March 11, 2025
RIO DE JANEIRO - DAY 3 - ROCINHA FAVELA "SLUM" TOUR
I have always been curious of the images you see of Rio, with the vast number of homes seeming piled on top of each other. A friend who has been here several times and recently just came back, told me his favorite tour, Inside the Favelas and he gave me the contact info of a private guide. I was excited that 8 others wanted to join me too! It was a real eye opener to what life, for so many in Rio, is really like! What I also loved is that a significant part of the cost of the tour, goes to the local community center.
Our tour guide Leo, gave us a ton of facts - all pretty grim with little hope for change. Brazil is the 5th largest country in the World by area, and the 7th largest by population, over 212 Million people. They have extreme income inequality, despite high rates of economic growth. The country's richest 1% of the population ( less than 2M ) have 13% of all the household income, while the poorest 50% of population (or 80 Million), share the same 13% . Our Guide summarized by saying more than half the population is working for the 1%! Education is the key to change, but resources are even poorer for getting this Education. Corruption also runs rampant. The Favelas are controlled by drug lords. Massive fees go to these drug lords to keep things running smoothly in favela - rent, wifi, fuel and transportation. You have no ownership in favela, you have squatters rites, somewhat administered by local government. As much insight as we gained, we were left with tons of new questions!
View from terrace atop of Rocinha Favela , the largest favela in Rio from the rooftop tourist bar and cafe where they teach Samba ( which has roots in favelas) and you marvel at the amazing views. Turns out the hilltop real estate was believed to be haunted by locals, so land was undesirable. This is why the favelas in Rio are built on hillsides, and not at low lying areas like in South Africa and India.
Here's our group on the overpass that joins the 2 sides of the favela. Holly, Anna & Jimbo, Sherrie, Scott, Callie, me, Bob & Sarah.
Sadly these pictures don't convey the massive amount of motorcycles that flood the favela street when residents are being shuttled back and forth to their jobs. The rush hit us when we were leaving the Rocinha Favela and we were inside the van awe struck! One motorcycle was even carrying a 15 foot extension ladder. This curvy street, the only real road in the favela, was originally built for race car driving back in the 1960's. There are city buses to this area, but motorcycle is the way most seem to go.
