Rio Carnival Backstage Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Rio's vibrant Carnaval Factory
- Witness costume creation firsthand
- Learn about samba traditions
- Experience Rio's festive culture
- Capture memorable photos
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip hotel transportation
- Guided tour of the Carnaval Factory
- Exclusive access to costume workshops
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
At the selected time, your guide will meet you at your hotel and drive to the Carnival Experience in downtown of Rio. Do you know how its most popular celebration is planned? We'll find out. We'll visit the backstage of the Rio de Janeiro carnival, that is, the areas behind the scenes that the public does isn't normally allowed to visit. In these rooms, we'll see how the elaborate costumes displayed in the parades are fashioned. We'll also admire the details of the floats that parade through the Marquês de Sapucaí sambadrome.
Next, we'll move on to the exhibition hall to learn about the history of samba and the Carioca carnival, which has been celebrated for over a century. During the visit to this special venue, we'll feel the atmosphere of unity and emotion that is felt during Carnival. It's not surprising that this event is not considered a mere party, but a way of life. The visit will continue to one of the backstage dressing rooms, where you'll have the opportunity to try on some of Rio's carnival costumes. To round off this experience, a professional dancer will give you a short samba lesson - everybody to the dance floor! Lastly, we'll enjoy a delicious caipirinha and, after an hour and a half of touring the backstage areas, we'll end this incredible visit.
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour availability may vary; check the schedule in advance.
- Confirm your hotel pickup details upon booking.
- Be prepared for a walking tour; some areas may have uneven terrain.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for walking.
- Bring a camera to capture the vibrant costumes and workshops.
- Ensure you have a valid ID for hotel pickup verification.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Traveler reviews
Authentic Carnaval Must Do Tour!
This is must do experience! We learned so much about Carnaval, its history and pageantry. We saw magnificent parade artifacts and costumes as well as a chance to feel a small taste of what it’s like to participate. A truly wonderful experience that you can’t miss — especially if you’ll never be in Rio for the real thing! Victor is a phenomenal 2–in-1! He is both a professionally trained tour guide and expert driver. We enjoyed getting his personal perspective on life in Rio. We felt like we were riding along with a friend. He showed us a few ‘hidden gem’ sights along the way! The tour company, Gregtur Turismo, was easy to reach via WhatsApp, responded quickly and provided us with timely information regarding how to meet our guide.
Wonderful experience
I can’t recommend this experience enough. So many wonderful surprises during the tour and the ability to learn the important history of Carnaval was a gift. Thiago was an amazing guide and provided so many extra insights on the transport.
Well organized to coordinate pick up. Our driver Leandro was an excellent communicator, very attentive to our group.
My group love the experience; their feedback was this was the best experience they’ve had on any tour. The interaction kept us engaged.
Unforgettable experience
Our guide Antonio gave us almost that a private tour in our language, it was very nice to hear and know more about the carnival, he also took pictures and videos, I recommend 100%
Carnival Up Close
This tour provides so much history about the work involved in Carnival from the floats to costumes and choreography. It's also great fun to dress in costumes, take pictures and dance samba.