With two million revellers expected on the streets of Rio de Janeiro this long weekend, city authorities have rolled out an unprecedented public-transport plan aimed at keeping both locals and foreign visitors moving safely. MetroRio began a 139-hour continuous operation at 05:00 on Friday, extending Line 2 all the way to Ipanema’s General Osório station and allowing transfers between Lines 1 and 2 throughout the network. Extra SuperVia suburban trains are running overnight from Central do Brasil to key commuter towns such as Japeri and Santa Cruz. (riotimesonline.com)
Whether you’re flying in at the last minute or already on Brazilian soil, VisaHQ can take the guesswork out of visa requirements. The platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lets you verify if your nationality needs an e-visa for Brazil and submits the paperwork on your behalf—freeing up more time to plan bloco routes rather than consulate visits.
In contrast, the light-rail system that connects Santos Dumont Airport to the cruise terminal is partially shut: Lines 2 and 4 are suspended from 15–18 February as bloco parades snake through Centro, leaving only Line 1 (and an extended Line 3 shuttle) to serve the waterfront every 20 minutes. Travellers heading to flights at Santos Dumont or cruise departures in Praça Mauá are being urged to budget an extra 30 minutes and to use taxi or app-based rides if carrying luggage.
![Carnival logistics: Rio opens 139-hour non-stop metro while VLT suspends two lines through 18 February]()
The metro marathon is good news for business travellers who chose to base themselves in the commercial districts of Barra and Centro but still need airport access during the holiday. However, hotel concierges warn that late-night queues for the metro’s ticket machines have stretched to 15 minutes; purchasing a prepaid RioCard beforehand can shave crucial time off the journey.
From a security standpoint, the city’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (CICC) has deployed 9,000 officers and added 600 high-definition cameras, a move welcomed by corporate security providers who have flagged street-crime spikes during previous Carnivals. International assignees are advised to carry only photocopies of passports and to use RFID-blocking waist pouches.
The transport blueprint is part of a wider city strategy to reclaim Carnival’s reputation after pandemic-era cancellations. A successful execution could strengthen Rio’s hand in its bid to host the 2030 Universal Exposition, for which seamless mobility will be a key evaluation metric.
Whether you’re flying in at the last minute or already on Brazilian soil, VisaHQ can take the guesswork out of visa requirements. The platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lets you verify if your nationality needs an e-visa for Brazil and submits the paperwork on your behalf—freeing up more time to plan bloco routes rather than consulate visits.
In contrast, the light-rail system that connects Santos Dumont Airport to the cruise terminal is partially shut: Lines 2 and 4 are suspended from 15–18 February as bloco parades snake through Centro, leaving only Line 1 (and an extended Line 3 shuttle) to serve the waterfront every 20 minutes. Travellers heading to flights at Santos Dumont or cruise departures in Praça Mauá are being urged to budget an extra 30 minutes and to use taxi or app-based rides if carrying luggage.
The metro marathon is good news for business travellers who chose to base themselves in the commercial districts of Barra and Centro but still need airport access during the holiday. However, hotel concierges warn that late-night queues for the metro’s ticket machines have stretched to 15 minutes; purchasing a prepaid RioCard beforehand can shave crucial time off the journey.
From a security standpoint, the city’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (CICC) has deployed 9,000 officers and added 600 high-definition cameras, a move welcomed by corporate security providers who have flagged street-crime spikes during previous Carnivals. International assignees are advised to carry only photocopies of passports and to use RFID-blocking waist pouches.
The transport blueprint is part of a wider city strategy to reclaim Carnival’s reputation after pandemic-era cancellations. A successful execution could strengthen Rio’s hand in its bid to host the 2030 Universal Exposition, for which seamless mobility will be a key evaluation metric.
