Rio Botanical Garden

Dom Joao VI founded the garden in 1808, shortly after the Portuguese court fled Lisbon for Rio, as a place to acclimatise spice and useful plants brought from the Indies. The palm avenue is the set piece: two rows of imperial palms over thirty metres tall, all propagated from a single specimen the king is said to have planted himself, with seed from the original controlled for decades to keep the stock exclusive. The garden holds around eight thousand plant species over fifty-four hectares, with an orchid house, a collection of Amazonian species including the giant Victoria water lilies, a Japanese garden and the ruins of the original gunpowder factory. It is a component of the Carioca Landscapes World Heritage site.

What you actually see

• The imperial palm avenue - thirty-metre trees from a single 1809 specimen.
• Around eight thousand species - across fifty-four hectares of collections.
• Victoria water lilies - the giant Amazonian pads in the ponds.
• Gunpowder factory ruins - the site's use before the garden.

When to go

April to October. Half a day, going early for the birds.

Honest expectations

Some collections and glasshouses close for maintenance without notice. The garden is large and shade is uneven - it is hot by midday. Weekend crowds are heavy. Tickets are cheaper for residents than for foreign visitors.

Nearby

Parque Lage is a short walk; the Lagoa and Corcovado are close.