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A mural of 'SANTA MIA' with a group of people standing in front. 1
A group of people on a narrow street with steps leading up to a building. 2
A rainbow over a cluster of colorful buildings with visible satellite dishes. 3
A group of people posing with a bronze statue on a rooftop overlooking a cityscape. 4
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By Favela Top Tour

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is £25 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 2h 30m+
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Multiple languages

Overview

    • Choose the only five-star local company with guides from the community
    • Visit a local guide’s home safely with real connection
    • Experience samba culture and true favela stories
    • Enjoy an affordable tour with top rated service and authentic quality
    • Go beyond tourism: meet, learn, and connect with locals

Activity location

    • Rio de Janeiro
    • Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Meeting/Redemption Point

    • Praça Corumbá - Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22270-070, Brasil | Tourist Information Stand
    • Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Check availability

Experience the Real Rio on a 3-Hour Santa Marta Favela Tour

  • Activity duration is 3 hours3h
    3h
  • English

Discover the true soul of Rio de Janeiro on the Favela Santa Marta Top Tour: an authentic, safe, and unforgettable experience with spectacular views, culture, history, art, social projects, and Michael Jackson’s legacy in one tour.

Price details
£25.31 x 2 Adults£50.62
Total
Price is £50.62

Santa Marta Favela: 2.5-Hour Sunset Tour with Local Guide

  • Activity duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes2h 30m
    2h 30m
  • English

Take an immersive tour of Santa Marta Favela with Favela Top Tour, exploring colourful streets, local stories, and the spot where Michael Jackson filmed his music video. Finish with a magical sunset and the illuminated favela after dark.

Starting time: 17:00
Price details
£29.78 x 2 Adults£59.56
Total
Price is £59.56

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Guided tour by a local resident
  • Inclusions
    Visit to the statue of Michael Jackson
  • Inclusions
    Visit to local social projects
  • Inclusions
    Tram ticket
  • Inclusions
    Visit Mirante Dona Marta
  • Inclusions
    Visit Residents' Association
  • Exclusions
    Transfer

Know before you book

    • Not allowed: Smoking
    • Not suitable for: Babies under 1 year, Wheelchair users
    • In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.
    • This activity is provided by a professional trader (a party acting within their trade, business or profession).

What you can expect

  • Favela Top Tour: More Than a Tour, a True Immersion into Santa Marta’s Life

    Favela Top Tour is a community-based tourism agency created by residents of the Santa Marta Favela. We were born and raised here. We know every alley, every storey, every smile, and every challenge of this vibrant community in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.

    Unlike outside companies that sell favela tours at high prices and often without local guides, Favela Top Tour values the leadership of the residents, offering an authentic, safe experience at a fair price, with a direct impact on the local economy. Here, the guide is known by everyone, and you’re welcomed as part of the community, not just a distant visitor.

    During the tour, you’ll visit the famous Michael Jackson Space, right where the star filmed the “They Don’t Care About Us” music video, featuring a stunning viewpoint overlooking Rio’s South Zone. Then, you’ll dive into the favela’s living culture with a roda de samba performed by locals, incredibly talented musicians who represent the true samba of Brazil.

    You can also join a casual football match with the community’s children, a lighthearted, fun, and genuine moment. The visit also includes stops at filming locations from Fast & Furious 5, showing how the favela became the backdrop for major international productions.

    But the tour is not only about culture and scenery. It also highlights Santa Marta’s social and sustainable side. You’ll get to know initiatives like Santa Horta, a project that transforms former dump sites into community organic gardens, generating income, healthy food, and environmental education for local residents.

    Favela Top Tour is a bridge between visitors and those who live here. Every step of the tour directly supports social projects, local artists, and small businesses in the community.

    By choosing Favela Top Tour, you’re not just sightseeing. You’re valuing the territory, investing in transformation, and respecting the favela for what it truly is: a place of culture, resilience, joy, and strength.

    Favela is life, art, and history. Live it with those who live it.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    • Rio de Janeiro
    • Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    • Praça Corumbá - Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22270-070, Brasil | Tourist Information Stand
    • Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil