1

There are two different types of main parties in Rio during the carnival:

One of them, the most touristic one, is the world famous Samba Schools parade in the Sambadrome, with the costumes, the huge cars and all that stuff, you probably have seen it on television. You need to pay to watch it from the stands and in one day you can see six samba schools.

It's absolutely amazing and I recommend it for everyone, it can be expensive though. The parades are in the sunday and monday of carnival.

If your budget is tight, you can get tickets for the Winners Parade on the saturday after the carnival, also in the Sambadrome. The six best samba schools (voted by judges) have the right to parade again. The tickets are easier to find and cheaper as well.

The other party is on the streets. There were 425 authorized "blocos" in Rio's carnival in 2012.

A "bloco" is basicly a band or a group of rythmists playing brazilian rithms, specially samba and it's variations, in a street with thousands of people around them and as they walk, everyone follows, and it usually runs for 3/4 hours.

There are "blocos" in every part of the city and for every type of person, from kids to adults, for straight people, for gays, for people who enjoys the music, for the ones who don't care and just wanna get completly drunk...

They starts at 8AM and goes until around 1AM when the party begins in Lapa and other get-together points. The smaller "blocos" bring together hundreds of people, the medium ones a few thousands, the big ones a few hundred thousands and the biggest (Cordão do Bola Preta), two million people.

A "bloco" is not like the parade in the Sambodrome, be aware of that. You won't see for free, on the streets, the perfect costumes, huge ornate cars and coreographies. However, you will have much more fun, if you enjoy huge crowds and drunken/crazy people, of course.

Any doubts, just ask.

2

It is very expensive, a typical rip off and a waste of time. Better go to Uyuni, Humahuaca or Olinda to see a good typical one!

3

Waste of time? Have you been to the Sambodrome?

brendan88

The carnival is celebrated all over Brazil, therefore, there are uncountable options. The most famous are in Rio, Salvador and Olinda. Going to the carnival in other South American country makes no sense, actually, that's the real waste of time, in my opinion.

4

"Going to the carnival in other South American country makes no sense, actually, that's the real waste of time, in my opinion"

IMO it makes a lot of sense. The Sambodrome these days is a typical touristic trap and overrated but over all things overpriced. When things turn that way, you have to look for alaternatives and there are plenty. Or just don´t complain and pay the money and consume the marketing campaign!

5

This debate about "overpriced" is really not at issue. If you are spending a small fortune to be in Rio for Carnaval for the one and only time in your life, it's not such a big deal to save a couple hundred more dollars before you leave home and buy a good-view center sector grandstand ticket for the iconic event of this festival. the Sunday/Monday parade in the Sambodromo. Why not? To make some political point to the organizing entity (LIESA) that they are not going to pay attention to anyway? The stands are full of Brazilians, so how can you call it a "tourist trap"? It is still the most important day of the year for the thousands of Brazilians in each of the samba schools who rehearse all year and live to compete in the parade. I suppose you could stay home, install Globo and watch it on TV---a lot cheaper. Or get your party on somewhere much cheaper and see Rio without the crowds at another time. Or choose another location where you don't have to pay to see the main event..... in Salvador or Olinda or other smaller places like Ouro Preto, the whole party is in the street.

6

I agree that since you will pay much higher than usual fares for your transport and at hotels (not just higher than normal rates, but with minimum stay requirements), skimping on entertainment and missing the famous parades in the Samboadrome makes no sense at all. I would not pay the high plane fare and hotel rates, at a time of year that is not the best for weather in Brazil, just to see the blocos. If Rio is too pricey for you, consider Carnaval parades in Salvador or Olinda, or just visit at another time of year and use your cost savings to see more of the country. BTW, for an angle of Carnaval samba parades, etc. (i.e., the involvement of organized crime/traffickers). you won't get from tourist entities, try to get a hold of the HBO Latin America series "Filhos do Carnaval" (Sons of Carnaval), sold by Amazon.com as "Hijos do Carnaval."

7

Snatch

So, basically you're saying that this is overrated...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA2alymlOfs

and this is worth it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz2y4SAQ6wg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdRlCk755d4

Like said above, the stands of the Sambodrome are full of Cariocas and Brazilians in general, and those who can't go, watch it on the TV. This is a cultural movement from Rio that began in the 20s and, of course, got bigger during time, becoming world famous.

It might be just marketing for you, however, there are thousands of people that work all year around just to make a good performance and pratically all the Samba Schools are from slums and other poor areas. Building the parade and see it been broadcasted to the entire planet is a reason for them to be proud of.

8

cheers for the imformation fellas muchly appreciated and i loved the debate haha