Rio de Janeiro · FAVELA COMMUNITY TOURS
33 reviewed
A responsible favela tour is led by someone who lives there, and it is one of the most honest looks at Rio you can get. These community walks through Rocinha, Vidigal and Santa Marta are the ones run with residents — what you’ll see, how the money supports the community, the etiquette to follow, and which offer the wide ocean views the hillsides are known for.
Walk through Rocinha with a local guide for a respectful, educational look at everyday life in Rio, with hotel pickup and a small group.
“I want to thank our tour guide Ray She was really nice and very helpful Her English was great, all the information she gave us was really clear”
Walk Rocinha with local guides for a respectful look at daily life, history, city views, and capoeira in Rio.
“Amazing Tour! Wellington was a great Guide, perfect english and never made us feel unsave! 10/10 would recommend”
A safe Santa Marta favela tour with local guides, Michael Jackson Square, real samba, and community projects, all in about 3 hours.
“Excellent experience! I think that everyone who come in Rio should take this tour”
Walk Santa Marta with resident guide Gilson Fumaça: Rio cable car views, Michael Jackson locations, and community projects supported.
“Gilson is the nicest guy. He showed us all around the Favela even in the pouring rain and told us all about it. We were so happy to be in a small group and not with the big ones. He had some good stories to tell about this part of the city and was happy to answer all our questions. He is a great guy and honestly we couldn’t have found a better guide. I believe we got the most authentic tour that you could find. Thank you so much!!!”
Small-group Rocinha tour with local guides, capoeira and samba, moto rides, and secret viewpoints for responsible access from $43.
“Excellent tour, Lavi was super friendly and showed us a great time!”
Explore Vidigal with a local guide, then hike Morro Dois Irmãos for ocean views over Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana.
“Amazing! Can’t recommend it enough and the guide Beatriz was brilliant. She took loads of pictures and sent them to us after. The favela tour was great too. Amazing trip and amazing guide, Beatriz!”
Walk Rocinha and Vila Canoas with a local guide, get hilltop Rio views, and support community projects on a safe 3-hour tour for $33.
“I enjoyed the tour. The guide was fantastic telling us many details about the favelas and life there. It was good to visit to favelas because they are completely different. The highlight of the tour was visiting the local school. If you are in Rio I strongly recommend to join this tour.”
A 2.5-hour guided circuit in Rio that pairs Morro Dois Irmãos views with a real Vidigal favela visit and an eco project.
“Jean gave us a breathtaking tour of Vidigal and hike up Two Brothers mountain. He really looked after us the whole time and we felt incredibly safe in his company. He was very knowledgable about the area, full of information - I would highly recommend his tours!”
Half-day Rio hike to Morro Dois Irmaos and Vidigal with panoramic views, motorcycle taxi ride, and a small-group visit to a favela.
“Fernando is a Star. This is the best tour in South America that I have done thus far (travelled ~5 months over multiple years throughout South America). My partner and I took this tour for the sunrise option and the views are absolutely stunRead more”
A small-group walk in Vidigal that connects favela history, today’s politics, and Rio views. $35, 2–3 hours, guide-led.
“This was an exceptional tour and Rodrigo was a wonderful teacher, not just a guide. Mindblowing experience”
3-hour resident-led Santa Marta favela tour in Rio with Michael Jackson statue, tram ride, social projects, and caipirinha for $35.
“Our guide was an actual resident of the Santa Marta Favela. You will explore this favela with him as he shows your around every little nook and cranny. It is very safe but this is a true-to-life tour. You will see "everything".”
Walk Dona Marta with a local guide: funicular ride, art and sports projects, plus the Michael Jackson viewpoint. 150 minutes, $34.
“pas de visite d école de musique, pourtant on entendaient des percussions, on nous a dit que c étais l après midi, après l école”
Rio’s Rocinha or Vidigal favela tour with transfer. 4 hours, local guides, city views, and history. $50 with free admission.
“Bel giro della favelas Rocinha con la guida Neuza, di nazionalità brasiliana che parlava un italiano perfetto. Abbiamo gradito molto parlare e girare con lei. Consiglio questo tour a tutti per capire qualcosa di più della realtà del meraviglioso Brasile!”
Ride local transport to Vidigal’s viewpoints and art scenes, then cool off with beer and pastels on a small-group, guide-led walk.
“Thank you, Mirela! I didn’t know what to expect on this private tour. Your introduction to Vidigal was educational, interesting, fun & most importantly authentic. Riding on a motorcycle taxi through the hilly & narrow streets up to the top fRead more”
A small-group Rocinha walking tour with a local guide, moto-taxi ride, craft fairs, Wark graffiti, and big Rio views for about 3 hours.
“My 73-year-old mother and I went on this tour today and was a day we will never forget!! Two women from the US completely out of our element, yet we were never concerned for our safety, The tour guide spoke very good English, and was extremely knowledgeable about the area because grew up there and still lives there. He treated us like family introducing us to his sister and many friends as we passed by. I have no words to describe how grateful we are to be able to go all the way to the top, be welcomed into actual homes, and learn so much along the way. Absolutely amazing…”
