Favelas are neighborhoods with their own history, art and businesses. Here's how to visit with a resident guide, keep your money in the community and never treat people as a spectacle.
Roughly one in five Rio residents lives in a favela. These are neighborhoods with samba schools, artists, small businesses, bars and views any hotel would envy. They're also places where ordinary people live, and they're not there to be photographed.
A good tour is not "poverty tourism": it's a visit led by someone from the community who tells their own story, where your money stays local and where you follow your hosts' rules. This guide helps you choose well.
Resident guide
The core of an ethical tour
Small group
Less intrusive for residents
Ask first
Photos of people
Buy local
Your money stays in the community
What an ethical tour is, and isn't
| Ethical tour | Tour to avoid | |
|---|---|---|
| Who guides | Someone who lives in or grew up in the community | An outsider who's never lived there |
| The money | Pays local guides, moto-taxis and shops | Almost all of it leaves the community |
| How you move | On foot or by moto-taxi, in a small group | In an open jeep, looking down at people |
| Photos | Views and art; people only with permission | Photos of homes and kids without asking |
| The story | History, culture, challenges and achievements | Only violence and poverty |
Ask this before you book
Tick each point the operator has confirmed.
Rocinha, Vidigal and Santa Marta
Three communities, three different experiences
Rocinha
One of Brazil's largest favelas, between Gávea and São Conrado. A city within the city: shops, banks, street art and ocean viewpoints. You ride up by moto-taxi and walk down with your guide.
- Understand how a community works
- Resident guide
Vidigal
Above Leblon, with ocean views from almost every alley, rooftop bars and the Dois Irmãos trailhead. Great for mixing culture and nature.
- Pairs with Dois Irmãos
Santa Marta
In Botafogo, with a funicular up the hillside, brightly painted houses and the spot where Michael Jackson shot a music video in 1996. Not in our catalog, but message us and we'll arrange it.
- Short and central
Safety and the US travel advisory, honestly explained
The US State Department rates Brazil at Level 2 ("Exercise increased caution", updated 8/31/2026) and, within that advisory, tells US citizens not to visit favelas, even on guided tours. We want you to know that up front.
What it means in practice:
- Conditions change day to day and from one community to the next, so who you go with matters most.
- A resident guide knows which areas to walk, when to go and when not to. If a day isn't advisable, the tour is rescheduled.
- The US government's ability to help in these areas is limited, and some travel insurance policies exclude places under an official advisory. Check yours.
Thousands of visitors take these tours every year without incident, but it's your call, and it's completely fine to skip it. For more context, read our Rio safety guide.
Myths and realities
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What a moto-taxi tour of Rocinha or Vidigal is like
Meeting point
Meet your guide at the community entrance, or we pick you up in the South Zone.
Moto-taxi ride up
10 minThe way residents get around: with a helmet and drivers from the community.
Viewpoint
Views over São Conrado, Leblon or Ipanema, depending on the community.
Walk down
1.5–2 hrsAlleys, street art, local shops and the neighborhood's story told by someone who lives it.
Local stop
A coffee, an açaí or a piece by a local artist. That's how your visit gives back.
Frequently asked questions
With a resident guide and an operator who checks conditions daily, most visits go smoothly. Going on your own isn't recommended. Note the US advisory described above.
See the community with the people who live there
Resident guides, small groups and part of the price staying in the neighborhood. Pay by international card or Pix.
Rocinha Favela by Motorcycle
Ride in a moto-taxi through Rocinha, the largest favela in South America. Panoramic viewpoints, street art and cultural immersion with a local guide.
Favela Rocinha - Viral Video
Experience the thrill of filming your viral video with a drone in Rocinha. Ride up on a moto-taxi with your local guide to the main viewpoint, aerial filming included, and descent on foot with an explanation about the favela. Fast, authentic, and with incredible views.
Recommended tours for this guide
Book online with a local guide, a fixed price and payment by international card or Pix.
Rocinha Favela by Motorcycle
Ride in a moto-taxi through Rocinha, the largest favela in South America. Panoramic viewpoints, street art and cultural immersion with a local guide.
Favela Rocinha - Viral Video
Experience the thrill of filming your viral video with a drone in Rocinha. Ride up on a moto-taxi with your local guide to the main viewpoint, aerial filming included, and descent on foot with an explanation about the favela. Fast, authentic, and with incredible views.
