Serenity in Jardim Botânico

It’s incredible to find such a peaceful oasis in a bustling city such as Rio, and the instant serenity envelopes your senses as you walk through the gorgeous natural botanical garden that is Jardim Botânico.

Commisioned by order of the Prince Regent Dom João in 1808, the tropical garden features a myriad of trees and plants with over 8000 species making up the 137 hectare domain.

Monkeys and birds are just some of the regular visitors but they are not loud guests, leaving you to embrace the sanctuary away from transport and city traffic.

One of the most recognisable aspects of the garden includes the towering avenue of imperial palms, capable of overwhelming even the tallest of visitors. Planted when the garden first opened, they also frame the view of Christ the Redeemer looking over the city and provide shade from the Brazilian heat. Meeting you at the end of the avenue is the Fountain of the Muses, with figures of four Greek muses representing music, science, poetry, and art.

Other unique features include the large Vitória Régia water lilies reminiscent of a Monét and the Orquidário which showcases an incredible range of orchids in a palace-like room. If history is more your calling, there is the original gunpowder factory dating from 1808, the old gates of the Fine Arts Academy, and the new visitor centre showcasing films (in English and Portuguese) about the origin and history of the garden.

The garden was originally designed to cultivate plant species coming from different parts of the world and today, Jardim Botânico is one of the most significant locations for botanical research and biodiversity conservation institutes around the world. If you do get a chance to visit, you’ll be counting yourself among previous visitors such as Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.

Cover image credit: Alamy sourced from https://traveler.marriott.com/rio-de-janeiro/kid-friendly-rio-de-janeiro/