Mariana was there to personally greet me at the apartment and took a lot of time to help me figure out what I could do in the city other than the usual tourist attractions. She is a rio native and knows the area extremely well which is a big plus. The apartment itself was very cosy and located in an excellent spot 2-3 blocks from the copacabana beach, and with metro/bus stop very close by (and of course cabs) other spots are very accessible. The AC in the apartment is a big help in the summer. would definitely recommend to other travelers.