#6 out of my top 10 “road less traveled” things to do in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a picnic (or any kind of visit) to the Reservatório do Morro da Viúva, an abandoned water reservation in the Botafogo neighborhood.
The Reservatório do Morro da Viúva back in its working days (Photo courtesy of Rio Que Passou)
There is a hidden treasure on top of Morro da Viuva (Widow’s Mountain). It is a beautiful abandoned water resevoir from the late 1800s. Bring some wine and cheese and have a picnic on the grounds of this intruiging and forgotton place. To get there you hike up a steep staircase cut out of the mountain which can be found at the end of a narrow road just off of Oswaldo Cruz (See map)
Morro da Viúva and “X” marks the location of the reservoir (photo courtesy of Google)
Arrow to the beginning of the stone stairs that lead up to the reservoir (photo courtesy of Google)
This water reserve ran until 1970 when new water mains were installed in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The resevoir, now overgrown with small trees, is huge and has many different towers and a grand looking machine room that offers much to explore. There is a man who looks over the grounds named Jorge who is very friendly and may even happily offer to bring you a big ladder if you want to venture down into the underground.
I was pretty content just shouting and singing into the tunnels which provide lots of spooky echoes in return. If you want to explore the water chambers, bring some big rain boots as there looks to be several feet of water in the bottom.
Part of the underground (left) and current photo of above ground (Photos courtesy of Rio Que Passou)
These kinds of locations in big American cities (if they exist at all) are usually completely off limits and shrouded in security. It is unusual places like this water reservoir that make Rio de Janeiro so special. This and all the beautiful green plants and colorful flowers. And the sparkling blue waters. And the magnificent mountains. And the endless beaches. And the beautiful people, and the …ok you get the point. Enjoy!
Part 5 coming soon~
The reservoir in its working days (Photo courtesy of Rio Que Passou)
The reservoir now