
Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba
Traveler rating
4.3/5
Based on 36 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba worth booking?
Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba is a 2-hour experience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from $101 per person. It scores 54 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.3/5 rating across 36 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 54 / 100
- Rating
- 4.3/5 (36)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $101 per person
Experience the creation of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival from an insider’s perspective: visit the City of Samba, enter the Grande Rio’s Samba Factory, learn about the history of Samba and Carnival parades, understand the production of floats and costumes, and feel the samba fever with an authentic carnival costume, a samba class, and a Brazilian welcome drink!
What you get
About this experience
Experience the creation of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival from an insider’s perspective: visit the City of Samba, enter the Grande Rio’s Samba Factory, learn about the history of Samba and Carnival parades, understand the production of floats and costumes, and feel the samba fever with an authentic carnival costume, a samba class, and a Brazilian welcome drink!
What's included
Included
- Welcome drink – caipirinha, juice, or water
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Basic samba class
- Guided tour with transportation via air-conditioned van
- Professional guide with live tour commentary in English and Portuguese (on site only).
- Roundtrip transportation from the main hotels in (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Leme) hotels
- Costumes to wear and photograph
Not included
- Food
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Cidade Do Samba
Visit the City of Samba, the headquarters of the most important Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro.
10 minutes here
Enter the Grande Rio Samba Factory and discover the behind the scenes of Rio's Carnival scene. See the production of floats and costumes, the exhibition room, wear and photograph authentic costumes from previous editions and try some basic samba steps.
80 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Rio de Janeiro
Hotels in Leme.
Meeting point
Rio de Janeiro
Hotels in Leblon.
Meeting point
Rio de Janeiro
Hotels in Ipanema.
Meeting point
Rio de Janeiro
Hotels in Copacabana.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 60 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Hotels in Leme.
Ends at
Hotels in Leblon.
Ends at
Hotels in Ipanema.
Ends at
Hotels in Copacabana.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- pt, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- C2Rio Tours & Travel
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please inform the name of your hotel or a nearby location when you call to confirm your reservation.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Children 4 and younger are complimentary, provided they do not occupy a seat
- This tour operates rain or shine
- Roundtrip transportation available from South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme) hotels via air-conditioned van.
- The tour requires a minimum of two passengers. If there are fewer than two passengers, it may be canceled or rescheduled.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 36 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
36 verified traveler reviews for Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A Deeper Understanding of Carnival!
Walking into the lot where the 12 samba schools prepared for carnival was astonishing. Throughout the lot were enormous parts of last year's floats. I had no idea the floats were so large. Inside we learned about the history of carnival, and how the competition worked. We got to take pictures of ourselves in carnival costumes, watched a professional dancer dance samba, tried to follow along with her, and learned about the origins of samba. It made me appreciate all the work that goes into carnival and how its not just a giant party, but an institution that celebrates and preserves Brazilian culture.
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review. We’re delighted to hear that the behind-the-scenes visit gave you a deeper understanding of Carnival, from the impressive scale of the floats to the history, traditions, and dedication involved in the celebrations. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the interactive activities, including trying on Carnival costumes, watching the samba performance, and learning some dance steps. We’re especially pleased that the experience helped you appreciate Carnival not only as a celebration, but also as an important expression of Brazilian culture. Thank you for choosing this experience, and we hope to welcome you again on a future visit to Rio!
via Tripadvisor
Interesting tour!
Lots of fun and our guide was amazing! He had so much energy and was very informative. We learned a lot about how the Carnaval comes together over a year of very hard work!
via Viator
Ok tour to do if you have an hour and want to learn about Carnaval.
Our taxi driver picked us up way too early at the hotel, which resulted in us having to wait almost an hour for the tour to start. The location of the tour is a big area with several buildings/warehouses, we thought our tour would take us to several of those buildings, but the tour was only of one building (the ground floor to see it briefly and the majority of the tour was on the second floor of the same building). The concept of the tour includes seeing a nice timeline and costumes and the tour guide did a great job explaining everything. We got to try on some costumes, we also saw a movie that explained everything. The concept of the tour was ok, I just wished they had walked us around other areas to see floats. I think if the tour had included seeing several floats I could give the tour a 4 or 5 stars. It was still a fun experience.
Response from the operator: Jackie, thank you for sharing your feedback. The driver arrived at the scheduled time, but the first tour had already started, which caused the wait. We sincerely apologize and are adjusting our timeframe to ensure this does not happen again.
via Viator
Great experience
Great experience. Very welcoming staff. We enjoyed several activities in a two hour tour. Was great fun. Highly recommended 👌
Response from the operator: Dear passenger, We’re so glad you had fun and felt welcomed during the Carnival Experience! Thanks for recommending it—your joy means a lot to us! Sincerely, - C2Rio Team
via Tripadvisor
It was very fun and...
It was very fun and informative. The tour guide and the crew were very enthusiastic and all out fun. It was fantastic experience. Thank you!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Price range
- $101 to $120
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 13
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by C2Rio Tours & Travel, who run 16 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 66.3 and 2 in the 90+ Club.
See everything C2Rio Tours & Travel runsWhy this scores 54
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Rio de Janeiro.
How much does Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba cost?
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Prices start at $101 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Rio de Janeiro usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Rio de Janeiro is not rushed.
Is Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 54 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.3/5 across 36 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Rio de Janeiro, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba?
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Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Rio de Janeiro can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Rio de Janeiro and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Rio de Janeiro within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro?
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On Outty we rank every Rio de Janeiro experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Pedra da Gávea hike, your best experience in Rio, Favela Tour Rio de Janeiro - Vidigal Walking Tour by Russo Guide, Rio's Full Day: Selarón Steps, Christ & Sugarloaf – Tickets & Lunch Included. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Rio de Janeiro?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba?
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Included: Welcome drink – caipirinha, juice, or water; All taxes, fees and handling charges; Basic samba class; Guided tour with transportation via air-conditioned van; and Professional guide with live tour commentary in English and Portuguese (on site only). Not included: Food; and Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 87 listed pickup locations in and around Rio de Janeiro. Be ready about 60 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba offered in?
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It is offered in Portuguese and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Rio de Janeiro. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Carnaval Experience - Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba?
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Across 36 reviews averaging 4.3 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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