Before we came to stay in Rocinha we were a little concerned about things we had read and heard, regarding safety. We soon discovered that most of this information is outdated, exaggerated or misinformed. What we experienced was genuine warmth, hospitality and a vibrant culture.
Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed by Dona Celia, even though we speak about three words of Portuguese between us she was friendly patient and attentive, going out of her way to make us feel at home. The apartment itself has every modern comfort you need, including the most comfortable bed we experienced possibly in our entire travels. The apartment is a short walk from Sao conrado beach which has the movement and vibrancy of the main beaches but feels more local. The local bars are popping, every corner you turn there is music playing, the smell of barbecued meat, kids playing, hustlers hustling and craftsmen.
We found it to be very safe walking around the favela, perhaps more so than in the touristic parts of Rio. Our neighbours were so friendly, stopping us to have a chat , again we communicated mainly with gestures and broken words but they were a joy to converse with.
Moises was a fantastic proxy host. Responding quickly and competently to all of our messages. He even showed us a few things in Salvador since we happened to be visiting after Rio and generously shared some of his knowledge and time further enriching our experience of Brasil.
As the listing states, be prepared for the favela experience. If you are looking for clean and sanitised streets, or to meet other tourists, this is not for you. Respect the rules of the favela, don’t take pictures in the street. We did see armed traffickers but they did not bother us and according to the local people they keep the peace. Treat them like you might treat the police.
We were quite sad to leave Rocinha and left feeling that our London lives were missing some of the vibrant culture that we experienced in the favela.