Cantagalo stands out because of its pioneering and exceptional work in the area of social, cultural and educational development - home to a wide array of NGOs, educational facilities, crèches and cultural establishments. Pavão-Pavãozinho is the twin to Cantagalo,  set on the ipanema-side of the hill home to cantagalo - it is famous for the mirante da paz, a belvedere situated at the top of a structure built when the subway was installed in the region.

these favelas are situated on the frontier between copacabana and ipanema, and as they are neatly connected to each other, these two communities are most commonly referred to as one entity. The communities were first established in 1907, when workers, mainly from the State of Minas Gerais began to settle atop the hill because of its practical access to the flourishing neighborhoods of the zona sul, and their booming commerce.

The views from the top of this hill are exceptional, offering expansive panoramas of arpoador, ipanema, leblon, morro dois irmãos, pedra da gávea, lagoa rodrigo de freitas, the parque da tijuca, christ on corcovado, copacabana, pão de açúcar, and finally, the forte de copacabana, and the cagarras islands.

cantagalo and pavão-pavãozinho  demonstrate the admirable efforts of a local population working together in the face of great adversity to create a stronger and more enfranchised social body, whilst remembering also to celebrate their history, culture and remarkable setting.