Staying at the Marcelo's apartment in Santa Teresa was such a delight! Everything in the apartment was exactly as described. Isabel passed us the keys on the check-in and gave us an introduction to this lively neighborhood. There was even a rechargeable metro card that we used during our stay. Getting around on metro was so easy. The metro station Gloria was just a few blocks away. The neighborhood is very charming with a lot of character. Located at the bottom of the hill the apartment was a perfect launching spot for exploring areas of Santa Teresa located above. We discovered many authentic restaurants with great food options just a 5-15 min walk away (check out Rustico). Marcelo was an incredibly caring host and gave us many recommendations for the best food, surf spots, and things to see. We had such a great time and highly recommend to discover the real Rio by staying in the Marcelo's apartment in Santa Teresa.