Help Choosing Your Rio Carnival Costume

Not sure what carnival costume to get to show off in Rio de Janeiro big parade?
The cariocas here can give you a big hand.

Your carnival costume and yourself are part of a specific wing – ala – of a Samba School. In that specific wing, all paraders will be wearing the same exactly carnival costume. As you know, the parade is a competition, presented by different Samba Schools representing their neighborhoods. Each one of these samba schools supports a theme for that year competition. In order to tell the enredo – history or theme - the samba school showcases itself in many different wings.

How to choose your costume:

  • Our VIP SERVICE costume packages include roundtrip transfers from the ATLANTICO COPACABANA HOTEL. So if you require being assisted by our tour guide and are concern with safety and comfort, this is the way to go. If you opted for the VIP Service, on parade night you will be transported to the Sambodromo warming-up area (concentracao) and, in the company of our guide and fellow members of "Escola de Samba", you will participate in the unforgettable parade that is Carnival in Rio. The parade itself lasts approximately 50 minutes. Each school has 82 minutes to cross the runaway.

  • You can do it on your own. Get your costume, go to the Sambadromo by cab or using the Rio’s safe subway system and have a blast. Your carnival costume is your ticket to march with the school. And yes, it’s pretty safe to do it on your own. The subway system is full of people with costumes from all samba schools.

  • When purchasing your Carnival costume, we will need to get some measurements from you such as SHOE SIZE and CLOTHING SIZE S/M/L/XL. All costumes are made to order, so this piece of information is really important for us to prepare your own costume.

  • All costumes come with useful instructions on where to go and whom to contact in case you have any questions or need anything. The lyrics and the link to download your samba song will be sent to you by mid January as well. You will be contacted by our Help Desk staff, if we have any questions and to give you further instructions.

Warming Up Time

Please arrive at your warming up area at least 2 hours before the parade. Below you will find the WARM UP TIMES. The schools are schedule to parade two hours later. Ex. Sao Clemente Samba School warms up at 19 hrs (7 PM) and parades at 21 hrs (9 PM).

AT Sunday. Feb. 19th Monday. Feb. 20th
21:00 Renascer de Jacarepaguá São Clemente
22:05 Portela União da Ilha
23:10 Imperatriz Salgueiro
00:15 Mocidade Mangueira
01:20 Porto da Pedra Unidos da Tijuca
02:25 Beija-Flor Grande Rio
03:30 Vila Isabel  

2012 Rio Carnival Costume
2012 Rio Carnival Sambodromo Tickets
2012 Rio Carnival Balls Tickets
2012 Free Carnival Guide