In the last few years tours of favelas (slums) have become famous amongst tourists travelling to Rio who are interested in getting to know a different side of the Marvellous City. However, there are usually a lot of doubts involved in the process of choosing to book a Favela Tour or deciding to do it on your own: “Is it safe?”, “Do I have to go with a personal guide?”, “Is there a drug war going on or a conflict with  government forces?”
That is why we have prepared this guide to visiting a Favela in order to inform you a bit about the current security situation of, the ones we recommend you go to and how best to get there.
[caption id="attachment_7736" align="aligncenter" width="540"]visiting a favela Laje Michael Jackson: amazing view of Rio / source[/caption]

The pacification process

In 2008, the Security Secretary of Rio’s Government launched an extensive program to pacify the favelas, which means recovering the power that was in the hands of traffic dealers. As of today, 30 favelas from different areas of the city have been pacified in a process that involved a lot of training, police intelligence, help from national forces like the army, and, unfortunately, some violence.
The process begins with the recovery of control (which is the hardest part). Then comes the stabilization phase that may last up to weeks or months. After the situation is controlled, the government installs a Pacifying Police Unit (Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora, or UPP). This means that the police and government are occupying the favela and that traffic dealers are no longer in charge.
This is a very popular program among Rio’s residents, but there are also critics from some sectors of the society. However, as a tourist, the most important thing to know is: if you are visiting a favela, choose a pacified one. They are really safe – especially the smaller ones in the South Zone (the touristic part of Rio).
[caption id="attachment_1385" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Pacifying Police Unit (Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora, or UPP). Pacifying Police Unit (Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora, or UPP). / source[/caption]

Which favelas to visit?

Of course every favela offers you the opportunity to get to know another side of Brazil, but there are some that, beyond that, can be a genuine tourist attraction in Rio. The most famous ones are: Rocinha (the biggest Brazilian slum), Vidigal (which has an incredible view of the sea), Babilônia (amazing view of Copacabana), Pavão-Pavãozinho (in the trendy Ipanema neighborhood), Santa Marta (the first to have an UPP and one of the safest) and Complexo do Alemão (the only one on this list that lies outside the touristic zone, but is famous for its sheer size – it is in fact a compound of slums – and for the lift system that takes you up its hills).

How to get to a favela?

For a tourist who is travelling to Rio for the first time and/or does not speak Portuguese, we definitely recommend booking a favela tour with a bilingual guide from a certified travel agency. They can be walking, jeep or motorcycle tours. Usually, each provider goes to one specific favela. The most common options are Rocinha, Santa Marta, Vidigal and Complexo do Alemão.
If you really want to visit a favela on your own, choose Santa Marta. It was the first to be pacified and the UPP there is a model for the others. Also the small, manageable size of the favela makes controlling people’s safety and security a lot easier. Right at the main entrance to Santa Marta, on the busy San Clemente street in the neighbourhood of Botafogo, you have a tourist information stand, which we recommend you stop at before entering the favela (they may indicate a local guide or give you more tips on visiting the community). The hill where Santa Marta is located is called Dona Marta. You may go up there walking or with the charming tramway used by the residents.
[caption id="attachment_7737" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Favela Tour - Vila Canoas Favela Tour - Vila Canoas / source[/caption]
There are five stations and at the forth lies the access to the famous Laje Michael Jackson: a square with a statue of the singer (who recorded part of his They Don’t Really Care About Us video clip there) and which has an incredible view of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon neighborhoods (including the famous lagoon, some beaches and Christ the Redeemer at the corner).
After taking photos there and walking through the small favela streets, you can go back to the tramway and go to the fifth and last station, at the highest part of the hill where there is an amazing view as well. Once you head back we recommend, you walk in direction of the UPP Headquarters which is located at the peak and start crossing the hill to the other side. After a short 5-10 minute walk down you will get to the Dona Marta Belvedere (Mirante do Dona Marta), from where you get breathtaking view of Rio that includes the Sugar Loaf and the Botafogo neighborhood. After enjoying the spectacular panoramic views of Rio, you can walk down into the beautiful neighborhood of Laranjeiras, with its busy streets full with buses and taxis that can take you wherever you want in Rio.
[caption id="attachment_7740" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Complexo do Alemão recently built lift system Complexo do Alemão recently built lift system / source[/caption]
Did we grab your enthusiasm? Don’t hesitate and visit a favela on your next trip to Rio. Whether it is with a safe private tour or carefully on your own, we are sure you will get a complete experience: You visit one of the most authentic aspects of Rio, sightsee Rio from a privileged point of view and may even enjoy a tramway or a lift ride.