What is going on in Rio de Janeiro? FAVELA TOUR is an indispensable experience if you look for an insider point of view of Rio. We are a socially responsible non intrusive operator. The tour introduces you to another Rio, within Rio city: the favela. There are close to 1000 favelas in Rio. Mostly placed on former public areas on the hillsides, they are home to around 20% of Rio's population, however they remain unknown for most people who don't live there. The tour is not simply to explain the favelas but to offer a whole new perspective over Brazilian society. You will go to both Vila Canoas and Rocinha, largest one in the country. Picturesque from a distance, once closer they reveal a creative architecture, vibrant commerce and friendly local people. Most samba schools participating in the Carnival parade come from favelas. Favela Tour invites you to reflect on many different, and often disconcerting, aspects of Brazilian society. Don't be shy, you are welcome there and the locals support your visit. If you really want to understand more about this complex and unequal Brazil, do not leave Rio without having joined the FAVELA TOUR.

Brazilian born, Marcelo Armstrong is the pioneer of tours in favelas in Rio. Curious and sensitive observer, on his early twenties, having already worked on the international tourism he had the possibility to travel abroad and meet different people and cultures. When he returned to Rio, his hometown in 1992, he decided to organize visits to favelas based in his personal experience living in the distant Africa. Given their reputation of danger, segregated from official Rio and its tourism environment, initially it was hard to gain credibility amid classical Rio tours, yet FAVELA TOUR became very popular for travellers seeking new discoveries and personal impact. We feel glad to make possible to a growing number of visitors a much deeper understanding of the day by day life in Rio.

Marcelo is registered in EMBRATUR (Brazilian Tourism Bureau) and speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish fluently.