#5 Explore the grounds of Parque Lage

Parque Lage is a gorgeous public park full of lush green tropical plants located in Jardim Botanico in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. It sits at the base of Corcavado mountain and contains a magnicifenct mansion which is now home to The Escola de Artes Visuais. Go there to have a coffee at the school and to expore the surrounding rainforest.

The Escola de Artes Visuais in front of Corcavado topped of with the Cristo Rendentor (Christ the Redeemer) Statue

Within the Escola de Artes Visuais is a cafe which is a wonderful place to meet for coffee or lunch. You can sit at a table at the edge of the pool in the courtyard and enjoy the scenery. There is usually an art show gracing the walls, and the mansion made from italian marble and tile is a beautiful work of art itself.

A meal overlooking the pool at Cafe du Lage (photo courtesy of RiodeJaneirohotel.com) 

Now for the best part. The grounds of Parque Lage are a wonderland for exploration. Just wander. Pick a direction and walk down windy stone paths under imperial palms. You will encounter little wooden bridges that cross moss lined streams, sparkling waterfalls, caves full of stalagmites and Stalactites… there are castles! Yes, castles–– little ones that you can find your way on top of which give you a fantastic view of the park. There are little gazebos, gardens and statues.

A castle in the rainforest. If you can find your way to the top of this one, center yourself in the middle of the turret and shout into the jungle. The unusual echo will surprise you.

One of the many caves you may encounter in your trek

Don’t stop exporing until you find the wash house. This is where the slaves would wash the clothes back in the 1800’s when the mansion was owned by Henrique Lage, one of Brazil’s greates entreprenuers. It is a really unique and special spot. There is a watershoot at the end of the basin that I climbed up when I was last there. It goes up so far that we never found the end of it. It’s fun if you like narrow tunnels but don’t do it when it rains for obvious reasons.

The wash house

In addition to everything I have mentioned there is a little aquarium that looks like a large irregular stone from afar. If you wander long enough you can’t miss it. It’s fairly close to the school. When you walk through its cave-like interior there are little tanks embedded into the rock that contain lots of beautiful fish.

The aquarium

All in all Parque Lage is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon, or a day. Bring a picnic, a book, friends and good walking shoes and follow your nose.

Part 4 coming soon~