Rio Favela Tour | Why a Favela Tour Should Be on Your Bucket List
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
If you're looking for a unique travel experience that will challenge your perspective and broaden your cultural horizons, then a Rio Favela tour should definitely be on your bucket list.
While favelas (informal settlements) in Rio de Janeiro have a reputation for being dangerous and impoverished, they are also vibrant communities full of life, music, and culture.
A favela tour offers a rare opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Brazil's complex social and economic issues, while also getting to know the welcoming and resilient people who call these neighborhoods home.
From stunning panoramic views of the city to delicious street food and local art, a favela tour provides a truly authentic and unforgettable travel experience.
So, if you're ready to step outside of your comfort zone and explore a side of Rio that most tourists never see, then book this tour and discover why a favela tour should definitely be on every travel bucket list.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
What are favelas? Favelas, also known as comunidades, are informal settlements that are typically located on the outskirts of urban areas. They are often characterized by poverty, overcrowding, and lack of basic infrastructure such as running water and sewage systems. Favelas emerged in Brazil in the late 19th century, as rural migrants moved to cities in search of work. Over time, favelas became a permanent fixture of Brazil's urban landscape, and today they are home to millions of people across the country. History of favelas in Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro is home to some of the largest and most well-known favelas in Brazil. The first favela in Rio, Morro da Providência, was established in the late 19th century by soldiers returning from the Canudos War. Over time, other favelas emerged in Rio as rural migrants and others seeking housing moved to the city. Today, Rio is home to over 700 favelas, many of which are located in the hills overlooking the city. You will be visiting and interacting with local favelas' entrepreneurs.
What‘s Included
Transporte Público desde o Bairro do Catete até a entrada da favela (15 min.)
The Maze - The Favela Art and architecture Gallery entrance ticket.
Guia
Private transportation
Options
Rio Favela Tour
Walking Tour in Santa Teresa
Duration: 4 hours
Van com ar Condicionado: Subway or bus
Round Transfer
Feira da Glória
Duration: 3 hours
1 snack and 1 refresh drink
Sedan or Mini van
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A powerful way to experience Afro-Brazilian history in Rio
cushim2026,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Favela Art & Little Africa Heritage tour with Florencios Tours & Travel was one of the most meaningful experiences I had in Rio. It was scenic, informative, and deeply connective. Scarlet is an exceptional guide—warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the history, the places, and the people. She welcomed us like old friends and went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable throughout the day. She also handled our thoughtful (and sometimes challenging) questions with patience and depth. The tour of Tavares Bastos (Favela da Providência) was fascinating, especially visiting The Maze, a stunning mosaic art house/gallery built with contributions from artists around the world. The founder’s wife even gave us a personal tour, which made the experience feel very special. The Little Africa portion was powerful. Visiting Valongo Wharf and learning about the history of the quilombos and the legacy of Zumbi added a profound historical layer to the experience. The tour ended at Pedra do Sal with traditional angu, which was delicious and a perfect cultural finish. Pro Tip: be sure to order a pineapple capirinha with your Angu. You can thank me later 😉 Who it's for: If you want a deeper innerstanding of Afro-Brazilian history and culture in Rio, I highly recommend this tour.
Real Rio. Real Perspective. Respect to Ana & Julia.
Antedurham,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was easily one of the most eye-opening experiences I had in Rio. Major respect to Ana and Julia. It was Ana’s first time leading this tour and you honestly couldn’t tell. She and Julia worked together seamlessly — confident, knowledgeable, and most importantly respectful to the community. That matters. This isn’t some surface-level “tour.” It’s perspective. It’s understanding how real people live, build, create, and support each other in a part of the city most visitors never see. The views from up there? Unreal. Some of the best in Rio. But what stuck with me more were the conversations and the pride of the people who live there. There’s the version you see in headlines… and then there’s the reality on the ground. This tour gives you that reality. If you come to Rio and only stay in Copacabana or Ipanema, you’re seeing the postcard. This gave me depth. Easy 5 out of 5. I’d absolutely recommend it — especially if you actually want to understand the city beyond the beaches.
Educational and Fun
639lashellem,Dec 6, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Favorite tour of our entire trip. A favela is not at all what you think it is. So much history learned!
Very good and the tour guide is very friendly.
Sari012767,Nov 3, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really enjoybtye trip especially understanding the history… visiting little africa, santa theresa, and walk around the city.
A fantastic 6-hour customised day tour with Damiana and Marcello from Florencios
charlottefF6091RH,Oct 29, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful day tour with Damiana and Marcello who allowed us to customize the tour as we wanted. We started with a tour of Little Africa, followed by a visit to Parque Das Ruinas in Santa Teresa where we had beautiful views of the city. They then took us to a place with wonderful views over Rio for lunch. As it was Saturday we couldn't resist the Feijoada. Finally, we ended our 6-hour trip with a visit to Tavares Bastos Favela & The MAZE, a superb building decorated with dozens of mosaics and great views. We were initially unsure about Damiana's proposal to visit a favela, feeling uncomfortable with potentially objectifying the resident who live there or taking advantage of their misfortune for our own enjoyment but she convinced us that the purpose of the tour was to change people's perception about life in favellas and celebrate the strong and resilient communities that live there. She was right. After the tour, she sent us a very nice pdf with pictures and stories of the tour, for us to remember this very special day. I would 100% recommend this tour. You will learn a lot and have a wonderful experience with a fantastic carioca!
Santa Teresa & lapa Samba food crawl Tour
MTomo82,Dec 22, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took this tour with a friend.. Our guide was Damiana a super friendly happy lady from Brazil. She speaks very good English and has a lot of knowledge about Brazil and the area of Santa Teresa especially. She took us from the top of the mountain where we had amazing views of the city. Then down to the small streets where we ate fantastic local food in local places. This area is full of history, great architecture, street art, live music and fantastic street food. We always felt safe had lots of time to take pictures. We ended the tour in a famous bar called 'Beco do Rato' where we watched and listened to an amazing group of female samba singers..... Incredible! From start to finish the tour was amazing, good price, safe, friendly, interesting and fun. I cannot recommend more. Thankyou to the team and especially to Damiana. Obrigado xx
From US$175.00
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Operated by Florencios Tour