Can you visit favelas in Rio?

There are no safe favela tours in Rio. The Foreign Office of Brazil advises tourists to be wary of going into favelas. “All favelas are unpredictably dangerous areas, and remain high risk given the level of violence within them and the severe strain on police resources,” its website says.

Should I visit a favela?

The most crucial thing to know is that each favela is different than the other. But! and that’s an important one, you should totally visit the favela! Just maybe not as a tour (and if you do take a tour try and make sure the guide is a favela resident). There are so many other ways!

What are the main challenges facing people who live in the favelas of Rio?

People are poor and cannot afford healthcare or medicines so illnesses go untreated. Diseases spread quickly. As a result, infant mortality rates are high and life expectancy is low (on average 56 years) in a Rio favela. There are not enough jobs to go around, so unemployment rates are high.

Is Rocinha favela safe?

Rocinha: This is the largest favela in Brazil, and while some consider it one of the safer favelas to visit, others recommend that tourists don’t visit it on their own without a local guide.

Do favelas have electricity?

In Rio’s favelas, most homes are made from brick and cement, a majority have running water and about 99\% have electricity. Sanitation is often a big problem – in Rocinha sewage flows down a large channel in the middle of houses. Recent reports suggest 65\% of favela residents are a part of Brazil’s new middle classes.

Do favelas have roads?

Favelas are most commonly built on hills or suburbs and consist of one to two-story brick houses, along narrow, and often unpaved, alleys and streets with considerable cars and motorcycle traffic — corridors sometimes lacking basic infrastructure such as electricity and sewage.

Why do people tour favelas?

In contrast, proponents insist that favela tours give a voice to sidelined communities and help tourists better understand the challenges faced by those living in shanty towns. “If you do choose to go on a favela tour, ensure your guide will be local, and that you will be doing more than just gawping at poverty.”

How could favelas be improved?

The authorities in Rio de Janeiro have set up self-help schemes in the favelas. People are given tools and training to improve their homes. Low-interest loans may be used to help people fund these changes. The local authority sometimes provides residents with materials to construct permanent accommodation.

Is Zona Sul safe?

Zona Sul (the Southern Zone) of Rio is the safest and with larger police presence. This includes the areas of Copacabana, Ipanema, Botafogo and Flamengo. Walking around this areas feels safe during the day.