Ontdek Rio Little Africa: een culturele en historische reis

Our Little Africa tour with Carolina (“Carol”) was one of the highlights of our time in Rio. Carol is an excellent guide and communicator. She speaks English fluently and made complex historical, social, and cultural topics easy to understand. She welcomed questions and engaged thoughtfully with sensitive subjects related to race, ethnicity, national identity, and inequality. Her answers were honest, nuanced, and respectful, and she encouraged meaningful discussion by inviting us to share similarities and differences between our own experiences and those of people in Brazil. We were fortunate to have a private tour, which allowed for more conversation and a deeper exploration of topics that particularly interested us. While the tour follows a well-designed structure, Carol was attentive to our interests and spent additional time discussing contemporary Afro-Brazilian life, including social, political, and economic issues. She reached out before the tour to introduce herself and answer questions, which helped us get the most out of the experience. I learned an incredible amount about Brazil’s colonial history, the transatlantic slave trade, resistance movements, and the diverse African cultures that shaped Brazil. One particularly moving stop was the site where the remains of enslaved Africans, buried in a former mass grave, were rediscovered relatively recently. Carol helped us understand not only the historical significance of the site but also the ongoing process of uncovering, acknowledging, and reckoning with parts of Brazil’s history that were hidden for generations. I came away with pages of notes and a long list of topics I want to learn more about. What I expected would be an interesting tour turned out to be a genuinely eye-opening experience. Carol’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and passion for the subject left a lasting impression on us. Highly recommended! Tips for Future Visitors: * Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. * Wear comfortable walking shoes with good traction. Your guide can adapt the route to make it less physically demanding when possible, but expect cobblestones, uneven pavement, construction areas, and typical urban walking conditions. * Bring water, especially on warmer days. * The tour takes place in living neighborhoods and community spaces, so approach them with the same respect and courtesy you would want visitors to show in your own community. * The scheduled tour is about three hours, but if you’re curious and enjoy asking questions, it may run a little longer. If you have plans immediately afterward, it’s worth mentioning that to your guide in advance.

Ana Julia was an amazing informative tour guide! I recommend her and this Little Africa tour to all!!!

We toured with an incredibly knowledgeable and engaging guide named Myllena. She gave us so much information about the history of the slave trade in Brazil and an informed perspective on the repercussions of the social and economic impact it has had and still has on the Black Brazilians to this day. The tour sparked comparisons to the US (where I am from) and other colonized nations where I have lived (Vietnam, Singapore, Egypt, India, and Nigeria), especially with the recent Ghana resolution that passed in the UN declaring the transatlantic slave trade and the racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the "gravest crime against humanity." This was an extremely enlightening and informative tour, which also highlighted the resilience of the people and the strong influence Africans had on Brazilian culture. Highly recommend the tour and our guide Myllena who was excellent.

Immersive experience into the history and culture of the city. I was struck by the resilience of the people and the evolution of the city

If you’re ever in Rio, please book this tour. Our tour guide carol was absolutely amazing!!! She’s very knowledgeable, organized and has such a sweet spirit. We learned so much about the history of Brasil and Carol also shared a little bit about her own personal background. Whenever I’m in Rio, I will definitely book again with her. Please ask for Carol when you book. Thank you again, Carol and team for putting together such an amazing tour.

It’s the history and culture you didn’t know. On this tour you listen, you learn and you feel the ancestors…a must do!

This is a wonderful, must do tour while in Rio!! Our stops at museums, important statues, the famous ethnicities wall and Pedra do Sal are experiences that our group will always remember! Ana Julia was an expert and exceptional tour guide. She is a passionate ambassador for Brazil and Rio! She offered tremendous insight that helped us to better appreciate the rich culture, diversity, fantastic experiences that Rio has to offer today. We asked a lot of questions about the history and struggles, similar to the US, both past and present. The tour company, Florencios Tour, was easy to reach via WhatsApp, provided us with timely information regarding how to meet our guide. We appreciated the timely pickup, drop off and safe ride with the professional limo driver.

The tour was the highlight of my trip

Our group of 18 friends and family arrived in Rio as part of the Dave Koz Cruise. My mother discovered Florencios Tours & Travels and connected directly with the owner, Damiana. As fate would have it, she didn't just book us a tour — she introduced Damiana to the entire Dave Koz Cruise community. We were the first cruise ship group to receive the full Florencios experience. We would not be the last. Several dozen other Dave Koz cruisers followed. Way to go, Mom. By the time we confirmed our booking, Damiana felt less like a tour company owner and more like a friend my mom had known for years. That kind of warmth sets a tone — and it carried into every single moment of the day. Our guide was Larissa, with Lucas alongside her to help navigate the group. Larissa is extraordinary. She is energetic, deeply knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what she does. She didn't just show us places — she told us their stories. From the excavated auction site to the museum, she kept our group engaged with thoughtful questions and a command of Black African history, culture, and celebration that made everything feel alive and meaningful. Then came the carnival site — and Julia. To experience carnival from the inside of the process is something most cruisers never get to do. Our group tried on costumes, danced, and played instruments alongside actual carnival artists. Not as observers. As participants. The kind of moment you cannot manufacture and cannot forget. If you are looking for a tour that centers the Black African diaspora experience — its history, its traditions, its joy — with intelligence, intention, and heart, this is it. Not a footnote. Not a detour. The main event. Damiana, Larissa, Lucas, and Julia: thank you for making Rio unforgettable in all the right ways. This is exactly the kind of experience that stays with you long after the ship has sailed.

My family and I had the privilege of having Carolina as our tour guide for two days while we were in Rio De Janeiro. Carolina was friendly, approachable, and extremely knowledgeable of Rio De Janeiro. She ensured that we saw all of the top sights. She took us to see Christ the Redeemer before the crowds got there. Allowing us plenty of time to enjoy the site and take good pictures. Carolina took us to Frontera Restaurant where we enjoyed amazing local foods. We were allowed time to shop. Overall she made our visit to Rio De Janeiro an unforgettable experience. We made memories that I shall not soon forget.