00:00Rio's Carnival is coming up but what people don't tell you is that the weeks leading up
00:04are some of the best weeks to go to avoid the craziness but still get in on the fun. Brazil
00:08is Travel and Leisure's 2026 destination of the year. So after you watch this video,
00:13head to book your last-minute flights. First thing is the Sambodromo experience. It's usually free
00:17or very affordable and it's the technical rehearsals where Samba schools practice full
00:21runs. There'll be tons of locals there versus tourists. It feels like being let in behind the
00:25curtain before the actual event. And then after Carnival, the top five to six Samba schools
00:30return for the Champions Parade. Next is that you get the magic without the madness. There's tons of
00:35parties and decorations but the crowds haven't arrived so it's not overwhelming. You could
00:39still go to all the touristy spots without long waits. And last but not least, in general,
00:43visiting Rio around Carnival just makes the city feel like magic. A mix of music, history,
00:49human connection. Nowhere else it doesn't like Rio.
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