depending on the season, the ambience in a favela can reach extremly high temperatures, due to their exposed positioning on hillsides and the enclosed tunnels and pathways  restricting airflow.

visitors should drink plenty of water before entering a favela and bring a supply of bottled water to drink while traveling throughout - when thirsty inside a favela, visitors should purchase sealed bottled water from a shop.

to avoid sunburn  it is recommended to wear protecttion such as a hat and sunscreen even on cloudy days.

a common characteristic of many favelas is the piecemeal construction of walkways throughout the community - paths can quickly change from nicely paved passages, to improvised concrete, to dirt and rocks.