Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro
- 3h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 6 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Psst — over here. Get a good peek into Rio's Carnival on this half-day tour behind the scenes of the behemoth celebration. Travel to Cidade do Samba, where the best samba schools build and store their grandiose floats, sparkling costumes and feathered headdresses. Take a guided tour of the warehouse of Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, a highly ranked samba school, and then try on some of those snazzy costumes. You’ll gain in-depth insight into Carnival culture, and toast your inside-access visit with a caipirinha, Brazil’s signature cocktail.
Inclusions
What's included
- Professional guide
- One caipirinha drink
- Guided Visit to Grande Rio’s Warehouse
- Hotel pickup and drop-off to most South South Zone hotels in Rio
What's not
- Gratuities
- Food
Itinerary
After hotel pickup, travel to the mandala-shaped Cidade do Samba, a warehouse complex in Gamboa, the birthplace of Rio de Janeiro's samba. More than 80 samba schools with 100,000 dancers participate in Carnival, but each year only the top 12 to 14 samba schools form the Special Group, aka the First League, which build and store their magnificent floats and costumes at Cidade do Samba. As you explore the complex with your guide, learn about the history of samba as well as the Carnival parade and competition in the Sambadrome. Although Carnival explodes into action only once a year, backstage preparations continue on a daily basis. Want to know more? Head inside the warehouse of G.R.E.S. Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, a local-favorite samba school established in 1988. With your guide leading the way, meander through the warehouse and marvel at the floats in progress. Eye the rows of racks bursting with eye-popping costumes. Learn about the allegories and stories underlying the pageantry, as your guide explains Carnival’s pagan origins that began in ancient Greece and continued into the Middles Ages in Europe before arriving in Brazil through Portuguese colonization. Wondering how those costumes would look on you? Try them on and find out! Slip on some outrageous ensembles and snap memorable pics to upload on your social media accounts. Finally, toast your visit with a caipirinha, a cocktail made with cachaça (sugar cane hard liquor), sugar and lime, before taking transport back to your hotel.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
3.8
- 52
- 42
- 30
- 20
- 11
Ratings come from 5 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 15 travellers
- Operated by
- Gray Line Brazil
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes
- Minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years
How it compares in Rio de Janeiro
- Its from-price is 34% below the median of the 1667 experiences we list in Rio de Janeiro.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 759 of 1667.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro sweeps between mountains and ocean, a city of famous beaches, granite peaks, samba rhythms and a carnival known around the world.
Christ the Redeemer stands with open arms atop Corcovado, looking down on the city, and cable cars climb Sugarloaf Mountain for views across Guanabara Bay. Below, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are the stage for daily life, with volleyball, kiosks and the wave-patterned promenade, while Leblon and Arpoador extend the strip.
Top-ranked sights in Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer Statue (Cristo Redentor), Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao de Açúcar), Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón).
Special offers in Rio de Janeiro
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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