1. Shuttle
2. Metro
The option of taxi is available, but apparently the area around Sambadromo is blocked off, and it would be quite a walk from the drop off point to the Sambadromo. In addition, after the parades, when you're ready to go home, it has been said it's difficult to find a taxi. You don't want to be walking around these streets at 1am and further on throughout the early hours hoping to find a taxi. There are a lot of side streets surrounding the Sambadromo, instead of main streets where taxis will run.
Shuttle:
Usually you can sign up for a shuttle through the websites where you buy the tickets, or through your hotel or hostel. It costs about $75 round trip.
The way mine was offered for service going to the Sambadromo at either 6:20pm, 7:20pm, 8:20pm or 9:20pm. This was leaving from our hotel in Copacabana. From Copacabana, it was about a 30 minute ride and it dropped us off at our Section (as seen in the photo above).
For pick up from Sambadromo, the shuttle was available for pick up outside the section after each Samba school completed their parade. The only issue was that when we were going back, traffic was super jammed up. We stayed still in once place for like 30 minutes. Thankfully, I didn't need to use the washroom. I'm not sure if it's like that every night, or if there was something that happened that night. I tried to ask the worker in the shuttle, but he didn't speak English well enough to understand my question
Metro:
Alert!! You need a pre-paid metro card. Paying with cash is not an option. I don't know why. It's really inconvenient. You can get this metro-pass at a convenience store or likely at the metro during the day. Ask your hotel or hostel about this for the closest place to get the pass. It's just a couple bucks.
So in Rio there is only 2 subway lines. This option is simplest and cheapest, and you don't have to worry about traffic. Of course, the only concern here is safety. The subways are clean and neat. There were guards standing around at both are entrance and exit point at the metro. The ride was very lively with people in their costumers, and people singing Samba songs. Everyone rushed in to get a seat because from where we were heading, it was a 30 minute ride or so. I recommend you rush in and get a seat too. It was a little rowdy on the train, but I didn't feel unsafe.
Once you get out, you can pretty much follow the crowd towards the Sambadromo. You just have to go your own respective directions to get to your section. There are a lot of workers and police men around. It can be a bit of a walk depending on which section you are in. Took us like 20 minutes to walk to Section 10. So annoying!!
Coming back, I didn't know how the hell to go to the metro. I just asked another couple that was leaving the Sambadromo area if they were going to the metro (subway). They said 'yes', so we just followed them.
I like the convenience of using the shuttle, but it was super expensive compared to the metro. If you get your pre-paid pass and follow the crowds, you should be fine taking the metro.
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