Rio Trip Itinerary
Feb 10 – Feb 19, 2026
Published on Feb 8 2026
Flights
- Sean Chicago to Rio: Depart Feb 9, 2:10pm. Arrive Feb 10, 8:15am (ORD -> ATL -> RIO).
- Sean Rio to Chicago: Depart Feb 19, 9:30pm. Arrive Feb 20, 8:30am (RIO -> ATL -> ORD).
Accommodation
- Windsor Plaza Copacabana Ave Princesa Isabel 263 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22011-010
- Check in @ 3pm on Tuesday, 2/10
Other notes
- Erik's notion: https://www.notion.so/Rio-Carnaval-2026-Homepage
- Guys' Airbnb: Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, 198 201
- Gals' Airbnb: Av. Atlântica, 2440 - Copacabana
Tuesday, Feb 10
Booked
- Check in @ 3pm Windsor Plaza Copacabana
Optional
- Buy/load MetrôRio card (R$80+)
- Walk Copacabana promenade; relax at Posto 5/6
- Buy Carnaval supplies in Copacabana
- Evening drinks at Sky Leme Rooftop
- Dinner nearby
Wednesday, Feb 11
Booked
Optional
- Christ the Redeemer (7km), early in the morning to avoid heat and crowds
- Afternoon: Beach time (Copacabana or Ipanema)
- Sunset: Arpoador Rock
- Dinner: Ipanema
Thursday, Feb 12
Booked
Optional
- Morning: Sugarloaf cable car
- Afternoon: Beach in Copacabana
- Evening: Lapa via metro
- Monobloco Ensaio (Fundição Progresso)
- Doors 8:00 PM · Arrive 7:30 PM
- Samba / MPB / funk · 3k–5k crowd
- Indoor, high-energy pre-Carnaval warm-up
- Backup: Bloco Dus Impussivi
- Starts 6:00 PM in Centro
- Then samba clubs in Lapa
- Light night before Carnaval
Friday, Feb 13
Booked
- BOMA presents: Jamie Jones, Adam Ten, & Mita Gami
- Time: 10pm
- Address: Museu do Amanhã, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
- App: Ingresse
Optional
- Travel to Santa Teresa late morning
- Carmelitas
- 1:00 PM start · 15k–30k crowd
- Bohemian nun-costume kickoff
- Ends ~6–7 PM
- Backup: 5:00 PM start in Lapa
- Return to Copacabana, shower, dinner, rest before 10pm event
Saturday, Feb 14
Booked
- Rio Carnaval: Sambadrome parades
- VIP access (Camarote MAR)
- App: Quentro
- Requires us to pick up shirts and verify facial recognition ahead of time
- Kit pickup address: Jockey Club Brasileiro – Tribuna Praça Santos Dumont, 31 – Gávea, Rio de Janeiro
- Kit pickup time: 2pm-10pm every day we're there
- Source: email
- Event time: Opens at 7pm, Starts at 8pm
- Event address: Marquês de Sapucaí, Rio de Janeiro
Optional
- Flamengo earling morning
- Amigos da Onça
- 7:00 AM start · 10k–20k crowd
- Ends ~11 AM
- Backup: Blocobuster (Leme, walkable)
- Backup: Cordão da Bola Preta (700k crowd)
- Midday R&R before Sambadrome Camarote
Sunday, Feb 15
Booked
Optional
- Recovery, maybe Bloco
- Chill: Banda do Lido (Copacabana walk)
- Medium: Simpatia é Quase Amor (Ipanema)
- Intense: Bangalafumenga (100k megabloco)
- Evening — Mayan Warrior
- Dinner → Uber to Sugarloaf
- 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM mountaintop electronic event
- Sunrise over Guanabara Bay
Monday, Feb 16
Booked
- Booze cruise: Must reach Marina da Glória by 1:30 PM
Optional
- Sargento Pimenta (Glória)
- 8:00 AM start · 80k crowd
- Beatles samba covers
- Walk directly to marina afterward
Tuesday, Feb 17
Booked
Optional
- Fervo da Lud
- 8:00 AM parade · 600k+ crowd
- Orquestra Voadora (Afternoon)
- Brass-band fusion · 30k–50k crowd
- Banda de Ipanema (evening)
Wednesday, Feb 18
Booked
Optional
Thursday, February 19 — Departure
Booked
- Hotel check out @ 12pm
- Flight departs @ 9:30 PM
Optional
- Last-minute shopping