Rio Olympic Boulevard & African Heritage Free Tour

This tour is operated by our partner Free Walker Tours.

Brazil would not be Brazil without its African heritage. Samba, capoeira, and even feijoada — the country’s most traditional dish — all come from the enslaved African communities who left an indelible mark on Rio de Janeiro’s identity. On this free walking tour, you’ll explore the Olympic Boulevard and the historic district of “Little Africa,” discovering how resistance, culture, and community shaped modern Brazil.

Guided by passionate locals, this tour dives into stories that are often left out of the textbooks. You’ll visit Pedra do Sal, the birthplace of samba and still home to vibrant street music today; see Valongo Wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that received more enslaved Africans than anywhere else in the Americas; and explore Mauá Square, where futuristic architecture like the Museum of Tomorrow meets the city’s portside past.

Along the way, you’ll encounter the world’s largest mural by a single artist — Eduardo Kobra’s stunning celebration of cultural diversity — and hear how Rio’s port region became a hub of Black resistance, community, and creativity.

This experience is more than sightseeing: it’s a journey through the resilience and contributions of Afro-Brazilians to Rio’s history and culture. Participation is free — at the end, you decide the value of the tour.