It`s easy to feel part of the party at Carnival in Rio. Brazilians are very warm, affectionate, people that like to have a good time. They`re used to the influx of tourists every year for Carnival, It`s always been that way.

The samba schools reserve a certain number of costumes each year to be sold to tourists, so people like you can participate in the parade in the Sambodromo. It`s recommended to be in Rio at least a couple weeks in advance, for fitting and participation in the REHEARSALS, to ensure the best performance of the school. But after watching people walk through the parade you`ll see that prep-time is not absolutely necessary as it`s really not anything so strictly choreographed.