The Jequitibás Trail is new at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

One of the giant trees of the Brazilian forests - the Jequitibá - has been featured in TV Globo's 21h soap opera, 'Renascer', and will be receiving a special trail at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden from February 1st (Thursday).  The guided trail will be offered from February 1 to 29, always on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 10am, leaving from the Visitors' Center, for R$23.00.

The trail passes 20 specimens of the three species of Jequitibá found in the Garden's Arboretum: white jequitibá (Cariniana estrellensis), pink jequitibá (Cariniana legalis) and jequitibá-açu (Cariniana ianeirensis), the last two of which are threatened with extinction due to deforestation and logging.

The aim of the new trail is to draw the public's attention to the important ecological role of this giant of Brazilian forests. In the high canopies, on its large branches, various smaller plants and animals survive thanks to specific conditions of humidity and light. They are also popular nesting sites for birds.

Among the highlights of the trail are the jequitibás planted by some personalities, including authorities, artists and notable people, such as Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (1920), American singer-songwriter Jack Johnson (2011), British scientist Sir Ghillean Prance (2013) and Fields Medal-winning Brazilian mathematician Artur Ávila (2014).

Jequitibás are found in the Amazon, the Cerrado and the Atlantic Rainforest. They are long-lived trees, some of which can live for more than 500 years, and there are species that reach a height of 50 meters, the equivalent of a 13-storey building. Some species are endemic (exclusive) to Brazil.

The track has the support of Globo and the soap opera Renascer.

Service - Guided Jequitibás Trail

Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from January 25 to February 29

Time: 10 a.m.

Meeting point: Visitor Center

Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008.

Price of the trail: R$23.00 per person.

Tickets for the arboretum:

Visitors living in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area (75% discount): R$ 18,00

Visitors living in Brazil (60% discount): R$ 29,00

Foreign Mercosur visitors (25% off): R$ 55,00

Foreign visitors: R$ 73,00

Children under 5 do not pay. Students, people with disabilities and people over 60 are entitled to half-price tickets on presentation of a supporting document.

Payment at the box office in cash only. Tickets online at jbrj.eleventickets.com with pix or credit card.