Pousada Favelinha

I’ve stayed here several times on separate trips and always had an amazing time. It’s on a hill in a lovely little favela, with great views, and I never felt unsafe. The local people are really nice. Best hostel in town for me, and I’ll keep coming back whenever I visit Rio. Matti and Solange are the best! Saudades XXX

The view is really beautiful, but I can’t recommend this place. I stayed in a private room that was supposed to have a view, but got bedbugs instead. It’s been a month since the stay, and my legs still have big scars. My boyfriend is Brazilian and I’m a foreigner; we chose to spend three days in a favela for the experience. After the drive, it’s about a 10-minute uphill climb through the neighborhood, and the directions were confusing. At first it felt like a maze. Since it’s in Santa Teresa, finding an Uber or 99 was difficult, and rides were always pretty expensive. Breakfast was okay, with a view of Sugarloaf, but our room couldn’t see it because the trees hadn’t been trimmed. You can only see it from the common area. Once we realized there were bugs, the woman did help by moving us to another room, but both our legs are still covered in painful bites. I had to see several DOCTORS, and washing our clothes was another disaster. The furniture in both the room and kitchen was quite old. There was always music from the neighborhood in the middle of the night. The cat peed and pooped in every corner, and nobody cleaned it, so the place smelled like cat urine everywhere. The view is cool, but I felt like I wasted my money suffering here. I’ve visited almost 40 countries on different continents, and this was the only place that made me feel horrible. If you want to avoid spending a lot on transport, stay in Centro or Copacabana. There’s only one line from there to Centro, and I found cheaper, cleaner options downtown. That’s the only recommendation I can give tourists.

What made my first trip to Rio memorable was the warm welcome and thoughtful breakfast. I stayed at Posada Favelinha during the New Year festivities and loved the unusual experience of being in the heart of a favela. Locals were generally welcoming, and I even walked around at night without any problems. The terrace has a breathtaking, postcard-like view of Sugarloaf Mountain. There are convenience stores nearby, and Santa Teresa, with lots of good restaurants, is a 10-minute walk away.

I’ve been here twice, and the dawn views must be among the most beautiful around. In the middle of this huge city, you can hear nothing but nature. Everyone is friendly and quick to smile. The breakfast is good, and the simple rooms are comfortable and clean, with little balconies looking toward Sugar Loaf. I loved staying here.