The 13 Best Favela Tours in Rio de Janeiro

1.Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,052 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $36Our pick

Spend about two hours walking through Rocinha with a local guide such as Ray, Bruno, or Carlos. Pickup is available from Copacabana or Ipanema, with multilingual guides, air-conditioned transport, and a community contribution included in the $36 price.

“It was an amazing experience. And our guide Ray, was the best. Very good in English and she made you feel comfortable, which was nice, when it’s your first time in a favela.”

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2.Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,272 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Walk through Rocinha with local guides such as Wellington, Alberto, or Daniel, hearing about daily life, history, and local challenges. The three-hour route includes narrow alleys, steep stairs, a hilltop viewpoint, and often a capoeira visit. Small groups keep the experience personal and respectful.

“Wellington was a great tour guide. Very informative tour. Felt safe and residents were very friendly.”

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3.Favela Santa Marta Top Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 488 reviews · 150 minutes - 3 hours · from $28

Walk Santa Marta with a local guide such as Mario, Marco, Luis, or Raycca. See Michael Jackson Square, Mirante Dona Marta, filming locations, social projects, and a guide’s home, with samba, football, and time to meet residents.

“Great cultural experience. The tour didn’t feel exploitative and the history shared with us was appreciated. We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a true cultural experience and want to get to know the locals and what the Favelas are about from guides. This tour is hosted by a family that gives back to their community.”

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4.Favela Santa Marta Tour with Resident Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 220 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $27Best value

Walk through Rio’s Santa Marta favela with resident guide Gilson Fumaça, whose family has lived there for generations. Visit his mother’s clock-filled home, Michael Jackson Square, local projects, a restaurant, and viewpoints over Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

“Just great in all aspects, obrigado Gilson and best wishes for your future and your many projects!!”

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5.Favela Rocinha Tour with Local Guide & Secret Spots

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 218 reviews · 2h 30m · from $43

Meet your English-, Portuguese-, or Spanish-speaking guide at São Conrado metro station for a two-hour walk through Rocinha. Expect local stories, viewpoints, motorcycle transport, community businesses, secret spots, capoeira, samba, and exclusive photos in a group of up to 10.

“It was amazing! My tour guide was awesome, very safe, but gave us a lot of opportunities to do different things:)”

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6.Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 5 hours · from $88

Spend five hours exploring Vidigal with a local guide, ride through the neighborhood by motorbike taxi, then hike Morro Dois Irmaos. Guides such as Beatriz, Kako, Rafael, and Robinson lead small or private groups in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, with views toward Rocinha, Ipanema, Leblon, and Copacabana.

“Beautiful hike with amazing views of Rio from the top. Rafael was a great guide.”

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7.Favela Tour The Original, Rocinha & Vila Canoas since 1992

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 113 reviews · 3 hours · from $33

Join Favela Tour, operating since 1992, for a three-hour visit to Rocinha and Vila Canoas. Multilingual guides explain Rio’s social contrasts as you walk alleys, visit a handcraft center, stop at a community school, and meet local people. Pickup is available in Rio’s South Zone.

“I enjoyed the tour. The guide was fantastic telling us many details about the favelas and life there. It was good to visit to favelas because they are completely different. The highlight of the tour was visiting the local school. If you are in Rio I strongly recommend to join this tour.”

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8.2h30 circuit in the Vidigal Favela

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $50Top rated

Join Jean-Christophe for a 2.5-hour Vidigal experience combining a motorbike ride to the Dois Irmaos trail, a one-hour hike, a local home visit with Rio views, and a guided walk through Vidigal’s alleys and Ecological Park. The group is limited to 10 people.

“I originally booked the tour to be a combination Dois Irmaos hike and Vidigal Favela tour. The latter was more of an afterthought for me; I was more interested in the hike.”

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9.Sunrise at Morro 2 Irmãos – Vidigal – Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet Christian at 4:00 am in Praça do Vidigal for a motorbike taxi ride up the community, then hike about an hour to Morro Dois Irmãos. Expect steep sections, sunrise views, photo stops, and a walk back through Vidigal. Groups are limited to 15 people.

“Excellent and safe tour. Early start, but this ensures you get to the viewpoint with the best spot before all of the other hikers show up. Recommend to anyone of good hiking ability who has the morning available to them.”

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10.Half Day Hiking Tour Morro Dois Irmaos and Favela Vidigal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $53

Join a small group of up to 10 for a 4 to 5 hour hike on Morro Dois Irmaos and a guided walk through Vidigal. Fernando leads you by motorcycle taxi to the trail, with views of Rocinha, Christ the Redeemer, Pedra da Gavea, and the coast. Sunrise departures are also available.

“Fernando is a Star. This is the best tour in South America that I have done thus far (travelled ~5 months over multiple years throughout South America). My partner and I took this tour for the sunrise option and the views are absolutely stunRead more”

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11.Rio Favela Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Walk through Vidigal with Rodrigo or Henry on a small-group tour focused on local life, favela history, politics, art, and extraordinary Rio views. Expect alleys, lookout points, Eco Park, secret corners, and time to meet people who call the community home. The tour lasts about three hours.

“This was an exceptional tour and Rodrigo was a wonderful teacher, not just a guide. Mindblowing experience”

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12.Sunrise at Morro Dois Irmãos + Vidigal Favela Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 35 reviews · 4 hours · from $65

Meet your guide before dawn for a moderate hike up Morro Dois Irmãos and sunrise views of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, and Rio’s beaches. Afterward, walk down through Vidigal with a Portuguese, English, or Spanish-speaking guide. Beatriz is especially praised for photos, care, and local insight.

“La nostra guida Beatriz è stata semplicemente perfetta: ha spiegato tutto nel dettaglio, ci ha accompagnati in perfetto orario e ci ha aiutati in ogni fase del tour. Il giorno prima del tour ha piovuto ed alcuni tratti del sentiero risultavano scivolosi, Beatriz è stata molto attenta ad aiutare tutti i componenti del gruppo a superare ogni fase. Inoltre è una guida molto solare e premurosa. Consigliatissimo :)”

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13.A Walk in the Rocinha Favela: Women Leading the Way

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

Join a small group of up to 10 for a two-hour Rocinha walk led by a local bilingual guide such as Gabriela, Larissa, or Malux. Ride a moto-taxi uphill, visit art spaces and shops, hear local stories, try homemade coffee, and enjoy views across Rio.

“A huge thank you to Gabriela for the visit !! Even if she prefers Flamengo to Paris Saint Germain ahahah 😂 It was a very good moment of exchange with her.”

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