Favela tour prices and what they include
Live prices, and the costs that only show up on the day.
Official travel advice The US, UK and German governments advise against visiting Rio’s favelas, guided tours included. The decision to go is yours.
Read it at the US State Department, UK Foreign Office or the German Federal Foreign Office (in German).
What the advice says
The US State Department rates informal housing developments at Level 4, “Do Not Travel”, even on guided tours. The UK Foreign Office advises against all favelas, including favela tours. Germany’s Federal Foreign Office advises against visiting any favela in Rio de Janeiro, guided tours included.
Ask your travel insurer if your policy still covers a visit against official advice. More background on our page about travel advice and safety.
The price on the booking page is rarely the whole story. A pickup, a funicular ticket or a mototaxi can be part of it or not, and on some tours a small fee or a ride is paid in cash on the spot. The tables below take what each listing names as included and what is known about extra costs, and add the price the platform shows today.
What each tour includes
Grouped by favela and sorted by number of reviews. Every tour on this site can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start, so there is no cancellation column.
Rocinha
Listed today at $35–$45 per person.
| Photo | Tour | Duration | Included (listing) | Paid on the day | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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Rocinha walk with minivan pickup Favela Walking Tour | 2–3 h | Minivan pickup | Not stated | ★ 4.8 (4,458) | $35 per person | Book now |
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Rocinha tour from Metrô São Conrado Favela Tour Guide | 3 h | Mototaxi ride | Not stated | ★ 4.8 (2,239) | $45 per person | Book now |
|
Rocinha walk by Jupiter Tour Jupiter Tour | 2.5 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 4.9 (581) | $36 per person | Book now |
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Rocinha walk by Rio As A Local Rio As A Local | 2.5 h | Not stated | Fee on site | ★ 4.8 (234) | $42 per person | Book now |
Santa Marta
Listed today at $21–$33 per person.
| Photo | Tour | Duration | Included (listing) | Paid on the day | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Marta Top Tour Favela Top Tour | 2.5–3 h | Funicular ticket | Not stated | ★ 4.9 (782) | $31 per person | Book now |
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Santa Marta with Copacabana pickup Favela Santa Marta Tour | ≈ 3.5 h | Van and insurance | Not stated | ★ 4.9 (383) | $33 per person | Book now |
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Santa Marta tour with Gilson Fumaça Favela Tour Santa Marta (Gilson Fumaça) | 2–2.5 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 4.5 (246) | $29 per person | Book now |
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Santa Marta walk with Marco Antônio Marco Antônio Rocha Martins | 2.5 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 5.0 (29) | $21 per person | Book now |
Tavares Bastos
Listed today at $28 per person.
| Photo | Tour | Duration | Included (listing) | Paid on the day | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tavares Bastos and the street pitch Favela-República | 3 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 5.0 (847) | $28 per person | Book now |
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Tavares Bastos by Explore do Brasil Explore do Brasil | 3 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 4.9 (399) | $28 per person | Book now |
Vidigal and the Two Brothers hike
Listed today at $48–$92 per person.
| Photo | Tour | Duration | Included (listing) | Paid on the day | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Two Brothers hike by Saira Ecotour Saira Ecotour | 3.5 h | Transport, entrance | Transport, entry (reviews) | ★ 4.9 (651) | $48 per person | Book now |
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Two Brothers hike with Rodrigo Indio Rodrigo Indio | 3.5 h | Mototaxi or van | Not stated | ★ 4.8 (271) | $60 per person | Book now |
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Dois Irmãos hike with Catharina Catharina Emanuelle | 3.5 h | Mototaxi ride | Not stated | ★ 4.8 (223) | $48 per person | Book now |
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Hike plus Vidigal by Urban Jungle Urban Jungle | 4.5 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 5.0 (209) | $83 per person | Book now |
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Vidigal and hike by Nattrip Nattrip Brasil | 5 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 4.6 (124) | $92 per person | Book now |
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Vidigal tour with Nat Carioca Tours with Nat | 1.5 h | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 4.6 (44) | $53 per person | Book now |
Prices are per person as the booking platforms list them today; the amount for your date shows on the booking page.
Why the prices move
Prices on the booking platforms are set by the operators and can change with the date, the group size and the season. The figures on this site are refreshed automatically several times a day; the amount for your date and number of people is the one on the booking page. English pages show US dollars, so a price may differ slightly from what you see on a platform set to another currency. The Santa Marta tour with Copacabana pickup is booked through Viator, all other tours through GetYourGuide.
Costs on the day
Three kinds of extra cost come up in the listings and reviews. Rio As A Local names a fee payable on site in its listing. On the Two Brothers hike with Saira Ecotour, some reviewers paid for the mototaxis and an entrance although the listing names both as included. And on most tours, tips for the guide are paid in cash. If something is unclear, ask the operator through the booking platform before you pay, so the answer is on record.
Cash to bring
Bring small notes in Brazilian reais: tips, fees on site and any rides that are not included are paid in cash. Keep the money for the day separate from the rest, and leave cards you do not need at the hotel.
What the price does not tell you
A low price is not a sign of a worse tour, and a high one does not buy a resident guide. For who leads each tour and which project it supports, see the resident-led tours and the tables on the home page.
Reviews that mention money
These reviews are about value: one hiker paid extra for rides and the entrance, a Rocinha guest objected to a long stop at a restaurant and souvenir shop, and a football tour ended with a request to buy for the kids. The first voice shows the other side.
“The experience was so worth it. The view, the hike, the stories from our guide. I recommend this to anyone going to Rio de Janeiro”
“very bad value for money… the hike is very doable without a guide. cost of moto taxis not included on either side and also you must pay the entrance cost.”
“For a relaxing leisure vacation, I would not recommend this Rocinha favela tour. Over half an hour of the itinerary was spent at a restaurant and souvenir shop. …”
“Good value for money the experience starts well with a chilled guide and felt safe and the football was fun however it turns into something that can quickly turn ugly, when finishing playing the kids the guide puts you in an awkward position by saying please by the kids some …”
Reviews by travellers who took these tours, from GetYourGuide.
Questions and answers
Is the mototaxi included in the price?
On some tours. Favela Tour Guide in Rocinha, Rodrigo Indio and Catharina Emanuelle include the ride; Jupiter Tour has one on the route. On the Saira Ecotour hike, some reviewers paid for the mototaxis themselves. Ask before you book.
Do I pay anything on the day?
Usually tips for the guide, in cash. Rio As A Local charges a fee on site, and some hikers on the Saira Ecotour hike paid for transport and an entrance. Bring small notes in reais.
Is the Santa Marta funicular ticket included?
With Favela Top Tour, yes. The other Santa Marta listings do not mention it.
Why do the prices on this site differ from the booking page?
The prices here are refreshed automatically several times a day and shown per person. The booking page calculates the exact amount for your date, group and currency.
Does booking through this site cost more?
No. The platform pays this site a commission from its own share; your price is the same as on the platform directly.