Private Walking Tour: African Heritage of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
About
Uncover the true soul of Rio de Janeiro on a meaningful and immersive walking tour through historical sites linked to the African diaspora in Brazil. Starting in the region known as “Little Africa,” this private experience reveals the deep-rooted influence of Afro-Brazilian culture in the shaping of both the city and the country. You’ll be guided by a licensed historian, fluent in English and Spanish, who will lead the experience with sensitivity, historical context, and deep respect for the legacy of the African diaspora. We’ll walk through places that witnessed resistance, struggle, and cultural survival — such as Valongo Wharf, Pedra do Sal, and the former slave market — while reflecting ...
Highlights
6 hours
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
6 hours
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Stops for photos and cultural context
Bottled water during transportation
Private walking tour (for your group only, up to 7 people)
Thematic route focused on Afro-Brazilian culture
Historically accurate and accessible storytelling
Recommendations for restaurants, cultural centers, and businesses led by Black entrepreneurs
Licensed bilingual guide with a degree in History (English/Spanish)
Pick-up and drop-off at hotel (Zona Sul and Barra da Tijuca)
Private, air-conditioned transportation
Food and drinks
Tickets for optional paid locations (informed on-site)
Gratuities (optional)
Important Information
•
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
•
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
•
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
•
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
•
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
•
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
•
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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Items | Private Walking Tour: African Heritage of Rio de Janeiro
Private Walking Tour: African Heritage of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Select Date & Travelers
From
$183.50
Price varies by group size
About
Uncover the true soul of Rio de Janeiro on a meaningful and immersive walking tour through historical sites linked to the African diaspora in Brazil. Starting in the region known as “Little Africa,” this private experience reveals the deep-rooted influence of Afro-Brazilian culture in the shaping of both the city and the country. You’ll be guided by a licensed historian, fluent in English and Spanish, who will lead the experience with sensitivity, historical context, and deep respect for the legacy of the African diaspora. We’ll walk through places that witnessed resistance, struggle, and cultural survival — such as Valongo Wharf, Pedra do Sal, and the former slave market — while reflecting ...
Highlights
6 hours
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
6 hours
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Stops for photos and cultural context
Bottled water during transportation
Private walking tour (for your group only, up to 7 people)
Thematic route focused on Afro-Brazilian culture
Historically accurate and accessible storytelling
Recommendations for restaurants, cultural centers, and businesses led by Black entrepreneurs
Licensed bilingual guide with a degree in History (English/Spanish)
Pick-up and drop-off at hotel (Zona Sul and Barra da Tijuca)
Private, air-conditioned transportation
Food and drinks
Tickets for optional paid locations (informed on-site)
Gratuities (optional)
Itinerary
1
Praça XV de Novembro
Once the heart of colonial and imperial power, Praça XV hosted the Imperial Palace and the city’s first mass. Its stones echo Brazil’s royal legacy, the violence of slavery, and the nation's formation.
30 minutes
2
Igreja Nossa Senhora da Lapa dos Mercadores
Behind elegant shopfronts, Rua do Ouvidor was once a hub of the slave trade. The Lapa church, built by free and enslaved men, holds centuries of untold stories of resistance and erased Black faith.
15 minutes
3
Church of Our Lady of the Candelaria
This area symbolizes both empire and pain. Near the grand Candelária church, Black women sold sweets and freedom. Casa França-Brasil, once a customs house, controlled the arrival of lives treated as cargo.
20 minutes
4
Matriz de Santa Rita
In this square, enslaved people waited in chains while their owners attended mass. Beside them, the slave market operated in the open. A silent site of faith, violence, and endurance.
30 minutes
5
MUHCAB - Museu da História e da Cultura Afro-Brasileira
More than an exhibit, MUHCAB is a voice of memory and celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture. It honors roots, spirituality, and struggle — still alive in every drumbeat, gesture, and word.
40 minutes
6
Instituto de Pesquisa e Memoria Pretos Novos - IPN
During a home renovation, the largest burial site of enslaved Africans in the Americas was discovered. This institute emerged to honor lives erased, making visible the history others tried to hide.
25 minutes
7
Cais do Valongo
A UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest slave port. Over a million Africans disembarked here. These stones are the starting point — and continuation — of Brazil’s Black history.
15 minutes
8
Pedra do Sal
Pedra do Sal is the birthplace of samba, Afro-Brazilian religion, and community. After abolition, this space became a hub of resistance through culture. Largo da Prainha still hosts celebrations of identity and joy.
20 minutes
9
Etnias - Mural de Graffiti (Estúdio Kobra)
This massive mural by Eduardo Kobra depicts Indigenous and African faces that represent global diversity. At the former slave port, it stands as a visual tribute: art as memory, and dignity restored.
