I highly recommend the Rio Original Bike tour. The bicycle is definitely the best way to get a feel of the city and its parks. The tour is 100% on cycle paths so you don't have to fight the insane Rio traffic. It runs through the Aterro do Flamengo park with views of the Sugarloaf and the Christ as well as the heavenly Guanabara Bay. Thais and Mark are excellent guides and really know the city and its culture inside out. It was the best thing I did on my trip to Rio by far. At R$70 it was a steal given that is roughly the same price as renting a bike on your own.

Tour leaves from Flamengo metro station.
www.biketourriodejaneiro.com
+55(0)21 9810 2187
Google map: bit.ly/nJMe0Y

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Hey all, I had the opportunity to see the favela Rocinha as well and thoroughly enjoyed myself. What was the most fun was hanging out and just being there with the local people, Zezinho's friends and family.

I did not want to go with a huge group of people on a structured tour. And my main requirement is that I wanted my money to go to somebody, a local who lives there in the favela. Many of these companies like "favela tour" or "be a local" charge a lot of money for a short 3 hour visit and your with 10 or more people. I know, as I did research before chosing who I wanted to see the community with.

So, I was referred to a local "Zezinho" who seems to be giving back in his community and is not out to bilk some sorry as* tourist out of his greenbacks! Well worth the money spent for the 9 hours we spent there.

Its obvious this guy loves what he does. He presents the community honestly and makes sure before you leave that you will probably know more about favelas than the average Carioca does. This guy has tattoos of the favela houses on his arms and legs and everybody in the favela knows him! He is like an ambassador for the favela Rocinha.

We had a great time, just the four of us and we highly recommend local people to give you a tour of such a fascinating area of Rio. Stay away from these large companies as they do not hire local guides and the time spent there with them is not worth it. If you are looking to hang out in the favela, drink some beer, listen to music and not have a time limit (we spent 9 hours there), talk to Zezinho. He will make sure you have a great time absorbing favela culture!
Check out his website for the info you need!


~Chris

www.favelatour.org

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I really recommend taking a tour around one of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro - it is one of the most interesting (and exciting!) things I have done during my travels. It's a real eye-opener to wander down through the tiny streets of the favelas, seeing how so many people live in such poverty. All the people we passed seemed happy, were incredibly friendly and loved to have their photos taken (except for the drug dealers, who we were advised not to photograph!). Absolutely fascinating trip, with the added thrill of a ride on the back of a motorbike to get there. Great views of the city too.

Rocinho favela, tour arranged by bealocal.com

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I did hang gliding and a city tour in Rio with a small tour company called Brazil Expedition; great tour and good English!

We went to Christ, forest, Santa Teresa and Lapa Steps- amazing!
Definitely reccommended!

www.brazilexpedition.com

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Boat Party is one of the best ways to have fun in Rio. They offer a tour with DJs, a barbecue and Caipirinhas on the boat!

I loved it - I was already having fun in Rio and after going to Boat Party I didn't want to do anything else.

(55) (21) 2309-4308

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Me and some friends went to Rio and we used a service down there that was pretty good. We contacted a place called Brazil Expedition and they booked some great tours for us.

We went to the Favelas, Maracana stadium and many other great places they had for us. I really recommend them, because it’s pretty good to have everything planed by such a great staff.

Eduardo
(21) 9998-2907 or (21) 7894-7523

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Hoca Tour is an amazing trails company. I am a backpacker and most of my trips are planned in search of adventure. When I was last in Rio I stayed at a hostel located in Copacabana, which is a neighbourhood close by the beach.

I asked the people who worked there if they knew of any activities that could be done by daytime, so they showed me a guide named Rio For Partiers. This was an easy to understand guide with lots of information on what to do in the city and the surrounding places. Me and my boyfriend did many of the ones listed, but the one we enjoyed the most was the Hoca Tour service, which takes you through dirt roads, open roads, sand dunes, rivers, waterfalls, oceans and many beautiful sights.

The driver, Horacio, is very friendly too, and he has a lot of information on that area. We both had a really good time and we hope to come back again.

www.hocatour.com.br
Contact - Horacio

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Brazil Expedition is a team that provides guidance and vehicles for many different sorts of tours.

They drive you to Tijuca Forest, a completely reforested area of Rio. There you will get to see all kinds of vegetation, some wildlife, and a waterfall. You can also make a light hike up to the top of Pedra Bonita, one of Rio’s nicest views. There you will enjoy a view of Rio few people have had the privilege to see, and watch the hanggliders and paragliders jumping off the ramp. And last but not least, the Brazil Expedition staff take you to great soccer games in Maracana, the bigger soccer stadium in the world.
They are very professional and language skilled.

www.brazilexpedition.com
tours@brazilexpedition.com
21 9998 2907 (Eduardo)

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We had a trememndous stay at this B&B in a 'real' neighbourhood. The energetic owners are qualified city guides and they completely transformed our holiday. They regularly organise all kinds of tailor-made itineries at very reasonable prices, from hiking in the forest to beach trips and city/cultural tours. Amazing.

10-15 minute walk from Botafogo beach
Tel: 55 21 2554 8980
www.oveleiro.com

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I am travelling around the world for a year and my first stop was Rio. I excitedly got chatting to some of my fellow travellers who challenged my misconceptions concerning the favela tour. A favela is like a shanty town on a mountain side, where the poorest people live, and I thought a tour meant staring at the streets from a tour bus, showcasing the locals in a horrible, vicarious way. My new friends informed me that it was actually a walking tour given by a local, and that the money we paid was used for improving the school and day centre.

The favela, Rocinha, had the welcoming atmosphere of real and honest people; innocent lives plagued with the volatility of the drug world. It was hard to believe that we were walking through streets that only four days earlier saw the killing of the top drug lord by police. In the three days to follow a further five people were killed as they fought over the prestigious position and the power it provided. The tours stopped during this time and this emphasised the danger and uncertainty with which these people lived.

Our guide, Luis, took us to the day centre where our money was to be used. Before Luis set up the organisation (www.bealocal.com), children went unfed for days and were forced to beg, three years later they are off the streets, given three meals a day and are taught various arts and crafts; they then sell their wares instead of begging.

Looking round Rocinha, I now feel I understand the people of Rio on a much deeper level; with a strong, unyielding community spirit, they share the difficult times and, slowly but surely, set out to improve their situation. The tour manages to obtain the perfect balance, between educating and spreading awareness and providing genuine benefit where it is needed most.

A definite must-do when visiting Rio, it will enlighten your life and provide a unique insight into a fascinating place.

Visit www.bealocal.com and book online, they will pick you up from your hostel/hotel and drop you off afterwards.

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I thought long and hard about going on the tour of Rocinha, Rio's largest favela or shanty town. The voyeristic and danger sides to it did not appeal but after speaking with others that had been on the tour I was ready to see the unique kind of city dwelling made famous in the movie 'City of God'. The tour started on the back of a motorbike, racing up one of the only streets in a huge favela, where house upon house is built, up the jungle-covered mountain. At the top we slowly walked down through the tiny passageways, stopping to visit an artists' studio, a kids' day-care centre and some friendly locals who were learning about the politics and laws of living in a place where police and rubbish-disposal removers rarely enter.

The favela was far from scary and we realized that it is truely a city within a city, home to some 300,000 of Rio's citizens most of whom are not teenage drug gangs, although we did see some members armed with gold-plated guns which was a little too close for comfort. Overall the tour company was highly sensitive and respectful to the residents' privacy. It operated what could potentially be a dangerous and non-PC tour in such a way as to show the real side to daily life in the favela, complete with internet cafes and supermarkets. The company, 'Be a Local', also takes tourists to Rio's amazing Baile Funk parties - like their own home grown grime scene but with more smiles and bass.

Rocinha Favela Tour, Rio de Janeiro. Recommended tour company: www.bealocal.com phone: +55.21.9643-0366

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Jose was a true professional and did a great job of showing us around. The personal guide idea proved to be the best as we did not worry about not speaking the language or transportation. Besides doing the run of the mill sightseeing tours of Rio, Jose also does tours to Buzios and Angra dos Reis, the Brazilian Caribbean. I strongly recomend his services.

You can find all his info through his site:
www.rioturist.com

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We recently visited Rocinha as a guest of Paulo Amendoim. Paulo was President of the Resident's Association for 8 years and currently runs various children's projects. As WillQ says, we felt a bit dubious about making the trip at first but now we are so glad we did. It was absolutely fascinating and Paulo showed us a warm, hard-working, close knit community as opposed to the stories of violence shown frequently in the media. Rocinha aside, Paulo also has a very mischevious sense of humour!

Phone: 3322 8498 or 9747 6860 Email pauloamendoim@hotmail.com

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