boutique hotels and hostels have started to spring up in some of the favelas, showing how far the areas have progressed. in copacabana, pavão pavãozinho is the favela that receives the most visitors, while in leme, the favelas of  babilônia and chapéu mangueira allow tourists to hike along a trail, offering incredible views of botafogo bay and the sugar loaf.

another particularly significant community can be found in botafogo - it is here that michael jackson choose to shoot the video to his hit song 'they don't really care about us', instantly bringing the favela of santa marta to stardom.