at a glance

During a visit to a favela one should pay close attention to the ways in which they interact with those around them, keeping in mind when Interaction with locals may be limited because of language barriers.

it is important to remain polite and courteous in those forms of interaction and communication that do take place, remembering to smile and show goodwill whenever possible.

Interactions with fellow visitors should also be conducted with due respect and awareness of surroundings - Groups should not run around, laugh outlandishly or shout, as this kind of behavior can be frustrating and irritating to residents.       

Talking loudly in a foreign language should also be avoided as it creates a clear barrier between locals and visitors - a sense of 'us' and 'them' - which runs contrary to the philosophy of cultural sharing and learning that should underpin these visits. 

understanding a bit about carioca culture in general is advised -  for instance, soccer is very important in rio de janeiro, thus avoiding wearing t-shirts of adversaries soccer teams is always appreciated and a polite gesture.

ideally, visitors should learn a few basic words before going into a visit - such as 'bom dia,' meaning good-day, 'oi,' meaning 'hi,' and most importantly 'obrigado,' meaning 'thank you' - a words that should be used whenever possible to show gratitude to the hospitality.

the proper interaction between visitors and residents results in a more rewarding cultural exchange between both groups, and an ever more welcoming and favorable attitude towards favela visits in general.