Tavares Bastos is a buzzing and varied community located in the neighborhood of Catete, which has developed culturally and economically in leaps and bounds over the past twenty years. From the heights of the mound, one can enjoy wonderful views of the city, and particularly Sugar Loaf Mountain, which takes on a majestic sheen at dusk.

The community used to be home to the Special Police Operations (BOPE) unit, trained rigorously to combat the thriving favela drug trade. For this reason, for a long time it held a unique and privileged position as the only community unperturbed by drug trafficking and violence.  The unit has since been replaced by the UPP (Pacifying Police Unit).

The favela has earned itself the name of 'cinematographic favela', playing the starring role of backdrop to the new Hulk movie, as well as the highly acclaimed Brazilian Feature Films, Tropa de Elite, Maré and Nossa História de Amor.