The Access Group put up some of the most riveting performances at the Samba Parade even though they may be overshadowed by schools from the Special Group. Competition is fierce since the top school makes it to the Special Group in the following year. Access Group Parade Tickets are less expensive although you can expect an exhilarating experience where the vibrant sounds of the samba percussion will take you to dizzying heights which are hard to return from.

The Access Group samba parade starts at 7 pm on Saturday, 9th February.
The Group A Samba Parade will begin at 7 pm on Saturday, 9th February.
Samba Parade Order as follows:
2012 Parade Order, since that 2013 parade order will be decided after July.
| Access Group - Second Tier of Samba Schools | |
| Time | February 9th (Saturday) |
| 20:00 | Paraíso do Tuiutí |
| 21:00 | Acadêmicos da Rocinha |
| 22:00 | Estácio de Sá |
| 23:00 | Inocentes de Belford Roxo |
| 00:00 | Império da Tijuca |
| 01:00 | Unidos do Viradouro |
| 02:00 | Acadëmicos de Santa Cruz |
| 03:00 | Império Serrano |
| 04:00 | Acadêmicos do Cubango |
The Group B Samba Parade is the access parade to gain a place with the Access Group the following year. It will begin at 7 pm on Tuesday, 12th February.
Samba Parade Order as follows:
2012 Parade Order, since that 2013 parade order will be decided after July.
| Access Group - Second Tier of Samba Schools | |
| Time | February 12th (Tuesday) |
| 20:00 | Unidos da Vila Santa Tereza |
| 21:00 | União de Jacarepaguá |
| 22:00 | Sereno de Campo Grande |
| 23:00 | Alegria da Zona Sul |
| 00:00 | Arranco |
| 01:00 | União do Parque Curicica |
| 02:00 | Moc. de Vicente de Carvalho |
| 03:00 | Tradição |
| 04:00 | Caprichosos de Pilares |
| 05:00 | Unidos de Padre Miguel |
| 06:00 | Difícil é o Nome |
The price of tickets for the Access Group Samba Parade is significantly lower on Carnival Saturday as compared to the parade by the Special Group on Sunday and Monday. Sectors with the grandstands are the cheapest with open seating arrangements.
Sector 9 is mostly packed with tourists so you won't have much of the local Carioca crowd to mingle with in as you sing and dance the night away. The drummer's niche between Sector 9 and Sector 11, where the 'bateiras' stop to play offers the best acoustics, enough to get you into the carioca mood much before everyone else.
Most judges are located in Sector 7, which offers some of the best views of the parade strip. If you really want to participate in the festivities, you need to choose sectors and be amongst the cariocas who sure know how to party.