Trip to Brazil: Part One

Firstly, we traveled through Toronto and Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, where we stayed near the famous Copa Cabana beach (but more on that later). Our first full day of Brazil was spent mainly in the Botanical Garden of Rio, which, although I wasn’t expecting it, turned out to be a highlight of the trip.

We had chosen not to travel to the Amazon, and I had been disappointed, but the variety and sheer amount of vegetation  and wildlife in the Botanical Garden was enough to make me satisfied. I definitely recommend it to travelers, especially those who will not be seeing the rain forest regions of Brazil, yet still want to experience some of it. If you are interested in seeing new things and checking off, “Saw a Toucan/Venus Fly Trap/______” off of your lifelong bucket list, then seeing the Garden would interest you. Also, photographers, avid gardeners, zoologists, environmentalists, and nature enthusiasts would enjoy this attraction. If you want a relaxing vacation, however, this huge park might not be what you’re looking for. It greatly depends on what you want from your visit to Rio: blissful sun bathing on the beach or the thrill of new sights.

My mother especially fell in love with the House of Orchids, where there was an incredible stock of hundreds of orchids, all professionally cared for. They were lovely, and I took dozens of photos.

According to our Lonely Planet Phrase Book, the word Toucan came from Brazil. With this in mind, I got quite excited when I saw an actual Toucan in the Garden. We chased him through the trees to get a closer photo.

For more info on the Botanical Garden, click here.