A Guide to Free Yourself at the Rio Carnival

Would you like to go to the one of the most pulsating parties on earth - a party to end all parties?

That's what Rio Carnival offers. For four long hedonistic days and nights, 'carnaval' (the Portuguese word for carnival) sees a festive eruption of flesh and beautified bodies dressed in outlandish sequins and feathers gyrating to the bat of 100,000 samba drums - a culmination of a year's fantic planning by Rio's samba schools.

The city of Rio raises its temperatures well before 26th February and the fever is infectious. You can even take a toe tapping sneak preview by nipping backstage at any Samba school. Rio simply wouldn't be the same without it!

What: Rio Carnival
That’s what the Rio Carnival offers. Bodies dressed in sequins and and feathers gyrate to the beat of 100,000 samba drums   The city of Rio raises its temperatures well before 26th of February and the fever is infectious. Sneak previews can be had by nipping backstage at any Samba school.

Next Carnival:  February 2008 tba

Where: Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. It takes places in The Sambadrome designed by Oscar Niemeyer. This is one long street lined with tiered seating where crowds jostle to cheer on the 14 samba school parades as they compete for glory.

How Much: Tickets cost 250 reais (R$) (£49) at ticket agencies or from “scalpers” outside the Sambadrome on the day at ticket tout prices.

Getting There: From Heathrow to Rio’s airport: Tom Jobin International Airport Amazingly there is no direct route from London to Rio. From Heathrow to Rio via Sao Paulo

www.ba.com 0870 850 9850
www.varig.co.uk 020 8321 7170
Expect to pay around ?700 return

Leaving the Airport
Tom Jobin international airport in the north of the city centre.
An air-conditioned bus from the airport to Copacanba , Ipanema and Leblon costs R$5 (?1) but can take up to two hours in bad traffic. A taxi to Copacabana takes roughly half an hour and costs R$70 (?13.50); to Ipanema and Leblon it's around R$90 (?18) and 50 minutes

Did you know ..
Those born in Rio are called Cariocas (those born in Rio)
Locals call their city the "cidade maravilhosa", "marvellous city"
Brazil has a national cocktail called caipirinhais made from cachaca, a cane spirit, lime juice, crushed ice and sugar.

About Rio
Rio is split into northern and southern zones by the majestic granite peaks of the Serra da Carioca mountains. The wonderful golden sands are in the southern zone where Centro – the business district is located. Centro tends to be deserted and also quite dangerous at night. Also in the southern zone is the bohemian quarter  of Santa Teresa, and the famous Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Beaches.

Landmarks
Sugarloaf at the southern end of Guananbara Bay
The statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado

Must Do
Take the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf for some awesome views. 8am-10pm; R$30 (?6).

Visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer a gift from the French to celebate 100 years of independence (open daily 8.30am-6.30pm; 00 55 21 2558 1329; www.corcovado.com.br; R$30/?6). The pedestal is 8m high, and the statue is 30m from top to bottom and 28m from fingertip to fingertip.

Walk along the beach like the Cariocas do. They use the beach as they social club, where they play sports and generally chill.

Helicopter rides
Helisul (00 55 21 511 2141; www.helisight.com.br) offers trips from a seven-minute whirl for R$150 (?29) to a one-hour trip for R$875 (?171).

Accommodation:
Hotel Rio Internacional have a carnival package. Av. Atlantica, 1500-Copacabana. Tel: (55 21) 2546 8000.

NewsFlash! Postcards of bikini-clad beauties are to be banned from Rio’s shops and newsstands in hope of ridding the city off its reputation for vice. "These postcards attract the wrong kind of tourist,” said the bill’s sponsor, councillor Alice Tamborindeguy. The state governor has 30 days to ratify the bill. 

More info www.rio.rj.gov.br/riotur
There are tourist offices in the international arrival halls of the airport (open daily 7am-11pm, 00 55 21 3398 4077) and at 183 Avenida Princesa Isabel (00 55 21 2541 7522; open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm).

Carnival Information: www.ipanema.com

Brazilian Tourist Board: www.brazil.org.uk Tel: 0207 629 6909

5 October 2005