Brazil Carnival Essential Experience

• Airport pick-up/drop-off
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned in inclusions

Rio Arrival, Group Samba Dance Class and Welcome Briefing

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro! Upon arrival at the airport, please make your way to your accommodation, which is located in Lapa, Rio's colourful bohemian centre, where many of Carnival's major events and block parties take place. You will enjoy a neighbourhood full of samba clubs, theatres, capoeira halls, trendy antique stores housed in historic buildings, funky bars and much more for you to discover. Feel free to arrive when you wish, however, remember check-in is from 3 pm on.

Around 6 pm you will meet with the rest of the group for a meeting to revise the schedule of all the planned events. You are now ready to get the party started! Enjoy your first caipirinha and get ready for your group samba class where you can show off your skills. Hit the streets for your first night out in this paradise! Your Tour Leader will take you to the best parties in town to experience a truly electric atmosphere! If you are in the mood, you’ll have the option to head over to Avenida Presidente Vargas to check out the samba schools prepare and party!

Pre-Tour Night: Please note an optional night is available before the beginning of the tour for an additional cost. We highly recommend that you book an extra night, especially if you’ve travelled a long way to get here, to give you time to recover, settle in and visit more of Rio’s sites before Carnival.

Shopping Note: During Carnival, it is customary to wear ‘fancy-dress’ costumes and appendages during the street parties; so make sure you pack some fancy dress items with you! (ANYTHING goes!) You should be able to buy some stuff there too, but please don't rely on that.

Bloco/Beach Trip, Make-up Artist, Sambadrome Parade

During today's breakfast, your Tour Leader will be available to go through today's plans and answer any questions you may have. This morning the Essential Experience group will be offered to be accompanied to an action-packed Carnival bloco (street party) OR accompanied on the metro to the best part of Ipanema beach for a relaxing group beach excursion. You can choose which option appeals to you most.

This afternoon you will have time to prepare for the main Carnival event: Sambadrome Parade at Sambodromo! All of the city's best samba schools parade their outrageous floats and costumes down the runway here, and you will be able to view it all from the stands above. There are no fixed seats, but our section will be full of fun, rowdy revellers!

In preparation for this incredible event, you will have the opportunity to get your face painted by our professional make-up artist again and have your picture taken by our photographer.

Meals: B

Bloco Street Party/Optional tour, Boat Party Cruise

This morning, after breakfast, you will have the opportunity to be taken yet again to one of the best blocos (street parties) in town. Each day your tour leader will tell you about and offer to take you to one of these incredible blocos, all in different locations around Rio. OR you will have the option of booking yourself onto a tour such as the City Tour of Rio de Janeiro (to be booked locally at an extra cost) which includes the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, Santa Teresa with its impressive old mansions, colourful art galleries, trams, the City Cathedral, the tiled Steps of Selaron and last but certainly not least the beautiful Sugarloaf Mountain by cable-car… the views are simply breathtaking! The other third option is to rest and do nothing this morning. The choice is yours!

Later in the day the group will meet up at the hotel and stroll down together to the Marina da Gloria. You will then all hop aboard a magnificent schooner boat that will cruise around Rios spectacular Guanabara Bay for around 3-4 hours. Enjoy an open bar during the first hour of the cruise and make the most of the dance floor, music and chill-out area. Returning just after sunset, you will have the chance to view the city, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Christ the Redeemer from a stunningly different light and angle.

After some relaxing time back in your accommodation, prepare yourself for another exciting night. You will be shown the best nightlife the city has to offer!

Meals: B

Accommodation Check-Out

This great adventure comes to an end today. The rest of the day is yours, just remember the check-out is at 11 am (or sometimes MIDDAY – you’ll be advised!). We wish you safe travels for your onward journey!

*Airport Drop-Off: Please note, an optional transfer to the airport can be scheduled for an additional cost.

NOTE: Please note the itinerary is subject to change due to unexpected circumstances such as bad weather, changes to Carnival schedules, traffic, diversions, demonstrations/strikes, inconveniences or changes caused by local operators and authorities and other circumstances beyond our control.

Meals: B