The short answer
A guided favela tour in Rio is safe when you go with a guide who works with the community and checks the situation on the day. Thousands of visitors walk through Rocinha and Vidigal every year without problems. Going on your own, without someone who knows the area, is not recommended.
How a guided favela tour works
You are picked up at your hotel and taken to the foot of the hill. From there you go up by van or motorbike taxi and walk back down through the alleys with a guide from the community. You stop at viewpoints, local shops, art and social projects. A tour takes three to four hours.
What makes a tour safe
- A guide who lives in or works with the community.
- A check of the situation on the morning of the tour, and a change of plan if needed.
- Small, private groups that move with the guide.
- Respect for residents: no photos of people without asking.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes: the alleys are steep and uneven.
- Some cash in reais for drinks or local art.
- Your phone in your pocket, not in your hand, in busy streets.
Rocinha or Vidigal?
| Rocinha | Vidigal | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Largest favela in Brazil | Smaller, quieter |
| View | Over São Conrado and the forest | Over Ipanema and Leblon |
| Feel | Busy, full of shops and life | Relaxed, with bars and the Dois Irmãos trail |
Book a favela tour
Enzo arranges private favela tours with local guides in Rocinha and Vidigal, with pickup at your hotel. See the favela tour or send him a message on WhatsApp.