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Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro

Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro: Our most recommended tours and activities

Rio de Janeiro: Botanical Garden Guided Tour & Parque Lage

1. Rio de Janeiro: Botanical Garden Guided Tour & Parque Lage

After pickup head straight to the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, the oldest such garden in Brazil. The gardens were founded in 1808, around the same time that the Portuguese Royal Family arrived in Brazil. Dom João VI, then a prince, wanted to see if Caribbean spices would adapt to Rio’s climate. Start with a visit to the Environment Museum before walking around the grounds and admiring the native vegetation. Enjoy the beauty of Frei Leandro Lake and victoria amazonica, a species of flowering plant and the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies from the Amazon Rainforest. Admire the orchids and the bromeliads collections. Learn about 19th-century Brazilian history from your guide as you stroll amongst the buildings in the garden. Marvel at the beauty of Musas Fountain and explore Pedro Cachimbo rose garden. Take photos between palm trees and make a stop at the Japanese Garden, created in 1935 from the donation of 65 species of typical Japanese plants. As a bonus, enjoy complimentary access also to the Parque Lage. Explore the English-style gardens, forested trails, artificial caves, and the stunning mansion at the center of this beautiful park.

Rio de Janeiro: 4-Hour Botanical Garden & Tijuca Forest Tour

2. Rio de Janeiro: 4-Hour Botanical Garden & Tijuca Forest Tour

Experience the diverse nature of Rio de Janeiro up close. Begin your tour at the Botanical Garden and visit the Sensory Garden. See the Brazilwood tree after which the country is named, the Turtle Lake and floating giant water lilies. Walk through the bicentenary imperial palm trees as you go to the Orchidarium and Bromeliad house.   Then, climb up to the Vista Chinesa gazebo and enjoy a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro with mountains, forests, and ocean at 388 meters (about 1,273 feet) above sea level. In the distance, you can also clearly make out Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.   Next, go on an adventure through Tijuca National Forest, one of the largest urban forests in the world. Gaze up at the Taunay Waterfall and follow a simple trail as you learn more about the Atlantic Forest, its flora and fauna.   Once back in the vehicle, pass by the famous São Conrado beach to observe the hang gliders and paragliders. Take in breathtaking panoramic views on route back to the hotel.

Private Tijuca Forest & Botanical Garden Guided Tour

3. Private Tijuca Forest & Botanical Garden Guided Tour

Discover the natural wonders of Rio de Janeiro on a guided tour that visits Tijuca Forest, Rio’s botanical garden, Cascatinha Taunay, and the Chinese Viewpoint, including round-trip transportation from your hotel. Walk along a trail and immerse yourself in all the nature of Rio. After pickup, your trip starts at the Chinese Viewpoint. At an altitude of 388 meters, admire panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, filled with mountains, forests, and the sea. In the distance, you can also see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. Later, go on an adventure through the Tijuca National Forest, one of the largest urban forests in the world. Be enchanted by the Cascatinha Taunay (waterfall) as you walk along a simple trail and learn more about the Atlantic Forest, its flora, and its fauna. Admire breathtaking panoramic views en route back to your hotel. Your tour ends at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, with a visit to the sensory garden. Finish off your trip by learning more about local and international flora at the gardens. Spot the redwood tree, from which the country received its name, and stroll among the bicentennial imperial palm trees as you walk to the orchidarium and the bromeliad greenhouse.

Rio: Botanical Garden, Tijuca Forest, and Parque Lage Tour

4. Rio: Botanical Garden, Tijuca Forest, and Parque Lage Tour

Following a pickup from your hotel, the eco-tour will first explore one of the world's largest urban forests, Tijuca Forest. Stop to visit some important points of interest such as the Taunay Waterfall, Tijuca National Park Visitor Center, and the Chinese Lookout. If you wish, you can take a short walk through the Atlantic Forest as well. Next up, you'll go to Jardim Botânico, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, one of the most important botanical research centers in the world. At this attraction you can visit important points such as the Orchid Garden, Pestle House, the Sensory Garden, the Central Fountain, and the other fascinating diversity of Brazilian and foreign flora. Finally, you’ll go to Parque Lage to take the photographs of one of the most charming mansions in Rio set to the backdrop of Christ the Redeemer. The mansion is also equipped with a coffee bar, bistro, and art exhibitions.

Rio de Janeiro: Sugar Loaf & Corcovado Private Day Tour

5. Rio de Janeiro: Sugar Loaf & Corcovado Private Day Tour

Start your private Rio de Janeiro adventure with a drive along the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Go to Corcovado Station and ride to the base of the Christ the Redeemer statue by train. Relax on the 20-minute ride through the Tijuca Forest, and get a preview of the wonderful landscape that awaits you. Upon arrival at the top of Corcovado, get a meet and greet at the main monument of Brazil and marvel at the 710-meter statue of Christ with his arms outstretched. Enjoy unparalleled views of the city and surrounding countryside from Rio de Janeiro's most strategic viewpoint. Follow your guide as they point out Guanabara Bay, the city of Niteroi and other highlights, such as the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, the Botanical Garden, the Jockey Club and the Tijuca National Park. Look further towards Copacabana, Botafogo, Flamengo and the famous Sugar Loaf mountain. Descend Corcovado and continue your tour with an external view of the Maracanã Stadium, Mario Filho (which staged two World Cups and one Olympic Games). Visit the Sambódromo, the famous parade ares of Rio's carnival. Enter the Metropolitan Cathedral to observe its impressive and unusual architecture. Go to the brightly-colored Selarón Steps in Lapa, one of the most visited landmarks in Rio de Janeiro. Take time to lunch at a restaurant of your choice (not included). Head to the Urca neighborhood to ride the cable car to the top of the mountain in 2 stages. Board the cable car to Urca Mount, 224 meters above sea level, and then continue to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain, 395 meters above sea level. Here, you will be rewarded with the most beautiful panoramic views of the city before you return via the beaches of Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana en route to your hotel drop off.

Rio de Janeiro: 4 Top Sites Guided Tour

6. Rio de Janeiro: 4 Top Sites Guided Tour

On this tour, we pick up your group from your accommodation at 7:30 am (exact time to be agreed after booking, according to your preference) and head to Christ the Redeemer. After that, we explored the natural beauties of the Tijuca Forest, which has beautiful trails and waterfalls, such as Cascatinha Tunay. We head to the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, where we can learn more about the city's history and botany. Finally, our last stop is at Pão de Açúcar, with a breathtaking view of the wonderful city.

Other Sightseeing Options in Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro

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What people are saying about Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 90 reviews

Very informative, comfortable private ride, pleasent walk on trails in the forest and the botanical garden - a great experience all together. The guide, Antonio, contacted us the day prior to the tour via What'sUp and picked us up at our accomodation ( just off the Prestana Rio Atlantica hotel). He had a driver with him, so we were dropped to each designation while the driver dealt with parking the car. We were very happy that we chose the private tour vs the open jeep tours.

A beautiful walk through the forest, although you can only see a few places since it is very large and I think that if you want to walk more, look for a hiking tour, but in this one you can enjoy the landscape and the botanical park if you go all the way

Top very beautiful and very unformative our tour guide had a lot of background knowledge and so we learned a lot of historical and also a lot about the botanical garden and its plants..

At first I was skeptical if i should book this tour. Now i would recommend this to everybody. We saw excellent nature even if it was raining constantly. Our guide Monica was excellent

Our tour guide spoke English well, he also have good knowledge of plants. It is a fun tour.