Gilson was an amazing host. He left us with a ton of recommendations for places to visit in Rio that kept up the excitement and fun throughout the entire trip, and was highly accessible the entire time we were there. The apartment was very safe and cozy, right down the street from the beach, some great food/juice and a couple of fun bars. It's walking distance to anywhere you'd need to go between Leblon and Copacabana and cabs are readily accessible for going anywhere else. I'd highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to see Rio, especially if you want to experience a really local vibe.