FORUM » / South America - Advice and recommendations »
I will be travelling across South America on an organised overland tour, but I have six days in Rio at the beginning on my own, I have accomodation but im looking for tips of things to do!
Is it safe to attend the Rio Carnival Sambadrome at night on my own?
Hi Firstly I would check with your overland tour company to see if they do an 'extension' to the trip or a Rio Carnival package. Most of them do and it will mean you will be a group of people which makes the whole event much more fun. If your operator doesn't do anything then try some of the others - Dragoman, Kumuka, Tucan, Oasis, Exodus etc who do normally offer such a package.
If you don't fancy this then check into a hostel and I'm sure you will meet others who will be going but book the hostel now if you can. Inside the sambadrome is pretty safe - I've nevere known a problem after 6 visits), tickets to the local stands (sect 4&11 with restricted view of the procession but still good) can be bought for around R$40/R$50 - if you can find them. Tickets to the other stands go from about US$50 upwards. Local hotels can usually get them but will often charge a premium.
Be a bit streetwise on the way in and when you leave - and get a cab home but otherwise its not as bad as people make out.
Oh, and if you go down to the end that the dancers finish at during or immediately after the paprade, you might just get yourself a costume as a lot of people just discard them - might be a nice souveneir!
There is loads to do in Rio - Corcavado (christ statue), sugarloaf, hangliding (amazing), beaches, markets, street processions santa teresa the list goes on. Check out the balls as well - great fun - and the best restaurant in the world - Porcao Rios! Book first with your hotel/hostel and don't eat anything for lunch the day you go!
Enjoy - it will be hard not to!
PS www.ipanema.com is a great website for loads of infor on Rio & carnival
