Favela tour Santa Marta with local guide
Description
FAVELA TOUR SANTA MARTA EXPERIENCIE, IS A TOUR WITH PROPROSITION, is much more than a simple excursion or walk through slopes and alleys of the Favela. It is the connection / exchange between tourist and resident, we have the mission to take the visitor for an immersion into the favela, to know the daily life of the resident, to understand the challenges and achievements over more than 100 years since the creation of the first favela, is to have a broad view of the day-to-day of a favela resident of Rio, since more than 25% of the population of Rio lives in Favelas. In addition to understanding our daily life, your visit contributes 100% to the development of educational, linguistic, sports or cultural projects within the Favela, since part of the value paid by tourists 50% is applied to these actions, developed by residents, without any support from the public authority. We introduce you to much more than a simple excursion or walk through the favela, but rather a FAVELA TOUR EXPERIENCE with a purpose. COME LIVE THIS TRUE EXPERIENCE.
Tour Options
Itinerary
TOURIST INFORMATION STAND.
We walk to the Inclined Plane. We go to the top of the hill, view of the City, the top of the Capela Santa Marta Church. We started walking down the stairs.
At the place where the statue of Michael Jackson is located, we will visit some artisan souvenir shops. They can marvel at the view and take souvenir photos. We will then visit a Mundo Infantil crèche, a community crèche that serves around 80 children from the community who also receive support as a result of our guided tours. We continue the visit through a cultural corridor where it is possible to see the development of our community through photographs.
This is the end of our guided tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for people with limited mobility
Reviews(30)
Unique experience in the favela with the guide who accompanied us safely in the heart of the Santa Marta district showing the various aspects and panoramic views of the City. We did all the climb on foot because there was no electricity and then the "inclined plane" nn worked. I can say that it was even better because it allowed us to fully live the experience. The children of the district improvised a folklore show taking up the typical feast of San Sebastiano which was a real joy to see. We were able to take some pictures discreetly and without creating disturbance to the inhabitants of the neighborhood. RECOMMENDED
Very good experience. The guide is super attentive and makes you feel at home. Very safe if you listen to the local directions. Thank you so much!
Would highly recommend this tour. We were a bit worried about the ethics of favela tours, and several of the providers we found didn't put us at ease: it looked as if you would show up in a huge bus and be shuttled around to gape at various sights. We wanted something more laid back and in touch with the locals, and this is exactly what Gilson provides. It was just me and my partner on the tour, and we essentially went on a walk through the town. Gilson knows pretty much everyone, and you really feel like you're getting an insider's perspective. The tour is more about getting a feel for the place and less about the "sights", but such as they are they include: the funicular railway, UPP station, football pitch, Gilson's house and clock collection (!), town square and church. Gilson is super knowledgeable, having lived in Santa Marta his whole life. Instead of giving a prepared spiel, at each point he gives a brief explanation and then lets you ask questions, which he's always able to answer. We preferred this approach. If you want a chill experience that really lets you feel like you're participating in the life of the favela, then highly recommend this tour.
It was actually quite bad. The guide didn’t really care it didn’t give any information about the community. We didn’t feel comfortable being around the are. After arriving at the main attraction with the graffiti there was a band playing and they insisted on giving tips, 10€ minimum. It was not okay but we were scared not to give it. In the end of the very poor guide experience he requested tips as well, we were also scared not to give some, but then he tricked us and withdrew more money than expected. Overall not recommended, you get much better experience in other favellas or other tour guides
Top! The Guide made us feel the life of the favela, the organisation and the culture! The food was delicious and very friendly!
We felt safe with our guide. The view was spectacular from the top. Expect to look down as you’re going down the stairs as there is poops from the cats and the dogs here and there.
I'm glad you felt safe! We always work to break this paradigm that exists in relation to the favelas of Rio! I was born and raised in the Santa Marta favela and we always seek to work towards improving the quality of life of the favela's residents and also of our visitors. Thank you for your visit! We have several mobilization and awareness-raising projects about regular garbage disposal, collecting coconuts on the hill, so much so that we have several plastic bottles with bags spread around the hill with the aim of keeping the favela organized and clean! If you thought it was dirty, believe me, it was much worse. Thanks to our community work, we are gradually reaping positive results from our cleaning campaign through our social and community tourism.
Gilson is an amazing guy, very emphatic and genuine. Walking through the favela with him, you get the impression that he knows everyone and that everyone loves him. The biggest proof of his love for the community is that he directs all of his energy into sharing and caring about his people. The terrace of his house has the best views of the favela and the city. No fancy place on Copacabana can beat the views you get here and I have to say that I felt safer than in some central parts of Rio. Thank you Gilson for showing us everyday life in your community and helping us to understand it better. I would love to come back one day. Just like MJ sings in his song: "Don't worry what people say, we know the truth" Love❤️
Got to see Gilson’s family’s awesome clock collection as well as meet some of his friends and family. Even got to celebrate his grandmother’s 88th birthday. The family really welcomed us and made us feel a part of their family, even though is was a brief encounter.
Gilson was a fantastic tour guide. He was honest about living in a favela highlighting the sense of community but also listing its challenges. He was proud to show us Favela Santa Marta and introduce us to his family. It was a bit confusing finding the correct tour guide when meeting in the park (as there were several). We would have felt more secure with a larger group (it was just the two of us women) and we witnessed weapons present by residents at times during the tour. The tour price could have been a bit less.
Great tour! The guide is very informed and friendly! We passed through several crucial points that are part of the history of that place!! I recommend!!
Thank you very much for your visit to our Santa Marta favela, we residents have trained ourselves to welcome you as a visitor in the best possible way and we really like to show our favela as it really is, our challenges and our achievements, know that your participation in our experience tour with purpose, contribute directly to the development of our social and community projects, as part of the amount paid to take the tour is invested directly in our actions. Thank you Favela Scene Tour team with purpose.
