I had the most wondrous experience at Casa Maravilhosa! Rosalia and her family were so very kind sharing local secrets and suggestions to off-the-beaten tracks of Rio. The house is like an oasis in the city offering a spectacular vista of the lush green hills and the statue of Christo. While easily accessible to all major parts of the city (Centro, Botafogo, Santa Teresa, Copacabana and Ipanema), at night it was peaceful and quiet. The suite was spacious quiet and also had a breathtaking view of Corcovado.
The nearby Lagoa lake is ideal for early morning runs to get a great start to the day. I would come back and stay here in a heartbeat!