Danielle and Luiz Philippe were fantastic hosts! My experience in Rio could not have been better, even at a top notch hotel, because they were extraordinarily welcoming and helpful! All of the amenities were as described, and they were gracious enough to provide us with food on several days and show my guest and me around the area. The city was bustling during the course of the Olympic Games, which could have been difficult to manage; however, they were truly generous cariocas and provided us excellent information for navigating and staying safe. I was very sad to leave actually, and I will certainly be going back to visit them again in the future!

Lastly, this is probably the best area of Rio for both safety and accessibility. There are two of the most amazing beaches in the world (Ipanema and Copacabana) within a five minute walk, several bars within a 1-15 minute walk, and the most iconic tourist attractions (Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer) within a 15-20 minute drive.