From Dreams to Journeys: The Story of Florencios and the Legacy of Afrotourism in Rio.

It All Started with a DreamIt all started with a dream that seemed very distant to me, Damiana Silva, a poor, black girl born and raised in a favela in Rio. I dreamt of learning English and, from this dream, a curiosity about working as a tour guide emerged.

Overcoming Challenges

At first, I faced numerous challenges. The tourism sector was rife with prejudice, and most agencies were not interested in hiring black guides. There were very few of us in the industry. This obstacle only fueled my determination to achieve my dream. With encouragement from a group of Afro-American brothers and sisters who, when organizing their trip to Rio, insisted on being welcomed by an Afro-Brazilian guide, a path was opened for me. I secured a job at an agency that had around 30 guides but no black men or women among them. That was back in the 1990s.

But something was still missing.

The Quest for Knowledge and Representation

After more than 30 years in the tourism industry, I realized there was still a lack of knowledge and desire to tell our story—the story of black people in Brazil, which is essential to understanding Brazilian roots. I intensified my studies and research on the African diaspora and its legacy in Rio de Janeiro. I knew the time would come to follow my path by creating my agency focused on afrotourism, catering to both black and white people interested in learning about the history and legacy of black people in Brazil.

The Birth of the Rio Little Africa Tour

Today, my “Little Africa” tour has a seal of excellence on TripAdvisor. It’s a racial literacy tour dedicated to showcasing Rio de Janeiro through the lens of Afro culture. Our main product, the Rio Little Africa Tour, has received excellent reviews on international platforms such as TripAdvisor and Viator. This walking tour takes approximately 4 hours and covers significant places in the history and legacy of the African diaspora, celebrating Afro-Brazilian culture in the city’s Port Zone.

Expanding Our Offerings

In addition to afrotourism, Florencios now provides a variety of other tours and packages, offering diverse experiences to all travelers.

Join Us on a Journey

We invite you to learn more about our work. Immerse yourself in the roots of the diaspora in Brazil with exciting and unforgettable experiences.

Florencios: Connecting cultures and creating memories.