What You Should Know Before Going to Rio Carnival

Last Updated on March 11 , 2024 by acrossthewaterwithchelsita

In just over a week, millions of tourists from all over the world will be touching down in Rio de Janeiro for the world’s biggest carnival. With it’s mind-blowing parades, marathon parties and all night dancing, this is one of the most exciting and interesting times to visit the Brazilian capital. Make sure you’re ready for the greatest party on earth by reading my 10 Tips and Tricks to help you make the most of your time at Rio Carnival.

1. Learn Some Portugese

You’re going to Rio carnival alongside millions of other international tourists who flock to the city every year. Everyone will speak English, right? No, my friend! Think again and get your phrase book out!

A few months before arriving in Brazil, I decided to learn some beginner’s Portugese, and boy was I glad I did! Surprisingly, I found that even people working at tourist attractions like Pão de Açúcar and Cristo Redentor didn’t really speak English. Though rudimentary at best, the smattering of Portugese I learnt definitely helped me out on a number of occasions, from conveying to hotel staff that the room fan wasn’t working, to attempting broken conversation with the Uber driver. 

Aside from saving your skin in all sorts of situations, locals will really appreciate your efforts to learn their language and it will open the doors to meeting over 200 million of the friendliest people in South America. Plus, it sounds kind of sexy too, right?  

If you don’t like learning languages or you feel you’re not good at it, don’t be too discouraged – Portugese isn’t the hardest language to learn the basics of, no matter your prior linguistic arsenal. And if you already speak a Romance language like Spanish or French, you’ll find you can already guess lots of words, especially if you see them written down. I found that with a combination of studying 15 minutes of Portugese per day with Duolingo, and speaking Spanish slowly when in doubt, I was able to get my point across. 

So what are you waiting for? Start learning some Portugese today, it’s easy and it’s free!

2. Don’t miss out on any parties

While the “official” carnival celebrations only last around a week, (this year kicking off on Friday 21st February), you’ll find that samba schools and Brazillian revellers actually start rehearsing and partying months in advance. So arrive early if you want to make the most of the world’s largest carnival!

By doing a bit of research before you arrive, you can map out a rudimentary plan of which parties you want to go to and start preparing any themed costumes you might need. Wikirio has an extensive list (in Portugese) of the blocos on offer and  rio-carnival.net has one of the best programmes in English I’ve found . 

Don’t get too wound up about sticking to a plan though  – it won’t be hard to find a party. In fact, it would be hard to avoid them during carnival season. And sometimes going with the Brazilian flow with its blatant disregard for punctuality is the best option.

3. Book in advance

Rio de janeiro attracts around 5 million party animals from around the world, with around 2 million of those out on the street celebrating on any given day. This means that the megacity almost doubles in size, and hotels, tourist attractions, bars and restaurants are all full to the brim. To avoid disappointment, make sure to reserve everything as far in advance as possible, especially accommodation – in fact, if you’re thinking of going next year, now is a great time to start booking! This can also help you to get the best deals, as prices for hotel rooms skyrocket in the city’s peak season.

4. Download the Uber app

As is often the case in the Americas, the distances to get anywhere are huge. Although we found the metro system really cheap and easy to use, there are occasions where you’ll have to look for another option, either because you’re short on time, there’s a lack of metro coverage, or simply because it’s just far too sweltering to walk 30 minutes down the street to the supermarket. For these times I would strongly recommend using Uber! It’s far cheaper, easier, and more reliable than traditional taxis. The few times we did travel with a regular taxi we deeply regretted it. Going long ways, driving around in circles and generally doing anything to make the numbers on the taximeter reach dizzyingly overpriced heights seemed to be taxi drivers’ favourite pastime. 

Having said that, do prepare for heavy traffic during carnival and leave yourself plenty of extra time. Traffic jams are commonplace during the official carnival dates and don’t even think of driving to the Sambódromo. Always take the metro there!

5. Prepare for all weathers

Between January and March it’s mid-summer in Brazil, with February generally considered the hottest and sunniest month in Rio. Expect temperatures between 24 and 30 degrees with no respite at night from the humid heat. Heavy rainfall can never be ruled out, this is the Tropics after all.

We experienced both rain and sunshine in about equal amounts, and conditions can change rapidly. Our first night dancing in the Sambódromo was unfortunately dampened by torrential rain which flash-flooded the arena, destroyed a lot of the elaborate floats, and left us shivering like wet rats in skimpy velour leotards. The following night we danced in dry but sauna-like conditions.

In short, the weather can change in a heartbeat so do prepare by taking clothes for all conditions, with a focus on summer attire. Plus, taking a light jacket or scarf will keep you warm in the arctic conditions of the air-conditioned metros, restaurants and bars.

6. Stay safe – especially in the sea

Living in the Mediterranean, I’m used to calm and inviting waters where you can splash around, swim far out and lounge around on inflatables with little risk of floating away or drowning. The Med is like a paddling pool compared to the Atlantic Ocean. Be very careful!

The ocean is extremely rough around Rio and even a little paddle in the shallows could knock you off your feet. There are countless stories of people getting taken out by the current when they’ve only waded in knee-deep, and it’s not uncommon to have your bikini whisked away by the monster waves that coming crashing in. You’ve been warned!

7. Invest in a bum bag

While I never felt unsafe at any time during my two-week stay, carnival draws in millions of wealthy tourists just ripe for the pickpocketing after one caipirinha too many. Do like the locals and wear a bum bag. It may not look cool (although you can get plenty of flashy ones in snazzy colours), but it can save you the heartache and distress that comes from having your valuables stolen when abroad. 

Especially when attending the busy blocos you’ll want to keep your belongings in a bum bag hidden from sight under a t-shirt. Just take out the smallest amount of cash you need for that day, your phone (a cheap one with a Brazilian sim card if possible) and a photocopy of your ID if needed. If you want to take photos but you’re worried about whipping out an expensive smartphone every five seconds, a small and discreet GoPro is a great alternative.

Believe me, you won’t regret buying a bum bag. This was by far my best purchase for the trip as it gives you peace of mind when you’re being jostled about in the chaotic street parties. Plus, it’s far more comfortable not to carry a big bag and has the added benefit of leaving you with one hand free for a caipirinha and another for a dancing partner to sweep you off your feet. 

And remember, like in any unfamiliar place, always keep your wits about you and stay street smart. Do this and you’re guaranteed to have a great time. 

8. Be prepared not to sleep

With so many parties and parades going on, as well as the general excitement and jet lag you’ll probably be feeling, it’s unlikely you’ll get a good forty winks every night. It’s honestly no exaggeration to say that during my 2 week stay we averaged about 4 hours sleep per night. 

So that you can party till the sun comes up with the best of them, make sure to snooze whenever possible. On the beach, in the botanic garden, wherever you can squeeze in a little turbo nap. 

If you do have a little siesta at the beach, buy a canga to lie on, which also doubles up as a sarong, and make sure to slap on plenty of suncream. Nothing screams “gringo” more than someone lying on a towel as red as a lobster. 

And if you really need some restorative time out, book a relaxing getaway to Ilha Grande! 

9. Choose your drinks wisely

If you want to last the night, don’t go crazy with the caipirinhas! The delectable Cachaça -based tipple packs a mighty punch that’s easily disguised by a liberal use of cane sugar and fragrant lime but it can give you a crippling hangover the next day if you’re not careful.

A safer option is to stick to Brazillian cervejas, which are relatively weak lager type beers, perfect ice-cold for drinking throughout the day. Popular brands include Antarctica and as well as a range of German-sounding ones like Bohemia Weiss, Paulistânia, and Bierland. 

You can buy them in cans from beach bars and street vendors and they usually come with a polystyrene cooler to keep them chilled. In bars you normally buy it in a big bottle, which you share with friends in small glasses to keep it ice cold for longer. 

And don’t forget to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated in the tropical heat. Don’t drink the tap water though! Even the locals don’t do that. If you don’t always want to buy plastic bottles, think about packing a water purifier or take a reusable bottle to fill up. 

10. Don’t feel silly about wearing costumes

On the street, in restaurants, on the metro… everywhere you go people are getting into the carnival spirit. No matter the time of day, you’ll find all sorts of partygoers wearing a range of outlandish and skimpy costumes you would expect to find at an adults-only Halloween party. 

So don your finest and craziest outfits, you’ll blend right in! 

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If any of this has piqued your interest, speak to Sarah Pallares. The Rio-born samba dancer has been teaching and performing for 20 years, 9 of those years in her adoptive city of Barcelona. For the past two years Sarah has taught at the Brazil Samba Congress and organised a two-week excursion to Rio during carnival. So if you want to improve your samba, get taken to the best insider parties and experience the magic of the Sambódromo, get in touch with her! You don’t need to be based in Barcelona to ask her about any of these things, just say that I sent you 😉

Contact details: bailaconsarah@gmail.com 

Instagram: profsarahpallares

That’s all for this week. I hope you’ve enjoyed part 2 of this Brazil series. If you missed it, make sure to check out part 1 Top 10 Things to Do During Rio Carnival. 

Sending positivity and sunshine from Barcelona and wishing all the best to my fellow samberas who will be touching down in Rio soon for another year of carnival madness.