By Lauren Smith
December 15, 2009
For many travelers, Carnival is the highlight of any trip to Brazil. Its reputation as 'the greatest show on earth' precedes it and with so much going on over the four days it can be easy to get carried away and blow a sizeable amount of your hard earned travel funds. This can ruin the rest of your trip and leave you having to scrimp and save for the rest of your holiday.
The beauty of Carnival, though, is that you don't have to push the boat out to have a good time once you've booked your flight and hostel in Rio de Janeiro, even if you're on the tightest of budgets.
The Samba Parades are the centerpiece of Carnival and no Carnival experience would be complete without a visit to the 70,000 Sambodromo. Depending upon the day you go, who you buy from and what area you sit in tickets can set you back several hundred dollars. However, if you avoid the busiest days and most popular parades (most notably the Monday when the best 12 Samba schools strut their stuff) then tickets are considerably cheaper.
A great day to go is on Saturday 13th when the A league schools compete for a place among the elite schools the next year. Tickets are half the price yet the atmosphere is just as good.
You can also save vital beer money if you shop around before buying your ticket. Prices vary enormously from agent to agent. Typically tickets bought through third parties will cost you more as they have to pay a middle man. Do look around, but as good a bet as any is to try and get your ticket through your hostel. If they don't have tickets, they will know someone who does at prices that won't hit you too hard in the pocket.
Unlike many modern sporting arenas views vary considerably inside the Sambodromo and prices vary accordingly. Avoid the numbered seats and get yourself a Grandstand. You won't have a guaranteed seat but the tickets are so much cheaper and the atmosphere is often much better. If you're on a really tight budget look for tickets in Sector 3, otherwise look to get a ticket in sector one where the samba schools enter the stadium. The atmosphere here is terrific and is where many of the locals in the know go to watch the parades.
If you are really pressed for funds or can't get a ticket to the parades you can still get a taste of the Sambodromo in the streets that surround it. All the bars are packed to the rafters with locals and travelers alike and are alive with music, dancing and outrageous costumes deep into the night. Here you'll also catch a glimpse of the samba schools themselves as they practice their routines before entering the Sambodromo itself.
The surrounding area comes alive during the festival and in many ways it is the street parties that make Carnival. The best part about the parties is that they are FREE! There are lots to choose from and all feature bars selling beers and shots of Cachaca at ridiculously cheap prices. Among the best parties are the Popular Street Dance at Cinelandia which features orchestras, singers, bands, performers and all the samba music you could possibly want as you party until the sun comes up. The street party at Ipanema is widely considered the biggest and the best and is the most organized.
For food, check out the snack bars which are everywhere in south side neighborhoods. You can get a full meal featuring a generous serving of rice, beans and pasta for less than $10. If you're looking for a hostel Rio de Janeiro has lots of options, from party hostels with huge dorms to chicer options with private ensuite rooms.
Carnival doesn't have to be expensive to be fun - you just need to where to go and when.
Before joining HostelBookers in 2009, Lauren Smith indulged her passion for travel, backpacking around Brazil and staying in a hostel in Rio de Janeiro.
Previous articles by Lauren:
Backpacking from Iguacu Falls to Argentina
A Gastronomic Tour of Brazil
Best Beaches in Brazil for the Backpacker
Brazilian Football Tour
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