Rocinha Favela Tour With Local Guide

I believe there was a significant misunderstanding in this review, especially regarding the statement that you were asked to give money at every stop and that the experience was a “tourist trap.” Our guide, Sophia, who was born and raised in Rocinha, confirmed to us that this did not happen. Throughout the entire tour, the only moment when the possibility of making a contribution was mentioned was once, at the social capoeira project. And this contribution is completely voluntary and never mandatory. It is also important to clarify that the information stating that tips are not included in the tour price is clearly provided in the tour description before you even made your reservation with us. Therefore, this was not something presented as a surprise during the experience. Regarding the social project, we believe it deserves to be understood before being described as a “tourist trap.” It has a much greater purpose: providing children and young people from the community with a learning environment, activities, and new opportunities. In addition to capoeira, they have the opportunity to learn languages such as English, French, Spanish, and Italian, and the project also provides opportunities for them to travel and have experiences that many of these children might not otherwise have. The contribution mentioned at the project is simply an opportunity for those who wish and are able to help the project continue its work and benefit these children. Nobody is required to contribute. During the tour, Sophia also explained the history and culture of Rocinha, as well as the guidelines about what can and cannot be done within the community. She also told us that you asked many questions and that she was available to answer all of them. For this reason, we were genuinely surprised by the statement that you were asked to give money “at every stop.” That simply does not correspond to what happened during the tour. We would also like to address the title of the review: “Very touristy and expensive for what it is.” Regarding the price, we completely respect the fact that everyone has a different budget and different expectations about what they consider worth the price. However, the tour price is clearly provided before the reservation is made. If someone considers the tour too expensive for their personal budget or for what they are looking for, they are naturally free to choose another experience. But that does not necessarily mean that the service itself is overpriced or that there is something wrong with the price we charge. As for saying that the tour is “very touristy,” we find this comment somewhat contradictory. Rocinha is one of the best-known and most visited communities in Rio de Janeiro, and our tour is indeed a tourist experience. People visit specifically to learn about the community, its history, its culture, and a little about the reality of the people who live there. It is also important to remember that you were visiting Rio de Janeiro as a tourist yourself. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a tourist — it is precisely as a visitor that you chose to come and experience Rocinha. Our goal has never been to hide the fact that this is a tourist experience. Our goal is to offer visitors a respectful, responsible, and authentic way to learn about Rocinha, accompanied by a local guide who was born and raised in the community. We completely respect every visitor’s right not to enjoy an experience or to have a different opinion. However, we believe there is a difference between expressing a personal preference and making statements about facts that simply do not correspond to what actually happened. Reviews and feedback are always welcome when they are based on the actual experience. At the same time, we believe that a review should accurately reflect what truly happened during the tour.