Rio Favela Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Spend time in Rio’s Vidigal favela and get to know more about the community on this excursion. With a small group, navigate the alleyways and secret passages of the concrete jungle, meeting locals along the way. Get to know what life is like in the favela and how these hillside communities came to be.

Learn about the history of favelas in Brazil
Enjoy some of the best views of Rio from the favela
Choose from several tour times to suit your schedule
A small group means more attention from your guide

What's Included

Guide services

Alcoholic Beverages
Private transportation

Motorcycle Taxi

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Avenida Niemeyer Próximo Ao 174-202
Vidigal, Rio de Janeiro - State of Rio de Janeiro, 22450-241, Brazil
You will meet the guide at Vidigal Square. Guides will send a photo beforehand of the location and themselves to better identify them.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.12:00 pm

Itinerary

Vidigal

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 66 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Exceptional experience

Katrin_T, Oct 2025

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

An unforgettable experience

Jenny_S, Oct 2025

This tour of Vidigal was both beautiful and deeply touching. Rodrigo is not only a very engaged, knowledgeable and generous guide, he also manages to tell the story of the favela, its history and the current political situation from the point of view of those who live there in a way that resonates across national and cultural boundaries. This is simply unforgettable and we will carry this experience in our hearts for a very long time.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Absolutely love to see these type of comments and reviews! Rodrigo is a fantastic tour guide, his professionalism is exceptional. He exerts such passion through his work and I'm super proud to have him on our team! Thank you!

An Unforgettable & Eye-Opening Experience

Wang_W, Jun 2025

I highly recommend this favela tour with Rodrigo—it was one of the most memorable and insightful experiences of my trip to Rio! Rodrigo is an exceptional guide—knowledgeable, respectful, and deeply passionate about sharing the real story of the favelas. His connection with the community made the tour feel authentic and safe, while his storytelling brought the history, culture, and daily life of the area to life. We visited vibrant streets, met friendly locals, and learned about the challenges and resilience of the community. Rodrigo answered all our questions with honesty and warmth, making the experience both educational and deeply human. The views were breathtaking, but the real highlight was gaining a deeper understanding of a place often misunderstood by outsiders. If you want to see a different side of Rio with a guide who truly cares, book this tour with Rodrigo or Henry ! 100% worth it—don’t miss it!

Learning Experience

MEL_W, Mar 2025

I think this tour is meant to be a learning experience and you will get it. Worth taking if you want to get the real about the favelas

Response from Host, Mar 2025

That is exactly correct! In fact, we are one of the few agencies that truly give back 💪🤝🇧🇷. When someone is doing this type of tour, they should ask first what said agency does for the community. This is extremely important. So thank you for the review and comment!

10/10! Choose to tour with these guys! A beautiful and complex community.

Tom_O, Jul 2023

We’d give 6 stars if we could. Me & my brother had a life experience with Henry as our guide. A complex and beautiful concrete jungle. From spectacular wildlife to charming interactions with locals to the breath taking views, every twist & turn had told a new story. Henry had so many interesting things to talk about and made us feel very comfortable the whole time. I think it’ll be the best thing we’ve done here in Rio. Certainly an adventure we’ll never forget. Thank you to Henry and all of Vidigal. Highly recommend this experience!