Originally published 22 October 2009

Rio Carnival

For those wanting a taste of Rio's famous carnival but without the five solid days of all consuming dancing and celebrating, visit the Winners' Parade.

The "Winners' Parade" takes place the weekend after the carnival parades is an excellent option. By this point the city is returning to normality; people are back in their offices and banks have reopened. However weather wise it's still mid summer, a beautiful time to spend a few days in Rio's sunshine. The parades that take place over this weekend feature the winning samba schools from the carnival, each of approximately 3,000 dancers and musicians and every bit as colourful as the carnival parades themselves.

Travelling to see the Winners' Parade can be an all round more enjoyable experience than the carnival as the city's roads are less congested, queues to its tourist attractions such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are shorter and the hotels have mandatory packages of 2 nights rather than 4/5.

Rio Carnival

Rio Carnival

Rio Carnival

Rio Carnival

Samba dancers at Rio's Carnival

Samba dancers at Rio's Carnival

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

 

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