Famous for its beaches, stunning mountains and spectacular carnival, the Olympic city of Rio de Janeiro is also renowned worldwide for its favelas.
With seemingly chaotic clusters of houses, hillside towns are associated with poverty, crime and desperation, eclipsing highly functional and vibrant working-class favelas that were once no-go zones.
Favelas – and the mystique that surrounds them – have fascinated tourists for decades and have become an increasingly popular destination for vacationers looking for an authentic experience, an affordable place to stay, or some of the best city views.
Here are some of the favela homes that Olympic tourists have booked through Airbnb.
Rocinha – £10 a night
Guests who book a private room in this house near the top of Rocinha have access to a terrace with incredible views
In addition to the terrace, the house has a living room, kitchen, bathroom and amenities such as cable TV and internet.
The host said the house was a short walk from a bus and van stop where people could get to Copacabana and Ipanema.
Customers who book a private room in this house near the top of Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio, access a large terrace with stunning views.
It usually costs around £10 per night, but the price has been increased by an average of £34 per night during the Olympics, with a minimum stay of seven nights.
Amenities include cable TV, internet, and a water purifier, and it’s a short walk to a bus and van stop where people can catch a ride to Copacabana and Ipanema.
Pavão-Pavãozinho – £12 a night
A listing in the Pavão-Pavãozinho favela has stunning sea views, but is booked until the end of the Olympics
Guests have the whole place to themselves from just £12 a night. It accommodates three people on a double bed and a single bed
The host said Pavão-Pavãozinho was pacified about four years ago and was ‘by no means a poor favela’
Previous customers have posted rave reviews about it Airbnb Listing with great views in the Pavão-Pavãozinho favela, with a writing: ‘You are IN THE FAVELA. Very unique experience. I loved it, everyone is very nice and that’s for sure.
For £12 a night, guests have the whole place to themselves, just five to 10 minutes up the hill from Copacabana and Ipanema, though it gets booked up during the Olympics.
The host said Pavão-Pavãozinho was pacified about four years ago and is “by no means a poor favela” as it is “turning into” a decent lower-middle-class neighborhood.
Pereirao – £11 a night
Three nights a week, this house serves as a free music school for children in the Pereirão favela in Rio de Janeiro
Bottled water is provided to guests as part of the nightly rate because it’s not safe to drink Rio’s tap water, the host said.
There are stunning views of Sugarloaf Mountain, and the favela has a “great” community vibe, the host wrote
three nights a week, this house acts as a free music school for children in Rio’s Pereirão favela, on the side of a mountain near bohemian Santa Teresa. A private double room starts at £11 a night.
The host claimed that crimes against tourists are rare in the favela, but gang members may try to sell them drugs.
There are stunning views of Sugarloaf Mountain, and the favela has a “great” vibe with a mix of Brazilian and foreign residents, the host wrote.
Santa Teresa – £53 a night
Guests who book a private studio in a guest house in Santa Teresa can enjoy stunning views from the living room
Guests have access to a small terrace with a hammock, where they can admire the landscape from a favela
Olympic tourists got hold of this studio in a guest house, which has a small rooftop pool and a private terrace overlooking the views of upper Santa Teresa.
The guest house offers breathtaking views and is located in a “small, quiet and safe” favela.
The host wrote: “Please don’t think a favela is a slum and it’s dangerous. We have never had any security problems with the tourists we have been receiving for four years.
Santa Teresa – £18 a night
Franco-Brazilian hosts at this Santa Teresa favela said the neighborhood has many overseas residents
Like many hillside favelas, it offers an excellent vantage point for Rio’s sights, including Sugar Loaf
Franco-Brazilian hosts who offer a private room in this favela house in Santa Teresa said the neighborhood has many overseas residents, including from England, France and Germany.
Like many hillside favelas, it offers an excellent vantage point of Rio’s sights, including Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Hosts said the area offers peace and quiet and the residence is a short walk from a bus stop, which is important to consider as many favelas involve a lot of walking.
Vidigal – £75 a night
The kitchen and living room of this apartment in Vidigal have been completely renovated with new flooring and new lighting
The whole house is available from £75 a night, with views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Cagarras Islands
The apartment overlooks Ipanema in the southern area of Rio and is a five-minute walk from the less crowded Vidigal Beach.
The kitchen and living room of this two-storey apartment in Vidigal, which overlooks Ipanema in the southern zone of Rio, have been completely renovated with new flooring, new lighting and appliances.
The whole house is available from £75 a night, with views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Cagarras Islands from every bedroom.
There are plenty of places in Vidigal to grab an ice cold beer or listen to live music, and the locals are friendly and chatty, giving it a “small town” feel, the hosts wrote.
Comments are closed.