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Rio Carnival is just around the corner

1st February 2011 Print

Carnival is celebrated all over Brazil but most famously in the exotic South American city of Rio de Janeiro, where a visual extravaganza on an epic scale will take place this year from 05-08 March.

With hundreds of thousands of revellers descending on the city at this time of year it can be difficult to secure tickets for the main event or even to find accommodation and flights. To avoid disappointment specialist tour operator Journey Latin America have designed a Rio Carnival holiday which offers outstanding value for money.

The highlight of Rio carnival is the all night carnival parades, in which the 12 best samba schools, with their dazzling costumes and floats, parade through the Sambadrome. Some schools have thousands of members and as many as 30 floats each. Judges grade the contestants along the route, marking them on various attributes from dancing and costume to discipline and enthusiasm.

With sufficient notice Journey Latin America could even organise for you to participate in the parade, in costume! You'll need bags of stamina, but it's surely an experience you'll never forget.

A five-night stay in Rio for carnival starts from £1,755pp. This price includes airport transfers in Rio, a mid-range hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Copacabana, breakfast daily and return transfers from your hotel to the Sambadrome with a ticket to watch the carnival parade for one night.

Alternative carnival holidays in Brazil

Salvador
The carnival parades (called blocos) held in Salvador, North-East Brazil are more interactive and provide a great alternative for those who wish to be more involved in the festivities. Don't expect the colour and razzamatazz of Rio but the atmosphere is electric. Each bloco has a moving stage with gigantic speakers pumping out samba, rock, reggae and axé music.

A five-night stay in the historic quarter of Salvador during carnival starts from £1,312 per person. This price includes airport transfers in Salvador, a mid-range hotel and breakfast daily.

Florianópolis
Located in the southern state of Santa Catarina, the sub-tropical and lively island of Floriaópolis has bands playing on stages throughout the city centre, a sambadrome parade and Bloco de Sujos - a fun parade of crossed-dressed men accompanied by their families.
A five-night stay in mid-range hotel starts from £1,066 per person. This price includes breakfast daily and airport transfers in Florianópolis.

Further Information
For more information on Journey Latin America and to see the full range of holidays, please visit: journeylatinamerica.co.uk