Favela Tour

We decided today would be a perfect day for the Be a Local - Favela Tour. Nico and I made our way to Che Lagarto in Copacabana to be picked up for the afternoon tour which started at noon.

The Favela Tour departs twice daily however during different times of the year the schedule of departures changes. The transfer van makes its way around Copacobana, Ipanema and Leblon for pick ups, the transfer van is an air conditioned, 10 - 12 passenger van. The tour takes about 3 hours depending on traffic.

A "favela" can also be referred to as a "shanty town". The majority of Favelas around Rio de Janeiro began in the 70's when hundreds of people came to Rio in search of a new beginning. They could not find homes in the city which forced them to live in the Favelas.

We went to the Rochina Favela, considered to be the largest Favela in Rio. It is a home to over 150 thousand inhabitants crammed into 0.80 square miles of land.

We were taken up the favela in the transfer van with our guide, it was amazing to see all the wires tangled up together (HELLO FIRE CODE VIOLATION). We started our walk with our tour guide on Street #1, here we were told that some areas you could take pictures and other areas you needed to put your camera away.

We saw the way people live in the favela, men carrying heavy packages up narrow alley ways and kids playing music in the street. We stopped at an art gallery where you can buy paintings in memory of your time at the favela. (R$20-R$300). The last stop was at a nursery (some of your money that you pay to go on the tour goes to this nursery).

The nursery by far had the best view of the Favela!!

View from the Favela Nursery