Apart from experiencing one of the world’s top parties, you may want to add additional destinations to your itinerary. The journey is long so you might as well check out more parts of Brazil or South America. Here is our list of top Rio Carnival Trip Add-ons. Keep in mind that we can add all of these destinations to your itinerary without a problem!
Rio Carnival Trip Add-ons: Close to Rio
You may not want to jump on another flight to get to your next destination. If you are only looking to drive to your next destination, the following spots.
Buzios
Buzios is only a 2.5 hour to 3 hour drive from Rio. This beach town is highly recommended especially if you want to keep on partying after Carnival. We recommend a 2 to 3 night stay.
Paraty
Very cool historic town that only a 3 hour drive from Rio. It offers great beaches and nature activities. It is also a gateway city to nearby islands like Ilha Grande. We recommend a 2 to 3 night stay.
Rio Carnival Trip Add-ons: Classic Brazil Add-ons
The following Brazil destinations are the ones we sell the most besides Rio de Janeiro. They are classic add-ons that are the most popular with our guests.
Iguazu Falls
Only a 2.5 hour flight from Rio, Iguazu Falls is the perfect add-on for Nature Lovers. This destination is also highly recommended for those traveling to Buenos Aires as it is between both cities. A 2 to 3 night stay is optimal.
The Brazilian Amazon
Known as the “Lungs of the World” the Amazon is an amazing place to be one with nature. It is a long journey from Rio (5 hour flight), with the getway city being Manaus. 1 to 2 nights in Manaus is recommended plus 2 to 3 nights in an Amazon Lodge, which includes activities & meals. It’s a great spot to decompress after the crazyness of Carnival.
Salvador, Bahia
Located in the Northeast of Brazil, this historic city is known for its Afro-culture, beaches & laid-back vibe. It’s only a 2.5 hour flight from Rio. We recommend a 3 night stay and visiting the city prior to Carnival. Salvador Carnival is one of Brazil’s biggest and if you go prior to carnival, you will experience some pre-parties.
Rio Carnival Trip Add-ons: All About the Beach
The following destinations are considered some of the best beach destinations in Brazil. These destinations are very popular amongst Brazilians during this time so expect to pay premium as well.
Florianopolis
Known as Brazil’s Capital of Surfing, this city in the south of Brazil offers beautiful beaches and a party atmosphere. It is only a 1.5 hour flight from Rio. We recommend a 3 night stay.
Fernando de Noronha
This island destination is located off the Northeast coast of Brazil. From Rio, you would most likely connect in Recife (3 hour flight) for your 1.5 hour flight from there. Known for its exclusivity (max. number of people allowed), beaches and scuba diving, this Rio Carnival Add-on is one of the most expensive. We recommend a 3 to 4 night stay.
Jericoacoara
If you are looking for a beach destination off the beaten path, we recommend this town that is located about a 3 hour drive from Fortaleza. It’s known for its sand dunes, lagoons, beautiful landscapes/sunsets, great beaches & charming town. If you are into kite-surfing, Jeri (as locals call it) is one of the premier spots for this sport in the world. We recommend a 3 to 4 night stay.
Rio Carnival Trip Add-ons: International Destinations
If you are looking to check out other countries on your Rio Carnival Trip, we recomend the following. These destinations are close to Rio or provide convenient flights.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is the perfect cityscape with amazing restaurants, shopping and nightlife. It’s the opposite of Rio so it adds a different spin to your trip. Only a 3.5 hour flight from Rio, we recommend staying in Buenos Aires for 3 to 4 nights. It is also the getway city to other parts of Argentina like El Calafate, Bariloche & Ushuaia (See our Best of Argentina Package).
Santiago, Chile
Close to a 4 hour flight from Rio, Santiago is also a great cityscape location. Nestled between mountaintops this city provides a vibrant restaurant scene, great nightlife and is close to some delicious wineries. We recommend a 3 to 4 night stay. For our Aussie guests, this is a great add-on as Qantas connects through Santiago to get to Rio.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Even though Machu Picchu is not the most convenient place to get to from Rio, we recommend it because it is a bucket-list experience. We also have a lot of guests that like adding it to their Rio de Janeiro Carnival Trip. To get to Machu Picchu, you will need to fly through Lima so we recommend a 1 or 2 night stay in that city followed by Cuzco. In Cuzco, we recommend at least 3 nights.
