Favela Vidigal Tour And Brazilian Lunch

When we return to Rio I will 100% be contacting Henry again to take some of the other tours like two brothers for sunrise and sunset, do not hesitate to book, if you’re looking to book a tour in Rio use Experience Rio for sure! We booked trips for every day we were in Rio like Maracana Flamengo game, Vidigal Favela tour, Tijuca and waterfalls, the Ilha Grande private boat tour. We also took Henry’s advice to complete our own trips at times too like Christ the Redeemer and Escadaria Selarón where a guide isn’t necessary, it was really refreshing for someone to give advice and not just want to take your money which made us feel at ease from the start. Vidigal - This was a true eye opener and so informative to help explain how favelas are formed and how they’re run, I don’t think Experience Rio make any money on this tour, it’s to create jobs, invest in helping the favela (or the people living there) and to share their experience and knowledge, we took this tour with Ricardo (who has lived there since he was 8) the moto taxi at the start is a lot of fun and then we got to meet people who live and work in Vidigal and also had chance to eat some local food in a cafe and grab a beer in a bar with a great view over Rio towards the top of Vidigal.

The tour guide was such a great person to be with and the food was great! Loved every moment of the tour.

The tour was fascinating. Rodrigo gave us an energetic experience that was fun and thought-provoking. He’s a lovely guy.

The experience was nice. I loved the motorcycle rides. And the education given by Rodrigo. The food was good at the restaurant!

An immersive experience. Rodrigo does a wonderful job explaining the social make up of the area. The lunch was delicious.

Fantastic guides with Rodrigo and Ronaldo. So nice and so informative. Speaks a good English. Worth while taking this tour. Lots of stairs, not possible with anyone with mobility issues. So good

My wife and I just spent a memorable afternoon with Rodrigo and Ronaldo touring their favela. Our dual guides went into the details of the evolution and organization of the community. They discussed how it has deep roots in Rio's society. We walked, talked, and took in the many unique things to see. It was truly fascinating. In the end, we shared a delicious meal in a local restaurant. We are active seniors and have traveled to many places, but this tour stands out as an exceptional experience. Both guides had great English skills, and they were very interesting to talk to. We loved it.

The tour was advertised as a private tour and the price we paid felt like we were paying for a private tour. The morning of the tour we were contacted by the operator and they were talking about it like it was a group tour. When I asked if it was a group tour, they just said yes it was and that they seem to have no control over the information on Viator? They said Viator defaults to describing tours as private, even if they’re groups. That They said Viator defaults to describing tours as private, even if they’re groups. That makes no sense to me. The tour was interesting, but there were 15 people on it which means you have to wait for everyone to sort of catch up. A big part of what we had to wait for was for the other people in the group to take all their selfies in the favela.

Rodrigo was our tour guide and spoke excellent English. He is highly respected in the favela, ensuring you’re in safe hands with him. We witnessed the resourcefulness of the community, and everyone we met was very friendly. Dining at Jorge’s Restaurant was an incredible experience, with delicious food! It felt wonderful to experience the authentic culture of Brazil.

Went on the Vidigal Favela Tour early May with Henry Monalto. Can't remember where I stole this from but accurate - "Still a fearsome, gang-controlled collection of shelters, it now sees the economic effects wrought by gentrification, turning it into a tourist hotspot with sweeping views of Ipanema Beach." Moto-taxis took us up about halfway to begin our walk through the Favela as Henry provided an insightful and eye-opening tour. A very authentic experience coming from a local guide who is also passionate about supporting the families and young people living in the Favela to improve their lives via sport, education, employment, tourism, culture and the arts. One of several tours my son (24yo) and I did with Henry. I truly do not belive we could have had such a meaningful and educational experience with any one else taking us through. The lunch at a local restaurant in the Favela was great too!

This was a great and unique tour. Got to see another life of Rio and was really memorable. Henry was very informative and passionate which made the tour exciting. And the funny thing was that the food was actually one of the best during my time in Rio which was a pleasant surprise.

This was a really incredible experience. Rodriguez took me on a walk through the favela that he grew up in. He explained me a lot about the living conditions there and showed me his favourite beutiful spots. He speaks 5 languages, which is incredible, and we had a great exchange. We finished with a nice lunch and a beer. I loved it and would greatly recommend to anyone who is looking for an authentic experience!

Alberto was awesome! I enjoyed touring the Favela and this bar in the Rocina had one of the best Caipirinhas in the city!

Personalised and educational look at daily favela life with Henri and Diago, felt safe at all times without any authenticity being lost, barbecue was really good and you get to experience a bit of what daily life is like, definately one of the most ethical favela experiences and even if you dont speak Portuguese you can see how well liked and respected Diago is in the community.

A favela Tour and lunch that I will never forget! I have been staying at a hostel nearby and was recommended Experience Rio by Edu from the Hostel. First off Henry and his Wife Thais are absolutely amazing and work super hard to provide such an excellent service for us tourists! The food was so delicious, I mean oh my God! Let me tell you, food in Vidigal (other than fast food) is rare. Two weeks in Vidigal and I pretty much only ate burgers and Açaí. Secondly Digão, our guide inside the Favela was absolutely the best! A local guide, passing through the alley and places no tourists could go. We didn't just pass by the main road and visit some attractions. We saw real life, real people and it was so special. Thank you Experience Rio! 10 out of 10!! 5 stars!

I want to thank Digão for the great tour inside Vidigal and taking me to his home.. I felt like every place Digão took me, was a special place.. Nothing felt generic or forced. The tour was super fun and even with all the stairs and alleyways I couldn't stop smiling, taking photos of the children and crazy house structures. The houses are wild!! A special thank you to Thais, Henry's wife who was the cook! Thais made a Moqueca, which is a fish stew made in a special stone bowl. I had this over rice with salad and some gin and Tonic made with tangerine. The view was amazing. The tour was something super unique, I will not forget! Next time, I will come and hike Two Brothers mountain for sunrise! Book with Henry & Experience Rio. Thank you!!

Looking for the best, safest tour guide in Rio? Look no further. I met Henry while visiting Rio in December of 2020, and booked him for at least 7 days over a 3 week period. We spent time in the favelas, visited a few parties, and I ate dinner at his house with his friends/family. He's an authentic, safe, brilliant man, that has a lot to offer his guests. I would highly recommend you book him for your Brazil adventure. It will be unforgettable!!! If you would like to see video of our adventures, visit YouTube and type in "Chris Must List". Thank you!