VIVA BRASIL PRODUCTIONS

Presents:

“BRAZIL CARNIVAL TOUR FEBRUARY 2010”

Brazil is the largest and most popular Country in South America. There’s nothing in the world like the Carnival, with its spectacular street parades and vibrant music. In addition to the Carnival, Brazil has many things to see and do. It has some of the most spectacular scenery of any city in the world, and it has many splendid beaches. Combine all this with terrific nightlife, great food and a superb climate for most of the year, and really does have something for everyone.
Join us for the experience of your life. You will participate in the world’s biggest party.

Package 1 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. From AU$ 2.500
Accommodation: 3 bedrooms apartment in one of the greatest suburbs in Rio. Maximum 8 people per apartment for 15 days.
Transport : 1 to watch the carnival parade, 1 to parade with a Samba School, 1 to the rehearsals at a Samba School
1 parade with a Samba School
1 costume to parade
1 rehearsal nights at a Samba School
1 ticket to watch the parade on the “arquibancadas” (grand stand)

ATTENTION

Airline tickets are not included in any of the above packages. All packages are not refundable, unless when it’s informed the contrary.
All prices will have an increased rate if not paid by the estimated date.
50% deposit must be made upon an agreement of both parts.
Your Carnival parade ticket can be used only once.
You ticket is valid only to a specific sector.
You can buy tickets for any other Samba Parade nights separately.
Viva Brasil will be responsible to solve any “management” issues that may arise during the events organized by Viva Brasil only and not any event organized by at your own time or by the group members.
Tropical Islands tours, local entertainment, local tours, private transports, carnival balls and dance classes can be organized upon request and arrival in Rio at local prices. Please let us know in advance of your interest. 　

AIRFARE TICKETS

We can help in providing our travel agent consultant details. Please let us know if you need help with that.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

When traveling to Brazil, you should always get a comprehensive travel Insurance in case the worst happens and you will need a high degree of caution. Please make sure you check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy.
It’s compulsory for you to organize all your own travel insurance in advance and that means BEFORE you depart Australia or whichever country you are located. Viva Brasil Productions will NOT take any responsibilities for any personal injuries or personal losses.

Details: 1COVER Travel Insurance.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance:
Single: From AU$200.00
Couple: From AU370.00
Within Australia: 1300 368 344
From overseas (+) 61 2 9235 0222
Fax Number: (+) 61 2 9235 0111

VISA TO BRASIL

Please contact Level 17/31 Market St. Sydney NSW 2000
visa@brazilsydney.org
Fax.: (02) 9267-4419
www.brazilsydney.org
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 10am to 4pm
Processing time
5 (five) working days after the arrival of the complete documentation.
10 (ten) working days for groups of 12 or more applications lodged together.

Fee:

A$ 49.00 – If applications are lodged at the reception, in person, by the applicant or by his/her spouse, de facto, parent, child or sibling.
A$ 63.00 – If applications are lodged by agent/courier/ mail or third party.
Note: Add a minimum of 2 working days for passports returned by mail or courier. 　

RIO CARNIVAL

This is the exciting street event in the world. Take the great opportunity to watch and participate in the Samba Schools Parade, which is the most important part of the Carnival in Rio. The parade is a celebration in which joy and sensuality live side by side with the cultural traditions and the creativity of musicians, artisans, choreographers and samba dancers joined together to bring - the biggest street show on earth.
You will join "Mocidade Samba School"- one of the best samba schools in Rio and take a journey into the world of samba to see what made Brazil the place for the most exciting dance rhythm in the world.
It not only provides entertainment but at the same time it gives also a chance to learn about the true culture of Brazil.

Acommodation in Rio 　

The so-called Zona Sul (South Rio) is by far the most pleasant place to stay in Rio. It is by the sea and is the most civilized part of the city. Copacabana and Ipanema together form a big stage offering a carnival happening at every corner.
Most hotels and apartments only offer a fixed-rate 5 night package during Carnival, against pre-payment, and these rates are significantly much higher than at other times of the year.

Samba Nights in the Schools - The Rehearsals
All Rio Samba Schools have a dance hall which opens, in most cases, at weekends for anyone. It is like a night club with live samba music played by the group’s drummers. Here you can just have fun watching the crowd or dance yourself, while learning the samba lyrics that will be sung during that school´s Parade. All people interested come together for a dancing night. While dancing mainly to that school´s tunes of the year, they all sing the song together, practicing it.

This is the best way to make contact with the real samba. The nights are totally informal and very well attended, a bit like a mega club with people of all ages, including many old people, with lots of dancing and boozing. Such a night is definitely an experience not to be missed and which won't be forgotten.

You can go to the party of any school but the best bet is to go to the School that you are going to perform with. Many of the rehearsal halls are in the distant suburbs and not a place to wander about without someone who knows his way around. Some of them are very far, even outside of Rio and can be quite rough.

The Parade

The parade is the highlight of Rio Carnival. The must-see show which has made Rio de Janeiro the Carnival Capital of the world. The entire Carnival world revolves around these two nights.
The schools belonging to this group are especially magnificent and glamorous.
The best 12 samba schools march on both Sunday and Monday.
Doors open at 17:00, opening ceremony at 20:00, parades start at 21:.00

Your role in the Parade 　

The parade at the "Sambodromo" demands lots of stamina. So make sure that you drink plenty fluids starting few days before the parade so keep your body well hydrated.

Each of the some four thousand paraders in every samba school and has a fundamental role to keep up with the great energy during the school's performance to guarantee a good score. Your school will definitely be counting on you as a team!!

Singing the words of your samba song together with all parading members along with the powerful drums are what make the crowd in the stands go wild and win points for the School. The judges will also look out for how well the school’s members know the samba song and how well they sing it.

So make sure that you have your chorus ready to go. Have a listen! Try!

Do you need to know how to samba? It is absolutely not necessary. (It is even said better not to, since it only interrupts and holds up the progression of the school along the parade.) 　

Another factor on which a school is judged is the harmony of the parading members, the flow of the school. What is important is that you make your way along the "Sambodromo" with your wing, showing happiness. Each school has about 25-30 wings and each wing contains about 100 people. Every wing has a costume which tells one part of the story theme, like an individual cell in a large organism. 　

Each wing has a coordinator. They will make sure that everything is in order with your costume before the parade. During the parade, just celebrate and use your imagination! Have the party of your life! Sing! Dance! Shake and move your body, with all enthusiasm, full of joy and happiness. 　

All the stands in the Sambodromo will be crammed with people from all over the world, just to watch you move by. You will be right there - on the biggest stage in the world!
Each school has between 65 and 80 minutes to parade and each wing passes through the Sambodromo in about 30-40 minutes. You will be exhausted. When you come to the end of the parade, the floats go to the one side of the Apotheoses Arch (next to Sector 6) and the paraders to the other (next to Sector 13). Just follow the flow of people. 　

BAHIA CARNIVAL - Carnival in Salvador

"The World's Largest Party"!

Welcome to the biggest party on Earth - it quite literally is according to the Guinness Book of Records. The whole city of Salvador comes to a stop over 2 million people converge over 3 different parades and take to the streets to parade, dance, laugh and sing in a spectacle of colour and light and music. And the best part is that YOU are the Parade - you don’t just get to watch it from the stands.

The movement in the city is filled with vibrant rhythms, music, and dance-filled pageantry. This electric scene is an animated package of Bahianos and tourists together in the decorated and illuminated streets of Salvador.

Carnival in Salvador

Package 1 VIP
USD $3250.00

7 days/6 Nights (Airfare to Bahia included from Rio or Sao Paulo)

Sight seeing Tour
1 pass to the #Camarote (VIP Stand)
Transfer to the Camarote and back.
Car and a Driver for 3 days.
1 Night of experience at the Parade with the Crowd for 3 hours “Pipoca”, security guards will be provided by Viva Brasil. Optional
6 Night Accommodation on a 2 Bedroom Apartment in Liberdade (1 Bedroom with four Bunk Beds & 1 suite twin-share)
1-Day Costume with Nana Banana-Parade, Afro-Olodum or Timbalada
4 Air Pass Coupons (Conditions Apply)

Package 2 VIP
USD $2750.00

5 days/4 Nights (Airfare to Bahia included from Rio or Sao Paulo)

Day Sight Seeing
1 pass to the Camarote (VIP Stand)
Transfer to the Camarote and back.
Car and a Driver for 1 day
4 Night Accommodation on a 2 Bedroom Apartment in Liberdade (1 Bedroom with four Bunks Beds & 1 Bedroom with one suite, twin-share)
1-Day Costume with one of those Blocos; Nana Banana-Parade, Afro-Olodum or Timbalada
4 Air Pass Coupons (Conditions Apply)

Standard package 1
USD $2250.00

5 Days/4 Nights (Airfare to Bahia included from Rio or Sao Paulo)

1 pass to the Camarote (VIP Stand)
Transfer to the Camarote and back.
4 Night Accommodation on a 2 Bedroom Apartment in Liberdade (1 Bedroom with four Bunk Beds & 1 Bedroom with one suite, twin share)
1-Day Costume with one of those Blocos; Nana Banana-Parade, Afro-Olodum or Timbalada
4 Air Pass Coupons (Conditions Apply)
Note: See restrictions for Air Passes with our travel agent personal. International Airfare is not included.

Standard package 2
USD$1600.00

5 Days/4 Nights

1 pass to the Camarote (VIP Stand)
Transfer to the Camarote and back.
4 Nights Accommodation on a 2 Bedroom Apartment in Liberdade (1 Bedroom with four Bunk Beds & 1 Bedroom with en suite, twin share)
1-Day Costume with one of those Blocos; Nana Banana-Parade, Afro-Olodum ou Timbalada.

There are 3 ways you can participate in the parade – as part of the Bloco, in the Camarote or in the crowd as Pipoca.

The Bloco is quite literally a block of dancers who follow the Trio - a large truck that hosts the main band. Through the purchase of an abada (t-shirt/costume which acts as your ticket), you can dance along with the Bloco along the parade route. This is the best way to be part of the action along with hundreds of like minded souls all intent in having the time of their lives.

Alternatively, you can stay in the Camarote which are dotted along the parade route. Similar to a corporate box at the footy, but with over hundreds of people all elevated above the Blocos - so you get to see it all without missing out on any of the fun. Most camarotes have their own entertainment as well so you get double the action.

To be part of it all though, you can always join in on the sides of the parade route and be part of the Pipoca. You get to watch the various blocos go past and be part of the general public as they dance and sing along to their favourite bands. It’s a one in a lifetime experience event and an amazing festival not to be missed.

“Pipoca”= the name comes from people jumping up and down, like popcorn popping to the music.
"Camarote”= VIP Stand

ATTENTION

International Airline tickets are not included in any of the above packages. All packages are not refundable, unless when it’s informed the contrary. All prices will have an increased rate if not paid by the estimated date. 50% deposit must be made upon an agreement of both parts. The ticket for the Bloco can be used only once. You can buy Costume or Tickets for the any other days or nights separately.
Viva Brasil will be responsible to solve any “management” issues that may arise during the events organized by Viva Brasil only and not any event organized by at your own time or by the group members. Tropical Islands tours, local entertainment, local tours, private transports, carnival balls and dance classes can be organized upon request on arrival in Bahia at local prices. Please let us know in advance of your interest.

SAFETY & SECURITY

VIVA BRASIL are going to provide as much protection as they can but you still have to be aware of common Carnival behaviour: Pick pocketing

The stroking of women's hair by passing men. Blonde hair is an extra attraction.

As boorish and irritating as this may be, it's best not to see it as any big deal. It may be especially galling to boyfriends or husbands but it's better to just move on and forget about it. Keep calm and keep on moving! In relation to pick pocketing its best to:

• Tie your key or keys into your shoelaces and keep your money stuffed into your sock.
• Keep your money either in an inside pocket or in a change purse attached by a strong safety pin (or some such arrangement) to the inside of your Carnival shorts.
• Better yet: do the former using gym pants with no outside pockets at all. Leave mobile phones and cameras at home, and keep jewellery to a minimum
Remember – common sense is the best approach. Stay away from anyone who seems drunk and be sure to stay close to your friends.

NOTE: ALL PRICES ARE TWIN SHARE
WE CAN ALSO ORGANISE INDIVIDUAL ACCOMMODATION IF YOU DON’T LIKE SHARING, FEES WILL CHANGE!