Local operator · Pickup in the South Zone and Centro
Before Carnival, every samba school rehearses in its own hall, and on Saturday nights Salgueiro opens its doors to a packed crowd. This tour picks you up at your hotel, gets you in, saves you a table and puts you in front of the Bateria Furiosa, the school's drum section.
This is the samba school rehearsal, the third kind of samba night in Rio. A samba school is a neighbourhood club, not a dance school, and for months before Carnival each one rehearses in its own hall (quadra). The first rehearsals start in July or August, depending on the school, and Salgueiro, in red and white, rehearses on Saturday nights from July until Carnival. Its hall is in Andaraí. Salgueiro finished fourth in 2026 and parades on Monday 8 February 2027. You can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
The operator picks you up between 8 PM and 9 PM from Centro, Catete, Botafogo, Flamengo, Glória, Lapa, Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema or Leblon, and the guide confirms the exact time on the afternoon of the tour. Guests in Barra da Tijuca, São Conrado or Recreio meet at the Sheraton Leblon, and guests in Santa Teresa at the Vila Galé hotel in Centro. Entry is included and a table is reserved for your group. A band of Brazilian popular music opens the night, then the passistas, the baianas, the musicians and the flag couple (mestre-sala and porta-bandeira) take the floor. Around 11:30 PM the bateria comes in: sixty drums at once.
The tour has 5.0 stars from 17 reviews. That is a small number, and every one is five stars, with guests naming their guide Lully for keeping them informed and introducing them to people from the school. Food and drinks are not included. Under-18s can only enter with their parents and must show documents, and the tour is not suitable for children under 5. Wear light clothes and comfortable shoes. Red and white is a nice touch, not a rule.
The guide collects you from your hotel. The exact time comes on the afternoon of the tour.
Entry is sorted and your group gets a reserved table.
A Brazilian popular music band gets the hall moving.
Passistas, baianas, musicians and the mestre-sala and porta-bandeira come out.
Sixty drums play together, the loudest and best part of the night.
The transfer takes you home after the rehearsal.
★★★★★An evening of lots of samba, carnival and joy. The Bateria Furiosa drumline was amazing. Pleasant and safe atmosphere. Lully is very friendly. I recommend her.
★★★★★The guide Lully was a 10/10. She always kept us informed, letting us know about the schedules, etc. She was also perfect at the event and introduced us to some people from Salgueiro. Everything was great. We loved it and recommend it!
★★★★★The energy, rhythm, and passion of the drums created an atmosphere that was impossible not to feel deep inside. From the powerful bateria to the incredible dancers and singers, every moment was filled with emotion and authenticity. [...]
★★★★★It was great. On a personal level, it was a lot of fun, and it was a real cultural experience to learn about the world of samba and Brazilian traditions. Our tour guide, Lully, was fantastic. Highly recommended.
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Each school rehearses in its own hall for months before Carnival, usually from July or August. This tour visits Salgueiro on Saturday nights from July until Carnival.
Pickup is between 8 PM and 9 PM, depending on your hotel. The bateria, the highlight, plays around 11:30 PM.
No. Entry, a shared table, a guide and the round trip are included. Food and drinks are paid at the hall.
Children under 18 can only enter with their parents and must show documents. The tour is not suitable for children under 5.
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A real samba school rehearsal on a Saturday night, with Salgueiro's drum section, hotel pickup and a guide.
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