The whole summer is Carnival season. To avoid the higher rates charged by hotels during the main event, you could arrive one or two weeks ahead. Banda de Ipanema opens Carnival 2010 street festivities on January 30 (latest photos by Silviano available at riogayguide.com). On the following weekend on Friday (Feb. 5) Cordao da Bola Preta starts gathering at 5 p.m. at Praca Maua, Downtown. In Ipanema, there’s Banda Simpatia é Quase Amor on Saturday (February 6).

Samba School rehearsals are another great pre-Carnival idea. They happen every weekend at the samba courts, known as quadras de samba. These venues are in distant areas that are tricky to get to. Go with a group in a package including a local escort, and round-trip transportation. Once you’re inside, it’s very safe. Samba school percussion bands or baterias sometimes play live at popular South Side dance clubs and venues.

You may also consider a visit to the new City of the Samba, an area that was built specifically to lodge the workshops of Samba Schools, near the docks in the Downtown area. Though some details on floats are kept covered from prying eyes, you can see costumes being produced, and even participate in a mini-parade that happens at the end of the day on Thursdays.

The Samba Parade happens at the Sambodrome on February 14 and 15. The show starts at 9 p.m. and ends only with sunlight on the next day. We suggest trying to book your tickets ahead: seats at the Sambodrome are quite limited. On Sunday there is a line-up of six samba schools. On Monday six other samba schools do their magic for the grand finale.

Parades and processions follow one after another along street El Malecon, traditional music mixes up with rhythms of the most known pop groups. Everywhere incendiary dances are executed – Latin American konga etc. All try to forget about problems of an everyday life and not to postpone a holiday for tomorrow. 

It having appeared on a carnival, you also will see huge satirical figures of politicians and other celebrated personalities. For Musecones follow faroleros are dancers who bear the multi-coloured, constantly rotating subject reminding a street lantern.

The carnival is also the most suitable time to try original Cuban kitchen, wonderful rum Havana Club and cold beer.

Carrying out place: El Malecon.  

El Malecon is a street of Havana on which all celebratings are traditionally spent. It lasts along coast and passes through old and new parts of a city. On El Malecon it is possible to get from any part of a city – pass in northern direction to the seacoast, and here you already on El Malecon.