at a glance
Many of these favelas are praised today for their approachability by non-residents - favelas such as Vidigal and Santa Marta are desirable neighborhoods and visits are encouraged by the beautiful sights, delicious restaurants and ample, affordable hostels and lodging options they provide. While these favelas are pacified and generally considered safe to enter, again, it is advisable to visit with a guide that is familiar with the lay of the land and can thereby ensure a safe and generally more informative and wholesome experience than would be gotten by strolling through unattended. In contrast to the pacified favelas around the city, entering into certain favelas without UPP presence may be considerably dangerous - even when accompanied by a local guide or a resident.
