"Tens of thousands of tourists have flocked to the terrace, known locally as the Porta do Ceu (Gateway to Heaven), since last year, when favela entrepreneurs began making viral drone videos showing visitors swaggering or dancing through a metal door and across the roof to a euphoric Brazilian soundtrack, before the camera zooms out, revealing the favela's place in the heart of Rio's awe-inspiring landscape."
"The rooftop has existed for ages but since 2025 these drone videos have gone viral. In January there was one that got nearly 50m views on Instagram. It blew up, explained Vitor Hugo Oliveira da Conceicao, a favela guide who accompanies outsiders to the unusual tourist spot above a family home."
A British family visiting Rio de Janeiro traveled to Rocinha, the city's largest favela, to experience Porta do Ceu (Gateway to Heaven), a rooftop terrace that has emerged as Rio's most talked-about tourist destination. The attraction gained massive popularity after favela entrepreneurs created viral drone videos showing visitors dancing and posing through a metal door, with the camera revealing the favela's dramatic position within Rio's landscape. One January video garnered nearly 50 million Instagram views. The trend accelerated through influencer and celebrity visits. Rather than visiting traditional landmarks like Sugarloaf Mountain or Christ the Redeemer, tens of thousands of tourists now flock to this rickety, graffiti-covered rooftop located above a family home, guided by local favela guides.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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