🇧🇷The most spectacular views of Rio are from the favelas!🌅
I went on a sunrise hike up Morro Dois Irmãos, starting in Vidigal favela at 3:30 am. I found out about the hike through a WhatsApp group, so I went hiking with a few people, including locals @apriscilasara .
To get there, we had to take an Uber, which dropped us at the entrance of the favela, on the main road, because Uber and taxis don’t enter favelas. From there, we took motorbike rides to the top, and it was the only scary experience during my stay in the favela. It was a crazy ride on a steep, winding road, in the middle of the night.
Vidigal was once one of the most dangerous favelas in Rio, but not anymore. It overlooks some of the richest neighborhoods like Leblon and Ipanema, and it’s one of the more gentrified favelas in the city. However, it’s still a favela, so some level of caution is advised.
Inside the favela, there are strict rules, and robberies are prohibited, so you don’t have to worry about your valuables. In that term, favelas are safer than tourist areas of the city.
If you’re a traveler, you’ll not be molested as favelas are run by drug gangs, and the community earns money when you pay for trail fees or take a motorbike ride.
While the media often portrays every favela as extremely dangerous, Vidigal is generally fine and is one of the most peaceful favelas.
Many people live in favelas because they have no other choice—no money, little education, and no opportunities. But despite their surroundings, the residents of Vidigal looked very hospitable and friendly, even greeting us as we passed by.
If you decide to visit, make sure to respect the rules, like not taking photos and videos inside the favela, especially of people. Also, if you know some locals, it’s best to go there with them or you can join the Rio hikes WhatsApp group.