Best Experiences In Latin America - Join Rio Carnival, The Biggest Party On Earth

Day 1: Welcome To Rio De Janeiro

Welcome to Rio Carnival, the biggest party on the earth! There will be an important meeting at 18:00, where you'll get a full briefing about how to make the most of your time in Rio and receive your tickets, maps, T-Shirt, and a souvenir booklet. After the meeting we will head to a nearby buffet restaurant, so you can get to know the other travelers in your group, after dinner, we will enjoy a night out in Lapa to continue the party! Our dedicated Carnival team will be with you throughout the week to provide any assistance you may need. There's plenty of activities that you may like to take part in, such as 'Join the Parade' or visits to Sugar Loaf Mountain! If you are arriving early you can take part in a Food Tour of the Santa Teresa neighborhood at 11:30 am.  In Rio de Janeiro your accommodation will be in a great hotel in the Flamengo district. The hotel is close to the beach and the metro station.

Day 2: Orientation Walk, Street Party, Samba Night

This morning we have an introduction walk with our local guides to get to familiar with the area. This walking tour will pass by one of the local 'blossoms' or street parties, so you can stay to enjoy the party or return to the hotel if you prefer.  If you are visiting a Blocco, remember that they are hot and crowded so be prepared to be squeezed! The locals Cariocas will be all dressed up, so don't forget to dress to grab attention! For those foodies among you, can take a half day cookery class, and learn how to make some traditional Brazilian cuisine! In the evening we have the opportunity to head out for a night of Samba, you can join a beginners Samba dance class, followed by an evening in one of Rio's famous Samba Clubs! This is a way to get to know your fellow Carnival-goers, and practice some basic samba steps to be ready for tomorrow nights Sambadrome!

Day 3: Guided Tour To Corcovado, Visit Sambadrome

Today early morning, you will be picked up at the hotel by your guide for a guided tour to Corcovado, we will catch a minibus to the foot of the mountain and then board charter a private tram to the top of Corcovado mountain which implies that we are the first ones to arrive and have the statue to ourselves for a short time, a wonderful opportunity at any time of year but particularly during the busy carnival time. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Rio until this grand evening when we will head to the Sambadrome and earn one of the best experiences in Latin America! In the evening it's time for the main attraction of the week, the parade in the Sambadrome. Don't forget to dress up, the more sequins and feathers, the more attractive you are! The top samba schools parade their excellent floats and costumes and the party continues well into the early hours of Monday morning. You'll be settled in sector 13, the most lively of the sectors where local Cariocas are supporting their favorite Samba schools by singing and dancing. The sector is at the very end of the runway and you have the opportunity of collecting the costumes as some dancers will throw them up into the stand.  You will arrive at the Sambadrome by Metro, accompanied by our team who will also be with you inside the Sambadrome.

Day 4: Hit The Beach, Parade Of Famous Samba Schools

This morning is free for you to overcome the tiredness from last night in the Sambadrome! It's a great opportunity to hit the beach, explore the city or simply relax in the hotel. In the afternoon we have an opportunity for a guided tour to Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain), rising almost 400 meters above the harbor. You will be picked up at the hotel by your guide and take a minibus to the mountain. We will ride in a cable car up to the top,  where you can enjoy the amazing vistas over the city and Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. If the weather is clear you will also be able to view Christ the Redeemer looking down at the city from the top of Corcovado mountain. In the evening we have the opportunity to re-visit the Sambadrome to watch the last 6 of the elite Samba schools parading. The seats tonight are reserved in Sector 5, located at the start of the runway and allowing close up views of the parade, near the judge's area. An English speaking guide will accompany you from the hotel to the Sambadrome. There is also the opportunity to don a costume and take part in the parade itself, dancing your way down the Sambadrome runway in one of the Alas, a once in a lifetime experience!

Day 5: Visit Sugarloaf Mountain, Live Music, Join Samba Dance

Today we have an exciting opportunity to escape the chaos of the city and enjoy a Jungle tour, where you will explore the history and geography of Rio & visit the Tijuca National Park. You will hike the area, view waterfalls and maybe spot some wildlife! Otherwise, you can explore the city or have a walk along the beaches, you can also enjoy a swim or just a long lie in! The extraordinary sweep of Copacabana Beach is probably the most talked about the length of sand on the planet. It is a wonderful location with Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain) at one end whilst far in the distance, you view further peaks covered in Atlantic rainforest. There are lots of small cafes serving drinks and snacks along the beachside pavement when you want a break from the sand. In this beautiful location, even the pavements are pretty, with white and black tiles making waves and patterns.  In the evening, as our final night of the Carnival, we will head to the incredible Rio Scenarium, for a night of dancing and live music at one of the best nightspots in Rio, it's like an antique warehouse, music venue, bar and restaurant all housed in one marvelous colonial mansion. It's best to eat beforehand, as during carnival the food service can be obstructed!

Day 6: Departure

The Rio Carnival tour finishes after breakfast today. Our hotel check-out is at 12 noon, and you can depart at any time or enjoy the day exploring further or relaxing on the beach or hotel. We will transfer you to the airport to return home with the best Latin America experiences you earned in Brazil during the past few days