This tour starts in Rio de Janeiro during Rio Carnival when the city is absolutely effervescent and the Carnival atmosphere is electric! 

Today your guide will meet you at our 4 star hotel near Copacabana Beach and after you have checked in you will be invited to attend a group evening meal at a traditional Rodizio restaurant where meat lovers can sample many of the delicious Brazilian cuts on offer and vegetarians can indulge in a mouth-watering buffet. This is a great introduction to Rio and a good way to meet your fellow group members.

After dinner you will be invited out for drinks giving you the chance to try a few Brazilian favourites such as Caipirinha and Caipirosca made from local Cachaça (sugarcane) spirit.

After breakfast today we will take a private minibus tour of Rio’s highlights and our first stop will be at the statue of Christ the Redeemer, an iconic landmark standing at 30 metres high with unparalleled views over what is known locally as the Marvellous City.

At Sugarloaf Mountain we will take a cable car up to the top of this steep-sided granite outcrop for spectacular views over the city and Guanabara Bay.

We end the day at Estadio do Maracana, the iconic 103,000 seat stadium used for many football World Cup matches and the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

This evening is free for you to enjoy the city at your leisure.

We begin the day in the Lapa neighbourhood where you will get to see the famous Escadaria Selaron, a colourful tiled stairway created by a Chilean artist as a tribute to the Brazilian people.

Nearby we find the Lapa Arches, a 19th century aqueduct and typical example of colonial architecture and engineering.

This afternoon we will join a Bloco (block party) where you will get to be part of a real Brazilian street carnival. Rather than just being a spectator you will get to dance, eat and drink with the locals in their neighbourhood and experience a genuine party atmosphere like nowhere else on earth!

Today we will board our private boat and take a cruise around Guanabara Bay which has over 130 islands dotted around the bay and beautiful views of Rio.

You will have part of the afternoon free to enjoy Copacabana beach or just relax at the hotel swimming pool.

This evening we get dressed up and head to the Sambadrome where you will get to witness the official world-famous Rio Carnival. From our place in the stands you will get to see multiple Samba Schools put on dazzling performances as they compete to be crowned as Rio’s best Samba School. This is a night of fun that usually continues into the early hours of the following morning!

After a night at the Sambadrome we know that most people want to relax today, so we have left this last day free for you to enjoy the sun, sea and swimming pool.

This evening you will be invited out for a farewell meal at a local restaurant to say goodbye to your fellow tour members and guide.

After a hearty final breakfast this tour ends today in Rio de Janeiro. Checkout from the hotel is at 11H00 so you can make your onward travel arrangements accordingly.

If you would like to extend your tour and join us prior to this Rio Carnival package we have an overland truck tour that travels through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay before reaching Rio de Janeiro so you can add on any of these destinations should you wish to.

If you would like to extend your tour and join us after this Rio Carnival package ends our overland truck continues through northern Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia so you can add on any of these destinations should you wish to.

We are happy to create a bespoke itinerary and price for you so please feel free to contact us to discuss all options.

HOW TO BOOK

To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay the full Tour Payment by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Once we receive your online booking form and full Tour Payment we will confirm your booking by email and send you all relevant information necessary for your tour preparations.

TOUR PAYMENT

The payment of £1679 is the full tour payment per person based on 2 people sharing a room. You can request two single beds or 1 double bed. You can request who you would like to share a room with but if you don’t have a partner or friend with you we will do our best to put you with a suitable companion who has also booked individually.

The payment of £2361 is the full tour payment per person which includes a private room.

In order to reserve a place on this tour you must pay the full tour payment at the time of booking. All payments are payable in the UK in GBP (£ Sterling). 

The Tour Payment can be paid by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Credit and Debit Card Payments (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

You can use the following link to pay by credit or debit card:

Dragoman Tour Payment

Or feel free to call us on +44 7858 468 953 in order to make a credit or debit card payment over the phone.

Bank Details for Direct Transfers (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Bank: HSBC

Account name: Madventure Ltd.

Sort code: 400810

Account number: 91618415

IBAN : GB14HBUK40081091618415

Swift/Bank BIC: HBUKGB4B

Branch BIC: HBUKGB4116A

Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom

Revolut (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Revolut offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Revolut account? Create one now - www.revolut.com 

Wise (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Wise offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Wise account? Create one now - www.wise.com

Paypal (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Paypal account name: info@madventure.co.uk

Don’t have a Paypal account? Create one now - www.paypal.com

INCLUDED

Services of your Dragoman tour leader and local guide when required

4 star hotel accommodation

Transportation in private minibus, taxis and boats

5 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 evening meals

Christ the Redeemer statue

Sugarloaf Mountain

Maracana Stadium

Escadaria Selaron

Lapa Arches

Bloco party

Guanabara Bay boat tour

Sambadrome ticket

NOT INCLUDED

Flights

Airport transfers

Personal travel insurance

Personal spending money ($50 – $100 per day recommended)

Visas 

4 lunches and 3 evening meals 

Entrance fees to optional sites

Any optional activities and excursions

Tips (USD $50 for your tour leader is recommended)

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Dragoman so please use the list below as an approximate guide only. Prices are shown in USD.

Helicopter flight over Rio $300 for 2 people

Botanical Gardens $15

We will be staying at a 4 star hotel on or near Copacabana Beach during this tour. Our usual hotel is the Grand Mercure but this could change depending on the group size and availability.

The payment of £1679 is the full tour payment per person based on 2 people sharing a room. You can request two single beds or 1 double bed. You can request who you would like to share a room with but if you don’t have a partner or friend with you we will do our best to put you with a suitable companion who has also booked individually.

The payment of £2361 is the full tour payment per person which includes a private room.

We will be travelling by private minibus, taxis and boats during this tour. The tour will also involve short walks to and from the main sites.

5 breakfasts will be provided during this tour at the hotel restaurant.

1 lunch will be provided during this tour, usually on the boat trip around Guanabara Bay.

2 evening meals are provided during this tour, usually the group Rodizio dinner on day 1 and a group farewell dinner on day 5.

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader and 1 local guide when required for certain activities on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. Your tour leader is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to.

Your tour leader will arrange local guides (if required) to give you the history of any important sites that we visit as sometimes historic sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

Your tour leader will be hand-picked and trained by Dragoman but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK.

Tipping your tour leader at the end of the tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. People often ask us what amount they should leave as a tip so we recommend you tip your tour leader a minimum of $50 at the end of the tour if you feel they have given you good service, thank you.

PERSONAL BUDGET

We recommend a budget of $40 – $60 per day to live comfortably during this tour. This budget should cover day to day things like lunch, snacks, soft drinks and the odd few beers, etc.

Citizens of the USA, Canada and Australia should budget approximately £70 for their Brazil visa.

Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying souvenirs you should budget for it.

Please also have a look at our Optional Excursions list as you may want to budget for a few of those activities too.

TRAVEL MONEY

We recommend you bring all of your money on your credit or debit card as nearly everywhere in Brazil accepts card payments.

ATM’s are widely available for you to draw local currency using your credit or debit card should you need cash.

To keep your money/credit cards/ipad/camera/laptop safe we recommend you purchase a ‘Pacsafe Travelsafe’ product. They offer various size portable anti-theft bags that can be attached to a fixed feature of the vehicle when travelling and also attached to a fixed feature in your hotel room when off the vehicle.

Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports according to the most recent information we have from previous tours. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only and if you are unsure please check with your local consulate. Dragoman is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.

Please ensure you have 1 blank page in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.

Brazil visa - for most nationalities including citizens of the UK, EU and New Zealand, a visa is not necessary to enter Brazil. Citizens of the USA, Canada and Australia will need to obtain a visa for Brazil prior to arrival. The Brazil visa application process is online and costs approximately £70. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate. 

VACCINATIONS

Vaccination requirements are constantly changing so we recommend you seek the latest professional medical advice at least 8 weeks before departure to ensure you allow yourself enough time to obtain all necessary vaccinations. Nomad Travel’s website has up-to-date information on vaccinations, malaria and other general medical advice for all the countries we will be visiting and they also administer vaccinations at their travel clinics in various locations in the UK.

www.nomadtravel.co.uk

Alternatively speak with your local health professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting with the approximate dates when you will be there.

It is not necessary to be vaccinated against covid to join this tour.

An up to date Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate should be brought with you if you plan to visit remote areas of Brazil before or after this tour, otherwise it is not necessary.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able. You need to be able to carry your bags from the vehicle to the hotels, do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on these tours, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your tour leader knows how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

FIRST AID KIT

Your tour leader will carry a basic first aid kit for emergencies but it is recommended that you bring your own basic first aid kit for general use.

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Dragoman obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.

You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first.

There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for people based in the UK seeking a comprehensive and reliable policy that includes Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, +44 20 7938 1734, http://www.campbellirvine.com/Madventure

Campbell Irvine are familiar with what we do so if you mention Dragoman and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you.

For people based in North America a company named Allianz offers good cover, +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com

If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and if possible make sure your policy includes Medical Repatriation.

Backpack/sports bag/suitcase: We recommend you carry your luggage in a backpack but irrespective if you prefer a sports bag or a suitcase you are restricted to a maximum 100 litre volume.

Day bag: A small day bag is recommended so that you can keep your basics with you while doing the day tours, boat trip, etc.

Pacsafe: In order to keep your valuables safe we recommend a Pacsafe product. They make a range of anti-theft bags which vary in sizes and can accommodate your money, credit cards, passport, camera, laptop, etc. They can be attached to a fixed feature on the back of the vehicle when travelling and/or to a fixed feature in your hotel room when off the vehicle. 

Kindle: Optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in one place.

Ipad/Tablet: not a necessity but most places have WiFi available these days so having your own Ipad or Tablet will enable you to stay connected.

Smartphone:  It is highly recommended that you bring a smartphone with you as the majority of the tour communications are sent via WhatsApp. It is also very convenient for storing all your digital documents, emailing, taking and sharing photos, mapping and calling home.

E-sim: Airalo has an affordable digital E-sim that you can use while travelling abroad which means you can stay connected and be online without having to constantly buy local physical sim cards to connect to the internet. Just make sure your phone is E-sim compatible before buying any E-sim.

Camera: Completely up to you but most people use their phone.

Toiletries: Available everywhere but start with some toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.

Sunblock: Minimum SPF 15 recommended.

Towel: A microfibre travel towel is a good option as it dries quickly and packs down small.

Sunglasses: Polarised lenses offer great protection.

First aid kit: Only a basic one is recommended but should include plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, pain relief tablets, scissors and safety pins.

Passport: Please ensure you have 1 blank page in your passport to accommodate all the visas and stamps required on this tour, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: An up to date Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate should be brought with you if you plan to visit remote areas of Brazil before or after this tour, otherwise it is not necessary.

Clothes & shoes: 

1 x flip flops

1 x walking shoes or trainers

2 x socks

5 x underwear

5 x t-shirts

1 x plastic poncho

2 x shorts

1 x trousers

1 x swimwear

1 x baseball cap

OVERVIEW

This Dragoman group tour is for travellers seeking an adventurous yet comfortable vacation where your tour leader does all the planning to ensure you get to enjoy yourself as much as possible. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 16 travellers of all ages and nationalities. We use a private minibus, taxis and boats to get around and we stay in a 4 star hotel on or near Copacabana Beach to ensure your comfort at all times. This tour is meticulously planned to ensure you visit the highlights of Rio de Janeiro at a leisurely pace and enjoy the Carnival.

Our 5 night package includes visiting all the major attractions of Rio such as the statue of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Maracana Stadium, Escadaria Selaron, Lapa Arches, Guanabara Bay boat trip, a Bloco party and of course the Sambadrome where you will get to see the Rio Carnival on full display!

Please note that numbers are limited on this package so book early to secure a place.

At Dragoman we like to go through every aspect of the tour with you to ensure that you are as informed and prepared as possible. We believe in not only telling you about the highlights of the tour but also providing you with all the small details of what to expect as we know these are just as important. We want to explain the tour in as much detail as possible so that you are sure you are suited to one of our small group adventures. If after reading the information below you decide that this tour is not for you then, as long as it is within 14 days of your initial booking, you can cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

We have no age restrictions on our small group tours and if there is one thing we have come to realise, it’s the mental attitude that counts the most. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 16 travellers and 1 tour leader of all ages and nationalities so you can expect to share this experience with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life. 

WEATHER

Temperatures during carnival are warm with high humidity, so be prepared for the heat and you will enjoy this trip.

ALTITUDE

Rio de Janeiro is at sea-level so altitude is not an issue.

HYGIENE

As wonderful as Brazil is, some places do not have a western infrastructure and their acceptable level of hygiene standards may be very different to ours, so be prepared to accept that things may not be as clean as they are back home.

You must maintain your own personal hygiene and ensure that you and your clothes are washed regularly. If anyone smells bad or is noticeably unclean the tour leader will have a word with that person to ensure a decent level of personal hygiene is maintained by everyone on the tour.

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

Your tour leader will arrange the sightseeing tours, boat tour, bloco party, Sambadrome tickets, etc. so there is no need for you to worry about booking any tickets. For some of the organised tours your tour leader may arrange a local guide (if required) to provide the history of the site. You are however free to go sightseeing on your own at your leisure if you prefer.

On this tour you are completely free to do as you choose and you can be as active or inactive as you like.

YOUR ATTITUDE

A friendly, easy-going attitude will help you enjoy this trip and ensure you are liked by your fellow travellers as well as the locals. The one thing that is extremely detrimental to any tour are people that constantly moan. It has nothing to do with age, gender or nationality, some people just like to find fault in everything and it’s always got to be someone’s fault. This type of constant negativity can be extremely detrimental within a group so it may sound a bit harsh but by weeding out any moaners early on we can have a chat with them to try and ensure your tour is as good as it can be. We don’t hide anything so people who travel with us usually know exactly what to expect on this tour which makes for an enjoyable group experience.

Please be aware that if any particular person is constantly causing the rest of the group (or the tour leader) grief due to their behaviour they will be warned and then asked to leave the tour if nothing improves and no refund will be given. This is obviously the most extreme case but we will not let one or two rude individuals spoil it for everybody else. This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

During this tour things generally go to plan but if something unexpected like bad weather does occur we may choose to alter our itinerary slightly in order to maximise everyone’s enjoyment, so please understand that sometimes things happen that are simply out of our control and we may have to make alternative arrangements. Expect the unexpected and accept that things might go wrong from time to time.

These instances are usually the stories that remain with everyone so enjoy the experience. An easy-going approach will help the situation immensely. Moaning about every little thing that doesn’t go our way will not! When situations arise where we can’t please everybody we always aim to please the majority of the group, not the individual. 

TRAVEL TIMES & ITINERARIES

We have designed this tour so that we are not rushed and for you to have plenty of time to look around the sites that we visit.

We always strive to stick to our day to day itinerary but our itinerary can change if bad weather occurs or an area becomes off-limits for any reason, so in the unlikely event that we do experience any problems we will adjust our itinerary accordingly.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

Please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in Brazil and they could enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession.

If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs on this tour you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any such inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to.

Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able. You need to be able to carry your bags from the vehicle to the hotels, do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on these tours, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your tour leader knows how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

ACCOMMODATION

We will be staying at a 4 star hotel on or near Copacabana Beach during this tour. Our usual hotel is the Grand Mercure but this could change depending on the group size and availability.

The payment of £1679 is the full tour payment per person based on 2 people sharing a room. You can request two single beds or 1 double bed. You can request who you would like to share a room with but if you don’t have a partner or friend with you we will do our best to put you with a suitable companion who has also booked individually.

The payment of £2361 is the full tour payment per person which includes a private room.

TRANSPORT 

We will be travelling by private minibus, taxis and boats during this tour. The tour will also involve short walks to and from the main sites.

MEALS

5 breakfasts will be provided during this tour at the hotel restaurant.

1 lunch will be provided during this tour, usually on the boat trip around Guanabara Bay.

2 evening meals are provided during this tour, usually the group Rodizio dinner on day 1 and a group farewell dinner on day 5.

CREW

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader and 1 local guide for certain activities on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. Your tour leader is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to.

Your tour leader will arrange local guides (if required) to give you the history of any important sites that we visit as sometimes historic sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

Your tour leader will be hand-picked and trained by Dragoman but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK.

Tipping your tour leader at the end of the tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. People often ask us what amount they should leave as a tip so we recommend you tip your tour leader a minimum of $50 at the end of the tour if you feel they have given you good service, thank you.