Useful information

Useful information

Public transportation during Carnival:

• • The best neighborhoods for access to public transportation are Ipanema, Leblon and specially Copacabana where Metro, plenty of bus lines and taxis are available

  • When using Rio de Janeiro's Metro, make sure to buy a pre-paid card at the Metro kiosk to avoid long lines during the week of Carnival (no need to register, its easy to buy just with cash or credit card)

  • During the week of Carnival 'cheap' becomes 'expensive' in certain neighborhoods due to the need for taxis (Metro only reaches certain areas and not many buses work at night)

  • Many taxi drivers will often not drive into some neighborhoods (like Santa Teresa, Lapa, ...), because they are not easily reachable by car due to the Street Carnival that blocs many roads

Neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro:

• • Be very careful when choosing a neighborhood. Even though safety has improved a lot in the past years, there are still many neighborhoods that are not recommended to walk at dark due to safety and proximity to slums (known as 'favelas')

  • Best locations for Rio de Janeiro are Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. These locations are central, very safe, with great beaches, restaurants and shopping

  • Copacabana is considered busier with more activity than Ipanema and Leblon

  • Ipanema and Leblon are more residential and also a bit more upscale

Accommodation during Carnival:

• • Don't pay ridiculous hostel and hotel prices for accommodation in Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon:

    • A bed in a shared dorm in a hostel during Carnaval cost from $54 USD (*) up to $108 UDS (*) per day

    • The cost of a room in a hotel during Carnaval can go up to thousands of dollars per day

  • Most hostels and hotels will force you to book a minimum of 5 nights

  • Be suspicious of any hostel that still has beds available a few weeks before Carnival (some hostels after they are sold out, sell at the same price space on the floor and rooms become overcrowded with beds, hammocks and air beds lying on the floor)

  • When booking an apartment, always ask for details, location and pictures of the apartment

  • When booking an apartment make sure air conditioner (AC) is available (Carnival time is summer in Rio de Janeiro when temperatures at the hottest months can go over 104 degrees Fahrenheit / 40 degrees Celsius)

If you have any questions, contact Kir29Travel (info.kir29travel@kir29.com).

* Brazilian Real (BRL) exchange rate might vary. Example calculated using: $1 USD = R$1,88 BRL from April 2012

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