3 Hour Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with a Local Guide
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get an in-depth local experience with this walking tour of one of Rio's "favelas," Rocinha. Follow your resident guide through the slum to get an insider's perspective on daily life and learn about the challenges these communities face. Upgrade your experience to a 2-day tour that includes a visit to Tijuca Forest.
- Enjoy a guided Rocinha favela walking tour
- Learn about the challenges of life in Rio's slums
- Gain insight into the community from a resident favela guide
- Price of tour includes monetary contribution to the community
What's Included
- Local guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (select hotels only)
- Access Contribution to community
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
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End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Begin your experience with convenient pickup at your Rio hotel, then transfer to Rocinha, Brazil's largest favela.
Meet your local guide, a favela resident, and set off through community on foot. Learn about daily life in the favela and the challenges that residents face. Hear about the history of the favela and how these communities have become a large part of the culture of Rio.
The price of your tour includes a monetary contribution to the community.
Please note: We are sensitive to the issues and concerns surrounding favelas; we understand that this tour may not be suitable for everyone. The purpose of this tour is for educational reasons alone and allows for a better understanding of local life.
Meet your local guide, a favela resident, and set off through community on foot. Learn about daily life in the favela and the challenges that residents face. Hear about the history of the favela and how these communities have become a large part of the culture of Rio.
The price of your tour includes a monetary contribution to the community.
Please note: We are sensitive to the issues and concerns surrounding favelas; we understand that this tour may not be suitable for everyone. The purpose of this tour is for educational reasons alone and allows for a better understanding of local life.
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Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- May be operated by a multilingual guide
- Be aware of uneven steps
- For the privacy and comfort of all participants, we do not allow sunglasses equipped with cameras on our tours.
- You must be fit or in good condition to walk at least 5 km
- Our walking tour is around 3km downhill
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 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
4.8
based on 915 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Ying_Z, Jul 2026
This experience is really eye opening for me. Our guide Ray is doing a really good job explaining how the Fevela operates. I feel safe on this tour so if you come to Rio please don’t hesitate to book.
yael_v, Jul 2026
What an experience!! See the real Favela life first hand!! Get all the info from a local guide who actually lives there!! Felt safer there than in copacabana streets!! Do not miss!!!
Simon_M, Jun 2026
Martin was a gem of a guide, navigating conversations in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese to meet the needs of a diverse group. He helped us safely navigate the favela, took us to great vantage points and through tight alleyways. We got to interact with some residents, play some soccer, meet some artists, and come to appreciate all that the favelas are, while also learning about how they operate and their history. Thanks for a wonderful, eye-opening tour, Martin!
Teresa_O, Jun 2026
Great tour by an experienced and caring guide who took great care of us. From crossing busy roads to knowing feet placement - yes, cobbled streets are not for everyone. We had an informatiive glance into another society.
It was an eye opener to how marginalized groups survive.
Notwithstanding do the tour if you desire an up close and personal review. Just be respectful.
Also when you are haggling for Nickle, dimes, euros etc…just remember who you are most impacting because we get to return to our comfortable lives.
Buy local if you can on the tour. Its supporting the community 😊
Oscar_C, Jun 2026
The guide can actually make a big difference and so she did, my guide was just perfect she took us throughout a lot of places I never thought of… amazing experience.
ionel_r, Jun 2026
It was an intresting experience, safety, to a famous favela Rocinha. Our local guide, Johnny, grew up in the favela and knew all the best location. Becouse of late time scheduled tour (after 17), we couldnt see any capoeira dance, but next time one must think about that also. I strongly recomand it, its giving you the possibility to think out of the box.
Michael_C, Jun 2026
Great tour and chance to see the favela. We felt safer here than copacabana. Funny and welcoming guide, would strongly recommend
NolanHerman_T, Jun 2026
This was the best tour I’ve taken!! She was so informative and transparent. It was safe and absolutely eye opening and amazing.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you very much for your feedback. It was so nice to hear from you - it makes so happy!
Our goal is to offer an authentic and respectful perspective of the community, so we're very happy that this came across during your visit. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
Piash_D, Jun 2026
It was alright. Idk if it was worth it. Every other sentence from the guide was able the wires and cables…We also randomly stopped at a soccer game at a kids school for a while. The view was somewhat worth it from the top but a lot of it was just too touristy and wasn’t as good as the one tour I did 3 years ago. Very short tour and just meh too me
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your honest feedback. I'm sorry to hear the tour didn't live up to your expectations. It sounds like the guide may have focused too much on certain topics, and I can understand how that would make the experience feel repetitive, especially when you were hoping for something more authentic and engaging.
The stop at the school soccer game was likely intended to give visitors a glimpse of everyday life in the community, however, maybe football is not your cup of tea and it may not have matched what you were looking for. I'm glad you at least enjoyed the view from the top.
kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
Lee_K, Jun 2026
Very informative and educational. The guide did a great job explaining the origin of the favorable and daily life of the people who live there.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that you found the tour informative and educational. It's wonderful to know that the guide helped bring the history of the favela to life and provided meaningful insights into the daily lives of the people who live there.
Our goal is to offer an authentic and respectful perspective of the community, so we're very happy that this came across during your visit. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Matthew_N, Jun 2026
Ray was an incredibly knowledgeable and attentive host. This tour includes van travel from two choices of pickup to the Favela and a return trip after the tour. The tour introduces a more positive view of the favela. I felt safe throughout the trip thanks to the system in place and attentiveness of our guide and guard. They warned us when phones and other potential recording devices had to be kept out of site. I would recommend bringing good walking shoes and extra cash to either donate to the various organizations you are welcomed to or to purchase drinks and snacks during the tour. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to see and experience an important cultural aspect of Brazil and Rio.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed review! We're thrilled to hear that Ray made such a positive impression and that you found the tour both informative and engaging.
One of our main goals is to provide visitors with a deeper and more balanced understanding of the favela, its history, culture, and the vibrant community that calls it home. We're glad you felt safe and well looked after throughout the experience, and that the guidance provided by Ray and the team helped you enjoy the tour with confidence.
Thank you as well for sharing practical tips for future visitors. Supporting local organizations and small businesses within the community can make a meaningful difference, and we're happy you appreciated those opportunities.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and are honored to have been part of your Rio experience. We hope to welcome you back again in the future!
Kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
Michael_C, Jun 2026
Truly fascinating and insightful walk through the favela of Rocinha in Rio. I learned a lot and enjoyed it even more.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you veery much for your lovely feedback.
Kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
MartaMariia_M, May 2026
Incredible!!!!! It was unforgettable experience. The guide was very very friendly. The tour definitely worth every dollar!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Wow, thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had such an unforgettable experience. It's wonderful to know that your guide's friendliness helped make the tour even more special.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and are thrilled that you felt the experience was worth every dollar. We hope to welcome you back to Rio again someday!
Best regards,
Favela Walking Tour Team
Esmat_M, May 2026
It is a very good tour, giving you a glimpse of real life in Rio. I don’t think the experience of the city can be complete without seeing Favelas. Martine, the guide, is a very good one and offers his help generously.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're so happy to hear that the tour gave you a meaningful glimpse into everyday life in Rio and helped you gain a deeper understanding of the city.
We're especially pleased to hear that Martine made such a positive impression. Providing an authentic, respectful, and informative experience is what we strive for, and your kind words about his generosity and support mean a lot to our team.
Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Rio in the future!
Best regards,
Favela Walking Tour Team
Victor_E, May 2026
This is just as part of Rio as all the other things that people visit - it was a great tour to understand how all people live and society functions in this city. A must do.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for you lovely feedback. It is so nice to hear that you had a good time with us - we hope these memories will last long and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future!
kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
Stacy_W, May 2026
We really loved learning about and walking through this favela. It is amazing to feel of the Happiness of the people, but also the circumstances in which they live. The power lines are literally everywhere and just a giant mess, and it is all stolen power. Our guide was great, but this was advertised as an English only tour, and yet it was given in another language as well, which would be ok if the guide would repeat questions they ask and his answers.
Also, less than an hour into the tour our guide took us to a place where we could buy drinks. And then he said we would have a half hour there toget drinks, look at the views. A half hour seemed too long and a bit of wasted time.
But we otherwise loved learning of the culture and way of life inside the favela.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your honest feedback and for joining our Favela Tour. We are very happy to hear that you loved learning about the culture, daily life and community inside the favela. It means a lot to us that you could feel both the happiness of the people and also understand some of the challenges they face.
We also appreciate your comments regarding the bilingual explanations during the tour. We understand how important it is for everyone to fully follow the experience, especially on an English-only tour, and we will reinforce with our guides the importance of repeating questions and answers clearly in English.
Regarding the stop for drinks and the viewpoint, thank you for mentioning this as well. We understand that 30 minutes may have felt too long, and we will reduce the time spent there in future tours to keep the experience more dynamic and focused on the walking tour itself.
Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We truly hope to welcome you back to Rio someday!
Ruwan_P, May 2026
Ray was very friendly and took us through the favela safely, with great care and precautions throughout the tour. We enjoyed every minute with her as she explained the culture, history, and daily life of the favela in excellent English. Her knowledge and passion made the experience both informative and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We are very happy to hear that you had such a great experience with Ray.
She truly cares about giving our guests a safe, authentic and meaningful experience inside the favela, and we will make sure to share your kind words with her. It’s amazing to know that her knowledge, passion and excellent English helped make the tour both informative and unforgettable for you.
Thank you again for highly recommending us, and we hope to welcome you back to Rio in the future! 😊
xiaoli_y, May 2026
It is always interesting to see how the rest of people living and operating. It is a hard life but the residents are in high spirits. Growing up in a slum neighborhood set you apart from the rest of world.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Every community has its own reality, challenges, and strength. We are happy you could experience a different side of Rio with respect and openness. Despite the difficulties, the warmth, resilience, and spirit of the residents are truly inspiring. Experiences like this help connect people beyond stereotypes and create understanding.
kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
David_P, May 2026
I am from the US and I know many people are told scary stories about favelas. I took my 19 yr old son on this tour and to say it was eye opening would be an understatement. Our tour guide was local and lived in the favela along with her partner (our security) who was also from there. She was sweet, full of knowledge and really did a fantastic job of making us fell safe and educated. This is what to expect: drive to the top in a very comfortable van, see people practicing Capoeira (bring a few dollars to donate to the kids performing), visit a house (there is a small fee of just a few dollars that you must pay) this gives you roof top views of the favela and the city below, walk through the favela to the bottom. There are things you will see there that you will not forget. There are times where our guide stopped us and told us no phones, sunglasses or smart watches could be worn or out in view because the people in the streets do not want to be viewed or recorded doing their illegal activities. We were safe, but you still must act appropriately and follow instructions. This is the largest favela of 150,000 people controlled by the local mob. They have strict rules that make it safe for tourists. I can't say enough good things about our guide! Great experience all around! There are many favelas that are not safe and should never be entered, but this is a good one.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We are truly grateful for your thoughtful and detailed feedback. It means a lot to hear that you and your son felt safe, welcomed, and connected to the real daily life of Rocinha. Our mission is always to provide an authentic and respectful cultural experience while helping visitors better understand the community beyond the stereotypes often seen in the media. We are very happy to know the tour left such a strong and positive impression on you. Thank you again for your trust and kind words!
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
Steven_S, May 2026
Amazing tour! Learned a lot a lot of history and left with a better understanding and appreciation of how there community lives.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the community and its history. Creating meaningful and authentic experiences for our guests is always our goal. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
Lauren_L, May 2026
This tour is so insightful and a must do if you come to Rio. You need to see the true Rio not just the tourist attractions. Our guide Ray was amazing, she was so informative, kind and answered all our questions. At no point do you feel unsafe!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We are very happy to hear that you found the tour insightful and that it allowed you to experience a different side of Rio beyond the usual tourist attractions. It’s wonderful to know that you felt safe, comfortable, and well informed throughout the experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and your recommendation. Thank you again for choosing our tour!
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
Mike_W, Apr 2026
Ideas a great experience to see a favela. I had heatd so much about them and enjoyed seeing it and the personal stories!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind words! 😊
We’re really glad you enjoyed the experience and got the chance to see Rocinha up close. It’s one thing to hear about favelas, but experiencing it through real stories and local perspectives makes it so much more meaningful.
We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on another adventure in Rio!
JANET_V, Apr 2026
I did this tour alone because my daughter was ill but everyone was really friendly and I felt at ease. Ray was great from start to finish. She was very knowledge and we got a great insight to life in a favela. We felt very safe and had a great time. If I do another tour I would like Ray to be my guide. Fantastic trip.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us—it truly means a lot.
We’re really sorry to hear your daughter wasn’t feeling well, but we’re glad you still decided to join the tour and felt comfortable and welcomed throughout. That’s exactly the kind of environment we aim to create.
Ray will be especially happy to hear your kind words. She’s incredibly passionate about what she does, and it’s great to know she made such a positive impact on your experience while sharing meaningful insights about life in the favela.
We’re also very pleased to hear that you felt safe and had a great time—that’s always one of our top priorities.
Next time, we’d love to have you and your daughter join us together—and we’ll definitely do our best to have Ray as your guide again
Wishing your daughter a quick recovery, and we hope to see you again soon!
Kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
IAN_J, Apr 2026
This tour was OK but only just. Tour guide was from the Favela himself which was good but not prudish but frequent 'f'ing and blinding' is not appropriate language especially with mixed age ground and in any caes not professional for a guide to use. The tour itself was ok, visited a dance group of youths and also children playing basketball, good history but honestly, you can find other neighbourhoods as 'normal' in many parts of the world such as India, Egypt, Morocco etc etc so nothing actually out of the ordinary.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your honest feedback.
We’re glad to hear you appreciated having a local guide and enjoyed parts of the experience, such as the visit to the dance group and the opportunity to see daily life in the community.
At the same time, we truly apologize for the language used during the tour. This is not the standard we aim for, especially in mixed-age groups, and we take your comments seriously. We will address this with our team to ensure a more professional and respectful experience for all guests.
Regarding the overall experience, our goal is to offer an authentic and real insight into life in Rocinha, guided by someone who lives the reality every day. We understand that each traveler has different expectations, and we appreciate you sharing yours.
Your feedback helps us improve, and we’re grateful you took the time to share it.
Kind regards
Favela Walking Tour
Yannina_C, Apr 2026
I traveled solo to Rio and booked the Rocinha tour with Liz, my tour guide, and it was hands-down one of the best decisions I made! As a local guide, she brought the favela to life with genuine stories, hidden gems, and insider tips that no standard tour could match. What stood out most was how safe and comfortable she made me feel from start to finish—perfect for a solo traveler like me. The experience was so real and unforgettable that I’d recommend her 100% to anyone visiting. Book it—you won’t regret it!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review!
We’re thrilled to hear that your Rocinha experience with Liz was one of the highlights of your trip to Rio de Janeiro. As a local guide, she truly loves sharing the real stories, culture, and hidden gems of the community, so it means a lot to know that her passion made your experience unforgettable.
We’re especially happy that you felt safe and comfortable throughout the tour—creating that welcoming environment is something we care deeply about, especially for solo travelers.
Thank you again for recommending us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future! ❤️🇧🇷
Aaron_M, Apr 2026
Best tour we have ever done Martin was great so knowledgable and engaging. I would highly recommend this to anyone
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing feedback!
We’re thrilled to hear this was the best tour you’ve ever done! Martin will be very happy to know you enjoyed his knowledge and engaging style.
Thank you for recommending us — it truly means a lot, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! 😊
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
Anastasios_K, Apr 2026
The tour was very interesting and insightful. I would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to learn how many Brazilians live like
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback!
We’re glad to hear you found the tour interesting and insightful. Our goal is to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the community and daily life in Brazil through a respectful and authentic experience.
Thank you for your recommendation — it truly means a lot to us!
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
Denise_K, Apr 2026
An incredibly fascinating and unique experience. Martin was an amazing guide, and what made it truly special is that he actually lives in the community, so you’re getting a real and authentic perspective, not just an outside view. It truly felt like a city within a city, with its own shops, culture, and daily life. Highlights included stopping at a local bar for drinks and watching a pickup soccer game with neighborhood kids.
I felt completely safe the entire time and was able to fully enjoy the experience. Just be ready, it’s a workout with lots of stairs and winding paths, but that’s part of what makes it so immersive. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed feedback!
We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fascinating and unique experience with Martin. Having guides who truly live in the community allows us to offer an authentic perspective, and we’re glad that made the tour even more special for you.
It’s great to know you enjoyed the local atmosphere, the stop at the bar, and watching the neighborhood soccer game — those real everyday moments are what make the experience so memorable.
We’re also happy you felt safe and fully immersed throughout the tour. And yes… the stairs definitely make it part tour, part workout! 😄
Thank you again for your recommendation — it means a lot to us!
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
Angela_V, Mar 2026
Ray was an excellent guide. The tour was amazing, really informative. You really got to understand a bit of life in the favela. I felt really safe the whole time and enjoyed the experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We’re thrilled to hear you had an amazing experience with Ray and found the tour both informative and insightful. Our goal is to help visitors gain a real understanding of life in the favela while feeling safe and comfortable throughout the experience.
It means a lot to know you enjoyed it and felt safe the entire time. Thank you for joining us! 😊
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
yulitza_c, Mar 2026
10/10 experience. We got a good history lesson , a lot of sight seeing . Great customer service and more !
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing feedback!
We’re thrilled to hear you had a 10/10 experience and enjoyed the history, sightseeing, and customer service throughout the tour. Providing an informative and memorable experience is always our goal, so it means a lot to receive your kind words.
Thank you for choosing us — we’re so happy you enjoyed it! 😊
Kind regards,
Favela Walking Tour
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