Overview

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 on their significance today.

Perfect for conscious travelers, researchers, or anyone seeking to understand Rio beyond traditional tourism.

Highlights

A powerful walking tour through the city’s African heritage.
Hear the voices that shaped Black history in Brazil
An impactful, educational, and necessary experience.

Stop 1 :

Praça XV

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.

Stop 2 :

Rua do Ouvidor & Lapa dos Mercadores Church

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.

Stop 3 :

Casa França-Brasil, Igreja da Candelária e CCBB (sight seeing)

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.

Stop 4 :

Largo de Santa Rita e Igreja 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.

Stop 5 :

MUHCAB (Museum of Afro-Brazilian History & Culture)

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.

Stop 6 :

Instituto Pretos Novos

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.

Stop 7 :

Valongo Wharf

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.

Stop 8 :

Pedra do Sal & Largo da Prainha

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.

Stop 9 :

Kobra’s Ethnicities Mural

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.

Private Walking Tour: African Heritage of Rio de Janeiro

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