantastic views and is another highlight. Perhaps a more humble offering, but equally wonderful, is the tram to the artsy Santa Teresa neighbourhood, where you can take a stroll, enjoy the gardens and have lunch in one of the lovely cafes. This is a great place to buy jewellery and art from local artisans. The botanical gardens offer a lovely space to unwind, and for those looking for more adventure, you can head into Rio's urban rainforest, the Tijuca National Park for a hike. Of course, Rio has some fairly famous beaches, you may have heard of Copacabana and Ipanema. There are several quieter bays from which you can hire a kayak or paddleboard.
The people of Rio, are friendly, welcoming and fun and one of the best ways to get to know Rio is by taking a tour or workshop with a local. Highly recommended is a tour of the fruit market, so you can taste your way around the vast choice of Brazilian fruits, or perhaps a cooking class, where you'll learn to make local dishes and a caipirinha, the national drink. From chocolate tasting to samba classes, there is something for everyone.
Future dates for Carnival in Brazil (Friday-Wednesday) are:
-
2025: 28 February-5 March
-
2026: 13-18-February
-
2027: 5-10 February
For a consultation on a tailor made Carnival experience, please get in touch. I would recommend combining your visit with a few days to unwind on the beautiful beaches of Buzios or the UNESCO heritage site of Paraty for a lovely boat trip on the emerald coast. Perhaps even a visit to the mighty Iguaçu Falls beforehand, an Amazon slow boat or search for jaguars in the Pantanal, Brazil's epic wetland.
Why book with me? I've been lucky enough to host groups at Rio Carnival for several years. I know all the little details which will make your visit unique and memorable.