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 story, 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.
