The Jardim Botânico of Rio de Janeiro

What it is

Rio's botanical garden was founded in 1808 by the Portuguese prince regent, later King João VI, soon after the court moved to Brazil. It began as a place to acclimatise spice plants from Asia. Today it covers a broad strip of land below the Corcovado mountain, backing onto Atlantic forest. The entrance avenue of tall imperial palms is its signature. Beyond are an iron and glass orchid house with a large collection, a bromeliad house, a pond of Victoria waterlilies with leaves a metre and more across, a Japanese garden, and beds of heliconias and gingers. Toucans, marmosets and many other birds live in the trees.

Before you go

• Go early for cool air and birds, and allow two to three hours.
• Mosquitoes are active in the shade. Use repellent.
• The orchid house keeps shorter hours than the garden. Visit it first.

The flowers you will see

OrchidA vast family of colourful, often fragrant flowers found almost everywhere on earthAmazon water-lilyThe enormous floating lily of the Amazon, with leaves up to 3 metres wideHeliconiaTropical plants with bold, colorful bracts and banana-like leavesBromeliadsA family of tropical flowering plants from the Americas, including the pineappleTorch gingerA tall Southeast Asian plant with large pink flower heads and edible buds

More in Brazil

🇧🇷 Brasília · Jun to SepThe ipê trees of Brasília in the dry seasonIn the dry months, leafless ipê trees across Brasília flower in turn: pink and purple, then yellow, then white. 🇧🇷 Holambra · Aug to SepHolambra, Brazil's flower town, and its ExpofloraA small town founded by Dutch settlers that grows a large share of Brazil's flowers and holds a big flower fair each spring. 🇧🇷 Curitiba · All yearThe glasshouse and parterres of Curitiba's botanical gardenThe postcard view of Curitiba: a white metal and glass greenhouse above French-style flower beds and fountains. 🇧🇷 São Paulo · All yearThe CEAGESP flower fair in São PauloTwice a week before dawn, a hall of São Paulo's giant wholesale market fills with flowers and plants from across the state.