Where Else to Celebrate Carnival Aside from Rio de Janeiro?

Pounding drums and elaborate costumes make Carnival a must-see for many travelers and nowhere evokes the spirit of the event like Rio de Janeiro. However, the Brazilian city becomes uncomfortably overcrowded, not to mention prohibitively expensive, while other cities around the world have their own Carnival celebrations to tempt visitors.

Brazil’s South American neighbor, Argentina, also celebrates Carnival, with the biggest celebrations hosted in the otherwise sleepy town of Gualeguaychu, just three hours from Buenos Aires. The parades may be smaller, but the costumes are just as intricate and the atmosphere is electric.

Alternatively, make the trip to Oruro, Bolivia, which offers its own take on Carnival, incorporating a Christian ritual into the original indigenous festival. Continuing northward through South America, the coastal Colombian city of Barranquilla offers a raucous carnival in the Caribbean heat.

For those who always dreamt of spending carnival in Brazil, but don’t want to make the trip to Rio, Salvador offers a great alternative. The city offers a cheaper way of experiencing Carnival Brazilian-style, but do not worry you might miss out on the full sensory experience — almost 2 million people take part in the celebrations each year.

If you can’t make it to South America, there are a number of celebrations in Europe. Carnival celebrations take place in Venice, Italy, as well as in London, although the British capital waits until August to let loose.

Last but not least, U.S. readers don’t even have to leave the country to join in the celebrations at the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. Rio de Janeiro may spring to mind when you think of Carnival celebrations, but it is far from the only option.