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Tavares Bastos, Catete

Tavares Bastos favela tours

A small favela above Catete, with a game on the street pitch.

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.

Tours on this page
Tavares Bastos tour with the FIFA street football pitch
Favela-República · 3 hours Tavares Bastos tour with the FIFA street football pitch
★ 5.0 (849) from $28
Book now
Tavares Bastos visit with the FIFA football pitch
Explore do Brasil · 3 hours Tavares Bastos visit with the FIFA football pitch
★ 4.9 (402) from $28
Book now
See all 2 tours in detail

Tavares Bastos lies on a hill in Catete, close to the city centre. Both tours here walk through it and stop at the FIFA street football pitch, where visitors can join a game. One is run by residents and names the social centre it supports; the other does not say.

The Tavares Bastos tours compared

Both tours last about three hours and start in Catete. The difference is who runs them. Sorted by number of reviews.

Photo Tour Guide from the favela Project Reviews ↕ Price ↕ Book
Tavares Bastos and the street pitch Favela-República Resident (listing) Centro Dona Irene ★ 5.0 (849) $28 per person Book now
Tavares Bastos by Explore do Brasil Explore do Brasil Not stated Not stated ★ 4.9 (402) $28 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.

The Tavares Bastos tours in detail

Who guides, where you meet and what the listing says about the community. Open a card for the full listing.

Tavares Bastos tour with the FIFA street football pitch
Favela-República

Tavares Bastos tour with the FIFA street football pitch

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Start: Museu da República (Palácio do Catete), Rua do Catete 153; a short car ride to the favela.
  • Guide: The operator writes on the listing: “We are residents.”
  • Project: Supports the Centro Social Dona Irene

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $28 ★ 5.0 (849 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Everything on the listing

Highlights

  • Run by residents of Tavares Bastos
  • The FIFA street football pitch in the favela
  • Supports the Centro Social Dona Irene

About this tour

Favela-República is run by people who live in Tavares Bastos, a favela in the Catete district. The tour includes the FIFA street football pitch.

The operator supports the Centro Social Dona Irene, a social centre in the community. Reviewers recommend bringing cash for tips.

Summarised from the tour’s listing on the booking platform, checked in October 2026.

Tavares Bastos visit with the FIFA football pitch
Explore do Brasil

Tavares Bastos visit with the FIFA football pitch

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Start: Catete; the exact spot is on the booking page.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $28 ★ 4.9 (402 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Everything on the listing

Highlights

  • Visit to Tavares Bastos in Catete
  • Stop at the FIFA street football pitch

About this tour

Explore do Brasil runs a second tour of Tavares Bastos, also built around the FIFA street football pitch.

The listing does not say whether the guides live in the favela.

Summarised from the tour’s listing on the booking platform, checked in October 2026.

Run by residents, or not stated

Favela-República writes on its listing “We are residents” and supports the Centro Social Dona Irene, a social centre in the community. The listing of Explore do Brasil, built around the same pitch, does not say whether its guides live in Tavares Bastos or whether part of the price goes to a local project. If that matters to you, ask the operator before you book.

The pitch and the game

The football pitch is the centre of both tours. Reviewers describe playing with local kids and young players as the highlight. One traveller adds a point to think about beforehand: after the game, the guide suggested buying something for the children, and the group felt put on the spot. Decide in advance what you are comfortable with. If you want to give, ask the guide whether the social centre takes donations.

Film sets and a police base on the hill

Tavares Bastos is better known than its size suggests. Scenes for the Brazilian film Elite Squad and for The Incredible Hulk were shot here, and the headquarters of BOPE, the special operations battalion of Rio’s Military Police, stands on the hill, as Wikipedia notes. The official advice of the US, UK and German governments makes no exception for this favela; it is summarised at the top of this page.

Football in Rio after the tour

If the game on the pitch leaves you wanting more, Flamengo and Fluminense play their home games at the Maracanã. riofootballtickets.com compares the ways to see a match there.

Travellers on the football tours

Most reviews praise the guides and the game. The critical one is about money after the match: decide before the tour whether and how you want to give.

“The tour was absolutely amazing! Can’t recommend it enough. Our tour guide Jackson was so knowledgeable and interesting, spoke fluent English too. Playing football was like a dream! …”
Laura · United Kingdom · Oct 2026 Tavares Bastos and the street pitch · Favela-República
“The tour and the guide were fantastic. I highly recommend it to everyone”
Mateusz · Poland · Oct 2026 Tavares Bastos · Explore do Brasil
“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 …”
Verified traveler · United Kingdom · Jun 2026 Tavares Bastos and the street pitch · Favela-República

Reviews by travellers who took these tours, from GetYourGuide.

Questions and answers

Do I have to play football?

The game is part of both tours; if you would rather not play, tell the guide at the start. Reviewers who played describe it as the highlight of the visit.

Which Tavares Bastos tour is run by residents?

Favela-República states on its listing that its team are residents, and it supports the Centro Social Dona Irene. Explore do Brasil does not say where its guides live.

Where does the tour start?

Favela-República meets at the Museu da República (Palácio do Catete), Rua do Catete 153. Explore do Brasil names only Catete as its meeting point; the exact spot is in your booking confirmation.

Should I bring something for the children?

That is your decision. One reviewer felt pressured to buy something for the kids after the game. Ask the guide beforehand how visitors can support the community, for example whether the social centre accepts donations.

Also on this site

Visiting responsibly

Giving, photos and how to tell who benefits from a tour.

Santa Marta tours

Another favela close to the centre, with a funicular and resident guides.

What the tours include

Tickets, transfers and what you pay on the day.

All favela tours in one place

Rocinha, Santa Marta and the Two Brothers hike are compared on the home page.

Open the full table