Idyllic and serene among the bustle of Rio, the Botanical Garden - or Jardim Botanico - is a delightful place to soak up the beauty of both Amazonian and imported plants.
There are over 5,500 species of plant and this is where you will find the first tea, cloves and cinnamon that were brought to Brazil to acclimatize. Highlights include the lake containing massive water lilies, the orchids and the Japanese Garden.
The gardens were founded in 1808 by the Prince Regent Dom João and is used as a research center as well as recreation. From the entrance you walk down the Avenue of Royal Palms lined with 134 majestic palms and into the gardens.
The gardens are situated in the southeast of the city in the Jardim Botanico part of town. It is easily reached by catching any bus marked Jardim Botanico from Centro or the 571, 572 or 594 from the zona sul.
