The Rio Botanical Garden celebrates his 218th anniversary with the launch of a travel- and rewards-themed passport and free admission for the public

On June 13, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden will celebrate its 218th anniversary with the launch of a passport inspired by travel and rewards. On that day, admission will be free to the public. The goal is to transform the visitor experience into an interactive journey of discovery exploring the biodiversity, science, history, and culture found at the institution. The passport can be purchased at the Friends of the Botanical Garden Association store for R$15.00. At the end of the journey, visitors will receive exclusive gifts: collectible pins featuring designs of the imperial palm alley, brazilwood flower, Victoria amazonica, jade flower, and emperor’s staff.

By purchasing the passport, which will also be available in English and Spanish, visitors take on the role of biodiversity adventurers. Instead of simply strolling through historic paths and admiring century-old trees, visitors will interact with botanical collections, greenhouses, monuments, and cultural spaces, deepening their understanding of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden’s role as a center for scientific research and the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity.

With the passport in hand, visitors can explore 11 spaces in the arboretum and three in the cultural corridor, collect stamps, and unlock special rewards and exclusive gifts. Inspired by gamification and collecting dynamics and by traditional travel passports, the initiative combines environmental education, scientific outreach, and entertainment.

"We are much more than just a garden. Behind every botanical species lies extensive research, conservation, and the generation of scientific knowledge. In addition to being a visitor attraction, the Rio Botanical Garden is dedicated to the conservation of flora. “That’s why we created the passport to enhance the visitor experience in a fun way, to highlight our natural resources, so that visitors can tell the difference between an orchid and a bromeliad, or recognize brazilwood, for example,” says Marcia Faraco, Director of Knowledge, Environment, and Technology.

The initiative consists of three journeys. The first, Garden Discoverer, will launch on June 13. The others, Trailblazer, in July, and Arboretum Legend, in August.

Garden Discoverer - The Garden Discoverer journey takes visitors through 11 points in the arboretum and three spaces in the cultural corridor, plus a selfie photo stop at a location chosen by the participant. Along the route, each stop reveals interesting facts and information about the botanical collections. At each point, QR codes unlock extra content, while stamps unlock new stages of the journey. Upon completing this journey, the explorer receives a pin from the imperial palm alley.

Trailblazer - The experience expands throughout the year with two additional journeys. In Trailblazer, scheduled to begin in July, participants can collect monthly stamps by taking part in the interpretive trails organized by the institution. Upon completing three-month cycles, visitors will receive exclusive pins inspired by the arboretum’s seasonal blooms—a way to encourage repeat visits and an appreciation of the arboretum’s transformations throughout the year. In July and August, the pin features the brazilwood flower; in September, October, and November, the jade flower; in December, January, and February, the Victoria amazonica; and in March, April, and May, the emperor’s staff.

Legend of the Arboretum - In August, the third journey, Legend of the Arboretum, will debut—a long-term challenge that encourages ongoing participation in the institution’s programming. Those who participate in at least one event per month for ten consecutive months can earn special rewards, such as an exclusive wooden 3D puzzle and a guided tour in an electric car with experts from the Knowledge, Environment, and Technology Department.

Step by step: how to participate?

1 - Get the passport.

It will be available at the AAJB store in the Visitor Center.

2 - Explore the attractions

Follow the map and find the participating locations.

3 - Collect the stamps

Upon arriving at each of the 14 locations, visitors should look for a receptionist or the stamp station to record their visit and continue the journey. With each stamp, a new phase is completed. Each location has a QR code with extra content and clues to help find the next destination.

4 - Completing the Journey

Take a photo at the participant’s chosen location, ensuring their face is clearly visible. Then, visit the Visitor Center on the same day to receive the corresponding stamp. Once all 15 stamps (14 from the visited sites and 1 from the selfie) have been collected in the passport, the traveler completes the journey. Upon completing the passport route, the visitor will have explored the arboretum and the cultural corridor, deepening their connection with the history, memory, collection, and biodiversity of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden.

5 - Redeeming the reward

With the completed passport, visitors must present it at the Visitor Center to receive their exclusive gift: a pin featuring the design of the imperial palm tree alley.

Event Details – Celebration of the 218th anniversary of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden with the launch of the passport and free admission

Date: Saturday, June 13

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Free admission

Rua Jardim Botânico, numbers 1008 and 920, and Rua Pacheco Leão, numbers 101 and 915.