National
Open sewage runs though Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro.
Favela, the Portugese word for slum, is used to describe neighborhoods built without city services. Rio's favelas are becoming an increasingly popular destination for international and local tourists.
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Tour guide Leopoldo Chaves makes eye contact with police in a cruiser in the favela of Rocinha. Rio de Janeiro's police wrested control of the notorious slum from drug lords, but many Brazilians say the police presence has actually increased crime.
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A mototaxi carries a passenger up a hill past street art in the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro. Taxis often will not drive through the neighborhood, and mototaxis have become a popular means of transportation.
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Rooftops as seen from a balcony in favela Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro. The cisterns provide a source of running water. The housing in these neighborhoods ranges from shantytowns to relatively middle-class abodes.
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Tangled wires can be seen on every corner of favela Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro. Electricity, cable and other electronic services are stolen via wires. On occasion, police come in and cut them, causing businessmen from all over to come to the favela trying to sell their services.
Penn State University/MCT
Overflowing garbage lines the main street leading into favela Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro. Garbage piles can be seen throughout the favela, as trash removal is not enforced.
Penn State University/MCT
Renato da Silva, the 49-year-old son of a Brazilian father and American mother, runs an independent tour company called "Favela Adventures," operated entirely by Rocinha residents. He uses part of its profits to fund Spin Rocinha, a DJ school offering free classes to a handful of local youth.
Penn State University/MCT
Renato da Silva, better known as DJ Zezinho, starts all his favela tours by patronizing a local establishment in Rocinha because he wants the residents to benefit directly from the presence of tourists. He scoffs at the thought of jeep or van tours by groups of visitors more interested in gawking at the living conditions than getting to know the street vendors or sitting down at a restaurant.
Penn State University/MCT
Ornaments made from recyclable materials hang from the ceiling of the Para Ti school near Vila Canoas, a favela in Rio de Janeiro. Some of the money made by Favela Tours is donated to the school so that children of the favela have a positive alternative to gang membership and involvement with drugs.
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Girls in the Para Ti school near favela Vila Canoas in Rio de Janeiro put schoolbooks away and clean as the boys play soccer outside. Some of the funding for the school comes from tours of the favelas.
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Students play soccer in the courtyard of the Para Ti school in the Vila Canos favela in Rio de Janeiro. The school receives a portion of the proceeds from trips organized by Favela Tours.
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Robson Lopes Martins is a student DJ at the Rocinha Media School operated by DJ Zezinho (Renato da Silva). Lopes Martins says he dreams of becoming a professional DJ and the school has helped him to overcome shyness and become more charismatic on stage.
Penn State University/MCT
Nigel Parker of Sydney, Australia takes in the view from the entrance of favela Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro.
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Favela tourist Nigel Parker of Sydney, Australia, left, purchases a caipirinha, a popular Brazilian drink made from cachaa (sugar cane liquor), sugar and lime. The streetside bar is at the entrance to favela Vila Canoas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Parker was participating in an excursion organized by Favela Tours.
Favela is the Portugese word for slum, which is used to describe Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods built without city services. The housing in these neighborhoods ranges from shantytowns to relatively middle class abodes. Rio's favelas are becoming an increasingly popular destination for international and local tourists. (Chloe Elmer/Penn State University/MCT)
Chloe Elmer/Penn State University/MCT
A man and a woman watch a child by the entrance to Rocinha, one of the favela stops on 'Favela Tours' in Rio de Janeiro.
Penn State University/MCT
Tourists view a courtyard that provides the only common space in the Vila Canoas favela in Rio de Janeiro. Because of the tight confines, the image was shot with a fisheye lens.
Penn State University/MCT
The Leblon and Ipanema neighborhoods, and Ipanema Beach as seen from Casa Alto Vidigal, a hostel owned by Austrian-born Andreas Wielend at the top of favela Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro.
Penn State University/MCT
Austrian-born Andreas Wielend relaxes in one of his hammocks on the rooftop of Casa Alto Vidigal, the hostel he owns at the top of favela Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro.
Penn State University/MCT
A whimsical illustration by a Swedish-born artist highlights the rooftop bar area of Casa Alto Vidigal, a hostel at the top of favela Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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