Little Africa Tour: Discover Rio's Hidden Narratives

Explore the rich history and cultural impact of the African diaspora in Rio de Janeiro’s Saúde neighborhood. Discover Little Africa’s hidden gems and vibrant sites on this engaging walking tour.

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Museu de Arte do Rio - MAR - Meeting Place for “No Hotel Pick-Up” - Museum de Arte do Rio (MAR). The museum is located at Praça Mauá, 5 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro.
  • Igreja de Sao Francisco da Prainha - At Largo da Prainha you’ll see the Mercedes Baptista Statue. She was the very first African-Brazilian ballet dancer to enroll in the Municipal…
What's Included
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Guide
What's Not Included
  • Gorgetas
Additional Information

Embark on a transformative journey through the hidden stories of Little Africa in Rio de Janeiro’s lively Port with Florencio’s engaging walking tour. Explore the significant legacy of over four million Africans enslaved in Brazil over three centuries, where Rio became the center of the global African slave trade in the 19th century, receiving one in…

Location
MUHCAB - Museu da História e da Cultura Afro-Brasileira
Rua Pedro Ernesto
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(246 Ratings)
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Olayiwola_o
Mar 12, 2026
Great tour of little Africa - This was an excellent tour. Anna-Julia was very personable and gave a balanced narration of Afro Brazilian history and the various socio-cultural influences.
Review provided by Viator
Hm8nhkpc6r
Mar 8, 2026
Larissa 11/10 :) - When it comes to the best tour guide in Rio, look no farther than Larissa! From the start, she was kind, professional, and knowledgeable. A heart of gold and a commitment to justice, she transported us through time and took us on a journey of Afro Brazilian history. From the origination of Quilombos to learning the truth about where the word “Favela” comes from. She was a joy to learn from and was truly a light on our trip to Little Africa.
Review provided by Viator
Jessica_f
Mar 5, 2026
10/10 An enriching experience embodying the history and culture of Rio - This was an enriching experience that celebrated and shared the history, art, and cultural influences of Rio. My tour guide Ana Julia was phenomenal in sharing the rich African history of Afro Brazilians and hardships faced during the early stages of their new lives here in the country. She went into important stages of history, old and new which tied into the art and gallery pieces we saw in the museums. I definitely learned a lot and it was an enjoyable experience that made me appreciate not only Rio but the entire Brazilian culture. You won’t regret taking this tour! I saved it for last which was a great choice because it was a sweet end to my first visit to Rio de Janeiro. Thank you Ana Julia!
Review provided by Viator
Nnekao767
Mar 3, 2026
Memorable and informative! - This was one of the best guided tours I've been on for a while! Larissa was my guide and she was absolutely fantastic! The tour was informative and enjoyable. I learned so much and had fun! I strongly recommend this tour to anyone who would like to learn more about Afro-Brazilian history and culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dmr2022345
Feb 24, 2026
Perfect tour - We had an amazing tour. We always like to do cultural tours and travel often. We both agreed this was one of the best we have ever been on. Ana was an absolute delight. She was so sweet, friendly, and knowledgeable. We would recommend her time and time again. What we enjoyed most was her exceptional knowledge of the history and her ability to pivot when certain areas were closed. She was able to make us understand the history, and appreciate Brazil in a new way. The only improvements I could think of is that luckily the rain didn’t come until the end but maybe just incase tour guides can carry a few umbrellas for emergencies.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ed
Feb 18, 2026
Amazing Tour - Ana Julia was outstandig tour guide. She was very professional and courteous and knowledgeable. She took the time to answer every question and explained everything in full details.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James_c
Jan 3, 2026
Vital history to know - Damiana gave a wonderful detailed history of the African culture and slavery in Brazil. It was valuable for my daughter to learn the untold history of a country in addition to enjoying the beach and NYE celebrations.
Review provided by Viator
Flyer13864522916
Jan 2, 2026
Amazing Little Africa Walking Tour - Damiana was our tour guide and she was fantastic! Extremely knowledgeable and helped me better learn and understand Brazil, specifically Rio de Janiero’s, cultural and historical Afro-Brazilian roots. Moreover, we were able to make specials stops along the way including the Seralon Steps and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Not to mention we went to an amazing buffet for lunch. Would definitely recommend booking the little Africa walking tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
723keanub
Dec 31, 2025
A wonderful experience of black history and art in Rio - This experience was a fantastic addition to my group’s trip to Rio de Janeiro. Our tour guide, Damiana, was fantastic. Not only was she well-educated on the history of Little Africa and downtown Rio, but she also allowed our tour to be extended so that we could visit other sites such as the Cathedral and Escadaria Selaron. Damiana also shared with us a lot of the areas in downtown Rio where locals like to shop, dine, and party. I would say this tour is best for those wishing to know more about the local side of Rio and understanding its rich Black history and influence.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shailla_r
Dec 31, 2025
Must needed tour in Rio! - This tour was amazing. I love hearing history about places, but learning about the African history in Rio was so important and very informational. I recommend that any one that is traveling to Rio for the first time to take this tour. The tour guides were so sweet and filled with so much information. I am still repeating what I learned from this tour to my family and friends!
Review provided by Viator
From $60
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).