a growing number of people are starting to take advantage of these unusual new year's eve experiences, many of whom are tourists and foreigners looking for a relaxed, informal setting and genuine contact with cariocas.

as a result of the 2014 world cup and 2016 olympics the government of rio de janeiro is making a concerted effort to make many parts of the city safer and there has been an ever-increasing police presence within the favelas in a bid to tackle drug crime.

in recent years it has become less of a risk for tourists to visit these types of neighborhoods, so the locals have moved to seize the opportunity  to show off their neighborhoods to the world, and making a pretty penny with it.