Favela Tours in Brazil: How to visit favelas with a local guide

Brazil’s favelas are home to over 16 million people, or 8.1% of the country's population. They are complex places, and despite often being portrayed through the lens of poverty and crime, they are also home to vibrant and resilient communities filled with culture, music, and art. If you are considering visiting a favela, it’s essential to understand their complexity, approach the experience respectfully, prioritise ethical tourism, and take care of your own safety by traveling with a local guide from the community you are visiting.

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Understanding the Favelas of Brazil

Favelas are informal urban settlements that developed across Brazil due to rapid urbanization, social inequality, and a lack of affordable housing. These communities first emerged in the late 19th century but expanded significantly in the 20th century as rural migrants moved to major cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Salvador in search of work.

Today, there are an estimated 13,000 favelas across Brazil, housing approximately 16 million people—about 8% of the country's population. In Rio de Janeiro alone, over 1,000 favelas exist, home to roughly 1.5 million residents, or about a quarter of the city's population.

These neighborhoods often lack formal infrastructure, with limited access to sanitation, healthcare, and education. Despite these challenges, favelas are also centers of culture, entrepreneurship, and resilience. They have produced internationally recognised music styles like samba and funk carioca, as well as influential artists, writers, and activists. Economically, favelas contribute significantly to Brazil’s economy.

Safety levels vary widely—some, like Vidigal in Rio or Paraisópolis in São Paulo, have seen increased investment and tourism, while others remain highly volatile due to the presence of armed groups and heavy police interventions. Understanding these factors is crucial for anyone considering a visit.

Should You Visit a Favela?

Visiting a favela can give you a deeper understanding of Brazil beyond its famous tourist attractions, but it comes with ethical and safety considerations. Responsible tourism can support local economies, promote cultural exchange, and challenge negative stereotypes—especially when you choose local-led tours that focus on history, culture, and community initiatives. However, visiting without proper awareness can contribute to "poverty tourism" and exploit residents’ hardships. Safety is also a concern, as some favelas experience violence due to gang activity and heavy police presence.

If you decide to visit, research thoroughly, go with a reputable local guide, and follow all safety guidelines that they give you. This may include staying close to your group, avoiding taking photos in certain places, and other rules. Ultimately, the decision is yours, but if you choose to visit a favela, it is your responsibility to do so safely and respectfully.

Top Favela Tours in Brazil

Here are some top rated tours around various favelas that are organised and led by local guides

1. Tours of Rochina Favela, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, located in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone between the neighborhoods of São Conrado and Gávea, is Brazil’s largest favela, home to an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 residents within just 1 square kilometer. Despite challenges with infrastructure and informal housing, Rocinha has developed a vibrant local economy with over 6,000 businesses.

2. Tours of Santa Marta Favela, Rio de Janeiro

Santa Marta is a compact favela in the Botafogo area of Rio de Janeiro, dramatically perched on a 45-degree slope that rises 362 meters above sea level. It became one of the most internationally recognized favelas after Michael Jackson filmed a music video there in 1996.

3. Tours of Vidigal Favela, Rio de Janeiro

Vidigal, located along the cliffs between Leblon and São Conrado in Rio de Janeiro, has become known for its breathtaking views from the Morro Dois Irmãos hiking trail, and its growing number of hostels, art spaces, parties, and nightlife venues. It has seen increasing tourism and gentrification over the past 10 years, although tensions remain in the Favela.

4. Tours of Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro

Santa Teresa is a historic hilltop neighborhood—not a traditional favela—famous for its colonial-era mansions, artistic culture, and the last remaining tram line in Rio, the iconic yellow "bonde." While Santa Teresa itself is not a favela, there are favelas located in and around the Santa Teresa neighborhood, such as Pereirão Favela and Morro dos Prazeres.

5. Tours of Paraisopolis Favela, Sao Paulo

Paraisópolis is São Paulo’s second-largest favela, located adjacent to the wealthy Morumbi neighborhood, highlighting one of Brazil’s most visible wealth disparities. Unlike many other favelas, Paraisópolis features large-scale community organization, including a residents' association, its own street naming system, and structured programs in healthcare, education, and urban planning.

6. Tours to Solar do Unhão Favela, Salvador

Solar do Unhão, in Gamboa, is a waterfront neighborhood in central Rio de Janeiro that played a central role in Brazil's slave trade as the site of the Valongo Wharf, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though not a favela in the classic sense, it contains precarious housing and urban decay, and is the focus of major redevelopment under the Porto Maravilha project, which aims to revive the city’s old port zone.

Have you visited a favela in Brazil? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!