My First Rio De Janeiro Carnaval Experience (VIP Camarote Mar Review) – Read This Before You Buy Tickets
I experienced my first Carnaval this year in Rio de Janeiro… and before you go booking flights, outfits, and tickets thinking it’s just one big party, I need you to read this first.
Because yes… it’s beautiful.
Yes… it’s exciting.
But it’s also A LOT.
I was in Rio for 7 days during Rio Carnival 2026, and I’m not even going to lie… the experience was full of adventure. It wasn’t just partying. It was energy, people, movement, overstimulation, beauty, exhaustion… all at the same time lol
So let me break it down the way I wish someone would have told me.
First Things First… My Living Situation
I stayed in two different Airbnbs during my time there. And one thing you need to mentally prepare for is this…
Prices during Carnaval are not normal.
They are easily 3 to 4 times higher than what you would pay any other time of the year. I spent a little over $1,000 just on housing for the week, and that was me being somewhat mindful.
So if you’re budgeting… don’t underestimate that part.
Also, location matters more than you think. You’re going to be tired, overstimulated, and navigating crowds daily… so where you stay will either support your nervous system or completely drain it. I stayed in the Copocabana and Santa Teresa neighborhoods during my stay. I loved the level of security each of my locations had, with facial recognition.
There Are Two Types of Carnaval Experiences
Before I even get into VIP… you need to understand this….
Carnaval is not just one event.
There are celebrations happening ALL over the city for about two weeks.
On one side, you have the Blocos… which are free, street-style parties happening in different neighborhoods all day long.
On the other side, you have the official parade at the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí.
Two completely different experiences and atmospheres.
And you should honestly try both… but just know they hit very differently.
Let’s Talk About the VIP Experience (Camarote Mar)
So I decided to do VIP for opening night… and I chose Camarote Mar.
My ticket was about $330 plus fees… and I’ll be honest, this was one of those moments where I said, “okay… if I’m going to do this, I’m going to EXPERIENCE it.”
And I’m glad I did.
The parade itself runs from 9 PM to about 6 AM. Yes… all night. And inside the VIP section, it really does feel like its own world.
You have:
Open bar the entire night
Food throughout the night and breakfast in the morning
A beauty bar where they do your hair and makeup for free
A photo booth
Two floors of parties with DJs and dancing
Front row viewing access to the parade
It’s immersive. It’s nonstop. It’s a full experience.
And honestly… it’s breathtaking.
But Here’s What They Don’t Tell You
The process to even GET your ticket is very extensive.
You can’t just show up.
You have to go to a designated mansion during a specific pickup window (we went the day before opening night), verify your identity, take pictures, do a face scan, and officially transfer your ticket.
If you want to purchased through Ticketmaster, you’ll need a Brazilian CPF to access certain options. This option is cheaper, but you need a Brazilian CPF and phone number to register.
I personally bought my ticket through riocarnaval.org with no issues, but regardless of where you buy, you are REQUIRED to show up with the same card used for purchase for them to verify.
And no… tickets are not transferable.
So don’t play about that part… if you want to transfer, the send you like 10 emails before the start of Carnaval to do the formal process.
The “Mansion Experience” Before the Parade
Once your ticket is verified, you enter the mansion where they prepare you for the night.
This part actually surprised me… it was an entire event where you got to meet people before the official staart of Carnaval festivities.
They give you a swag bag and your official shirt, which you are required to wear in the VIP area. Each night has a different shirt color, and you can customize it on-site, for free. They have a team of people customizing shirts during the ticket pick-up event.
And while you’re there…
You get to enjoy drinks, socializing, and getting a taste of. The Carnaval nights..
It kind of eases you into the experience before everything fully begins.
Transportation… Learn From My Mistake
They provide shuttle transportation from the mansion to the Sambadrome.
Use it.
Seriously… use it.
We decided to take an Uber instead, thinking it would be easier, and ended up walking almost a mile around the Sambadrome just to find the correct VIP entrance.
Preparing for a long night, that’s not something you want to deal with… especially when you’re wearing heels.
Take the shuttle. Save your energy.
The One Downside of Camarote Mar
There are basically no seats.
Outside of a few in the eating area… you will be standing.
For hours.
So when I say wear comfortable shoes… I mean it.
This is not the place for suffering in the name of fashion. You will regret it by hour three.
Watching the Parade…
Each samba school performs in each round, that lasts for about an hour, and there’s roughly a 20-minute break in between each round.
If you want a good view, you need to be at the front of the fence at least 5 minutes before the next segment begins.
Otherwise… you’ll be watching through heads.
And yes… they play the same song over and over during each performance with a different song each round.
It’s very exciting the entire night and halfway through each round, you find yourself singing the songs along with them. lol
The Blocos… A Whole Different Energy
Now let’s talk about the blocos.
This is where things get… wild.
Blocos are neighborhood street parties that go on ALL day. There are apps that help you find them, and they are everywhere.
But let me be clear…
This is not a VIP experience.
It’s crowded, stinky, and loud!
People are shoulder to shoulder.
People are drinking heavily.
People are kissing strangers.
And there is a very strong LGBTQ presence, which I personally noticed more than heterosexual pairings in certain areas.
It’s open. It’s expressive. It’s free.
But it can also feel overwhelming if you’re not used to that level of crowd density.
I don’t have a lot of videos, because I kept my phone locked in my crossbody for 95% of the time lol.
Safety + Reality Checks
You need to move differently while there…If you move naively, you will find yourself out of a lot of money and valuables, because this is key time for theft.
Get a phone strap.
Don’t have your phone out unnecessarily.
Use Apple Pay when you can, versus keeping cash on you.
And understand that Ubers are not always reliable because streets get blocked off constantly.
You will be walking. A LOT.
Beach Life During Carnaval
During the day, everybody is at the beach.
Ipanema Beach was one of the most popular spots, along with Copocabana.
The energy is VERY high and busy… but it’s a little calmer at the night because a lot of people are out partying.
Be prepared to meet a lot of new people
My Honest Takeaway
Would I do it again?
Yes… but I would do a few things differently.
I would:
Do VIP for one night (worth it for the experience)
Get regular tickets for another night ( I would do at least 3 nights at the Sambadrome)
Choose only 1 or 2 blocos in advance instead of spare of the moment
Get as much sleep as possible before coming, because you will barely get sleep while you are there lol
Pace out my time and do longer than a week.
Attend a samba class
Attend Musician performances
Experience Salvador’s Carnaval Next
And most importantly…
I would pace myself.
Because Carnaval will take everything you’re willing to give it.
Final Advice Before You Go
Experience VIP at least once.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Dress up… but be smart about it.
Don’t take any romantic chemistry seriously (I’m so serious lol).
Have fun… but stay aware.
And if you’re drinking…
Have a Caipirinha… but don’t have more than two.
They are STRONG.
Carnaval is one of the most beautiful, chaotic, freeing experiences I’ve ever had.
But it’s not just a party.
It’s an intense collective energy.
And you need to be prepared for all parts of it… not just the pretty ones...enjoy the messiness too… because it gets WILD!
Have you ever been to Carnaval? Are you interested in Carnaval in Rio De Janeiro?!