Grab Cheap Flight Tickets to Rio de Janeiro
Rio Carnival is an event celebrated every year in Rio de Janeiro. It is considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The event features parades filled with revelers, floats, and adornments from more than 200 samba schools, divided into five leagues/divisions. The carnival is one of the most interesting artistic events on the planet.
This year (2019), the carnival is beginning in the afternoon of Friday, March 1, and ends at midday on Wednesday, March 6.
History of Carnival
The origin of the carnival dates back to ancient Romans and the Greeks. The celebration dates back to 1640s. During that time, elaborate feasts were organized to honor the Greek wine gods. In 1840, the very first Rio masquerade took place, and polka and waltz took center stage. Africans subsequently influenced the Carnival with the introduction of samba music in 1917, which is now considered a traditional Brazilian form of sounds.
Details of the Event
Friday, March 1st
1 PM - Opening Ceremony
9 PM- Preliminary Schools' Parades in Sambodromo
Saturday, March 2nd.
9.30 AM - Street Band Cordao do Bola Preta (Downtown)
4 PM - Ipanema's Band, meeting point at General Osorio square, Ipanema
8 PM - Street Bands' Contest at Av. Rio Branco, Centro
9 PM - Preliminary Schools' Parades in Sambodromo
11pm - Magic Ball at Copacabana Palace Hotel
Sunday, March 3rd
9 PM - Main Schools' Parade in Sambodromo
Monday, March 4th
9 PM - Main Schools' Parade in Sambodromo
Tuesday, March 5th
4 PM - Ipanema's Band (last Carnival presentation)
9 PM - Children's Samba Schools Parades
11 PM - Gay Ball at Scala Rio
Reasons to book cheap Rio de Janeiro flights
The second most populous city in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro boasts its setting between the mountains and the sea. Part of this spectacular city is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides its beautiful landscape, Rio de Janeiro also features a blend of architecture and planned green space that characterizes the city's growth. The streets of this city remain filled with music and ornately costumed dancers. The natural setting of Rio de Janeiro is considered among the best for a metropolis in the world.Sugar LoafThe rock peak of Sugar Loaf is the best known landmark of Rio de Janeiro. The peak towers 394 meters above the harbor. Tourists can take a cable car from Praca General Tiburcio to reach the top of the Morro da Urca, which is a lower peak. From Morro da Urca, a second cableway runs to the top of the Sugar Loaf. From this peak, one can enjoy the vistas of entire mountainous coast.
Christ the RedeemerWidely recognized as a symbol of Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer is the giant statue of Christ overlooking the city from the 709-meter peak of Corcovado. It is a world-famous landmark and was built between 1922 and 1931. Christ the Redeemer is 30 meters tall and the arms stretch 28 meters. Inside the base, there is a chapel where weddings and baptisms take place.
CopacabanaThere are very few cities in the world that are blessed with a lovely sand beach at its center. Copacabana is one such beach making Rio being counted among those blessed cities. It is a four kilometers long sand beach where visitors can enjoy natural landscape. Located along the beach are restaurants, cafes, hotels, and much more.