Year-end holidays?

[Guest Deweywop]

I'm thinking of going around Christmas and New Year's, knowing it's the high season. But is it still worth it? Will things be that much more expensive or difficult to book? Are venues going to be closed for the holidays?

[trilingual]

New Year's is the second most attended event in Rio, after Carnival. That means that prices over the New Year's weekend will be higher than during non-holiday periods. However, it doesn't have to be prohibitive. Work through someone like Carlo to get a good rate.

 

Xmas is a family holiday in Brazil. Shops will be closed, and many venues may be closed on Xmas Eve. Otherwise, things will be open as usual during the holiday season, except New Year's Day, of course.

 

New Year's is an amazing event and worth seeing. Be prepared, though, for large crowds and possible crushes trying to leave the beach after the fireworks have ended. Get your all-white New Year's outfit together and start planning a memorable trip!

[CT Dick]

Tri is right. I was on Copacabana for Ano Novo 2004. It was a night I'll never forget. Be prepared to share the beach with 2-3 million people.

 

Everything was open Dec 31 and again Jan 1.

 

And, be sure to be near the east end of the beach to see the fire cascade off the Hotel Meridian just after midnight.

 

Dick

[trilingual]

Dick's right. The gay place to be is in front of Maxim's and on the sand itself by the two beer vendor's stands that serve the Copacabana gay beach. (All of this is at the foot of r. Fernando Mendes, where the Excelsior hotel is located.)

 

Stores may be open on the morning of Dec. 31st (if it doesn't fall on a Sunday) but some close early during the afternoon, so if you need anything try to get it early before the crowds gather. Same for cash from ATMs, etc. Don't wait until the last minute, or in the evening once Copacabana becomes utterly thronged. January 1st is also a holiday, so banks and many commercial establishments won't be open. Gay bars and baths will be open of course. It's very likely some of the saunas will have a late-night "after party" starting around 2:00 a.m. for people who want fun and games after the festivities and fireworks on the beach.