it is important to acknowledge that entering a favela is always associated with a certain level of risk. in terms of crime and overall safety, entering favelas today is much safer than just a few years ago - yet, it is  important to be aware that the communities still presents many  hazardous environmental factors.

while it is a common perception that the main source of danger in favelas stems from violent acts committed by organized criminals, the reality is that the most common and probable hazards are environmental.

some factors are due to the up-hill geography of these communities, some due to improvised constructions, and some to plain tropical climate - but all must be addressed before planning a visit into a favela. notably, not all favelas in rio de janeiro are equal - in fact, these communities can differ significantly in geography, architecture, constructions, and urbanization levels.