Brazil · FAVELA TOURS

Favela Tours in Rio: The 15 Best Guided Walks

37 tours  ·  from $27

These run in Rocinha and Santa Marta, led by people who live there, and the good ones put the money into the neighbourhood. The 15 below compare group size, how much walking is involved and whether the moto-taxi up the hill is included.

Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide - Starting from Copacabana, Ipanema, or São Conrado
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Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

1.Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,052 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $36Our pick

Walk through Rocinha for about two hours with a local guide such as Ray, Bruno, or Carlos. You’ll learn about daily life, community challenges, and Rio beyond the beaches, with air-conditioned minivan transport from selected Copacabana, Ipanema, or São Conrado meeting points.

“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”

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Rio De Janeiro: Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour - Meeting at Copacabana Palace
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Rio De Janeiro: Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

2.Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,272 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Spend three hours walking Rocinha with local guides such as Wellington, Alberto, Daniel, or Martin. Hear personal stories, visit viewpoints, and possibly see a capoeira session. The route uses narrow alleys and steep stairs, so wear good shoes. Meet at the Ibrahim Sued statue outside Copacabana Palace at 13:25.

“We had a great experience with our guide Roberto, he was very knowledgeable, witty and we felt safe with him.”

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Rio de Janeiro: Favela Santa Marta Top Tour with Local Guide - Inside Santa Marta’s Everyday Life
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Rio de Janeiro: Favela Santa Marta Top Tour with Local Guide

3.Favela Santa Marta Top Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 488 reviews · 150 minutes - 3 hours · from $28

Walk Santa Marta with a guide who lives in the community, such as Mario, Marco, Luis, or Raycca. You’ll visit Michael Jackson Square, Dona Marta viewpoint, local projects, a resident’s home, and the Residents’ Association. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours, wear good shoes, and expect steep paths and stairs.

“Absolutely fantastic, so glad I decided to do this. Luis was an amazing guide”

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Rio de Janeiro: Favela Santa Marta Tour with Resident Guide - Starting at Santa Marta and taking the cable car
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Rio de Janeiro: Favela Santa Marta Tour with Resident Guide

4.Favela Santa Marta Tour with Resident Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 220 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $27Best value

Join Gilson Fumaça, a Santa Marta resident and community guide, for a 2 to 2.5-hour walk through Rio’s famous favela. You’ll ride the cable car, visit local projects, see Michael Jackson filming locations, meet residents, and visit Gilson’s family home. Expect steep steps, close community contact, and views of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

“We really enjoyed this tour, it’s the most unique and down to earth, genuine tour I’ve been on. We were amongst the locals living in the favela from the get go and had a lot of interaction with people as we made our way down through the favela. Gilson may look young but he has been running these tours for 40 years - he is an excellent guide and is well liked by everyone in the favela. We met his grandkids, other family members and he invited us into his mother’s home which is filled with clocks! Highly recommended”

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Rio: Favela Rocinha Tour with Local Guide & Secret Spots - Taking the motorcycle taxi up Rocinha
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Rio: Favela Rocinha Tour with Local Guide & Secret Spots

5.Favela Rocinha Tour with Local Guide & Secret Spots

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 218 reviews · 2h 30m · from $43

Meet your guide at São Conrado Metro and spend about two hours exploring Rocinha, Brazil’s largest favela. Local guides such as Malu, Jade, Gisele, Antonio, and Felipe lead the walk, explain community life, arrange a motorcycle ride uphill, and show viewpoints, local projects, capoeira, samba, and lesser-known corners.

“Felipe was the Best! super experience, we were felling very safe with him. we recommend him for a great discovery of the favela”

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Rio de Janeiro: Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike - What the Vidigal visit adds
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Rio de Janeiro: Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike

6.Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 5 hours · from $88

Explore Vidigal with a local guide, ride neighborhood transport, then hike Morro Dois Irmaos for wide views of Rocinha, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana, and Rio’s famous peaks. Guides such as Beatriz, Kako, Rafael, Jessie, and Robinson have been praised for safety, photos, and local insight. Expect about five hours and a steep uphill walk.

“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!”

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Favela Tour The Original, Rocinha & Vila Canoas since 1992 - Walking through Rocinhas residential and commercial lanes
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Favela Tour The Original, Rocinha & Vila Canoas since 1992

7.Favela Tour The Original, Rocinha & Vila Canoas since 1992

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 113 reviews · 3 hours · from $33

Spend three hours visiting Rocinha and Vila Canoas with a multilingual guide. Walk narrow lanes, see local shops and homes, visit a handcraft center and a school supported by Favela Tour, and stop at a local bar. Pickup is offered in Rio's South Zone, with tours in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.

“Det var en rigtig god oplevelse. Guiden talte perfekt engelsk og jeg fik mulighed for at tale med andre i gruppen. Der kunne godt have været flere informationer om farvelaerne, men guiden skulle oversætte til flere sprog, så måske derfor der ikke var tid til det.”

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2h30 circuit in the Vidigal Favela - A 30-minute pause at a resident’s home
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2h30 circuit in the Vidigal Favela

8.2h30 circuit in the Vidigal Favela

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $50Top rated

Join Jean-Christophe for a 2.5-hour guided walk through Vidigal, a motorbike ride to the Morro Dois Irmãos trailhead, a hike with views toward Rio’s landmarks, and a stop at a local home. The tour ends with an alley walk and a visit to Vidigal’s community-built Ecological Park.

“It was an incredible tour and whole new experience for me to travel to Favéla, the amazing view and how the history of constructing Favéla left deep impression on me. I really appreciate the whole tour with Jean, who is a very nice and easy-going guide. With his professional and detailed explanation, I enjoyed the whole trip! Highly recommend to visit Favéla with Jean C!”

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Sunrise at Morro 2 Irmãos - Vidigal - Rio de Janeiro - Sunrise from the summit
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Sunrise at Morro 2 Irmãos – Vidigal – Rio de Janeiro

9.Sunrise at Morro 2 Irmãos – Vidigal – Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet your guide at 4:00 am in Praça do Vidigal for a motorbike taxi ride up the favela, then hike about one hour to Morro Dois Irmãos. Christian and Junior are among the guides associated with the experience. After sunrise, walk back through Vidigal and return to the meeting point.

“Had a wonderful time and hike up the Two brothers hill with Chris ! Highly recommend. Felt safe the entire time”

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Half Day Hiking Tour Morro Dois Irmaos and Favela Vidigal - What the price includes, and what it does not
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Half Day Hiking Tour Morro Dois Irmaos and Favela Vidigal

10.Half Day Hiking Tour Morro Dois Irmaos and Favela Vidigal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $53

Join guide Fernando and the Marca na Agenda team for a 4 to 5-hour hike from Vidigal to Morro Dois Irmaos. Ride a local motorcycle taxi, walk through the reserve, see Rocinha and Rio landmarks from above, then explore Vidigal’s streets, viewpoints, and food spots. Sunrise departures are also available.

“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”

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Rio Favela Tour - Walking the narrow streets with Alex
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Rio Favela Tour

11.Rio Favela Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Spend about three hours exploring Vidigal with Rodrigo or Henry, local guides who explain the community’s history, politics, art, and daily life. Walk through alleys, viewpoints, an ecological park, and lesser-known corners, with time to meet locals and take in wide views of Rio. Groups are capped at eight.

“I think this tour is meant to be a learning experience and you will get it. Worth taking if you want to get the real about the favelas”

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Guided Tour to Favela Santa Marta - Meeting your guide in Botafogo
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Guided Tour to Favela Santa Marta

12.Guided Tour to Favela Santa Marta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Walk Santa Marta with a resident guide such as Mario, Marco, or Luis. You’ll see Michael Jackson’s statue and music-video locations, ride the free tram when operating, visit social projects and the neighborhood association, and join a caipirinha workshop. This private three-hour tour begins and ends in Botafogo.

“1000% would recommend. Luis is from Saint Marta. Was incredibly educational and I think it’s important to see all sides of Brazil.”

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Favela Santa Marta: Walking Tour with local guide - Community projects that add meaning
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Favela Santa Marta: Walking Tour with local guide

13.Favela Santa Marta: Walking Tour with local guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 41 reviews · 2h 30m · from $34

Walk through Rio’s Santa Marta favela with a local resident guide in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. Ride the funicular or walk to the upper streets, visit arts and social projects, browse handicrafts, and stop at the Michael Jackson viewpoint. Small and private groups are available, with guide Marco praised for his French and warmth.

“C était vraiment superbe, très interessant on a adorer avec ma fille Et encore un grand merci à Marco notre guide ☺️”

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Rocinha Local Tour - Lunch and local shopping
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Rocinha Local Tour

14.Rocinha Local Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $33

Spend about two hours walking downhill through Rocinha with local guide Luiz, who explains the community’s history, daily life, and social structure. You can stop for photos, buy souvenirs that support local residents, and eat at a family restaurant. The tour is in English, with groups capped at nine.

“Luiz was a great tour guide; he took care of us the whole time. He knows a lot about trees and told us many interesting things.”

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Favela Tour in Rio with Transfer service - Local Guides Are the Key to the Experience
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Favela Tour in Rio with Transfer service

15.Favela Tour in Rio with Transfer service

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $50

This four-hour Rio tour takes you by air-conditioned vehicle from Copacabana to either Rocinha or Vidigal, depending on the day. A local guide such as Hélio, Dario, Carla, or Carlos leads you through steep lanes, viewpoints, shops, homes, and community spaces while explaining local history, politics, and daily life. Expect walking, stairs, and a small-group feel when numbers are low.

“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!”

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New in Favela Tours

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