BioParque do Rio (Zoo)

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A visit to the newly updated BioParque do Rio is fun and educational for all ages

A Scarlet Mawca at the Rio Zoo cc licensed photo by Digo_Souza

Rio de Janeiro is not just about festivals, beaches and sun. Visitors to the wonderful city can also enjoy visiting the BioParque do Rio and seeing some truly rare and special animals.

BioParque do Rio, formerly known as Jardim Zoológico da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro or the Rio Zoo, is an organization dedicated to the well-being of animals. It develops research projects for the conservation of species and also focuses on environmental education for visitors.

BioParque do Rio is Rio de Janeiro's oldest zoo, yet also the newest thanks to major improvements completed in 2021. It was first built in 1945 in Boa Vista in St. Kitts district and has been entertaining and educating the public since then. The paths are lined with royal palms which lends an air of majesty to the setting.

The original zoo was built by Baron Drummond in 1888 to try to expose the public to the beauty of animals that exist in Brazil as well as the rest of the world. The zoo encountered financial difficulties in later years and had to close down as the upkeep of the animals became too expensive and earnings were not enough to keep it going.

The Jardim Zoológico da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro opened on 18 March 1945. The gate, a very magnificent and imposing structure, was given as a wedding gift to D. Pedro the First and Empress Leopoldina.

The zoo is home to a wide range of animals ranging from the more common to those that are far more rare and endangered. There are about 350 different species to see ranging across reptiles, mammals and birds. Jardim Zoológico da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro has a program in place to attempt to reproduce endangered species like the King Vulture and Ararajuba Cachorro do Mato.

If you enjoy seeing animals or would like to introduce your children to seeing creatures they have never seen before, BioParque do Rio is a great place to visit. Be sure to allocate at least half a day for this visit, you will need it!

See the complete line of Rio de Janeiro Experiences on Viator

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

RIOZOO Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Address: Parque da Quinta da Boa Vista S/N - São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20940-040, Brazil

Phone: (21) 3900-6672

Official Website: RIOZOO

RIOZOO Reviews

Rated 4.2 out of 5 Star Rating

3 Star Rating Overall the park is nice landscape and layout. but certainly not enough animals. We walked around the entire zoo within 1.5 hour include zip line fun. It’s clean park, staff were friendly. Animals look great and health, just wish there were more types of animals.
Abby IW - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Had a blast here!! There are so many animals to see and a nice variety. I think kids would really enjoy it, too.
Annabel Allers - 2 weeks ago

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4 Star Rating Sloth, Toucan & Capybara! So lucky that we saw the sloth moving! Not a big zoo when compared to those in Asia and spending 2 hours there will be more than enough. Nonetheless, staff are very friendly and they know the zoo & animals well. Currently the park is collaborating with Hello Kitty and you can see many Hello Kitty statues there.
Nomadic Dreamer - 3 weeks ago

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3 Star Rating On Sunday, I went to the park and it was raining heavily. The park is small and has a limited number of species and varieties, making it quite different from the zoo in Sao Paulo. I suggest focusing on increasing diversity by introducing new types of animals. Parking is 40 BRL, it's expensive for the Park In terms of cleanliness, the garden does not meet basic hygiene standards and lacks proper rainwater drainage, indicating that it requires renovation.
Mahmoud Roukbi - 3 months ago

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4 Star Rating The zoo is really nice, with a small and intimate atmosphere. There are English and Brazilian signage, which I appreciated. The emphasis on animal conservation was a nice touch!
Josh Antonio - 7 months ago

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Directions

Metro Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
Line 2 - Green	São Cristóvão	13 Minutes

How to get to RIOZOO by Metro

Take the Metro to São Cristóvão Station on Line 2. Exit and take the pedestrian ramps over to the north side of the train tracks descending down the left ramp. Cross the road into the park and continue along the path to the National Museum of Brazil. Continue following the path as it turns to the west around the north side of the museum and then proceed through the gate and straight down the cobblestone path lined with palm trees to the zoo entrance.