In a nutshell

Rio de Janeiro dances to the manic rhythm of the samba. Today, one of the top dance schools in the city opens its doors to show you how it gets ready for the Carnival of the year. Try on an original parade costume, play and dance with the samba masters, and at the end of your visit, quench your thirst with a cool caipirinha. An authentic Carioca experience awaits you.

Main stops

Gamboa district: “Cidade do Samba”
“Acadêmicos da Grande Rio” samba school: guided tour, photo with traditional costume, local dance lesson
Caipirinha tasting

The programme

After setting off from the port, in the blink of an eye, you'll arrive in the heart of Gamboa on the waterfront of Rio de Janeiro. You are headed for the “Cidade do Samba”, the city of samba, where the “Carnaval” lasts all year.
A door opens and you step into the warehouse of the 'Acadêmicos da Grande Rio', one of the city's leading samba schools. There are 11 others in the district, and once a year, they all compete at the sambodromo, against the best from all over Brazil.
After discovering the history of the samba, the parades and the secrets of how the 6,000-plus beautiful costumes are made, you'll be itching to slip into one. You can! Choose one of the outfits available, and snap a photo to remember it.
Now it's time to return to the port, but not without a final toast: with a fresh caipirinha, naturally. “Saúde”!