Favela Tour Rio de Janeiro - Vidigal Walking Tour by Russo Guide
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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What's Included
- Licensed tour guide
- Drinks and Meals
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & ResortAv. Niemeyer, 121 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22450-220, Brazil
We will contact you with your reservation with more details about the meeting point.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Praia do Leblon (Pass By)
Vidigal Beach (Pass By)
Morro Dois Irmaos (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 389 reviews
Chad_E, Mar 2026
This was an excellent tour. Never felt unsafe at all. Russo is a local and showed us where he lives. He did a great job and speaks English well. The tour is fairly strenuous with walking. We booked the sunset Dois Irmaos tour after. Unfortunately the tour didn't happen but had it, it would have been a lot. Our legs were shot. The favela is it's own city with two schools and a ton of stores. I highly recommend this tour. We were a family of 5.
Ethan_D, Mar 2026
Russo is hands down the best tour guide I’ve had. He doesn’t just walk you through Vidigal, he really dives deep into the history, culture, and daily life of the community. You can tell he has real relationships with the people there and truly respects the favela. The tour felt authentic, educational, and safe the entire time. I learned so much about Rio that you would never get from just visiting the beaches or tourist spots. If you want to understand the real Rio and see a different perspective of the city, I highly recommend this tour with Russo. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my trip to Brazil. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shivan_P, Feb 2026
The favela tour with Russo was incredible, I highly recommend! At no point did it feel unsafe, and as a resident of the favela Russo was able to give us insight into living conditions. We opted for the later 3PM tour, which was fortitous because after the tour of Vidigal ended, Russo offered to take us to the Rocinha favela. We ended up staying out until past midnight in Rocinha before going home.
Ayo_F, Jan 2026
This favela tour exceeded my expectations through and through!!! Our tour guide Usso was so knowledgeable, accommodating, and compassionate! He grew up in this favela and knew everything about it. We felt very safe and well taken care of. I would highly recommend this tour. We really enjoyed ourselves and plus he takes the best pictures and videos of you!!!
Hannah_C, Jan 2026
Our walking tour through Vidigal favela led by Ninho was amazing. Ninho is so knowledgeable and you can tell he has so much passion for the area. Tip: wear tennis shoes!!
Frances_L, Dec 2025
Russo was an extremely informative and engaging tour guide. Having lived in the favela for most of his life, he shared firsthand stories and insights that made the experience authentic and meaningful. You could truly feel his deep connection to the community and history of the area.
He was also very accommodating and flexible—especially when one person in our group wanted to stop and get a haircut. Russo handled it with ease and made sure everyone still felt comfortable and included. Overall, it was a well-organized, respectful, and eye-opening tour that I highly recommend for anyone wanting a genuine local perspective.
Amit_P, Dec 2025
A great experience to see the other side of the Rio. A must do.
The guide Robinson was amazing, made us feel comfortable, and touched all great area of the Favela
SHANE_M, Nov 2025
Russo very informative and having lived there all his life everybody lol.Arrived early at meeting point Would definitely recommend this tour with Russo.
Louise_L, Nov 2025
A very interesting and informative experience walking through the Favela, learning how young people grow up there now
Suzanne_A, Oct 2025
This was a great experience visiting the favelas! We are so pleased with our experience with Russo as our guide. He was very knowledgeable about the neighborhood and made us feel very safe and welcome. He took amazing photos and videos of us as well. I would definitely recommend this tour to all!
Marcel_L, Sep 2025
Be very humble. Beautiful city with beautiful people. You cant beat the breath taking views. I highly reccomend Roussou as a tour guide and camera man.
HeleneWingard_S, Aug 2025
Such an amazing experience. Russo is a great guide who knows everyone. He made us feel safe when walking around in Vidigal. Would recommend this to everyone going to Rio.
Susanne_B, Jul 2025
The tour was an interesting experience in the sense that we got to walk through Vidigal with Russo, who lives there and clearly knows the community well. It felt authentic to be guided by a local, and we appreciated the chance to see a part of Rio that many visitors don’t usually get to explore.
That said, the tour didn’t quite live up to our expectations. Russo was kind and welcoming, but his English was unfortunately very limited, which made it difficult to understand what we were seeing or to ask questions.
What we really missed was context. There was very little explanation about the history of Vidigal, how the favela developed, what daily life is like, or the social and economic challenges people face. We were hoping to learn more about the political and structural issues surrounding favelas, hear some personal stories, and get a broader understanding of the community beyond just walking through it.
In the end, it felt more like a stroll than a proper guided tour.
Christopher_L, Jun 2025
Fun riding to the top with bike and nice walking through neighborhood. Nice view from the bar on top!
MARIA_B, Jun 2025
Very nice favella with amazing views! Russo was extremely friendly and knew every detail about the favella!
Adebodurin_O, Jun 2025
Truly an amazing and life changing experience! Our tour guide was lively, fun and engaging! Anyone who is looking for an exciting adventure should definitely book this tour! Thank you for allowing us a little peak into Brazilian way of life!
john_G, Apr 2025
Russo was the perfect guide, sharing stories of his 52 years living in the Favela, so well respected in the community, and we were always greeted cheerfully during the tour, just book it, you won't be sorry.
Cornell_M, Apr 2025
The Vidigal tour was an interesting and insightful experience if I must say. My tour guide Russo who is one of the coolest tour guides showed me a great time in Vidigal. Russo who is lifetime Vidigal resident gave the history and background of the favela to me. I got to meet a lot of the local residents in Vidigal who were very nice and welcoming. I saw a lot of the houses, shops, and schools where people live, work, and learn. Also, Russo got some great pics and videos from the top of the mountainside overlooking Lapa and Ipanema Beach. It was Easter Sunday so we got to see some of the bar crowds as well. Additionally, I rode on the back of a motorcycle for the first time to the top of the favela which was an exhilarating experience. I would highly recommend to anybody visiting Rio De Janeiro to sign up for the Vidigal Tour with Russo. You won't regret it.
Claire_G, Apr 2025
Very interesting tour. Russo was a great guide he shared his experiences living in the Favelas. We felt really looked after by Russo during our trip, he told us when it was ok and not to take photographs. He took some great photos of us whilst on the tour.
Krista_M, Apr 2025
Russo was a great tour guide. He shared with us the changes he has seen in his community over the years. It was a great way to spend a morning learning more about life in Rio.
Jose, Mar 2025
My partner and I went to this your guided by Russo who was amazing, he knew all the ins and outs of the favela. The tour itself was relaxed and informative about favela life. We were bussed all the way to the top of the favela and walked down. On the way down we visited many areas of the favela and saw some of their shops and sights
David_S, Feb 2025
Excellent Tour! We had a fabulous time with Russo. Was an authentic experience!! Would highly recommend
Jenna_P, Jan 2025
Great experience! Very knowledgeable and would recommend to others. It was a lot of stairs walking so be prepared before.
DanakaVictoria_M, Jan 2025
If you’re looking for a truly unique and authentic experience in Rio, the Vidigal Walking Tour with Russo Guia is an absolute must! This was one of the most exciting and memorable parts of our trip, and we left with a deeper appreciation for Vidigal and its vibrant community.
Our adventure began with a small hiccup—our Uber dropped us off at the wrong place. Pro tip: head straight to the Sheraton Hotel to meet Russo, as it’s the easiest and most reliable spot. Once we connected with him, the tour began, and it was incredible from start to finish.
Russo is a phenomenal guide who speaks perfect English and Portuguese, making the tour accessible and enjoyable for everyone. As a lifelong resident of Vidigal, Russo’s deep connection to the area and his engaging storytelling made every stop on the tour feel personal and meaningful.
The tour highlights were unforgettable. We explored the Sitiê Ecological Park, a former dump turned into a beautiful garden and educational space, admired the colorful Olympic Village graffiti court, and marveled at the stunning panoramic views from Arvrão, home to some of the best bars in Vidigal. The Pope’s Chapel added a serene, historical element, while the graffiti art at the Arts Shortcut was a creative showcase of local and international talent.
We enjoyed Vidigal so much that we came back the next day on our own. This time, we took a taxi to the top of the hill to explore the iconic bars. First, we checked out Bar De Laje, which had great music, good vibes, and a luxurious look and feel. Next, we headed to Mirante do Arvrão, where we snagged a cozy corner spot offering a 5-star view of the city—absolutely breathtaking! The bars were lively, filled with energy, and accepted credit cards and Apple Pay, which was super convenient.
For the way down, we hopped on a local van, which was another fun experience, and then caught an Uber back to our hotel in Copacabana.
One thing to note: you’ll pay a small security fee to local kids, so be sure to bring small bills, as no one ever seemed to have change.
This tour is about so much more than sightseeing—it’s a cultural journey filled with laughter, stunning views, and a deep connection to the heart of Vidigal. Thank you, Russo, for giving us such a memorable experience!
Don’t hesitate—book this tour and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Rio!
Anonymous, Jan 2025
Good detailed tour. English level 6/10.
Good detailed tour. English level 6/10.
Good detailed tour. English level 6/10.
Gailene_B, Jan 2025
This tour did not disappoint at all. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and patient.. Must see!!!
Darren_H, Jan 2025
Great quick little trip and informative, would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the culture and community here
Lisa_O, Jan 2025
Very informative and enjoyable! We loved hearing about all the history and the sites were amazing!! Thank you to our guide!
Charlein_S, Dec 2024
Great experience to see the life in the favela up close. The guide Russo has lived in Vidigal his entire life and knows the community very well. It is him showing his home to you.
Samuel_R, Dec 2024
Incredible tour with a passionate guide who grew up in Vidigal. Great way to get to know Vidigal, explore the favela, and hear unique stories. Highly recommend!
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