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
Simply one of the most magical places in the world! Definitely a must-visit on a trip to Rio. The most impressive botanical gardens I've ever been to, by far. Whether you have a few hours or a whole day, it's definitely worth going! You'll definitely see monkeys, they're very bold and quite adorable. I would recommend at least 2-3 hours to be able to take your time. We rented two spots on the shared gold cart (R$35 each). It's a hop on-hop off system and the carts come by each stop (about 10 total in the park) every 15 minutes. If you end up doing this, be sure to bring something to wipe the seats or clothing you don't mind getting dirty, as it's very dusty!
Note: compared to other tourist attractions in Rio, this was definitely the least accessible/disability friendly (as well as most disorganized entry/ticket sales). There was no priority line for disabled people at the ticket counter. Also you're technically not allowed to stay on the golf cart and ride all the way through. When I informed the staff that I have mobility limitations, they basically just shrugged and said too bad. If it's known this, I would have asked about the private options for golf cart rental. Overall they could definitely improve these aspects.
Elinor Ackerman - 2 weeks ago
Easily the best botanical garden i have been to. So many variety of plants and trees which i was not familiar with. You can also see some wildlife as well. Definitely a highlight spot for Rio
Sabri Kürüm - in the last week
The botanical gardens are beautiful and rich in biodiversity, with monkeys running around and a large orchidarium. It’s definitely worth a visit. We spent 2-3 hours there exploring the lush surroundings.
Julia G - a month ago
Beautiful gardens in Rio de Janeiro. Lots of monkeys inside the park. Definitely worth a visit when in Rio. A small entrance fee must be paid to enter the park. The cashier was exceptionally slow causing a small line in front of the ticket booth. Due to the beautiful gardens and great vibe it was still a 5 star experience
Joost Nouwen - a month ago
Beautiful gardens with a wonderful variety of trees and plants. Also a beautiful boulevard of extremely tall palm trees. Great views of christ the rexeemer in the distance through the trees and around the central fountain. There's a good cafe and kids playground inside (during your visit, at the back near the medicinal plants section). Also a restaurant and bar outside within the grounds (for before/after your visit)
Diego - 2 months 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: Rodrigo Soldon Souza - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mattk1979 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mattk1979 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mattk1979 - cc license via Flickr
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