I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for my favela tour in Rio, but during and afterwards I was incredibly happy that I booked it!! Me and my friends were picked up at our hotel by our tour guide Alex and his driver, Fabio, on time and they were very friendly and made us feel comfortable right away. On our drive to the famous Rocinha Favela in the South Zone of Rio, Alex gave us an excellent history of the city, the people and the customs of the Cariocas-- the native people of Rio De Janeiro. While we were in the favela, Alex kept us safe and made us feel at home as he guided us through the winding roads and staircases of the unique mountain community he grew up in. We were able to sample the sights and sounds of Rocinha, purchase unique souvenirs and artwork and we were treated to an awesome Capoeira demonstration that really amazed everyone who saw it in my group!! Alex even taught us how to dance Brazilian Samba before our time on the tour ended and we had to return to our hotel. What a tour!! I'm definitely going to do it again in the future and I recommend anyone interested in true Rio culture to book this tour ASAP-- You won't be disappointed!! Alex and Fabio were MUITO ÓTIMO!! 5-STARS FOR THIS TOUR!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The real life behind the word favela
+15 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $72 / person
- Location
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 198 reviews
- Languages
- PT, EN, IT, FR
- Group
- Small group, up to 20
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Favela Lives Tour
- Meeting point
- São Conrado Metro Station - Exit B, Estr. da Gávea - São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22610-001, Brazil
Description
The real life of a favela, forget everything you know and come to discover it yourself! Our guides Pablo and Henrique were born in Rocinha, they’ll be delighted to tell you their story. You’ll live in immersion for a day in the largest favela of Latin America. The experience begins with the famous motorcycle taxis that will take you to admire a breathtaking view. After you going to discover a typical house with once again an incredible panorama. We’ll walk inside the bécos of Rocinha (small streets of Favela). You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about a social Capoiera project. But also other cultural points + some surprises. Regarding safety, don’t panic, the Rocinha favela is a safe place and our guides will stay with you from the beginning to the end of the tour. We look forward to having you with us.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult (ages 16–84)
- $72
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Salocin Tour
Forget everything you know about the Rocinha favela and come discover this place. Rocinha is the largest favela in Latin America, it's a city within the city. We're an agency created by a local guide (9 years of experience). The idea of this tour is show the real life inside the favela. To make you live a local, social and cultural experience.
What's included
Included
Private transportation
Personal guide
View point
Not included
Souvenir
Foods
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
198 reviews
How it compares in Rio de Janeiro
- Starting price $72 is 12% below the typical $81 for tours of similar length in Rio de Janeiro
Excurgo comparison of 1,658 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does The real life behind the word favela take?
The real life behind the word favela lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does The real life behind the word favela cost?
Prices start at $72 per person for this Rio de Janeiro experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does The real life behind the word favela run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Can I cancel The real life behind the word favela for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is São Conrado Metro Station - Exit B, Estr. da Gávea - São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22610-001, Brazil. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is The real life behind the word favela offered in?
The experience is available in PT, EN, IT, FR, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is The real life behind the word favela worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 198 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Favela Lives Tour.
Reviews(198)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
R
BEST TOUR EVER!!!
K
A special guide for a unique experience
If you are in Rio de Janeiro, this is an experience that I really recommend you do. The pickup was very simple; our guide Alex waited for us at the subway exit, and from there we reached Rocinha by motorcycle taxi. Alex was fantastic from the very first moment; he took us to the main scenic spots and told us so many things about daily life in the favela. We were particularly lucky because it was just me and my boyfriend, while other groups were made up of four or more people. This allowed us to experience the day in a much more personal and relaxed way. Alex was always very attentive to us, never losing sight of us, and he really did everything to make us have the best time possible in his company. An experience we will carry with us forever.
V
Great Tour with Alexandre
We had an AMAZING time exploring the favela with Alexandre. He was quite personable, knew many local folks (constantly passing people who stopped to say hi to him); got us access to special spots without big crowds; personally demonstrated world class capoeira, found us excellent coffee, phenomenal views, and tons of insights on culture and history. His English was impeccable. Would HIGHLY recommend him as a guide.
_
Amazing experience
Our experience in the favela was truly unique. Our guide shared so much with us about its history and what everyday life is like there, and was always happy to answer any questions we had. This is definitely something everyone visiting Rio should experience, as the favelas are an integral part of the city. Seeing it up close completely changed many of the ideas and perceptions we had beforehand. Thank you so much for the fantastic tour! We highly recommend it!
M
10/10
This was the best thing we did our whole trip in Rio de Janeiro. The tour and also the tourguide was amazing. Its a Realy Nice expierence and verry educational. I would definitly recommend this tour!!!
M
Once in a Lifetime Experience
This tour of one of the favelas of Rio was one of the most interesting and eye opening excursions I have ever done. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the area and led us to several different stops. From the top of the favela with its great views of Rio to the black market area where cameras are not allowed, every aspect of the excursion was truly an experience.
M
Great experience!
I want to special thank Jovani, Not sure if I remember correctly or spelled it right but he was my guide. I had such an amazing experience with him. Every question I had, he answered them. I was the only one and loved that I had that one on one tour as a solo traveler. Thank you for taking the time to take pictures for me as well! The motorbike up the neighborhood and the walk down of the tour was definitely an eye opener seeing how far you have came and went. I highly recommend booking this tour if you want to experience something new, culturally & learn its history.
M
After a first problem...
After a first problem with the language of the guide, the agency immediately remedied and we made a magnificent excursion with Carlos who lives in the Favela and told us all the details of life in this place. A perfect hike
7
A great tour at the favela
What a wonderful moment at Rio with Emma !! . She’s a great guide, she gives us a lot of explanation about the life in the Favela. After the tour, we wanted to stay at the Favela with her. We highly recommend this tour !
N
Highly recommended tour
Must see experience of Brazilian culture
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from$72
4.9(198) Free cancellation