Single on Valentine’s Day? Not For Long!

With February 14 falling slap bang in the middle of Carnival, loved-up couples will have their work cut out trying to find a quiet spot for a romantic moment. Valentine’s Day isn’t marked here, with Brazilians instead celebrating ‘Lover’s Day’ later in the year, so don’t expect special menus and romance-themed activity.

But for those singletons hoping to find romance in Rio, the excitement and energy of Rio Carnival provides the perfect opportunity to break the ice with the locals. Far from shy and retiring at any time of year, cariocas (natives of Rio) become even more up front as the party atmosphere and free-flowing alcohol take hold.

Rio is famous for its beautiful people, and  those images of bronzed bodies in teeny weeny trunks and bikinis are no exaggeration. And there’s more good news – flirtatious and outgoing by nature, single cariocas (and even the not so single ones…) tend to exhibit a healthy interest in foreign visitors.  

While this might sound like Heaven on earth for anyone looking for a Valentine’s Day holiday romance, the enthusiastic advances of some locals can be a bit of a shock to the system for more retiring types. The raucous street parties tend to be seen as a bit of a free-for-all, with local Romeos taking a somewhat hands-on approach to getting to know newcomers. 

And while ladies can expect a fair amount of cheesy chat-up lines and touchy-feely behavior, male visitors to Rio don’t get off so lightly either.  None-too-subtle eye contact and suggestive dance moves are just some of the romantic party tricks that the lovely ladies have up their sleeves.

But while  the party atmosphere of carnival means that stealing a kiss is always a possibility, don’t forget to play by the rules. A quick kiss doesn’t mark someone as yours for the night (let alone for anything longer-term), ad would-be suitors should be aware that these Latino lovelies generally have plenty of admirers, and you’ll need to impress if you want to make it to the second (or even first) date stage.

Phone numbers are swapped with great frequency, but don’t be offended if no call comes, or if the object of your affections fails to recognise your voice when you ring. That said, don’t be shy about making the first phone call, whatever your gender. If your Portuguese isn’t up to much, don’t worry – most Cariocas are keen to practice any English they have picked up, and even if they don’t speak a word, foreigners’ attempts at speaking the local lingo are generally found quite charming. 

At the other end of the spectrum, most female visitors to Rio will find themselves subjected to some unwanted romantic attention at some point. Don’t be afraid to be blunt and let somebody know if you are not interested, and if the person proves overly persistent, just keep your cool and walk away. These hot-blooded Brazilians might be keen to get to know you, but you wont break their heart by failing to return their affections.

With so much romantic activity going on around you it can be easy to get swept away in the moment, so just remember the golden rule – if you can’t be good, be careful.