I highly recommend staying at this house!! Thiago and his family are super accommodating, they provide all the essentials, and you have unparalleled views of the entire length of copacabana beach, which is just a 10min walk down the hill, once you're at the bottom of the hill, the beach is 2 streets straight ahead. If you have the same double room as I did, you can see Sao Christo from your bed!

Please don't be silly enough to expect hotel amenities, what you get here is worth much more than a hairdryer or complimentary shampoo!

Leme beach is also highly recommended if you like to keep away from the bigger crowds of Copacabana and Ipanema. And there is everything you need on the main street of Leme - groceries, farmacy and a bank plus more.

Yes you have to walk up and down the hill alot. But this is your chance to make the most of the local mototaxi service to get back up the hill. They provide an awesome service.

The family who own this house have lived in Babilonia for many many years and are very embedded in the community and community activities, make sure you ask Vera about her work at the local community school.

Also make sure you ask to go for a walk up into the forest to the top of the hill where you will get to see the most amazing 360 views from the centre of Rio, Botafogo, Sugar loaf, and back around to copacabana etc. The forest has been replanted over 13 years by a local reforestation group. For film and musics geeks like me - the top of the hill is where scenes from Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) were filmed in 1959.

Babilonia is really a great place to understand a lot of history of the south zone of Rio. A pacified community, it has quite a mix of people with many new residents, the locals are generally very friendly. I will definitely go back to stay again.