In Photos: The Best of Rio Carnival

Members of the Unidos do Peruche samba school
Photograph: Sebastiao Moreira/EPA

A woman from the Acadêmicos do Tatuapé samba school
Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

The Tom Maior samba school
Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

Members of the Tom Maior samba school
Photograph: Sebastiao Moreira/EPA

The X-9 Paulistana samba school
Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

Dancers from the Império de Casa Verde samba school
Photograph: Andre Penner/AP