#SAMBA DE JANEIRO CARRILLO FREE#

The weeklong event is centered around an official parade in the Sambadrome, the avenue-like stage designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Carnival festivities date back to the 1700s and have evolved into a celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture and the perseverance of the Brazilian people. While there are other places to catch a roda de samba, this is the most exciting.Įvery year in the week leading up to Lent (generally in February), Rio erupts in a sea of glitter as revelers fill the street to celebrate Carnival. Everyone comes casually dressed, with a caipirinha or beer in hand, and surrounds the group of sitting musicians.

#SAMBA DE JANEIRO CARRILLO FREE#

Today, the free outdoor samba show attracts both locals and tourists. Over time, the site became a haven for Rio’s Afro-Brazilian communities.

It was also where salt was offloaded from incoming ships, hence the name. It’s coming from Pedra do Sal, or Salt Rock, a historic site that once served as a prominent slave market. The genre was born from religious rituals and celebrations performed by enslaved Africans in Bahia and later evolved into the entertainment it is today in Rio de Janeiro.Įvery Monday night, the pulsating rhythm of samba can be heard in a secluded alley in downtown Rio. Samba, the Brazilian dance and music genre, is an integral part of the country’s identity. While the hike is fairly easy and only takes about 40 minutes, it’s quite the adventure: You have to hop on the back of a motorbike and ride through a favela, a low-income community built on the hills surrounding the wealthiest neighborhoods, to get to the trailhead. You can also hike up Dois Irmãos, the two peaks seen from Ipanema Beach. Climbing the 2,769-foot monolithic mountain is easily the most popular and toughest hike in Rio (hiring a guide is advisable). From the summit, the towering Pedra da Gávea stands in front of you. This is also where you can hang glide for an extra adrenaline rush. There’s Pedra Bonita, a 40-minute trek that ascends about 900 feet up the ridge that sits between the South Zone of the city and Barra da Tijuca, an expansive residential neighborhood along the coast. The most famous peaks are located smack in the middle of the city. At 8,300 acres (nearly 13 square miles), Tijuca National Park is the largest urban rainforest in the world and offers an abundance of trails ranging from easy to difficult. People of all ages take to the surrounding mountains to bike, run, and hike on the weekends. Rio’s natural landscape makes it a very active city. Rio’s most iconic vendors wear bright orange uniforms and carry giant metal barrels filled with mate, a super-sweet iced tea (unlike Argentine and Uruguayan bitter yerba mate) consumed on and off the beach. They’re an integral part of the beach culture and keep locals fueled with coconut water, steamed corn, and the famous biscoito globo-airy biscuits made from cassava flour-all of which cost between $1 to $2. Even on a small day, getting wiped out by the waves is likely.ĭon’t be alarmed by the beach vendors. Ipanema and Arpoador are known for strong waves, and when a swell comes in, helicopter rescues aren’t unheard of. But beware: Rio’s coast is not for the weak. Copacabana is easily the most famous, albeit the most touristy.įor surf lessons, head to Arpoador Beach, set on a small peninsula between Ipanema and Copacabana. The first two share the same stretch of sand and the dramatic Two Brothers Mountain as their backdrop. No matter the time of the day, sunbathers fill the city’s three most popular beaches: Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana. As early as 6am, you’ll find the sidewalks near the beach bustling with joggers, bikers, and barefoot surfers. There are more than 53 miles of sand in Rio, and the beach is at the center of the laidback Carioca lifestyle.

Samba de janeiro carrillo