Carnival in Rio-Travel Brazil

Why Carnival in Rio is special

Carnival in Rio has been called the world’s most famous party. A million tourists join millions of Rio de Janeiro citizens (“cariocas”) in enthusiastic revelry spanning several days.

Carnival of Rio  highlights

Top three

The Sambodromo parade is number one. Close runners-up are the street processions and masquerade balls.

Carnival of Rio  schedules

Next four years

Carnival in Rio takes place during the days preceding Ash Wednesday, the first of 40 meatless fasting days preceding Easter (Carnival derives from “carne vale” meaning “farewell to meat”).

Although the official Carnival in Rio starting day is Saturday, the partying begins in earnest the night before and continues through Tuesday (Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday”).

Here are the Carnival in Rio schedules for the next four years:

2011 Friday Mar 4   Tuesday Mar 8

2012 Friday Feb 17   Tuesday Feb 21

2013 Friday Feb 8   Tuesday Feb 12

2014 Friday Feb 28   Tuesday Mar 4

Sambodromo parade

Statistics

The Sambodromo is a 700-meter (half-mile) long parade strip flanked by spectator stands and luxury boxes. On the last Sunday and Monday nights before Lent, the seats are filled with over 60,000 eager on-lookers. Tickets cost up to hundreds of dollars each and sell out quickly.

Chief attraction of this Carnival in Rio parade

It’s the sounds and sights of the parading samba schools that go on from dusk to day break.