It’s no surprise that Brazilians know how to throw a party. When it comes to Carnival, nobody does it bigger or better. But it’s not all about Rio de Janeiro, as most people may think.
If you’re already planning to show off your samba moves for Carnival 2016 in Brazil from February 5th – or, perhaps you are planning a big trip for next year – don’t overlook these 8 under-sung heroes where you can experience the Brazilian Carnival in style.
Salvador (Bahia)
Prepare to dance to a different rhythm if you decide to move Northeast during Carnival in Brazil. In Salvador, capital of Bahia state, it’s all about the “axé music” (pronounced asheh) and its vibrant fusion of Afro-Caribbean genres.
Get your “abadá” – a sponsored t-shirt used as a ticket if you want to be inside the roped area where all the action happens – and get ready to put all those hours spent in the gym to good use. Hundreds of thousands of people follow the “trios elétricos” (trucks with huge giant speakers and platforms in which popular singers/bands perform) through the city for up to 10 hours a day, dancing, singing, drinking and having the time of their lives.
Big names in Brazilian music show up on top of the trios to lead the crowds and every year a number of international guests join in the fun too, from will.i.am to David Guetta!
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Recife & Olinda (Pernambuco)
Also in the country’s sun-soaked Northeastern region, two sister cities offer some of most laid back fun during Carnival times: Recife, capital of Pernambuco state, and neighbour Olinda, a well-preserved and UNESCO heritage colonial town.
Unlike Salvador, no ticket is needed to join the party. Did we say party? We meant P-A-R-T-Y, with all the possible capital letters – just take a look at the Guinness Book of Records, and you’ll see Recife’s Carnival street party “Galo da Madrugada” named as the world’s biggest, with an estimated 2 million joining the celebration each year.
Spend the day in Olinda with its world famous folkloric giant dolls parading through the streets, and then head 10km south to Recife’s historical city centre for a night of free gigs and street festivities.
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São Luiz do Paraitinga (São Paulo)
It may not be featured in most touristy guides of Brazil, but when it comes to Carnival, the small town of São Luiz do Paraitinga is becoming one the most popular destinations in the country. No wonder why its 10,000 people population turns 15 times bigger every February …
The vibe at this historic town is like no other – everything revolves around local culture. You probably won’t listen to any world famous tunes like “Girl from Ipanema” or “Mas Que Nada” during the street parades. Instead it’s all about the “marchinhas” there – a comic genre of music that started as a satire of military marches (hence the word translation as “little marches”) – with lyrics citing local cultural icons and making fun of their own socio-economic problems.
Located a 2.5-hour drive from the state capital, the city is also very close to popular beach destination Ubatuba. So, that’s your holiday sorted – relaxing on a white sand beach during the day there, then heading to São Luiz do Paraitinga for all the evening fun.
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Florianopolis (Santa Catarina)
Being one of the most popular beach destinations in Brazil, the southern city of Florianopolis offers a Carnival programme that is often featured among the favourite places for young party lovers in the country.
Should you be unsuccessful in grabbing a ticket for the official parade – in which the traditional “samba schools” compete for the annual title of best in town – there’s no need to despair. Most of the city’s 42 beaches hold an array of events during the days of Carnival, including jam-packed rave parties featuring some of the most famous DJs in the world.
But it’s in the city centre where the real action happens: expect free concerts from some of the biggest hit makers in Brazilian music – from pop star Anitta to samba band Sorriso Maroto – all presented in a laid-back and effervescent environment, featuring traffic-free streets, caipirinha bars and VIP areas.
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Manaus (Amazonas)
It’s on the very top of Brazil’s map and quite far (a minimum 4-hour flight from Rio, and in a different time zone!) from more traditional touristy destinations, but visit Manaus – perched in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest – and you’ll be treated to a very unique experience, especially during Carnival time.
Just like Rio, there’s a very famous competitive parade, only bigger as it happens in a space with capacity for 100,000 people! But in Manaus, the talk of the town is … an ox! Festival “Carnaboi” celebrates the local legend about a resurrected ox, whose tale is told through music and flamboyant costumes, all based on local Amazonian folklore and indigenous culture.
It might not be easy to get a ticket for the main competition show, but there’s fun spread all around town, with street parties happening in almost every neighbourhood and dozens of bands performing for free.
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Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais)
During any other time of the year, visitors of this normally tranquil former colonial mining town in Southeast Brazil are more interested in its outstanding baroque architecture. But during Carnival time, Ouro Preto becomes the ultimate hotspot for young revellers.
All thanks to the city’s majority student population, who live in spaces called “repúblicas” (rented houses ruled and maintained by themselves). As most of the 300 repúblicas hold their own Carnival parties, it’s not hard to imagine the festive atmosphere around town during the six days of celebrations.
Visitors buy “packages” that include unlimited drinks, accommodation in shared dorms and parties all week. More often than not, parties continue onto the streets of Ouro Preto, where they mix with the town’s traditional Carnival “blocos” (organised groups following a band), like Zé Pereira dos Lacaios, the oldest in the country, active since 1867!
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Diamantina (Minas Gerais)
Here’s another historical town (and another UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Minas Gerais (400km from Ouro Preto) that boasts equally popular street parties, but this time a little more family friendly.
In the afternoon, traditional bands and blocos like Bartucada and Bat-Caverna start festivities at the Old Market Square, where the main stage holds free performances from nationally acclaimed musicians.
Parading through the streets of the old town, dozens of groups dressed in funny costumes sing and make fun of political news that affected locals’ lives during the past year, while talented percussionists have the job of not letting any reveller stand still.
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Rio de Janeiro
No, not “that” Carnival in Rio … Forget about the spectacular, yet very-expensive-and-impossible-to-get-a-ticket-for Carnival parade at Marquês de Sapucaí (aka Sambadrome). Instead, spend zero Reais and witness one the most popular and democratic street parties in the world.
An astounding number of almost 500 different blocos take the streets of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival days. A diversity of rhythms and cultural influences inspire the groups, that can easily turn The Beatles or Beethoven into the most energetic samba interpretation.
It all starts very early (from 8am). So start off with a hearty breakfast, put on a funny costume (anything from your favourite soccer shirt to the latest Marvel superhero) and simply join the crowds along the streets. It doesn’t hurt preparing an itinerary and following your favourite routes – which might include beaches like Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana. Rest assured that nobody will judge you if you leave your fellow revellers behind and jump into the water at some point to cool down from all those heated festivities!
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Looking for some more Brazil travel inspiration? Check out momondo blog to find out about the buzzy nightlife of Rio de Janeiro, then download our free Rio city guide, momondo places, from the App Store.
