Botanical Gardens & Sugar Loaf Mountain

Before arriving at the gardens we will pay a visit to the lagoon in the centre of modern Rio, where people come to walk, jog, listen to music in the restaurants and bars and enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains. We then continue on to Rio's impressive Botanical Gardens, which boast over 5,000 species of Brazilian plants and trees, both from the local area and from across Brazil. Many bird species, including toucans, parakeets and hummingbirds can be seen (or heard) here. There is a tranquil cafe for a short rest and refreshments before we continue to the "posh" residential areas on the coast to the south at Sao Conrado and Barra da Tijuca.

The Botanical Gardens can be combined with the Sugar Loaf Mountain, or visited as part of our special Three Ecoystems tour.

Continue to take the cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, overlooking the bay and with a magnificent view of the city. Probably best for sunset as at the top there is a cafe so you can watch the transition to the light of Rio by night.