15 Workshops & Classes in Brazil to Build a Day Around

1.Beginner Samba Lesson in Ipanema

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,071 reviews · 1 hour · from $25Our pick

Spend one lively hour at Samba Fit in Ipanema learning beginner samba with Carla, Ranaa, or Gaby, performers from major samba schools. The class covers basic steps, rhythm, and body movement at a friendly pace, then ends with Carnival costumes, photos, and videos. Groups are limited to 10, and instruction is available in English or Portuguese.

“Ranaa is a very experienced and enthusiastic coach! It was a super fun experience with many surprises and joy all around”

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2.Samba Class in Copacabana

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 262 reviews · 1 hour · from $25

Spend one hour learning basic Brazilian samba in Copacabana with instructors such as Marco, Thiago, or Mauricio. Classes welcome complete beginners, use English, Portuguese, or Spanish, and finish with group dancing. Expect music, movement, water, and a social setting, though class size can vary.

“Awesome experience. Bruno is very knowledgeable and patient. You will actually walk away of this class with something that you can use at future parties...especially samba haha. Highly recommend!!”

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3.Samba Class and Samba Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 115 reviews · 4 hours · from $63

Spend four hours learning samba with instructors such as Marco or Bruno, then head with your guide to a Monday street party at Pedra do Sal or a live-band club. The beginner-friendly class needs no partner. Entry, fast-track access, and transfer from the studio are included, while food, drinks, and your trip home are not.

“I just had to share this incredible experience we stumbled upon recently! So, my wife and I were on the hunt for something fun to do, and we came across this Samba class that promised not only dance lessons but also a taste of that electric nightclub atmosphere. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Our instructor, Elio (I hope I got the spelling right!), was an absolute gem. Not only was he exceptional at teaching us the dance moves with infectious enthusiasm, but he also went above and beyond to ensure we had a blast. What really touched me was how he looked out for our safety as…”

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4.Caipirinha Workshop and Samba Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 113 reviews · 2 hours · from $12

Start around 7:30pm at Pura Vida Hostel in Copacabana with a hands-on caipirinha workshop and two drinks. Then join a one-hour samba lesson, often led by teachers such as Nati, Camilo, or Bruno, followed by a shot of Gabriela. English, Spanish, and Portuguese are spoken.

“The Caipirinha workshop was a bit basic, would have loved some more background and info about the cocktail. The samba class was very fun though! But unfortunately the area was super tiny so you couldn’t really dance and you kept on tripping on other people. But a fun night that turned into a very drunken night. Not any locals there though and no plans on anywhere else to go after. I found the hostel to be on quite a sketchy street too..”

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5.Samba Class in Copacabana

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $35

Meet your guide at a Copacabana dance studio for a one-hour samba lesson suited to beginners, solo visitors, and couples. You will learn basic Brazilian samba steps, practice turns and floor movement, hear about samba culture, and possibly try a Carnival costume during daytime classes. Bottled water and a guide are included.

“È stato divertente consigliato per chi vuole imparare le basi del ballo più popolare di Rio e farsi due risate.”

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6.Surf lessons: in Arpoador in Ipanema.

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 35 reviews · from $33

Meet your trilingual Surf Matrix instructor at the yellow tent on Praia do Arpoador. You’ll learn beach safety, board position, paddling, and standing up before practicing in the water. Classes suit your ability and include equipment, with groups limited to six people. Rafael may be your instructor.

“We had Rafael as a surfing instructor with this company. I could not recommend enough! They were flexible with the timings as it is weather dependant. Rafael was fabulous, full of energy, spoke English very well and was a wonderful teacher. Worth every penny!”

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7.Capoeira Class at Mestre Bimba’s 1st Ever School.

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 34 reviews · 1 hour · from $43

Join Yasmin for a beginner-friendly capoeira class at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, founded in 1937. You’ll learn basic attacks, defenses, and flow movements while hearing about capoeira’s Afro-Brazilian roots. The one-hour session is taught in English or Portuguese, with bottled water included.

“I absolutely loved this Capoeira class. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it turned out to be such a rich and engaging experience. Learning about the history and cultural roots of Capoeira alongside the physical movements made it so much more meaningful than just a workout. The teacher was fantastic — warm, welcoming, and incredibly supportive throughout. I’d highly recommend this class to anyone looking to try something energising, cultural, and empowering.”

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8.Surf lessons with local instructors in Copacabana/ipanema!

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 31 reviews · 1 day · from $10Best value

Meet local surf instructors in Copacabana or Ipanema for a one-hour lesson in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. You’ll stretch on the sand, learn how to stand, practice ocean safety, and be guided toward suitable waves. Boards, leashes, surf clothes, storage, and motivation are included, but you must pay 200 Brazilian reais per person at the meeting point.

“En fait je n’ai pas trouvé le guide!parce qu’il n’y en avait pas!sur votre site ce sont des photos de toutes les écoles de surf d’ipanema!et personne ne représente ce site!il n’y avait pas de numéro de téléphone pour avec des explications!j’ai dû repayer pour avoir un cours! Je ne comprends pas car j’ai réservé plusieurs activités avec vous! mais pour le surf c’est à revoir! Pourriez-vous procéder à mon remboursement?”

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9.Surf Lesson with Qualified Instructor in Florianópolis

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39Top rated

Meet Sea Wolf Surf School at Barra da Lagoa, where you receive a board and wetsuit, learn surfing basics and safety, then spend about an hour practicing in the waves. The instructor gives beginners a push into suitable waves and offers more advanced tips to confident surfers. The lesson is held in English when needed.

“It was a great trip. The teacher was extremely nice and competent. He thought us everything from the ground up and made it a fun experience to be a part of. We actually surfed a few waves within ten to twenty minutes. Also, something positive to note, I, as a heavier man (105kg on 185cm) was easily incorporated. They had a wetsuit in my size as well as a fitting board. So don't be discouraged by that, this class was for everyone in my experience.”

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10.Surfing Lesson with Sea Wolf

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 30 reviews · 1h 30m · from $40

Meet at Sea Wolf Surf Hostel in Barra da Lagoa for a 90-minute beginner-friendly surf lesson. Your English-, Spanish-, or Portuguese-speaking instructor provides a board, wetsuit, safety guidance, and personal tips as you practice on Florianópolis waves. Groups are limited to five, making it easier to get direct help and ride your first wave.

“It was really fun and the skilled guide did a great job explaining how it works. After failure, he gave very good tips on how to improve certain details so we were able to surf a wave in the first lesson.”

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11.Rio Experience: Caipirinha Workshop (2 Caipis) + Funk Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 22 reviews · 1h 30m · from $12

Start at Pura Vida Hostel near Rua Sá Ferreira with a caipirinha workshop and two drinks, then learn Rio funk for an hour with a Portuguese, Spanish, and English-speaking teacher. The class begins around 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. Afterward, you can join the group in Lapa, with club tickets sold at reception and Uber rides shared.

“Super fun event, especially as a solo traveler. The caipirinhas I learned to make were sweet, but a bit strong, the people in the hostel were super friendly, and the dance class was hella fun. It's not step by step instructions, but give it a try. You'll probably burn off one of the caipirinhas you made by the time the hour is done.”

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12.Carnaval Backstage Tour and Samba Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 14 reviews · 3 hours · from $58

Visit one of Rio’s top 10 samba schools with a live guide, explore costume-making rooms, try carnival outfits, enjoy one caipirinha, and take a beginner-friendly samba class. Hotel pickup and return cover Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, Leme, Botafogo, Flamengo, and Centro. Guide Lucas has earned special praise for his clear, engaging approach.

“Great tour of one of the samba schools in Samba City, the pace of the tour was excellent and you got a very nice mix of history, background and personal immersion into the world of samba. Our tour guide Lucas was outstanding!”

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13.CAPOEIRA CLASS – CULTURAL

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 13 reviews · 1h 30m · from $17

Meet at Hostel Nomads for a 90-minute capoeira class every Monday or Wednesday at 7:30 PM. A Portuguese-speaking master leads warm-ups, kicks, spins, basic sequences, songs, and instruments. The group is limited to eight, with water and workout tools included. No Portuguese is required, but patience and a willingness to follow demonstrations help.

“The activity was really fun with a great professor !”

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14.3-Hour Percussion Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 10 reviews · 3 hours · from $90

Meet a local percussion teacher, learn samba and samba reggae, and play several drums in a small group of up to six. Hotel pickup, drop-off, entrance fees, and a guide are included. The advertised three hours includes transport, so allow for roughly 90 minutes to two hours of hands-on instruction.

“très belle expérience vécu à trois générations !”

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15.Traditional Drumming and Percussion Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 10 reviews · 1 hour · from $43

Spend one hour at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba in Pelourinho learning Afro-Brazilian rhythms and percussion. Instructors such as Yasmin explain the instruments, movements, and cultural roots in Portuguese or English. No musical experience is needed, and groups are limited to 10 people.

“I had an awesome hour of thoughtful and attentive 1:1 instruction with Yasmin about the Brazilian Capoeira percussion instruments, including drumming. Thank you Yasmin. She was informative with the rich history and cultural tradition of these wonderful instruments. She was patient and kind with her instructions when teaching me to play a variety of percussion instruments. I thought I would fail spectacularly, but surprisingly enough I was not too shabby at playing these instruments. All credit goes to her of course. I had an awesome hour of fun learning history and getting to play somewhat challenging but beautiful musical instruments. As this class is conveniently located in Pelourinho- Sal...”

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