Favela Tour Rio De Janeiro - Vidigal Walking Tour By Russo Guide

The best time and the guide made us all feel safe and happy .what a beautiful experince .thanks for everthing

Very insightful guide, excellent walking tour through the favela

I had an amazing experience! Russo was incredibly accommodating, helpful and friendly. I was the only person on the tour, but he still went ahead with it and made me feel welcome. I really appreciated his kindness and willingness to make the experience special. I highly recommend this tour, especially for solo travellers!

Russo was an exceptional host. As a resident of Vidigal he is very well known and informed which made the tour authentic and enjoyable.

Russo offers a good overview of life in the favela. He was courteous and informative. He seemed to know half the people in the favela.

The guide was so much fun and eccentric! He know eeeeeverybody and gives you a unique insights in the everyday life. We loved it so much. Thank you Russo!

The tour was incredibly impactful and Russo was so much fun! A must do tour for anyone visiting Rio.

We had such a great experience with Russo! He’s incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, and because he grew up in the favela and seems to know everyone, the tour felt really personal and authentic. He shared so much about the history of the community and gave us a real insight into life there. Thank you, Russo, for such an interesting and memorable experience. Would definitely recommend!

Truly a unique tour and Russo was fantastic! Certainly a workout if you opt to walk rather than take a tram - but walking gets you very close among the locals living in the favela.

Man what an absolutely beautiful adventure Russo took us on. He’s a local from Vidigal who’s been there 20+ years. We were late and he was kind and waited for us. The trip lasted about 3-4 hours. He took us to an amazing view point and we rode motos for the most part then hiked down. Would absolutely recommend!! 10/10

Exploring a Rio favela with a knowledgeable local guide was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my trip. The tour provided an authentic perspective on the community, its history, culture, and resilience while emphasizing respect for the people who live there. I appreciated learning about daily life, supporting local businesses, and seeing a side of Rio that many visitors never experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a meaningful and educational experience beyond the typical tourist attractions.

Thank you so much to Russo who shares his knowledge from the favella with his heart. Russo, you make such a difference ! Thank you

I had a lovely tour of Vidigal with Russo. I ended up being the only traveler, and Russo was very pleasant and attentive and made sure I truly enjoyed the experience.

Russo was our tour guide, as advertised. This is a good tour to take if you plan to visit a favela in Rio. Russo was born and raised in Vidigal. He knows the locals very well, and everyone knows him there. We felt 100% safe walking around the favela with him. Russo was very informative with the history and the changes that Vidigal has seen over the years, and in his own lifetime. He took us up the steep hill in a public transport minivan, and we walked down slowly through the winding streets and alleyways of the favela. We had a stop about halfway for a rest at a restaurant - you can order a drink (self pay) and sit for a little while to enjoy the view, watch local life, even part of a football game on TV - the World Cup was on. It was a wonderful tour to see a less glamorous side of Rio, but filled with just as much culture and history. Expect almost 2 hours of walking downhill, with a nice break in between.

Russo was our tour guide, as advertised. This is a good tour to take if you plan to visit a favela in Rio. Russo was born and raised in Vidigal. He knows the locals very well, and everyone knows him there. We felt 100% safe walking around the favela with him. Russo was very informative with the history and the changes that Vidigal has seen over the years, and in his own lifetime. He took us up the steep hill in a public transport minivan, and we walked down slowly through the winding streets and alleyways of the favela. We had a stop about halfway for a rest at a restaurant - you can order a drink (self pay) and sit for a little while to enjoy the view, watch local life, even part of a football game on TV - the World Cup was on. It was a wonderful tour to see a less glamorous side of Rio, but filled with just as much culture and history. Expect almost 2 hours of walking downhill, with a nice break in between.

One of the most fun experiences we had in Rio; Russo was incredibly welcoming, funny, and made us feel very comfortable/safe in Vidigal. He showed us throughout the favela, including a school, his home area, and a terrace cafe/bar with incredible views!

Russo's tour of the Vidigal Favela was superb and it was a privilege to explore the area with him. His detailed explanation and many stories of his childhood growing up in Vidigal along with our visits to his friend's social projects and seeing their houses first hand really brought everything to life. Thanks Russo, this was a real highlight of our Brazilian Family Adventure! Highly recommended if you are looking for an authentic tour of a Rio de Janeiro Favela

Russo's tour of the Vidigal Favela was superb and it was a privilege to explore the area with him. His detailed explanation and many stories of his childhood growing up in Vidigal along with our visits to his friend's social projects and seeing their houses first hand really brought everything to life. Thanks Russo, this was a real highlight of our Brazilian Family Adventure! Highly recommended if you are looking for an authentic tour of a Rio de Janeiro Favela.

It was a brilliant tour. Russo was a friendly and funny guide.

Great guide, raised in the favela.

Great walking tour with Russo, we really enjoyed our walk through the favelas. Russo is very knowledgeable about the area and knows his stuff. Thank you very much

Safe to enter Favela with a known Guide or Person in that neighborhood. The motor taxi ride experience was unforgettable and the view at the top is one in a million.

Great tour . Russo is very personable. He knows a lot of people along the tour. We had a great time. Highly recommend.

Gusso was an amazing guide, the tour is nice but he’s what makes it so much fun & interactive. Explained everything & knows how to take pictures & videos from all the best angles, we felt like we were in a music video lol. Overall, 10/10!

Russo is the best guide ever. I felt secure the whole time. I will definitely come back and book more tours with him.

Fantastic guide! Russo is charming and super loved by his community! We felt very safe and was taken care of well … I highly recommend!

Great tour! Very informative and Russo was extremely accommodating with our request. Loved the tour would do it again and again!

It was a really nice tour by Russo! It was interesting to see the Favelas and the beautiful artwork. Thank you!

It was a very interesting tour with a fantastic guide Russo. He showed me this different world of Favellas with respect and knowledge. If you want to learn about other non-touristic sides of Brazil, I would highly recommend this tour .

This was an excellent tour. Never felt unsafe at all. Russo is a local and showed us where he lives. He did a great job and speaks English well. The tour is fairly strenuous with walking. We booked the sunset Dois Irmaos tour after. Unfortunately the tour didn't happen but had it, it would have been a lot. Our legs were shot. The favela is it's own city with two schools and a ton of stores. I highly recommend this tour. We were a family of 5.

Guide and tour were excellent. Highly recommend

Brilliant! Enjoyed every minute. What a privelege to visit the neighbourhood; we studied this in Geography at school. Looked after so well by Robbie. Thanks!

Very worthwhile tour to see the inside of a favela in Rio. Our guide Robinson showed us around, and because he grew up and lives there, he knows it very well, obviously. It was very interesting and we felt very safe. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to get off the beaten path in Rio.

Very nice trip and guide. Really recommended!!! Thank yiu Russo

Russo is hands down the best tour guide I’ve had. He doesn’t just walk you through Vidigal, he really dives deep into the history, culture, and daily life of the community. You can tell he has real relationships with the people there and truly respects the favela. The tour felt authentic, educational, and safe the entire time. I learned so much about Rio that you would never get from just visiting the beaches or tourist spots. If you want to understand the real Rio and see a different perspective of the city, I highly recommend this tour with Russo. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my trip to Brazil. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing time going to see the Vidigal favela with Russo. Started off with an introduction and what I would soon find out is quite a group of fellow travelers who loved to have some fun. It was a great experience to see and learn about the favela and environment from someone who is local and had inner connections while also enjoying the motor bike ride to the upper levels.. that was definitely a highlight, and interesting one at that! Felt totally safe while enjoying plenty of drinks and making memories. The tour was very relaxed and open for questions, and very de-stressing which was good for the last night of my trip. Highly recommended.

The favela tour with Russo was incredible, I highly recommend! At no point did it feel unsafe, and as a resident of the favela Russo was able to give us insight into living conditions. We opted for the later 3PM tour, which was fortitous because after the tour of Vidigal ended, Russo offered to take us to the Rocinha favela. We ended up staying out until past midnight in Rocinha before going home.

Breath taken views, friendly environment, is prohibited to steal,will ruin the tours, Russo is the best, loves to talk

Didn’t know what to expect given the stigma associated with a favela. Russo provided a safe experience with a lifetime of knowledge of his neighbourhood. Highlights were the close knit community, narrow maze like pathways meandering through the hillside, motorcycle taxis zooming by with their passengers/tourists (tourists were the ones with a huge grin of excitement on their faces) and the beer at the local restaurant. Samba playing in the background with priceless views. Essentially a micro city where everything needed is in the neighbourhood. Moderate fitness is required given the steep pathways negotiated but there is always the option for motorised help if required. For the more adventurous, there is a small hotel located at the top of the favela.

Russo was a great guide. He grew up and raised his family in Vidigal. He showed us many sites as well as stunning views. Great photographer too!

This favela tour exceeded my expectations through and through!!! Our tour guide Usso was so knowledgeable, accommodating, and compassionate! He grew up in this favela and knew everything about it. We felt very safe and well taken care of. I would highly recommend this tour. We really enjoyed ourselves and plus he takes the best pictures and videos of you!!!

Our walking tour through Vidigal favela led by Ninho was amazing. Ninho is so knowledgeable and you can tell he has so much passion for the area. Tip: wear tennis shoes!!

Had a fantastic hike and tour with Russo who was an excellent guide. Would 100% recommend this to anyone visiting Rio. 10/10

Russo was an extremely informative and engaging tour guide. Having lived in the favela for most of his life, he shared firsthand stories and insights that made the experience authentic and meaningful. You could truly feel his deep connection to the community and history of the area. He was also very accommodating and flexible—especially when one person in our group wanted to stop and get a haircut. Russo handled it with ease and made sure everyone still felt comfortable and included. Overall, it was a well-organized, respectful, and eye-opening tour that I highly recommend for anyone wanting a genuine local perspective.

My tour ended up just being myself, one other participant, and Russo (the guide) - it was great! Russo is like a celebrity and knew everyone as we walked around, so it felt totally safe and non intrusive into the community. There were so many beautiful viewpoints he showed us along the way, and let us know where it was/wasn’t appropriate to take photos. We rode motobikes up part of the way and that was a cool experience. I definitely recommend- felt completely safe the whole time, learned a lot, and had a wonderful experience!

Russo is a great guide. He knows a lot of history and stories about every place in Vidigal. Tour has some stops for drinks and pictures in the bars. Every now and then there is a place in the back alleys for photos. Even got to play football with a local kids.

Rosso has a lot of experience and the way he shows around the area is excellent. He speaks english very well and everyone knows him in the favela. It felt very safe and he was clear with instructions. Would definitely recommend 10/10

A great experience to see the other side of the Rio. A must do. The guide Robinson was amazing, made us feel comfortable, and touched all great area of the Favela

Russo was a fantastic guide. We were super amazed at the favela, not what we expected. Russo’s local knowledge helped us understand a very vibrant community.