In Photos: The Best of Rio Carnival

The Paraíso do Tuiuti samba school
Photograph: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images

The Acadêmicos do Tatuapé samba school
Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

A member of the Império Serrano samba school
Photograph: Silvia Izquierdo/AP

A member of the Grupo Especial São Clemente samba school
Photograph: Marcelo Sayao/EPA

Performers from the Vila Isabel samba school
Photograph: Silvia Izquierdo/AP

Members of the Vila Isabel samba school
Photograph: Antonio Lacerda/EPA