Little Africa

What is Little Africa?

Group of diverse smiling women and one man standing outdoors in an urban park with buildings in the background, some palm trees, and cloudy sky.

Little Africa (Pequena África) is a historic Afro-Brazilian neighborhood along Rio’s port area. Once home to freed and enslaved Africans in the 19th century, it’s a cultural heartland where samba, capoeira, religious traditions (Candomblé), and Afro-Brazilian music were nurtured. Today the area preserves important heritage sites (including the UNESCO-recognized Cais do Valongo), vibrant street life, music venues, and restaurants celebrating Afro-Brazilian history and cuisine.

Three young people sitting and smiling in front of a colorful mural on a city wall. The mural features black and white portraits, a woman playing an instrument, and other artwork with vibrant graffiti and cartoon faces.
Urban scene with historic white building, modern glass building, green trees, and a blue sky with some clouds.
Aerial view of a modern waterfront building with a unique curved roof design, surrounded by a park with trees, walkways, and people, with a large bridge and water with ships in the background.
A modern white train with black accents on a grassy track beside a red and yellow building with trees and lampposts under a blue sky with some clouds.
A city street scene with a large archaeological sign in the foreground, palm trees, modern buildings, and a clear blue sky. The archaeological site features ancient stone walls and ruins, with informational panels describing the site.
Colorful mural featuring diverse faces on a large wall in an urban area, with modern glass skyscrapers and leafless trees in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A woman with curly hair and a green headband talking to three women with red hair, among large rocks. The woman is wearing a black t-shirt with white text.
A group of diverse people walking on a cobblestone street in an urban neighborhood with colorful buildings, graffiti, parked cars, and utility wires overhead.
Group of four women standing and talking in an outdoor urban area with old buildings in the background.
A group of three women standing on a sidewalk next to a graffiti-covered wall, with a rolling hill in the foreground. The graffiti features cartoon characters and various colorful tags. There is a building with windows behind the women and an umbrell
A woman with dreadlocks and glasses is pointing at a colorful mosaic mural on a wall, explaining to a group of four young women who are attentively listening. The mural features two figures in traditional clothing, one with a fan and the other holdin
A woman with curly hair wearing a black t-shirt speaking to a group of diverse people in an outdoor setting with colorful flags and closed shops in the background.
A person with curly hair taking a photo of two girls sitting on colorful outdoor stairs.
A city square with colorful colonial-style buildings, a bronze statue of a woman in traditional clothing, and a stone plaque on a pedestal. People are walking and cycling, and graffiti is visible on some walls.
A multi-story yellow house on a hillside with white shutters and a small balcony, surrounded by lush desert plants and rocks, with a lamppost and a person walking in the park in the foreground.
Two people sitting on outdoor chairs near a painted staircase with a Brazilian flag design, in a colorful urban alleyway with buildings, plants, and overhead electrical wires.
Ancient stone steps and foundations at an archaeological site in a city park, with modern buildings, trees, and a blue sky with clouds in the background.
A city square with cars parked along the street, colorful paper banners hanging overhead, a statue of a woman holding a branch, and a large mural of a woman with curly hair and yellow headscarf on a building. The mural contains text in a foreign language.

What to Expect

An immersive experience walking through the area know as Little Africa that will last around 2.5 hours. This tour will not only provide a unique dive into Rio, but also give insight into the African roots that can be found throughout Brazil.

If your package includes Lunch option, then your meal will include 1 starter, 1 main dish, 1 dessert and 1 beverage (non alcoholic)

Tour Highlights

Jardim Suspenso do Valongo
A multi-story yellow house with white windows and black wrought iron balcony, situated on a rocky hillside with lush green plants, palm trees, and a streetlamp in foreground. 
Morro da Conceição
Street scene in a neighborhood with colorful buildings on a hill, electrical wires overhead, a blue pole with star and stripe stickers, stairs painted with the Brazilian flag, and two people sitting on chairs in the foreground. 
Largo da Prainha
A city square with colorful old buildings, a bronze statue of a woman in traditional clothing, and a person wearing a helmet standing near street furniture. 
Cais do Valongo
Archaeological site with stone ruins in a grassy area, modern city buildings, trees, and a clear sky in the background. 
Pedra do Sal
Three women standing on a narrow sidewalk in an urban area with buildings covered in graffiti; a large rock is in the foreground, and there are murals, a blue portable toilet, and a colorful umbrella in the background.