Carnival 2010

After breakfast we will drive along Rio de Janeiro’s beaches to the Sugar Loaf cable car, ride first to the "Morro da Urca" mountain at 270m and then continue to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, 395m above sea level. We will continue with a Rio city tour, visiting the cathedral, the historical center and the Maracana football stadium. After a delicious lunch, you will ascend the 2,460ft mountain peak of Corcovado (Hunchback), famous for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and Rio's most famous landmark. A train ride through the forest will lead you to the top of the Corcovado Mountain.

After descending by train, the tour continues through the "Rebouzas” to Barra da Tijuca, Rio’s most recently developed beach area. The tour returns via the beaches of Sao Conrado, Vidigal, Leblon and Ipanema to Copacabana.

Our Rio de Janeiro guide is the perfect place to find out more about the city and its attractions.

You will have the entire day to spend at your leisure in Rio de Janeiro. You can engage in the excitement and celebrations that abound during Rio Carnival time, relax on the white sands of Copacabana, or take one of our optional excursions that allow you to explore more of Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings. There are also a variety of Rio de Janeiro attractions to keep you occupied during your visit.

If you have chosen to include Carnival’s main event in your Rio package, as evening approaches you will be transported to the Sambadromo: the fantastic arena that was built to host the centerpiece of the Rio Carnival. Over two nights, each of the samba schools presents a theme that consists of six to eight elaborately decorated floats and several thousand costumed members. One after the other, the rival schools parade down the avenue that runs through the centre of the stadium in front of meticulous judges and adoring spectators. Their styles are based on vibrant traditions which give each theme diverse and unique qualities.

You will be transferred directly into the Sambadromo and all the way to your Grandstand seats in Sector 9* which is located in the heart of the stadium halfway down the avenue. Your seats offer a panoramic view, allowing you to fully experience the brilliant colors, animated dancing and rhythmic music of the Rio Carnival, which flow majestically throughout the evening and continue well into the early morning. You will have the opportunity to depart the Sambadromo at anytime with transfers to your Rio hotel available between performances.

* Another option is Frisas seating in Sector 9. These private boxes seat six people around a table and are as close as you will get to the Rio Carnival parade without participating!

In the morning and afternoon you are free to do as you wish. You can continue to enjoy the summertime party that surrounds the Rio Carnival or simply relax at the Copacabana, the famous and stunning beach that stretches along Rio de Janeiro’s coastline. There are street festivals, themed balls and joyful revelers from across the world that always bring the city to life during the annual Carnival festivities. You could also sample some Brazilian food in one of the many fabulous Rio de Janeiro restaurants.

By evening, you will almost definitely want to see the second round of Rio Carnival parades in the Sambadromo. On this second day, seven new schools have the chance to strut their stuff and you will be blown away by the fantastic variety of samba styles. So much effort is put into creating original, intricate and fantastic costumes and perfecting the dance routines that are unique to each school. This ‘tropical opera’ is a once in a life time experience and simply must not be missed.

After a well earned rest, you will take a transfer to the Airport / Bus Station to return home or continue your journey to one of our many amazing Brazilian or South American destinations.

We highly recommend that you remain in Rio de Janeiro for the Champions parade** which takes place on the following weekend and there are boundless opportunities to explore more of Brazil in between!

*Please note that due to the worldwide popularity of the Rio Carnaval, advance reservations are recommended and all prices are subject to availability. One of our Travel Advisors will be happy to help you with current availabilities and pricing.

**Please see our additional services and excursions or speak with a Travel Advisor for more details.

• 4 nights at your comfortable Rio de Janeiro Hotel based on U.S. standards.
• Guided visits with English speaking tour guides.
• All transfers and entrance fees.
• All breakfasts. 4-star and up hotels offer breakfast buffets.

Read our guides to the Rio Carnival and the Brazil Carnival, and also our Newsletter Article about Brazil Carnival celebrations.

PLEASE NOTE:
A tourist visa is required upon entry to Brazil for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Travelers not within this group are advised to check with the Brazilian consulate where they reside for visa requirements and inquiries. For more information on obtaining a Brazil tourist visa, please visit our Latin America For Less Travel Blog.

Carnaval 2010 dates: February 13th to 17th
Carnaval season is peak high season for Brazil. Always check with your Travel Advisor hotel availability and pricing.

Included hotels:
5star: Sheraton Barra Hotel & Suites (or similar)
4star: Orla Copacabana (or similar)
3star: Windsor Asturias Hotel (or similar)

This is the main Carnival show, held in the Sambadromo. Prices are per person, per night and include roundtrip transfers (Hotel-Sambadromo-Hotel).

• Brazil For Less have purchased 250 tickets for seating in Sector 9 of the Sambadromo. Rates are thus valid until these tickets run out. After that, Sambadromo tickets can only be purchased from other local agencies and prices are subject to change. Book now before our tickets run out!
• In order to confirm your Sambadromo tickets full pre-payment is requested upon confirmation. Ticket payments are non-refundable.
• Brazil For Less only sells tickets to Sector 9 which is the tourist sector of the Sambadromo. Tickets for other sectors and private boxes available upon request and subject to availability.