Everything you need for a trip to Rio
Carnival is one of the most extravagant festivals in the World. And no one does it better than the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Preparing for a trip to Rio can be a bit complex at times. Fear not I will walk you through everything you need for the perfect trip to Rio de Janeiro!
Essential Items
Rio de Janeiro is a super fun city and there’s so much to see and do. Especially during the Carnival season, the city gets extremely packed so get ready for crowds almost everywhere you go. Times for various attractions may also change during the festivities, so be sure to check their schedule. Here is my checklist of all the things I’m glad I brought with me, as well as Some of the things I wish I knew before traveling to Rio.
Packing for Rio
Know the dates of Carnival: Carnival is usually celebrated during the months of February or March. The exact dates tend to change every year so verify before you book here.
Booking Flights: Expect a huge price spike for buying flights during the Carnival season. It’s best to plan at least 6 or 8 months in advance to get the best deals on air travel. If you need a good place to start, try best sites for budget flights.
Passport: Unless you’re from Brazil (highly unlikely since you wouldn’t be here reading about how to prepare for Carnival) then a passport is needed for any international travel. It takes about a month to secure so I highly recommend getting it before anything else.
Travel Visa: Fortunately if you’re coming from the United States, you won’t need a travel visa anymore. Other countries might require one for stays under 90 days, where you can check below. I recommend getting an e-visa on IVisa, since the process is super simple and fast. It’s basically just a piece of paper with your picture on it, so be sure to store it in a safe place.
Vaccinations: This one is a bit tricky and a pain to find a straight answer for. Some vaccinations are recommended when traveling to Brazil if you are going to jungle areas or are an individual at risk. Technically if you are just staying in the city center and urban parts of Rio de Janeiro you don’t need any vaccination to enter Brazil. I went without any (since I hate shots) and was totally fine. Just use your own discretion for this one. Also don’t drink any water unless its from a bottle and avoid sketchy looking food.
Power outlets: Just to add to the complications Brazil has different power plugs and sockets than most other countries I’ve been to. The standard voltage is 127/220V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz (according to the front page of google). Amazon has some cheap sets that worked for me so I suggest buying a few before your trip here.
Learning Portuguese: If you didn’t know already, the national language in Brazil is actually Portuguese. For such a populous city there is quite the deficit of English used by any of the locals. Learning at least a few survival phrases will definitely help you get around and connect with people. Good thing for me knowing Spanish is like knowing really terrible Portuguese. Knowing Spanish will be a monumental help if you don’t know any other languages, as most Brazilians speak at least a little Spanish. Ola (hello) and Obrigado (thank you) are good places to start.
Picking a Hotel: Obviously everyone needs a place to stay, but its important to reserve a place as early as possible since most places become completely booked during Carnival. The best areas to Stay are in the beaches of Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana. We used Airbnb, but Hostels, and hotel resorts are also an option. Here’s why I don’t think hostels are THAT bad.
Packing the right clothing: Traveling to Rio de Janeiro during Carnival is also the peak of summer time in the southern hemisphere. And believe me it gets super hot. Be sure dress appropriately for all of Rio’s amazing beaches and have comfortable shoes for all the beautiful sightseeing and parades throughout the city. There’s a thing with Tutus during the parades, but I didn’t get it.
A Fanny Pack: With the influx of tourist, crime rates are also bound to rise. To be on the cautious side, its better to have a good defense against pick-pockets just in case. I never felt like my safety was at risk more than any other city I’ve been to. Even though the crime instances are most likely exaggerated, it never hurts to come prepared. Plus you can style on your friends while not getting robbed.
Planning a trip to a foreign city can be stressful, but by doing your due diligence your trip should go smoothly. Rio is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve been to so I’m sure you will love it as well. Just try not to walk in sketchy areas(Centro) by yourself at night and you’ll be fine. Partying in Carnival is also a once in a lifetime experience! Hopefully this checklist contains all the essential items for your own perfect trip to Brazil! For my top 10 things to do in Rio de Janeiro check out this post. Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
*Also, check out the video on the same subject for all you visual learners out there.
