while most favelas in rio are 'out of sight' of visitors, vidigal is a clear part of the city picture of rio de janeiro, alonside two of the most affluent neighborhoods of the city.

vidigal's location creates a visible and stark contrast between the affluence of some parts of the city, and the harsh realities faced by the  residents of the favela, driving attention to rio's social issues and spurring much debate.

as a result of its geographic location, vidigal is rich in animal and plant species protected by the instituto brasileiro do meio ambiente e dos recursos naturais renováveis - ibama (the brazilian institute of environment and renewable natural resources), thus this favela's expansion is closely monitored and controlled by the local authorities.