• Flight Centre Home
  • Blog Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Canada & USA
    • Europe & UK
    • Mexico & Caribbean
    • Oceania
  • Interests
    • Beach
    • Cuisine
    • Luxury
    • Wellness
    • Adventure
    • Off The Beaten Path
  • Travel Styles
    • Couples Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Family Travel
    • Group Travel
    • Business Travel
    • Cruises
    • Tours
  • Book A Trip
    • Flights
    • Vacations
    • Better Beach
    • Destinations
    • Cruises
    • Tours
    • Deals
    • Groups
    • Business

Flight Centre Travel Blog

Banner
  • Flight Centre Home
  • Blog Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Canada & USA
    • Europe & UK
    • Mexico & Caribbean
    • Oceania
  • Interests
    • Beach
    • Cuisine
    • Luxury
    • Wellness
    • Adventure
    • Off The Beaten Path
  • Travel Styles
    • Couples Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Family Travel
    • Group Travel
    • Business Travel
    • Cruises
    • Tours
  • Book A Trip
    • Flights
    • Vacations
    • Better Beach
    • Destinations
    • Cruises
    • Tours
    • Deals
    • Groups
    • Business
Off The Beaten PathSouth & Central America

A Visit to the Favelas of Rio

by Emma Hackwood May 6, 2014
written by Emma Hackwood May 6, 2014
A Visit to the Favelas of Rio

When Kira Davson visited the Rocina favela (a slum in Rio) she admits it was both a sobering but memorable experience. Today she shares why it left an impression on her, and why you should visit a favela community for yourself:

With only a short period of time on my hands in Brazil, there are a few highlights that I did not want to miss out on seeing while travelling through Brazil. Visiting the Pantanal, Iguassu Falls, Copacabana Beach, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and Christo The Redeemer to name just a few of the must sees in this country.

However, one of the the experiences I hold close to my heart was visiting the Rocina favela in Rio. These are considered shanty towns or slums. A place where people who have virtually nothing, can set up a place to call home. These are mostly situated on the hillsides of Brazil with very poor infrastructure. Favelas tend to be operated by drug lords. It was hard to believe that at least 20% of Brazil’s population lived in Favelas being that Brazil is one of the fastest growing major economies.

Brazil Favelas

Despite all of this, they vibe when we toured the favelas was one of perseverance. People passing by would always be greeted with a warm smile or wave. The children played freely in the narrow, almost non existent passages. We paid motorcycle taxi’s two rial’s in order to take us to the very top of the favela. One by one, we went up the winding roads until we all arrived in tact to begin our tour with Intrepid Travel.

Accompanied by our local guide, we strolled the narrow alleys, meet some of the locals, learned about local life and dispelled some of the myths about these vibrant communities.

This experience gave us a behind the scenes look as to how people live in the favelas. During our tour, we had the opportunity to visit an art shop where they had paintings from the locals available for purchase. This was the most honest, and real depiction of how they live and what a favela really is. Vibrant arrays of colour, narrow passageways, and crowded streets.

While we walked through the favela’s there were certain houses marked with big red x’s. These houses are marked by the government in order to be torn down and clean up the crowded favela’s. Because the 2014 World Cup & Olympics in 2016, the government is trying to give Brazil a better more appealing appearance to make it more tourist friendly.

If you’re planning to visit Rio, this is an experience I would recommend you try with a guided tour with Intrepid Travel.

For more information on travelling in Brazil, contact a Flight Centre Travel Expert by visiting your closest store, or calling 1-877-967-5302.

 

BrazilfavelaIntrepid Travellocal livingoff the beaten pathRiorio 2014Rio de JanieroRocina favelaSlumsworld cup
previous post
Video: Travel is More than the Seeing of Sights
next post
A Beginner’s Guide to: Cycling Trips

You may also like

6 Dreamy Luxury Vacations to Add to Your...

December 11, 2020

These Black-Owned Hotels are like Heaven on Earth

November 3, 2020

Travel in Your Own Bubble with These Small...

October 22, 2020

Coming Soon… 10 Dreamy Destinations We’re Watching Closely

August 27, 2020

5 Reasons a Tour is the Perfect Way...

July 28, 2020

Celebrate International Jazz Day with All That Jazz

April 24, 2020

Stay Fit at Home with These Travel-Inspired Dance...

April 20, 2020

TAXI! Siem Reap to Sihanoukville Off the Rails

April 17, 2020

12 Travel Inspired Backgrounds to Spice Up Your...

April 15, 2020

7 Places to Go Without Moving an Inch

April 8, 2020

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Top 5 Vacation Spots Open to Canadians

    July 30, 2020
  • 2

    5 Signs You Need to Stop What You’re Doing and Call a Travel Agent

    January 5, 2021
  • 3

    What My Recent Riviera Maya Vacation was Really Like

    December 14, 2020
  • 4

    6 Dreamy Luxury Vacations to Add to Your Travel Wish List

    December 11, 2020
  • 5

    Travel in Your Own Bubble with These Small Group Tours

    October 22, 2020
  • 6

    Weddings & Reunion Trips: What a Difference an Expert Makes!

    September 8, 2020
  • 7

    Top 5 Places in Ontario to See Fall Colours

    September 23, 2014
  • 8

    A Message from Flight Centre Travel Group

    March 16, 2020
  • 9

    6 Québec Winter Carnaval Activities you Cannot Miss

    March 4, 2016
  • 10

    What Travellers Should Know About COVID-19

    March 5, 2020

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by @FlightCentreCa
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

© Flight Centre Travel Group (Canada) Inc


Back To Top