Arrival, Group Briefing, Welcome Caipirinha, Samba Class & Face Painting

• Arrival: Welcome to Brazil! Make your way to our group hotel located in Lapa, Rio’s colorful bohemian center. This lively neighborhood is the absolute heart of Carnival, packed with samba clubs, historic architecture, and vibrant street life right at your doorstep. Standard check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

• Evening: At 6:00 PM, meet up with your Tour Leader and fellow travelers for an important orientation briefing to review the upcoming Carnival schedule.

• Night Out: Once the meeting wraps up, the party officially begins! Enjoy your first included caipirinha, get your face painted by our professional makeup artist, and join the group for a fun samba dance class to learn the essential steps. Afterward, your Tour Leader will guide the group out into the bustling streets of Lapa to experience your very first night of authentic Carnival street partying.

NOTE: Please note the itinerary is subject to change due to unexpected circumstances such as bad weather, changes to Carnival schedules, traffic, diversions, demonstrations/strikes, inconveniences or changes caused by local operators and authorities and other circumstances beyond our control.

Full-Day Rio Tour (Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf) & Sector 11 Sambadromo Tickets

• Morning (All-Inclusive City Tour): After breakfast, we head out for a comprehensive day tour of Rio’s iconic landmarks. We'll drive through the lush Tijuca National Park to Corcovado Mountain to stand at the feet of Christ the Redeemer. Next, we explore the historic hilltop suburb of Santa Teresa, famous for its grand mansions and vintage trams, before stopping at the vibrant, tiled Selarón Steps in Lapa.

• Afternoon: Our final tour stop is Sugarloaf Mountain. We'll ride two consecutive cable cars to the 295-meter summit for breathtaking, panoramic views of Guanabara Bay and the entire city skyline.

• Night (Sambadrome Parade): We return to the hotel to refresh and prepare for the ultimate highlight of Rio Carnival: the world-famous Sambadrome Parade. Get your face painted by our professional makeup artist again and strike a pose for our photographer before we head out. We have included tickets to the energetic, non-assigned grandstands where you will watch Rio’s top samba schools showcase their massive floats and extravagant costumes all night long!

Bloco Street Party, Group Lunch & Sunset Boat Party Cruise

• Morning: Fuel up with breakfast before heading out with your Tour Leader to a vibrant morning bloco (street party) in the artistic, hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa. If you prefer a slow morning, feel free to sleep in and save your energy for the big night ahead—the choice is completely yours!

• Afternoon: The group reconvenes and strolls down toward Marina da Glória, stopping along the way to enjoy a delicious included local lunch. Afterward, we board a magnificent schooner boat for a 5-hour party cruise across Guanabara Bay. Take advantage of the open bar during our first hour of boarding, then hit the onboard dance floor or kick back in the chill-out lounge as we cruise.

• Sunset & Evening: We return to the marina just after sunset, giving you a stunning view of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer glowing against the night sky. Head back to the hotel to refresh before your Tour Leader takes the group out to experience the absolute best of Rio’s Saturday night Carnival celebrations.

Farewell Rio!

• Morning: Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel and take some time to swap contact info with your fellow travelers.

• Midday: Standard accommodation check-out is between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM (your Tour Leader will confirm the exact time locally). The rest of the day is yours for any last-minute souvenir shopping or beach time before heading to the airport for your onward journey. Safe travels!