Jardim Botânico

I loved this huge botanical garden, which was like a beautiful tropical paradise. It was my first stop after checking my luggage at the hotel. The cost was around $15 for US residents (less for locals) and only cash is accepted. Upon entering, I noticed black monkeys walking around the rainforest-esque environment, as well as climbing trees. There were palm trees, bright and colorful flowers, bodies of water, lovely little bridges, gorgeous fountain, yellow and green state house, greenhouses with rare and award winning orchids, a wonderful cafe serving fancy coffee & beverages, playground, and more. There were plenty of breathtaking views of the many natural wonders. I really enjoyed my time exploring the vast expanse of the garden. The place was sprawling and easy to get lost in. It tops the list as one of my favorite botanical gardens that I have visited.

Great escape from the city. Fantastic views of Croat the redeemer and cool wildlife such as monkeys and exotic to us birds. Quiet green space where you can spend as much or as little time as you want, but it does deserve a visit in my opinion.

After visiting Christ the Redeemer and Parque Lage, we made our way to Jardim Botanico. I've been to quite a few botanical gardens in my day and most of them are free. This one is not. And they charge a higher entrance fee for foreigners. A little more than I expected but it was still worth it. One of the most beautiful things about Brazil is nature. And you get a good dose of that here. Spectacular trees, bushes, and other foliage. Waterfalls. Bodies of water. The park is large and you can easily get lost exploring it all. There is also quite a bit of history with statues interspersed throughout the park. And plenty to read while you're at it. A few hours here is time well spent.

I'm absolutely in love with the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. For one, they gave me a steep foreign student discount which was nice. For two, well, it was the most beautiful Botanical Gardens I've ever been to. Created in 1808 by the Portuguese Crown to study the flora and fauna of Rio de Janeiro, the Botanical Gardens has evolved into a 55 acre testament to the wondrous beauty of Rio. I opted to take the Botanical Gardens historical path, which is a predesignated path that the Garden administration has put together so you don't spend all day wondering around the garden. On it I found everything ranging from marble statues, a bee collection, busts of historical figures, an orchid house (a must see), the façade of an old theater, and some absolutely killer palm trees. Oh, and a haunting but beautiful piece honoring the love of Echo and Narcissus. The garden does not try to reign in the chaos of nature, but no more so does it allow her to run amok. Parts, such as the palm-lined avenues and the carefully done orchid house, are artful demonstrations of nature tamed. Others, such as the many off-the-beaten-path parts of the garden, are freeflowing and wild. Would highly recommend if you're visiting Rio.

We had an amazing tour if these historic royal gardens. Worth the visit to see the orchids, palms, bamboo and bromeliads

Beautiful place. Only cash accepted. Discount for seniors, students and Mercosur nationals

Walking in this Garden reminded me of the story of The Little Princess. It's beautiful, scenic, and peaceful. The air is fresh immediately upon walking into this garden. This garden contrasts with the noisiness of the rest of Rio de Janeiro, such as that of the beaches, and as mentioned in previous reviews, this garden is worth coming to and visiting. The plants are breathtaking in a different way than Ipanema or Leblon beaches. This garden adds value to the entire city of Rio de Janeiro.

My husband wanted to go to this site during our visit to Rio and we were not disappointed. The grounds are lovely and we had chance to see some monkeys too!

Beautiful botanical garden in the city with great backdrops for photography. Some good spots for photos include, Aleia Barbosa Rodrigues from Aleia Candido Baptista, and Lago e Caomoro Fre Leandro facing towards the rolling hills in the background. I would suggest entering through Portao 920 as it's less busy from this entrance compared t the main entrance at Portao 1008.

After you've hid under a beach umbrella all day and still managed to get your ankles branded by the sun you might make a decision to get off the sand. If you've already taken the cable car to Sugarloaf, the cog train to Christ the Redeemer, walked around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, and seen Fort Cobacabana it might be time to hit up the botanical garden. At least that's the order I'd place on things. I find it difficult to get excited about botanical gardens. They're serene and lovely and, dare I say it, a bit boring. But maybe you're more into plants than I am or perhaps you have small children who need to run around a bit. Either of these would be a great reason to head to the huge (340 acres) Jardim Botânico. On the day of my visit I did no running around. Between the heat and the humidity level it was all I could do to remain standing and I focused most fully on finding cold, wet things with which to hydrate and cool myself. So, in addition to enjoying things like the Atlantic Forest's Rare Species collection, the Orchideario (with 600 species of orchids on display), and the Medicinal Plant collection I also saw the coconut vendor upon entering and the popsicle stand at the outdoor cafe. There was a ton more that I didn't see but after the 600 orchids well, enough is enough. (The orchids, by the way, are fabulous). As botanical gardens go, I'm astute enough to recognize that this one is very well done with lots of varied terrain, lushness, and water features which make the place more interesting and lovely. Just choose the timing of your visit carefully unless you enjoy feeling like you're strolling through a warm bath. I'd not call Jardim Botânico a Rio must-do but if you find yourself headed here you'll likely be glad you came. Not excited, just glad.

Depending on your mood, walking the entire grounds will easily take 2 hours. There's a complimentary cart, running every 30 minutes. This will take you around via wheels, and IMO a much more pleasant experience.

Open daily, and over 300 acres in total, Rio de Janeiro's Jardim Botânico is centrally located as a peaceful oasis in the middle of a big city. Known best for twin 800 yard rows of royal palm trees keep your eyes peeled for everything from Parrots to reptiles and be prepared to get lost if you happen to venture away from the fences, though there is signage to help guide you back.

Jardim Botanico is a hidden gem in Rio de Janeiro. It is one of the not-as-highly-publicized tourist spots to visit. There surprisingly weren't that many people there when we went to visit. I thought it was one of the better spots that we had a chance to visit when we were in Rio. Located pretty close to the edge of the rainforest, the views are spectacular and the greenery is magnificent. Jardim Botanico was full of little lakes, wildlife, mini-waterfalls, small hiking trails, orchid gardens, and looming mountains all around. We ended up taking so many pictures when we visited. Thank goodness we brought our SLR with us to capture some of those great views. There were also a number of rare species animals running and flying around. We didn't get to see any toucans, but we did get to see a rare species of monkey. I believe they are called marmosets. I am not actually sure what it was, but you can decide for yourself in the picture that I attached to this review. It is only $5 USD (10 rais) per person to get into Jardim Botanico and it was a great way to spend 2 hours. If you take the bus, it will literally drop you off right in front of the entrance to the botanical garden. We walked all around, up and down, to get the best views and the best pictures. It is very much a family-friendly environment, and I highly recommend that you visit if you have the opportunity to go to Rio de Janeiro.

Jardim Botanico is an idyllic botanical garden located in the Zona Sul area of Rio. We stopped by while walking around the city last Tuesday and loved the beautiful grounds. Inside is quiet, serene, and boasts over 5,500 species of plants. There is also a lake with water lilies, a Japanese garden, waterfalls, isles of towering palm trees, and other pretty sights. Admission is 15 BRL (about $5 USD) per adult and they are open until 5pm daily.

Beautiful. I have visited other botanical gardens in other cities, but this one so far has been the most impressive. You will feel like you are inside the amazon at times, filled with huge trees, plants and sometimes you can spot some animals like lizards or monkeys. The air feels so fresh, so many beautiful plants, and gardens. You will not be dissappointed. I classify it as a must see attraction. As of 2016 it is only 10 Reals for admission. Which equates to about $3-$4 American dollars! A humongous bargain for how much you get to see and experience. Their cafe also has delicious pastries. TIP: Walk over to Parque Lage which is only about 10-12 minutes walking from the Jardim Botanico and easy to find once you are done with your visit here. Ask any of the workers when exiting where is Parque Lage and they will point you in the right direction. Even their restaurant has delicious food for cheap. I attached some photos of the delicious empanadas I had.

We came as soon as it opened in the morning (8am) to see if we could find some wild animals. We were hoping to see some sloths or toucans since they live in the area but none to be found. However we did see quite a few monkeys playing and hiding in the trees toward the mountainside. They were feeding on jack fruit up on the streets so many of them were feeding off the same fruit and there was a clear opening to watch them fairly close. They didn't seem scared of humans and even mothers with their babies on their back were up there eating, it was so cute to watch. Do bring your bug spray though, the mosquitos are relentless in the jungle area. We also saw plenty of birds; everything from herons to hummingbirds, green parakeets to ducks. There's several beautiful ponds to look upon, avenue of the palms, kids park, cactus ranch and smelling garden. My favorite is the orchid greenhouse and there are several in bloom at the moment. The price is R$9 for non-residents and they currently have a schedule posted for the hots during carnaval.

Awesome time had by all in the garden. Great and safe paths for baby to explore and view the plants and life of a botanical garden. We even got to hike up a waterfall path and see the Christ Redeemer statue looking down on the cidade maravilhosa.

Jardim Botanico far exceeded my expectations. I went for a quick photo op in the tall palm trees and ended up wishing I could stay longer. There is truly so much to see at Jardim. From the waterfalls to the monkeys to the beautiful landscape. Also, Cristo Redentor is visible from the back of the park as well. I would suggest allowing 1-2 hours to cover the entire area. It's worth far more than 2 USD and is truly a beautiful place. A gem and must-do activity in Rio.

A gorgeous way to spend a cloudy day or rainy afternoon. Tie in with a visit to Parque Lage. Get there early to avoid queues on weekends and holidays.

Go to the MAIN ENTRANCE. The address on the website doesn't lead you directly to the main entrance. Our UBER driver was nice enough to let us know that this neighborhood wasn't the greatest where the address was to drop us off at & dropped us off at the Main Entrance. I believe it's the second or third right you can take - to the ticketing office. If you pass the Turtle Lake - you'e gone too far. They only take cash - FYI. Preferably small bills. 10R. It's free on Tuesdays - apparently. They hand you a ticket as well as a electric ticket that you had over to the employee that puts it through the machine so you can enter the garden. They don't provide you with a map but they have maps located throughout the garden. A lot of the forests were roped off with caution tape - so we couldn't really venture UP. It was raining when we visited.so maybe it might have been dangerous to go up there. Most of the trees and plants are labeled. All in Portuguese, understandably. There are some gazebos, fountains, waterfalls, statues, bridges... All picture perfect! There is a big tree that I nicknamed 'Antonio' which is by the main fountain. They sold ponchos that I saw a bunch of people wearing in case you forget your umbrella on a rainy day. Oh - the bathrooms are located across from the cafe they have there.

Absolutely stunning. It's as though you've ventured into Wonderland but there's no evil queen trying to kill you or tripped out mad hatters giving you hooch. When I visited Rio, the last thing on my mind was visiting a botanical garden. In truth, I didn't even know the garden was such a draw. My only thoughts of Rio were the beach, [redacted] and [REALLY REDACTED]. But, one of my friends told me that I had to carve out a day to visit the gardens and the neighborhood in which it existed. I'm so happy that I did. After a pretty easy bus ride from Ipanema, I made my way inside sprawling grounds that stunned me with mountains, flowers, statues, gardens, housing structures, fountains, and life of all kinds. Typically, when I go to places like this, I like being alone. There's so much to take in that I find it's difficult to process it all when you're talking with others. For me, it's all about silence, a camera and the sanctity of my thoughts. There are so many different paths to take and you should budget your time so as to take them all. I highly recommend the foresty overhang. I'm sure there's a more official name to use but once you start in, you're surrounded on all sides (including above you) with vegetation. As you walk higher and higher, you soon notice that you have a birds' eye view of the gardens and can stare directly as the lush mountains that surround you. Once you walk down, take time to walk through the fountain areas. The manicured lawns and interesting sculptures offer opportunity after opportunity of fantastic pictures. If you get hungry, there's a cafe to sate your needs and a gift store to help you share the gardens with loved ones. Before you hop back on the bus to head home, take some time to explore the surrounding neighborhood. The fantastic street art offers its own version of garden beauty.

This place is a must-see when visiting Rio. I've been going to Rio for almost 40 years, and come here as often as I can, because of this place's tranquility and sheer beauty. Last time we were in town, we came here twice during the week, because our little one begged to come back! The best part about this place is that it is almost never crowded. You can stroll leisurely through the gardens after having a wonderful breakfast on-site at la Bicyclette, and really enjoy all of the amazing plants and vistas this place has to offer. It even has a fun play area for the kids to enjoy while you cool off with a fruit popsicle. I just can't say enough about how fun this place is - a real break from the high energy hustle and bustle that is Rio. Staff are friendly, tickets are very affordable, and you can get some absolutely wonderful photographs of several iconic sights - including views of Christ the Redeemer, from several vantage points in the gardens. This place preserves a lot of the Atlantic Tropical Forest, and has several paths you can follow by small streams into the hillside. Overall, this may not be the most famous place to see in Rio, but it certainly is one of the finest! Do yourself the favor, and venture a little off the beaten path to this great tropical garden - you will not regret it! Boa Sorte!

What a phenomenal place! Photos don't even do it justice, but I'll try. I arrived at Jardim around 9am on a Sunday and there were not many people there. That was the best time to go. The weather was nice, a little cloudy but still beautiful. The magic kind of went away as it got late and the garden filled with tourists. All the flowers, plants, bridges and animals were beautiful. I even got to see some monkeys trying to take food from a family having a picnic. Funny but sad. I definitely wanna come back here every time I come to Rio.

I don't know why it took me so long to figure out that Yelp has finally added Brazil to its list of Yelped countries. Surfing the reviews, it sure seems like the Jardim Botanico needs a few more stars. It is extraordinary. The Jardim Botanico is extraordinary. It dates from 1808 and may be the oldest botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere. It is, to the say the least, a mature garden with beautiful plants, ponds, paths, and statues. It is an oasis of quiet in the middle of Rio. And it is huge. However long you give yourself, it's not enough so just plan on going back on your next trip to Rio. I love botanical gardens and this one is right up there with Kew Gardens. If you have any interest in gardens or tropical plants or escaping Rio's overwhelming traffic and noise, don't miss the Jardim Botanico.

Among Rio's tourist attractions, the Botanic Garden seems to draw the least attention, but I have to say it is one of my favorite things in Rio. I never let any visitor leave Rio without bringing them here. There are various areas of the garden, and yes, as some reviews have pointed out, sometimes they are working on some areas. Currently there is a lot of work going on in what I think is the rose garden, but the other areas of the park are really stunningly beautiful. Unlike Balboa Park or other botanic gardens in the U.S., this one is a bit wild. They seem to have decided to let many things grow and grow without pruning or trimming, and the result is very impressive. It is really very jungle-like, containing over 3,000 plant species, over 100 bird species, and tons of monkeys and other fun critters. Among the highlights of the park are the Royal Palms, which are HUMONGOUS. You won't miss them, because they line the main path of the garden. Apparently they were planted something like 200 years ago, and they're super tall! I've come to this garden about 4 times now, and every time I come, I spend around two hours here. Each trip I encounter something new, and there are still many parts of the garden where I haven't been. Today, I discovered the cactus area, which has hundreds of different types of cacti growing outside and in greenhouses. My favorite part so far is the Orchid house, which has a huge variety of species and also has a ton of information about how they are grown and bred. There are a lot of other activities to do around the actual garden. Near the entrance is a great cafe called la bicyclette, which has amazing breads, pastries, snacks, and sandwiches. There are also several museum spaces and a small concert hall. The eponymous neighborhood behind the Jardim Botânico is absolutely full of incredible bars and restaurants! Entrance fee is R$9 plus the usual discounts for seniors, students, etc. You can arrive by bus or taxi.

Great spot for a relaxed afternoon..... It was raining lightly and we had rain coats so we decided to check this place out. It's huge!!!! Amazing scenery.... The tallest palm trees I have ever seen!!!! They also have beautiful fountains and a really nice Orchid house. A must see in Rio.... The entrance free is also very inexpensive... Very cute cafe inside too!

Went here on a clear bright day. The botanical is beautiful I would definitely bring walking shoes, bug spray and be sun block. There is quite a bit of walking but lots of picture opportunities. There is a lots of shade and seating areas if you desire. Make sure to see the fountain of the muses. You can also grab a map from the information building but there are maps all through out the park. Highly recommend.

You're doing yourself a disservice by not visiting these gardens. Seriously. Pretty much everything else has already been said here, and words can't do this place justice. So take some time off, get away from the beach, bring your camera and bug spray. You will not regret it. But you will regret it if you don't go.

This was without a doubt one of my favorite things to do in Rio. These gardens are stunning. Pack comfortable shoes, bring your sunblock, and prepare to spend several hours! It cost us R$7 to get in on a Saturday. These gardens are GIGANTIC!!! They make the Huntington in Pasadena look like someones tomato plant on their balcony. Come in early - it can get hot, so try to make the most of your time when the weather is still pleasant. There are gorgeous trees, flowers, lakes, bridges, streams... We just followed the side paths as they twisted and turned throughout, and with every turn we found something new and interesting. There are a couple of greenhouses - one houses orchids which seemed to be a fan favorite, but we were much more interested in the Bromelias. There were so many different types, all of which I couldn't stop photographing! Really fascinating stuff! We took a break to get lunch just next to the park at La Bicyclette - a french style bistro with excellent drinks, coffees, salads, sandwiches... We filled up, went back into the gardens, and spent another 2 hours just wandering and discovering. There is a lovely giftshop. I bought a necklace made from seeds and sticks, all in different colors, and I absolutely adore it. I also bought out their ridiculously cheap earring collection to be upcoming Christmas presents. So - don't skip this place when you come to Rio. Come early and allow yourself lots of time! It's so stunning.

The botanical gardens is a beautiful oasis within the hustle and bustle of Rio. Thankfully while visiting a friend who was working there introduced me to a friend of her's who is a local of Rio and took me to this magical place which is a favorite of hers. I'm always down if a local recommends a place and she wasn't wrong. This place is just beautiful, filled with amazing plant life and there's an area where you will see monkeys around (how cool is that). This place can be easily navigated, and there also places to get drinks and snacks. I easily spent a few hours here and felt like I only scratched the surface. The admission fee was quite reasonable as well. Granted you've got to enjoy nature and a bit of peace and quite to enjoy this place which I do appreciate both. If you're visiting Rio for the chaos and flurry of activity then you might be bored. As for me I'd gladly come back again and again.

The botanical garden in Rio was one of our favorite parts of our Brazil trip!!! It takes your breath away. It's very easy to get to on the bus (stops right in front of the entrance) and takes about an hour and a half to see all of it. It is so green, so peaceful, so natural. We saw lizards and monkeys and frogs, and once you get to where the bathrooms are, there are monkeys EVERYWHERE! There are so many opportunities for beautiful photos, and we saw a couple of bridal parties and I think a Quinceañera party taking photos. You must visit if you're into nature and plants, or just need some peace and quiet away from Rio, and there's no excuse not to with the $6 entrance fee.

Beautiful, peaceful, relaxing, a truly wonderful place. Rio is a gorgeous city and this place compliments it well. We spent less time here than what I would have wanted but in about 3 hours we saw most of it. It has many many plant species that I had never seen as well as very old trees that look spectacular. It has some animals but not many. Some of my favorite pictures from Rio are from this place so you should definitely visit if you like nature.

It is a very cool place to spend the day, walking around. The park is huge with incredible flowers and wild species as little monkeys and toucans. Bring some food, snack or whatever u prefer and water. U can loose track of time since there are a lot to explore and then ull find urself starving...lol. Try to go early, because to visit it all youll need at least 4 hours.

Peaceful.. Beautiful.. a place to walk and relax, alone, with a couple or group. They have a great French Bakery breakfast place called Bicyclette that is good, yet pricey. The Jardim is big and you will enjoy the scenery, specially seeing the Christ redeemer from a great distance. The bus stops are on both sides, easy to access. There is a small fee to enter the Jardim. If you are on a trip and have some time this place is a good to walk and chill. Expect to walk a lot!

A most wonderful spot of extreme beauty and tranquillity in this vibrant city. Be there and spend hours in it, relax, enjoy what you see and imagine it would be everywhere like this it's a dream but a beautiful dream.

Don't get me wrong. The garden is beautiful, and enormous. It just wasn't my favorite thing to do in Rio, and I don't think I would recommend it to the average tourist, unless they are an avid plant fan. Overall, very pretty, but kind of boring in my opinion.

An escape from the busyness of Rio. The gardens are beautiful and it's extremely peaceful. It's very big and takes some time to see all of it. There's an amazing cafe inside. One of my favorite places in Rio.

If you want to get away from the hussle and bustle of Rio - because Rio is extremely loud from morning to night - this is the place to go early on a Sunday morning - or any morning if you are here on holiday. It is a beautiful and unique park that celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. The website gives you a good idea of what is on offer. I particularly liked the alleys with the very high straight palmtrees, the permanent whisper of water flowing, the backstage of the mountains, the ponds and the monkeys.

One of thw most beautiful places in Rio!