Experience the Magic of Carnival in Rio! Join us on an exhilarating journey through Rio de Janeiro, where vibrant culture, stunning views, and Carnival festivities create memories that last a lifetime. See iconic landmarks, relax on famous beaches, and revel in the world’s greatest celebration. Your adventure starts here—embrace the pulse of Brazil!
Special Notes:
•The Sambadrome is not wheelchair accessible
•If you have any food intolerances or special dietary needs, please inform us prior to your departure for review by our local vendors. It is important that your land program extension reflects these details to ensure a smooth and enjoyable dining experience.
•Carnival in Rio is a major international event that attracts many tourists from around the world, resulting in large crowds throughout the city and at every major attraction. Be prepared for line ups and to be safe keep your valuables in your hotel.
•Due to the anticipation of sold out hotels and large crowds, we recommend making reservations well in advance for any meals that are not included in the program.
DAY 1 – February 23, 2028
Upon flying into the Rio International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel which is located just steps from Copacabana Beach.
Check in is at 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available before this time, this cannot be guaranteed. Should you have an early arriving flight you may wish to book an extra night, so your room is available upon arrival at the hotel.
The remainder of the day is at your leisure, allowing you time to settle in. Meals are on your own today.
DAY 2 – February 24, 2028
Enjoy a buffet breakfast at your hotel before meeting your guide and driving to Praia Vermelha. Here, you’ll board a cable car for a ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. The 600-million-year-old granite and quartz mountain was named for its tall cone, supposedly because it resembles sugar that was shaped into a loaf for transport in the 19th century.
The cable-car ride is in two stages. The first takes you to Urca Hill, where there are lush, fragrant gardens and several scenic lookouts. If you wish to venture even higher, the second segment of the cable car ride will take you to the very top of Sugarloaf, which rises 1300 feet above sea level. From here, you will enjoy mesmerizing views of the city, Guanabara Bay, the ocean and smaller, densely vegetated mountains.
After descending Sugarloaf, you will drive through several pleasant residential areas and eventually stop for a typical Brazilian BBQ lunch.
Following lunch, board your vehicle for a drive back to your hotel. On arrival, the remainder of the day is at your leisure and dinner is on your own.
DAY 3 – February 25, 2028
After breakfast, the group will have the opportunity to ascend Rio’s most famous landmark, Christ the Redeemer Statue. As an option, you may remain at the hotel and enjoy a day at leisure.
Departing the hotel, the drive will take you through Copacabana to the Cosme Velho district where you will board the cog railway for a 2.5-mile, 30-minute ride up to the viewing area. As you reach the upper terminus there are fantastic views in clear weather. Then, to reach the viewing platform and the 120-foot-high statue, you will take an elevator and an escalator.
On the return journey, you’ll pass by the most famous beaches of Rio—Leblon, Ipanema, and the world-renowned Copacabana Beach—pausing along the way for photos.
Back at the hotel the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to rest up before the Carnival festivities begin. Lunch and dinner are on your own.
No other celebration on earth can rival the revelry, the jubilation, the pageantry, and the pulse of Carnival in Rio. Visitors the world over travel to Rio, simply to savor the samba, dance in the streets, and literally get swept-up in the carnival-like atmosphere that invades the city each year during this festive season.
Tonight, transfer to the city’s downtown area and the pulsating Sambadrome. You will then be escorted to your strategically chosen reserved seating for an excellent view of the festivities.
During the festivities, you will be spellbound as the procession of schools begins. Each samba school, decorated in sequins and glitter may require up to 1.5 hours to complete its procession. This magnificent parade continues throughout the night with the performance of several schools.
When the parade comes to an end you will be returned to your hotel.
Note:
•Reservations in advance are recommended for dinner to ensure you have sufficient time to eat before you depart for the Sambadrome.
•It is necessary to climb approximately 44 steps at the Sambadrome; there is no wheelchair access.
•Attire for the evening should be casual and comfortable with a limited number of valuables on you.
•Expect traffic delays in the city.
DAY 4 – February 26, 2028
After breakfast at your hotel, check out, settling any incidentals before departure. At the designated time you will be transferred to the pier for embarkation.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is at 2:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 2:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive at the Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro
You are met outside the customs and transferred to your hotel
2:00pm Check in time at your hotel. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.
Remainder of the day at leisure, meals on own
Overnight at JW Marriott Rio De Janeiro or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
7:00am Buffet breakfast at your hotel
8:30am Tour Sugar Loaf and BBQ lunch
2:00pm Return to your hotel
The remainder of the day is at leisure with dinner on your own
Overnight at JW Marriott Rio De Janeiro or similar hotel
DAY 3
7:00am Buffet breakfast at your hotel
8:30am Tour Christ the Redeemer
1:00pm Return to your hotel
Lunch and dinner on your own
7:30pm Transfer to the Sambadrome for Carnival festivities
TBA Return to your hotel
Overnight at JW Marriott Rio De Janeiro or similar hotel
DAY 4
AM Buffet breakfast at your hotel
11:00am Check out, settle any incidentals prior to departure
11:30am Transfer to the ship for embarkation
Expected Weather:
Summer is from the end of November until March. During these months, the daily high averages 29° Celsius (84° Fahrenheit, although it can frequently climb as high as 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit) in parts of the city.
At night, the temperatures remain in the mid-20s Celsius (high 70s Fahrenheit).
What to Bring:
Casual, comfortable attire, good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, camera, and umbrella
Local Currency:
The local currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL). You will need Real’s, as the U.S. Dollar is not accepted in Brazil; however, dollars can still be used for small tips or to buy items in some tourist shops.
Electricity
In Rio - 127V-60H - adapters may be available at the hotel however we recommend bringing your own international adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements:
A passport that is valid for at least six months after travel is required.
A visa is required for U.S. citizens to travel to Brazil.?You must apply for and be approved for the visa before leaving for Brazil.
The above information is subject to change and serves as a guide only. We would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our guests that it is the ultimate and sole responsibility of the guest to ensure they meet the entry requirements for each destination.
If traveling internationally, the countries you are flying to and/ or connecting through may have different document requirements and as such we encourage you to visit the government and airport websites of every country you will be traveling to throughout the journey to familiarize yourself with their requirements for your nationality.
Accommodation:
JW Marriott Rio De Janeiro
Av. Atlântica, 2600 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22041-001, Brazil
Phone: +55 21 2545-6500
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Includes for guests:
•3 nights at the JW Marriott Rio De Janeiro or similar hotel -Oceanview Room
•Buffet breakfast daily
•Tours and entrances per the itinerary
•1 BBQ lunch (water, soda and one beer or glass of wine per person)
•Air-conditioned coach with English-speaking guide
•Luggage handling and porterage at the airport and hotel
•Service charges, handling fees, and local taxes
•Tickets to the Sambadrome event on Day 3
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
•Any meals or beverages not listed above
•Gratuities to drivers and guides
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar, laundry and personal expenses
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Price: $3,299 per guest based on double occupancy.
Hotel and Land Program pricing is not combinable with FREE 1-Night Pre-Cruise Luxury Hotel Package. If applicable, please contact Regent Seven Seas Cruises or your travel agent for multi-night pre-cruise hotel pricing information. Land program promotions are subject to terms.
