the many hotels lining the beach also hold separate parties on their balconies - but these tend to be exclusive affairs for the moneyed elite. despite the many luxurious alternatives available, the real action happens on the sand - and the most seasoned merrymakers keep things going throughout the night until the early hours before sitting back and watching the sunrise.

the massive gathering of people is a spectacle in its own right, many of whom dress in all white for the occasion. in the days leading up to réveillon, rio de janeiro is awash with thousands of visitors who journey from far and wide.