Description

Essentials about the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden in brief

The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is not only worth a visit for amateur botanists. Founded in 1808 by King John VI, the garden is one of the most important and certainly most beautiful of its kind in the world and has been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The Botanical Garden is located at the foot of the famous Corcovado mountain. Only about 40 percent of its area is cultivated. The rest is Atlantic rainforest that stretches up the slopes of the Corcovado.

The history of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

Originally, the garden was intended for the acclimatization of spices imported from the Caribbean, such as nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon. However, as early as 1822, the Botanical Garden was opened to the public. Covering an area of about 140 hectares, the garden now houses about 6,500 species, including some endangered ones. The 128 royal palms of the main Barbosa Rodrigues Avenue date in part from the time of the garden’s creation. In addition to numerous greenhouses, orchidaria and rose gardens, a lake with giant water plants, such as the largest water lily in the Amazon, forms a main attraction.

Flora and fauna in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

In addition, the garden has a bromeliad house and a greenhouse with carnivorous plants. The Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, located in the Botanical Garden, additionally includes a library specializing in botany, a botanical museum and a herbarium.

The botanical garden is also home to about 140 species of birds, including the yolk toucan, white-fronted guan and white-necked hawk. The birds are often much easier to spot in the garden than in the wild, as they are accustomed to the presence of humans. In addition to many bird species, capuchin and marmoset monkeys can often be seen in the Botanical Garden.

Website

gov.br/jbrj

Opening hours

Admission fees

Regular price: R$73

Children and teenagers (Ages 6 – 21): R$37

Small children (Ages 5 and under): free

For further information on possible discounts, see the website.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Bus lines 101, 105, 109, 112, 309, 410, 439, 538, 548, 581, 583, 750D, 751D, 775D, 1750D, 1775D, 2012 and 2750D: Stop Rua Jardim Botânico próximo ao 920-954

By car:

In the immediate vicinity of the Botanical Garden there are only limited parking possibilities.