When is Carnival in Brazil? Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a cultural event of world significance. Paid participation in the carnival

Carnival in Brazil takes place annually in February or March, begins 40 days before Easter and symbolizes the approach of Lent (carne vale translates as "goodbye meat"). The whole country walks, but the largest is the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, which even got into the Guinness Book of Records.

The Brazilian carnival officially lasts 5 days, and the 6th day is the main parade of champions.

• AT 1 and 2 day- the opening ceremony of the carnival and the parades of the schools of the Second League, which compete for the right to be among the 12 best next year.
• 3 and 4 day are considered the main ones, because representatives of 12 schools of the First League will pass along the Sambadrome.
• AT Day 5 a parade of children's schools is held.
• BUT parade of champions is held in 3 days - 6 schools will perform in it: 5 from the First League and 1 from the Second League.

In addition to the parade at the Sambadrome, you will have many opportunities to join the carnival processions on the streets of the city. And before the parade at the Sambadrome, the main rehearsals take place, which you can watch for free.

*Sambadrome is a special street for street processions and carnivals with stands for spectators. The Rio Sambadrome was established in 1984. Its area is 85,000 m², which can accommodate about 80,000 people.

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Carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2019: schedule of events

March 1, Friday

13:00 - the opening ceremony. The mayor of Rio will hand over the keys to the city to King Momo, the character who rules during the carnival. They choose him from among the locals, tall and weighing more than 100 kilograms.

21:00 at the Sambadrome (Preliminary Parade) part 1.

March 2, Saturday

09:30 - Performance by Cordao do Bola Preta(Downtown).
16:00 (meeting point - General Osório square, Ipanema).
20:00 - competition of amateur dance groups on Av. Rio Branco, Centro.
21:00 – “preliminary” parade of samba schools at the Sambadrome part 2.

23:00 - Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel.

March 3, Sunday

22:00 – the main parade of samba schools at the Sambadrome part 1.

March 4, Monday

22:00 - the main parade of samba schools at the Sambadrome part 2.

March 5, Tuesday

16:00 - performance by Ipanema's Band.
21:00 – parade of children's samba schools at the Sambadrome.
23:00 – Gay Ball in Scala Rio.

March 9, Saturday

22:00 - parade of champions.

Interesting facts about samba schools in Rio de Janeiro

In total, there are more than 70 samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, which are divided into 6 groups: the Main League (Main Group), Preliminary (Preliminary Group), as well as leagues B, C, D and E. B. It is the Main and Preliminary leagues that compete for the championship at the Sambadrome. You can see the rest of the schools in the processions that will take place on the streets of the city.

The Major League has 12 schools and the Preliminary has 10. Each school's performance at the Sambadrome lasts 80 minutes, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

On Wednesday, the day after the parade of children's schools, the jury sums up the results, and then the Parade of Champions is held with the participation of representatives of the best schools. Schools that take 1-3 places receive cash prizes. And the school with the lowest ranking in the Major League is demoted to the Preliminary, and vice versa - the best school from the Preliminary League will play in the Major next year.

Preparations for the next carnival will begin immediately after the end of the current one. You can imagine how much time, effort and money it takes to prepare programs, costumes, and mobile platforms. Costumes for girls weigh from 5 to 80 kilograms.

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What do you need to get to the carnival in Rio?

1. Flights

2. Accommodation in Rio

You need to book as early as possible, ideally six months before the carnival, because good budget options fly out instantly.

• A place in a hostel costs $8-15 per day, and the closer the start of the holiday, the higher the prices.
• A hotel room or a room in an apartment will cost you from $30,
• and the whole apartment - from $60 per night.

To save money, you can settle in one of the small towns near Rio, for example, in Niteroi.

Couchsurfing is possible, but keep in mind that on the eve of the carnival, locals receive dozens of requests, so it is important to stand out, interest the host and be ready to communicate.

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3. Paid participation in the carnival

There are 4 possibilities, the costs of which differ significantly.

3.1. Buy seats in the stands of the Sambodrome ($95–1000)

The ticket price for the samba parade held at the Sambadrome depends on:

1. selected event: preliminary parade, parade of First League schools, parade of champions;
2. block of places (distance from the street along which the participants move);
3. sectors.

• Sectors - from $130 to $200.
• VIP sector - from $460 to $1000.
• Separate chairs - $150.

• Sectors - from $95 to $205.
• VIP sector - from $285 to $625.
• Separate chairs - $125.

You can buy a ticket on the official website of the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
But there is unverified information that buying a ticket on the spot is cheaper than from intermediaries and on the Internet. Tickets appear at the box office of the Sambadrome in early January. You can try to contact compatriots living in Rio and get tickets without overpayment for a little financial gratitude.

3.2. Participate in the parade at the Sambadrome ($200-3000)

There is an amazing opportunity to participate in the parade as part of one of the samba schools. To do this, you need to negotiate with representatives of the school and buy a suit from them.

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3.3. Attend one of the costume balls ($80–185)

Before and during the Brazilian Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, costume balls are held, the most famous and expensive of which takes place at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. Tickets must be purchased in advance (the earlier, the more prestigious the chosen event).

3.4. Attend parties at samba schools ($4–8)

This is the most affordable option, usually for entrance to Samba Hall (school headquarters) they take from $4 (15 BRL) to $8 (30 BRL). The most famous schools are Mangueira, Salgueiro, Unidos da Tijuca and Vila Isabel, they are located close to each other and you can visit several during the night. Dancing usually starts after midnight, many schools are on the edge of the slums, so it's safer to go to a party with a group.

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4. Free participation: carnival on the streets of the city

Most of the locals do not have fun at the Sambadrome, but on the streets. In different districts of the city, entire blocks are blocked and dance parties with incendiary music are held there, in which everyone can become a participant. Such parties begin long before the carnival, back in January.

The organizers are the so-called blocos - groups consisting of musicians performing the samba dance and notorious party-goers. The most popular parties take place in the areas of Copacabana, Leblon, Ipanema, Jardim Botanico, Lagoa, as well as in the city center. 269 ​​"blokos" are officially registered, which will hold about 500 parties in the 2019 season.

At the end of February, in the midst of summer, Brazil hosts one of the most colorful and fun activities on the planet - Carnival! Like football, carnival is a Brazilian national idea. For 4 days, all institutions and shops are closed and there is a "complete carnivalization of the whole country." Yes, yes, countries, since the carnival takes place not only in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, El Salvador, Recife and other large cities, but also in small towns and even villages. These days, the whole country enthusiastically dances samba, drinks, flirts and has fun, involving hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world in their holiday.

History and development of the Brazilian carnival

We can say that the Brazilian carnival has absorbed the traditions and arts of many peoples of the world. Its origins are lost among the ancient Greek Bacchanalia and Roman Saturnalia. The carnival incorporated the dances of the Middle Ages and the masquerades of the Renaissance. And in 1723, Portuguese settlers who arrived from the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands brought with them the custom of “entrudo” - a holiday before Lent, when it was customary to have fun, pouring water on each other, sprinkling flour and chalk, beans and corn, as well as throw bombs , eggs and other, sometimes not harmless, objects.

The townspeople often complained about the participants in the "entrudo", and the holiday was banned by royal decree and gradually moved to the homes and salons of the nobility. So, in 1840, in one of the hotels in Rio, a costume ball was arranged, where European dances were danced. A little later, street parades appeared, also following the European model - with military bands and decorative platforms.

But the common people were not going to give up the holiday. In parallel, an alternative type of carnival arises - "Сordões" - columns consisting only of men. The machos danced to Brazilian-African music and behaved very violently. And in 1852, the shoemaker José Nogueira de Azevedo Paredes, having gathered friends and percussion instruments, took to the streets of the city during the days of the carnival with songs and dances, which added popularity to the street carnival. And now "ze-pereira" - a group of different-sized drums - is an indispensable attribute of the holiday.

In the 1870s, many blacks, former slaves from the coffee plantations, arrived in Rio in search of work. Together with African culture, they brought "Ranchos" to the carnival - carnival groups united by a common theme. These groups included both men and women. "Ranchos" existed not only during the days of the carnival, they operated all year round and were a kind of "social clubs" and prototypes of modern "samba schools".

In 1889, Brazil's first female composer, Chiquinha Gonzaga, commissioned one of the Ranchos to compose the song "O Abre Alas" (Step aside, I want to pass). It was the first "marcha" (march song) written specifically for the carnival, its cheerful rhythm was supposed to organize the movement of the dancers. And at the beginning of the 20th century, the first samba came to the carnival - the most famous Afro-Brazilian music, the incendiary rhythms of which sound in Brazil (and not only) all year round. This is how the carnival changed, gradually acquiring original Brazilian features.

Sambadrome

In 1907, Avenida Central opened in Rio, and the main action of the carnival moved there. At the same time, "corso" appeared - corteges of decorated cars, from which merry young people showered the audience with confetti and serpentine. In the 20-30s of the twentieth century, every self-respecting car owner sought to provide his car for the Corso.

All these columns and groups were the source of the emergence of "schools of samba" - the main active processions of the modern Brazilian carnival. The first of them - "Deixa Falar" - was founded in 1928 in the Estasio quarter, and in 1932 the first parade of samba schools already took place, however, so far unofficial. However, already in 1935, the first official carnival parade took place on the Eleventh of June Square. Since then, the location of the carnival has changed several times, until in 1984, on Marquis Sapukai Avenue, the project of the outstanding Brazilian architect Oscar Nimeira was built by the Sambadrome. This unique three-story building is 700 meters long, 13 meters wide, and its stands can accommodate more than 70 thousand people.

carnival structure

A grand celebration is held before Lent. It officially starts on Friday and ends on Wednesday ("Ash Wednesday"), although the festivities start much earlier. The solemn opening of the carnival takes place at the moment the mayor of Rio de Janeiro hands over the keys to the city to the "owner" of the holiday - King Momo, who is elected from the fattest men and must weigh at least 110 kg. Until Tuesday, King Momo becomes the sovereign ruler of the city for 4 days and has the right to issue and repeal laws. However, he does not abuse this, since he has more pleasant duties - the king must attend about 200 balls and competitions and invariably attend the Sambadrome, and at all events the king must dance and have fun.

The apotheosis of the carnival is the parade of "Schools of Samba". For three nights in a row, in front of an audience raging with delight, there are strings of fantastically designed platforms with continuously dancing sultry beauties, whose outfits consist only of feathers and sequins. Their retinue of many thousands is dressed in amazing costumes, fireworks are scattered, drums are rattling, “support groups” are shouting, and all this is constantly dancing samba, samba, samba!!!

The talent and imagination of hundreds of designers and many months of work of thousands of Brazilians have turned the sambadrome into a fairy tale world. Here are fire-breathing dragons, and pirate ships, mysterious sphinxes and underwater kingdoms, elephants and Neanderthals, Roman legionnaires and Chinese sages, and even the “self-propelled” head of the Gorgon Medusa, each “hair” of which is held by suitably dressed characters. And, of course, beautiful half-naked mulattos dancing samba with abandon.

The intensity of passions at the carnival is such that the authorities give away more than 10 million free condoms every year. The Catholic Church, although it does not consider the carnival a charitable deed, does not in any way interfere with its holding, and even holds thousands of masses in stadiums these days. After all, after a week of revelry, the Brazilians will again become faithful Catholics for a whole year.

But there are people at this celebration of life who came here to work. Yes, yes, a strict jury of 40 people must evaluate on a 10-point scale many parameters of the performance: elaboration of the theme, costumes, design of the platforms, harmony of movement in the dance, the performance of the standard-bearer and her partner, the skill of the musicians, etc. Each "school samba” chooses a topic, develops a script and, secretly from other schools, prepares a performance for a whole year. Moreover, the costumes, the design of the carnival platforms, the lyrics, the intensity of the dances, the music and even the make-up - everything should correspond to the given theme. During the time spent at the sambadrome (65 to 80 minutes), the school should cover such multifaceted topics as, for example, environmental protection, the history of cinema, "Mother Africa", Darwin and the theory of evolution, the ice age and the development of agriculture, or the work of singer Roberto Carlos with the singer himself at the head of the procession (not to be confused with the player of the Brazilian national team). In general, pop, movie and football stars are happy to participate in the carnival - this is only a plus for their popularity.

Each column has from 3 to 5 thousand participants. Looking at this action, it's hard to believe that every step was rehearsed and perfected for many months - the show looks so harmonious and organic. Spectators "cheer" for their favorite schools no less recklessly than for football teams. By the way, as in football, there is a Premier League. These are 14 teams that "enter the arena" on Sunday and Monday. Among them, a winner is chosen. The so-called "introductory groups" compete on Saturdays. Those who take 1st and 2nd places go to the Premier League. From the Premier League, respectively, those who took the last 2 places are eliminated. Everything is like in football.

Of course, the main events of the carnival take place at the sambadrome, but it is not limited to this. Costume balls and parties take place throughout the city, the most famous of which are the magic ball at the Copacabana Palace hotel, which attracts celebrities from all over the world, the official costume competition at the Gloria hotel and the gay costume ball at the Rio Scala nightclub. On Friday, the opening day, there is also a parade of children's samba schools, which are organized according to the principle of adults. And in general, during the Brazilian carnival, any place where there is music becomes a sambadrome. We can say that the whole of Brazil is turning into a solid sambadrome!

It should be borne in mind that the places at the sambadrome are of different categories. The best ones are in the 9th, "tourist" sector. Ticket prices start at $1,500. There is an excellent view, tables, numbered seats, unlimited drinks and food, an increased level of security and the necessary infrastructure - from bars to first-aid posts and regular shuttles. Services are by no means superfluous: the holiday lasts all night until 6 in the morning, rare taxis carry at a double rate, and the amount of crime during the days of the carnival increases significantly. Men also need to take into account the fact that not all local beauties who inflame passionate love for you will have in mind your person, and not your wallet, camera, phone and other valuables.

Carnival tickets

At the sambadrome, you can also buy seats in open boxes - from $ 50, but they are sold in a "set" of 12 pieces (the entire box). Free places are occupied by the local population much in advance and are characterized by a complete lack of amenities, tightness and the danger of losing valuable things. However, there is a great opportunity to “feel” the carnival, as they say, on your own skin. For 500-600 dollars you can buy a costume from one of the schools and walk 700 meters in a carnival column, famously dancing samba. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to be able to dance samba: they say that, once in a procession, the body itself begins to move in the right rhythm.

For independent travelers: you need to book hotels and places at the sambadrome in advance, as prices increase significantly during the carnival.

It is also useful to know that the word "carioca", which is heard everywhere, means the self-name of the inhabitants of Rio. Cheerful, friendly, carefree people with an incredible mixture of European-African-Native American blood consider themselves (according to Forbes magazine polls) to be the happiest on the planet. And this despite the fact that a third of the Brazilian population is illiterate, and more than half lives below the official poverty line. The great merit of the carnival is in this self-determination of social well-being - in the fireworks of its passions, the complexes and neuroses accumulated over the year burn out, and good Catholics, starting from the Ash Wednesday of Great Lent, simultaneously begin preparations for the next carnival.

• Photo report from the carnival in Rio 2013 and 2014
• Street carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2018: photo report
• The best performances of samba schools at the carnival in 2018: photo report
• Brazilian Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo - 2019

Brazilian carnival in 2016: video

Brazil is the land of festivals! Whether it's celebration, cuisine, culture, or dressing up for street fun, Brazilians are the docks when it comes to how to throw a party! Indeed, festivals in Brazil are held all year round and are known all over the world. It would be logical to consider that the carnival is the prerogative of Rio de Janeiro alone. But the thing is, it's not! The whole country participates in the carnival. Both homeless people and dogs walk in the streets in carnival costumes.

Carnival do Brasil - a world-renowned tour of Brazilian popular culture. This is an annual festival that takes place in many cities in Brazil 40 days before Easter. Carnival is not just a colorful procession with dances and drums, it is the Indian festival of colors Holi, and the gay parade, and the Bavarian Oktoberfest, and the cowboy festival, and the Amazonian Indian carnival.

Carnival is so important for Brazilians that the year is divided into two parts: before and after the carnival... After the New Year, everyone in Brazil will prepare for the carnival. Nothing special happens in January and February. For Brazilians, 2019 will start after carnival!

Carnival. Rio de Janeiro

The most famous festival in Brazil - which is held annually before fasting for five days. It is visited by more than 2 million people! As noted above, the whole of Brazil participates in the carnival: both small villages and cities. Everyone can participate in carnival activities. To make the holiday more fun, men wear women's clothes, and women dress in a set of sequins and feathers. Here, at the festival in Brazil (photo below), you can put aside everyday worries and problems and escape into a fantasy world for a few days, enjoy samba.

Carnival processions begin during Easter, from the Friday to the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. Huge parades are a demonstration of complex costumes, a procession of drummers and dancers through the streets of the city. Every year the parades become livelier thanks to the samba school at the festival in Brazil.

Since 1984, when the Sambadrome was built, there have been presentations of different schools of vibrant dance. The non-stop party is filled with bright colors, samba music and elaborate costumes. Countless musical genres, including samba and passion fruit, accompany the holiday. On the streets during the carnival are obligatory: the usual food, drink and fun!

Tourists caught in the carnival are invited to join in the fun: free open-air concerts and masquerade balls are held throughout the city. With Samba as the soundtrack and a caipirinhas in hand (made with lime juice, sugar, ice and porridge), you can't help but feel the party spirit!

Festa do Peao

Impressive, attracting a large number of tourists and locals alike is the Festa do Peão, which means "Cowboy Festival" in English and has been a popular Brazilian festival for 64 years. Festivals held across the country in places like Maraba, Uberaba and Barretos usually feature a series of rodeo bulls and horses accompanied by country music.

By far the largest and most famous cowboy festival, the Festa do Peao, is held in the state of Barretos in São Paulo. The time of its holding is from 18 to 28 August. It coincides with the anniversary of the first recorded festival in 1955. Held in a huge park with a stadium large enough to hold 35,000 spectators. The highlight of the festival is the show rodeo.

Oktoberfest

One of the largest celebrations of German culture, Oktoberfest, turns the Brazilian city of Blumenau into a small copy of Munich. Once, it was a German colony founded in 1850. Brazilian Germans, mostly descendants of the colonists, keep their cultural heritage. Currently, more than a million tourists flock to downtown Santa Catarina to enjoy German and Brazilian cuisine, music and culture. And just relax.

One of the best places to relax during the October festival in Brazil is the beach paradise of Balneario, from where you can easily get to Blumenau by public transport. If you happen to be in Blumenau at this time, put on your brightest costumes, grab your party hats, and join the reveler groups for one of the most exciting events.

When celebrating Yemanja, a tribute is paid to the goddess of the sea. This beautiful event takes place in Salvador, a city also called the "Happiness Capital" of Brazil. The festival is held at the beginning of February every year, locals throw gifts into the sea, be it flowers, perfumes or jewelry!

The goddess of salt water Yemanzhu is always represented by women in blue flowing clothes with long hair. Millions of people celebrate Yemanya on February 2, or the Catholic holiday of Our Lady of the Sailors' Day. But in Rio, the Yemanje festival in Brazil takes place in the days leading up to the New Year, when practitioners of Umbanda and Candomblé honor this goddess.

The biggest celebration takes place along Praia Vermelha, culminating in a festive evening on the beach with music, parties and food. Arriving in El Salvador before the start of the holiday, you can see the most important religious ceremony in the city: at the end of January, hundreds of women in traditional costumes come to wash the steps of the Bonfim church.

On the second Sunday of October each year, one of Brazil's greatest religious festivals is held along the Amazon River in the beautiful city of Para Belem. Known as Cirio de Nazare, this festival in Brazil revolves around the statue of Our Lady of Nazareth, which is believed to have performed miracles when found and brought home by a farmer named Placido José de Souza.

It is said that the statue, after being brought to Belem, will return to its home in Ikorarasi of its own accord. Today, the statue does not travel by itself: it is carried from the Catedral da Sé to the basilica in Icoarachi, accompanied by hundreds of colorful boats filled with singing, dancing crowds.

Festival of wearable drawings

Every year on January 16, the tattoo festival takes place in Brazil. Artists from all over the world come here. For a week during the festival, the masters presented more than 200 stands with samples of various tattoos in 2019.

This is one of the main goals of Tattoo Week Rio: to promote cultural exchange between artists and the public. Usually, the event venue includes a reserved area for workshops, 2,000 parking spaces, a food plaza, a playground, a tattoo theater, exhibitions, and many other attractions. Numerous competitions are held at the festival, among which the most spectacular is "Miss Tatu".

Indian festival in Brazil

When it comes to this country, the first thing that comes to mind is the carnival, because this is the main event. Brazil has several carnivals throughout the year. Recently, another one has become known - May Fight Bumba. It takes place on the Amazon like a samba battle in Rio. Time of the carnival Boy Mei Bumba: the end of June - the second week of August.

May Fight Bumba takes place at a bumbadrome built on the principle of a sambadrome. Of course, the scale of carnivals in Rio and Parintins is incomparable. The history of the Boy Mei Bumba festival is connected with the culture and history of the Amazon Indians and a certain style of Brazilian music. Simple and beautiful.

The fireworks of passion raging at the carnivals of Brazil burns the complexes and negativity of the participants in parades and processions. Where, if not at a holiday in Rio, you can get a huge boost of energy and fun.

Tour program:

Day 1. Rio de Janeiro (21.02.2020)

Meeting at the airport Rio de Janeiro and transfer to the hotel. Free time or rest.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro officially takes place from Friday to Tuesday, in 2020 - from 21.02 to 25.02, unofficially, the celebrations can last another week later! More than a dozen samba schools from different parts of Rio de Janeiro are preparing for this holiday all year round. Each school shows the public a whole performance with complex choreography, exquisite scenery and fantastically beautiful costumes. The main days of Carnival 2020 are February 23 and 24, when the best samba schools perform, so we included an entrance ticket on one of these days in our tour. And on the streets of Rio, celebration and fun during the carnival period - every day and everywhere! Countless parties right on the street, special Carnival Balls, processions of dancers in colorful costumes through the streets of the city, and much more. Feel like a part of this unforgettable holiday!

Day 2. Rio de Janeiro

Excursion to the mountain sugar loaf starts after breakfast. There will be several stops along the route during which you can enjoy the views. Rio de Janeiro from high. So, on Mount Urka, which is the first stop on the route, there is a wide observation deck; from here we offer to make amazing photos of the most famous Brazilian cities!

On the Sugar Loaf itself, the observation deck is smaller, but the views from it are more interesting. You will be able to photograph not only the center Rio de Janeiro, but also islands in the ocean, mountains in the vicinity of the city, the famous Copacabana beach, Guanabara Bay, the bridge to the city of Niteroi and the legendary statue of Christ - the hallmark of Rio.

Then you will drive through the historic center of the city and climb to the top hill of Corcovado- to statue of Christ the Savior. From the top of Corcovado, a breathtaking panorama of the metropolis and its environs opens up: the Niteroi Bridge, Guanabara Bay, the Botanical Garden, the world's largest Maracanã stadium, the Sugar Loaf.

Day 3. Rio de Janeiro

Free time during the day. For an additional fee, you can order excursions.

Evening transfer to sambadrome. There will be a truly grandiose action! The huge stadium annually hosts a thousand carnival participants. Here you will see the quintessence of carnival in Rio de Janeiro– performances by representatives of the best samba schools Brazil.

Included in the ticket to the Carnival in Sector 9. Usually at the sambadrome, the stands look like large concrete steps with no allocated seats - except for Sector 9, which has numbered seats.

The dancers prepared an incredible spectacle for a whole year: they learned dances, invented and created costumes, worked with light. Performances last all night; at dawn at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro the bus will be waiting for you to take you to the hotel.

Day 4. Rio de Janeiro

Free day in Rio, relaxation on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, the opportunity to enjoy the unique Brazilian rhythm of life.

Or additional excursions to choose from:

half day tour Maracanã Stadium;

half day tour of Tijuca Atlantic forest by jeep.

Day 5. Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu

Transfer to the airport to continue the group program and fly to Iguazu.

Meeting at the airport and a rich excursion program in Iguazu (excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls).

Located on the territory of the same name national park, whose flora and fauna are unique. The cascade of waterfalls was formed thousands of years ago as a result of a volcanic eruption and a shift in the layers of the earth's crust. Translated from the language of the Guarani Indians Iguazu means "big water". The cascade consists of 275 waterfalls, and each of them has its own name! The waterfalls erupt into the Devil's Throat Gorge. Above the cascade, the Iguazu River flows slowly, lazily, then the seething streams crash into the abyss from a height of 72 meters. Watching the jets of water, you think about eternity, about the strength and splendor of nature, about how perfect and diverse it is.

Optionally, for an additional fee, you can fly over Iguazu by helicopter, ride a boat under the waterfalls, visit the bird park.

Day 6. Iguazu

Excursion to Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls(you can get as close as possible).

Through the bridge built across the Iguazu River, the National Park begins and after walking along it, you will come close to the waterfalls and find yourself directly below them, feel the power of the falling water very close and you can enjoy the natural park around this magnificent beauty. You will see the birth of waterfalls and the most famous waterfall "Devil's Throats".

Day 7. Iguazu

We recommend continuing the tour by adding other regions of Brazil (a more extended tour with a visit to the Pantanal - ), Argentina (Brazil + Argentina tour - ), Peru (there is a direct flight from Iguazu to Lima) and other countries of South America, depending on the wishes of tourists.

2 more of our Carnival tours: To the Carnival in Rio 2020: Brazil + Argentina and the Enchanting Carnival of Brazil: from the jungle to Africa.

The cost of the tour per person, in US dollars:

Included in the price:

accommodation in hotels 3-4 * on the basis of breakfast;

excursions throughout the program with Russian-speaking guides / interpreters;

transfers according to the program, including group transfer hotel - Sambadrome - hotel;

ticket to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro on one of the main days of the Carnival.

The price does not include:

international flight (from $ 1000 from Moscow),

domestic flights (Rio Iguazu from $ 300, and further depending on the option chosen to continue the tour),

honey. insurance,

the order of excursions can be changed at the discretion of the host,

add. excursions, personal expenses, meals not specified in the program.

Payment is made at the rate of the Central Bank + 3% on the day of payment, if payment is made before 12.00, and the next day, if payment is made after 12.00

Carnival in Brazil takes place annually in February or March, begins 40 days before Easter and symbolizes the approach of Lent (carne vale translates as "goodbye meat"). The whole country walks, but the largest is the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, which even got into the Guinness Book of Records.

The Brazilian carnival officially lasts 5 days, and the 6th day is the main parade of champions.

• AT 1 and 2 day- the opening ceremony of the carnival and the parades of the schools of the Second League, which compete for the right to be among the 12 best next year.
• 3 and 4 day are considered the main ones, because representatives of 12 schools of the First League will pass along the Sambadrome.
• AT Day 5 a parade of children's schools is held.
• BUT parade of champions is held in 3 days - 6 schools will perform in it: 5 from the First League and 1 from the Second League.

In addition to the parade at the Sambadrome, you will have many opportunities to join the carnival processions on the streets of the city. And before the parade at the Sambadrome, the main rehearsals take place, which you can watch for free.

*Sambadrome is a special street for street processions and carnivals with stands for spectators. The Rio Sambadrome was established in 1984. Its area is 85,000 m², which can accommodate about 80,000 people.

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Carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2019: schedule of events

March 1, Friday

13:00 - the opening ceremony. The mayor of Rio will hand over the keys to the city to King Momo, the character who rules during the carnival. They choose him from among the locals, tall and weighing more than 100 kilograms.

21:00 at the Sambadrome (Preliminary Parade) part 1.

March 2, Saturday

09:30 - Performance by Cordao do Bola Preta(Downtown).
16:00 (meeting point - General Osório square, Ipanema).
20:00 - competition of amateur dance groups on Av. Rio Branco, Centro.
21:00 – “preliminary” parade of samba schools at the Sambadrome part 2.

23:00 - Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel.

March 3, Sunday

22:00 – the main parade of samba schools at the Sambadrome part 1.

March 4, Monday

22:00 - the main parade of samba schools at the Sambadrome part 2.

March 5, Tuesday

16:00 - performance by Ipanema's Band.
21:00 – parade of children's samba schools at the Sambadrome.
23:00 – Gay Ball in Scala Rio.

March 9, Saturday

22:00 - parade of champions.

Interesting facts about samba schools in Rio de Janeiro

In total, there are more than 70 samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, which are divided into 6 groups: the Main League (Main Group), Preliminary (Preliminary Group), as well as leagues B, C, D and E. B. It is the Main and Preliminary leagues that compete for the championship at the Sambadrome. You can see the rest of the schools in the processions that will take place on the streets of the city.

The Major League has 12 schools and the Preliminary has 10. Each school's performance at the Sambadrome lasts 80 minutes, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

On Wednesday, the day after the parade of children's schools, the jury sums up the results, and then the Parade of Champions is held with the participation of representatives of the best schools. Schools that take 1-3 places receive cash prizes. And the school with the lowest ranking in the Major League is demoted to the Preliminary, and vice versa - the best school from the Preliminary League will play in the Major next year.

Preparations for the next carnival will begin immediately after the end of the current one. You can imagine how much time, effort and money it takes to prepare programs, costumes, and mobile platforms. Costumes for girls weigh from 5 to 80 kilograms.

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What do you need to get to the carnival in Rio?

1. Flights

2. Accommodation in Rio

You need to book as early as possible, ideally six months before the carnival, because good budget options fly out instantly.

• A place in a hostel costs $8-15 per day, and the closer the start of the holiday, the higher the prices.
• A hotel room or a room in an apartment will cost you from $30,
• and the whole apartment - from $60 per night.

To save money, you can settle in one of the small towns near Rio, for example, in Niteroi.

Couchsurfing is possible, but keep in mind that on the eve of the carnival, locals receive dozens of requests, so it is important to stand out, interest the host and be ready to communicate.

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3. Paid participation in the carnival

There are 4 possibilities, the costs of which differ significantly.

3.1. Buy seats in the stands of the Sambodrome ($95–1000)

The ticket price for the samba parade held at the Sambadrome depends on:

1. selected event: preliminary parade, parade of First League schools, parade of champions;
2. block of places (distance from the street along which the participants move);
3. sectors.

• Sectors - from $130 to $200.
• VIP sector - from $460 to $1000.
• Separate chairs - $150.

• Sectors - from $95 to $205.
• VIP sector - from $285 to $625.
• Separate chairs - $125.

You can buy a ticket on the official website of the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
But there is unverified information that buying a ticket on the spot is cheaper than from intermediaries and on the Internet. Tickets appear at the box office of the Sambadrome in early January. You can try to contact compatriots living in Rio and get tickets without overpayment for a little financial gratitude.

3.2. Participate in the parade at the Sambadrome ($200-3000)

There is an amazing opportunity to participate in the parade as part of one of the samba schools. To do this, you need to negotiate with representatives of the school and buy a suit from them.

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3.3. Attend one of the costume balls ($80–185)

Before and during the Brazilian Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, costume balls are held, the most famous and expensive of which takes place at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. Tickets must be purchased in advance (the earlier, the more prestigious the chosen event).

3.4. Attend parties at samba schools ($4–8)

This is the most affordable option, usually for entrance to Samba Hall (school headquarters) they take from $4 (15 BRL) to $8 (30 BRL). The most famous schools are Mangueira, Salgueiro, Unidos da Tijuca and Vila Isabel, they are located close to each other and you can visit several during the night. Dancing usually starts after midnight, many schools are on the edge of the slums, so it's safer to go to a party with a group.

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4. Free participation: carnival on the streets of the city

Most of the locals do not have fun at the Sambadrome, but on the streets. In different districts of the city, entire blocks are blocked and dance parties with incendiary music are held there, in which everyone can become a participant. Such parties begin long before the carnival, back in January.

The organizers are the so-called blocos - groups consisting of musicians performing the samba dance and notorious party-goers. The most popular parties take place in the areas of Copacabana, Leblon, Ipanema, Jardim Botanico, Lagoa, as well as in the city center. 269 ​​"blokos" are officially registered, which will hold about 500 parties in the 2019 season.