Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is a must see for anyone who loves plants and gardens
When visiting Rio, sometimes you just need a bit of a time-out from all of the hustle and bustle of the city. This is something that the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is certain to provide.
The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden was founded in 1808 by Prince Regent Dom Joao. He intended for it to be a research center in addition to a recreational area. The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is not just a place to go and see the local flora, there are also plants brought in from other parts of the world. You will be able see the first tea, cloves and cinnamon which were brought to Brazil in an attempt to grow them locally instead of having to import them. There are over five and a half thousand different species of plants in the gardens which makes for pleasant strolls and a peaceful exploration of nature. Some of the highlights include a lake filled with enormous water lilies, beautiful orchids, a selection of carnivorous plants and a Japanese Garden.
Interestingly, the row of 134 palms which form the Avenue of Royal Palms are all descended from a single tree. The Palma Mater can no longer be seen as it was hit and destroyed by lightning many years ago.
When you are tired of looking at the flora, you can take a turn through the library. The library is one of the largest of its kind. It contains more than thirty two thousand volumes all focused on botany. There are also a number of monuments which have great historical and cultural value to the inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro. For example, there is the Fountain of the Muses which was made in Derby in England and was at Henrique Lage's Villa until 1895 and there is an old gunpowder factory on the premises.
The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is found at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain in the shadow of the Christ the Redeemer statue. Only forty percent of the park's 140 hectares are cultivated. The rest of the park is natural Atlantic Forest. The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1992.
For a slight change of pace and a moment of relaxation, visit the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. You will see plants that cannot be seen outside of Rio de Janeiro and take a break from the chaos of the city all at the same time.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesRio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: R. Jardim Botânico, 1008 - Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22460-030, Brazil
Phone: (21) 3874-1808
Official Website: Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Reviews
Rated out of 5
Much to my delight we spotted many colourful toucans here! The gardens are lush and beautiful and it’s very easy to spend several hours wandering the different areas.
Note that the entrance takes CASH only which we found unusual in Brazil (the land of even being able to pay beach vendors with card). You can’t buy tickets online unless you have a CPF number. This was inconvenient - I hope it changes soon!
Kathryn - 2 weeks ago
An amazing place that’s definitely worth a visit. You can only pay in cash, ticket price is 73 R$. It’s very wet there, so get your lightest clothes on and maybe come after the lunch. The park is open til 5 o’clock.
Yulia Udovitsina - a month ago
Really nice place with some interesting animals. Non expected. Good experience for the half few hours. Warning ⚠️ at the entrance, you have to pay cash only, no credit card is accepted.
J. Devis - in the last week
I usually don’t like plant or flowers or botanical gardens, but we had some free time and decided to give this one a chance and it was surprisingly nice. It’s massive. We were there for over 3 hours and didn’t see everything and I really enjoyed it. Beautiful place and worth a visit even if you’re not a plant or flower lover. Entry price can be cheaper, but what can you do. Also it’s cash only. Lucky I read it in the website.
Zvi Skye - 2 weeks ago
Cash only at the gate but you can pay via a QR code at the gate. The park is grey with a wide variety of plants. Easy to get to from Ipanema and a short walk from the lake. The Atlantic Forest path on the edge of the mountain with lush tropical jungle surrounding it was my favourite. Loads of monkeys in the trees to sit and watch. Toucans are noisy and can be seen if you follow them noisily chatting to each other. Well worth a visit and it’s many trees shelter you from the sunshine.
Ashley - a month ago
Directions
| Metro and Metro Bus Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 - Orange or Line 2 - Green | Botafogo | 5 MInutes |
How to get to Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden by Metro and Metro Bus
Purhase a Metro na Superficie farecard take the Metro to Botafogo Station and transfer to the blue 'Metro na Superficie Bus' and ride it to the Jardim Botanico Baixo Gávea stop. Exit the bus and walk north along Av. Rodrigo Otavio which becomes Rua Jardim Botanico until you see the entrance to the Garden on your left (5 minutes).
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Photo Gallery
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Walking paths in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden cc licensed photo by Felipe Ventura dos Santos -
Bridge across water feature in the Japanese Garden cc licensed photo by Glovebr2008 -
Close up of an Orquidário flower cc licensed photo by T Chu -
Photo Credit: Rodrigo Soldon Souza - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Rodrigo Soldon Souza - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Rodrigo Soldon Souza - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Rodrigo Soldon Souza - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Rodrigo Soldon Souza - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mattk1979 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Rodrigo Soldon Souza - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mattk1979 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mattk1979 - cc license via Flickr
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