One of Brazil’s best carnival celebrations, São Paulo was elected for the second consecutive year the most popular destination city to enjoy street carnival. This is due to the organization of the city that has improved in recent years, in addition to gastronomy and shopping options.
If you don’t know the city of São Paulo very well, it is the capital of São Paulo state. It is the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. São Paulo is intense and frenetic, a city that never sleeps. Is also called as the “Land of Drizzle” as the weather is unstable and constant rainfall. The city is rich in political, historical, and cultural value, offering visitors a memorable and authentic experience of Brazil. Because of its rich heritage and history, São Paulo is home to a numerous art galleries, parks, museums, architecture and statues.
São Paulo and Rio concentrate the parades of the biggest samba schools and street blocks – blocos, street bands that mobilize crowds on the streets and are the main popular expression of Brazilian Carnival. They use to happen during a period of about one month, beginning before and finishing after Carnival. In the capital of São Paulo this year, there are expected 15 million of people on the streets, with 678 parades of 644 blocos.
If you want to watch Carnival, go to the Sambadrome. If you want to be in Carnival, stick to the streets. Carnaval blocos usually perform samba music all around Brazil, but other popular musical styles are present in specific regions, including frevo and maracatu in Pernambuco and axé in Bahia. Don’t matter if you’re at the Sambadrome or at the streets, allow yourself to dance, knowing how to samba or not. Brazilians are extremely friendly and will try to teach you the lyrics and dance moves if you are willing to. All you have to do is move your feet, shake your body and enjoy the energy.
Wear confortable clothes and shoes, as long as they are colorful to match to the tropical surroundings. Consider bringing some fancy dress and accessories, you even may do them yourself allowing your imagination run wild.
It’s important to decide the blocos you want to go beforehand, as some migh be crowded and boisterous and another ones calmer and low-key. There are blocos that gather a huge public such as a million people, so be aware if you don’t want to be squashed at the wrong bloco. Keep close to your friends, having in mind that although the street parade move slow, it might be difficult to keep track of them due to the constant surge of people. Before going out, organize meeting spots along the chosen route.
The Carnival is usually safe and you will see police presence during all the path and for all day (and night) long but as in any crowded place, pick-pocketing may happen. A very useful accessory is a fanny pack (or bum bag) where you can put your ID, cell phone and some money and a credit card. You may take as many pictures you want, but be sure to put your phone back after. Avoid to wear expensive or pricey-looking jewelry and pay attention to your belongings as you don’t want to be an easy target for thieves. In case you are close to any fight, do not panic and don’t run, just walk quickly away and let the police deal with the troublemakers; fights causes dangerous rushes of people, leading to trippings and falls and can also be a distraction so pick-pocketers can act.
Keep yourself hidrated all the time. Remember that you will be under a baking hot sun with thousands of people around you and it’s important to keep your mind clear enough so do not overdo it on the alcohol drinking . We get that it’s Carnival afterall and that there’s lot of good beverages around but at least alternate them with water and make sure you have some hangover relief for the next day.
The traditional Brazilian drink is Caipirinha, a mixture of cachaça with sugar and lime, which seems sweet at first but hits hard, so be aware to not overdrink it. In Brazil it is allowed to drink alcohol in public and there will be plenty of street vendors, selling food and alcohol for lower prices than on the private bars. Just make sure to do not accept opened cans and check if your glass is completely empty before they serve your drink. Be sustainable and take your own plastic (or silicon) glass.
Have fun!
