Review: Rocinha Favela Football Experience, Rio de Janeiro

So, you are thinking of taking part in the Rocinha Favela Football Experience in Rio de Janeiro, right? It’s almost got a special charm attached to it. It’s just a bit different from your typical touristy thing, and if you’re like your average traveler looking to go slightly off the path that is really well-worn and maybe see another side of Rio, then you might find that this is a thing you’d want to read about. We’ll run through it – just what it is, how it works, and what to think about before you make up your mind to go.

What Exactly is the Rocinha Favela Football Experience?

So, what happens is that a “favela football experience,” basically, is really just a guided tour combined with playing or just watching a local soccer in the Rocinha favela, that is the one everyone has heard about. You’ll often find the tours put together by groups that are in some respects meant to give back, and in many ways seek to highlight the real character, soul, whatever of Rocinha, and push past many generalities seen in mass media.

Instead of seeing the Rocinha through just that tourist lens that can sometimes be a little flat and maybe even detached, you find that, in a way, these experiences try to connect you with folks there, and to connect in a really authentic and accessible way that’s fun– mostly because soccer really seems to cut across any culture. They usually bring you to spots that tourists typically miss and offer just slightly more background on how the favela has become the way that it is and even some looks into the daily lives of inhabitants.

What to anticipate from your favela football visit

Okay, so first, tours really vary a bit. Typically, expect it’s almost definitely a pickup service at your hotel to avoid, you know, any, possibly complicated self-arranging. The groups running this know that it really can seem like a completely separate language to an out-of-towner, but also sometimes those pick ups have to take place at a pre-decided central meeting place. Anyway, once that is all taken care of, you ride to Rocinha with your smallish tour party. From there, you will likely meet your local favela guide.

Next up? Time for a walk! It really does let you experience things a bit, from your vantage point, and lets the reality sink in. Walking through Rocinha, your local expert lets you in a little to the history of the place, so it’s more than just pictures. Very often, it leads to some awesome photo spots of your own that make pretty amazing memories if you enjoy some travel photography. You also might have chances that feel natural to check in with some residents just very informally. That can also really depend on the attitude of tour operators running things, even some cultural rules of behavior that are appropriate.

Anyway, after that, often you’ll go directly where football’s supposed to go down– usually a soccer pitch, possibly, just to call it what it really is, on the simple side. Sometimes the conditions on a pitch vary really a lot by weather; just to prepare yourself, it might get quite muddy! If you plan to just watch, it might still pay off in a fun travel memory to be a participant: local community members play it out for all, from kids to those older, it often is that many ages and levels of talent end up on a single shared playground, too, actually adding a nice level of chaotic beauty. Be very very attentive because occasionally there is an option to just get your own time to play, and even with the local team!

Pros and cons of taking a Rocinha football experience

Well, as with many decisions about seeing sights, there really is no magic bullet. Let’s just consider some pros. As a matter of fact, these Rocinha tours usually give chances that many would normally miss to see a place like Rocinha just past the media portrayals of it, and perhaps encounter things that simply go against easy stereotyping. Very often tours have people who are directly a part of the favela’s residents who are really proud to display the everyday of it to you. So very frequently, you get this chance that some might want of meeting a local; that might allow many great exchanges. Just so that you know, there can be many options for supporting the local economy by putting your tourist dollars directly into local enterprises.

Next? Let’s weigh up cons. Okay, it can occasionally be too “curated.” You know, tour leaders are often trying to balance being real with things, plus showing things as “safe”, possibly creating at least one slightly unnatural view for many tourists, maybe tourists can find things a little “off.” It’s also worth adding that there may be ethical issues to ponder–specifically considering if seeing disadvantaged areas that almost seem like a “zoo visit” just strengthens problematic tourism. If people go, thinking tours will become “benevolent,” this isn’t a given fact at all and it’s up to personal ethics just as much.

Cost of the tour

So it comes down to costs; that always just seems to be important. Prices for Rocinha’s football tours basically move really widely, anywhere starting roughly at about $30 and extending sometimes upwards to $100 or more. You know, how much is charged usually goes by precisely what the tours provide: like the period the tour itself occupies, whether transportation has a piece to play, and what extras (like gear, meals, etcetera) may cost extra.

Basically what determines ultimate worth can differ personally for any person– some really happily shell it out for ease, comfort, or this tour which feels “total”, while still others keep quite careful and simply look only just for basic/economical picks only. So that, too, will possibly greatly impact how much folks generally think is something worth it, from the starting point for thinking to the ending place of evaluation too.

Things you should bear in mind for security & respectful traveling

First of all, stay tuned for some real, clear, common sense stuff about your safety! You know, heed absolutely whatever your local experts advise; they simply are on-site folks that possess up to date details concerning what’s unfolding right this very second. Really don’t simply get apart even on wanderings, be vigilant over belongings, and quite discreet with costly jewelry too – really draw zero unwanted looks.

Additionally to just simple safety points, act responsibly – the favela is quite clearly home to just an awful amount of folks! Don’t ever intrude directly on anyone’s living area directly, request someone before you simply pop away, or even grab up that “shot”, and you should assist tours run by, that are simply transparent regarding contributing back some value to their locale, so you really have an honest journey also with a positive repercussion on any home area you happen visit, as that too should matter really plenty! If everyone carries out journeys responsibly, so it helps do away those feelings regarding such visits resembling a ‘human zoo’ situation or just an unpleasant invasion of any location from outside!

Concluding: Can you have fun visiting Rocinha with some soccer tour package?

So if this whole Rio de Janeiro “Rocinha football plus a favela tour experience” might fit: I think, on balance, it usually boils down directly your own character. So very surely, these tour types could show an alternative view– quite a welcome way beyond the frequent media angle plus lets us see parts from the neighborhood that normally travelers might completely just miss on their travels independently there plus perhaps gives an honest cultural encounter (always really quite a pleasant aspect which needs highlighting!) The crucial bit? Decide, beforehand: consider tour morals, plus maintain some cautious behavior on location, in so doing that really possibly helps confirm one leaves an optimistic trace simultaneously that they get pleasure on a quite unusual outing.

So I have included some summary points for your fast reference below for getting set up there and keeping things enjoyable whilst always thinking carefully when traveling at distant parts!

• Tours provide usually views other times just omitted!
• Verify morals of any group previously paying them some amount!!
• Watchful travel basically is the only safe thing that might exist!!
• Consider what exactly occurs on spot whilst getting near those community, just so a mutual respectful trip occurs!

I sure want visitors which choose a soccer package in Rocinha in Rio find themselves doing so thoughtfully by choosing consciously to make such trip better!!

#RocinhaFavela #FootballExperience #RioDeJaneiro #BrazilTravel #CommunityTourism