Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jardim Botânico
Setor de Mansões Dom Bosco, Lago Sul • Tues-Sun 9am-5pm • R$2 • Bus #147 from platforms A8-9 at the Rodoviária Central, or a taxi
costs around R$30 from the centre •
T
61 3366 2141,
W
jardimbotanico.df.gov.br
Brasília's
Jardim Botânico
is a calm and well-organized retreat where you can experience
the flora and fauna of the
cerrado
at first hand. There's an information centre, a large
display of medicinal plants of the region, a herb garden, and over forty square
kilometres of nature reserve with an extensive network of trails. It's good hiking, but
make sure you bring a hat and water.
6
Parque Nacional de Brasília
Asa Norte • Daily 8am-4pm • R$15 •
T
61 3233 6897 • Bus #128.1 or #128.3 from platform A at the Rodoviária Central, or a taxi costs
around R$30 from the centre
For a taste of the
cerrado
before heading deeper into the
planalto
, head across the
Lago Paranoá's striking
JK Bridge
to the
Parque Nacional de Brasília
, the city's very
own national park. Located at the far end of Asa Norte, it's the only area of native
vegetation large enough around Brasília to support proper wildlife populations.
During the week, you will have the place largely to yourself, and while the park itself
is enormous, visitors are restricted to its southern corner, where the main attractions
are two very large
swimming holes
, Piscina Velha and Piscina Nova, both a short,
well-signposted walk from either of the two entrances, and built around a stream,
preserving the natural flow of the water. When there is nobody there, this is a lovely
spot - especially for a picnic. You may spot capuchin monkeys leaping acrobatically
through the trees, but they have become used to scavenging picnic remains so take
care not to leave food lying around, and be sure to pack plastic bags away as the
monkeys regularly choke on them.
Although the swimming holes get very crowded at weekends, virtually everyone
sticks to the water, so if you want space and some solitude, head up the slope to a small
fenced trail through a section of gallery forest and continue up the hill until you come
up onto open
cerrado
savannah. Here you'll find another much longer trail, a 7km
circuit called the
Água Cristal
(crystal water trail), which lives up to its name, taking
you through a number of clearwater streams before dumping you back more or less
where you started. The views are beautiful, although it's frustrating that you can't hike
into them.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
BRASÍLIA
By plane
The airport (
T
61 3364 9000) is 12km south of
the centre, served by bus #0.102 and #102.1 from platform
A17 at the Rodoviária Central. There's also a pricier
“executive bus” that does a loop from the airport up and
down both sides of the Eixo Monumental and round the
hotel zones. A taxi from the airport to the hotel sectors is
around R$35. Brasília is second only to Rio and São Paulo
for number and frequency of flights, although they are
exclusively domestic, serving most state capitals.
Destinations
Belém (4 daily; 1hr 35min); Belo Horizonte
(11-14 daily; 1hr 15min); Manaus (4-5 daily; 1hr 10min);
Recife (5-6 daily; 1hr 20min); Rio (18-24 daily; 1hr
40min); Salvador (7-9 daily; 1hr); São Paulo (1-5 hourly
5am-9.30pm; 1hr 45min).
By bus
Inter-city buses use the new Rodoviária
Interstadual at the far end of the Asa Sul (
T
61 3234 2185,
W
rodoviariadebrasilia.net). It's most easily reached by
metrô
(
M
Shopping), but is also served by bus #108.8 from
platform A1 at the Rodoviária Central, or you can take a cab
(around R$30 from the hotel zone).
Destinations
Alto Paraíso (3 daily; 3hr 30min); Belém
(1 daily; 36hr); Belo Horizonte (5 daily; 14hr); Cristalina
(4 daily; 2hr); Cuiabá (6 daily; 20hr); Formosa (roughly
hourly; 2hr); Fortaleza (1 daily; 45hr); Goiânia (roughly
hourly; 2hr 30min); Pirenópolis (5 daily; 3hr); Recife
(2 daily; 48hr); Rio (4 daily; 20hr); Salvador (2 daily;
26hr); São Paulo (17 daily; 14hr).
GETTING AROUND
By taxi
The city has a good taxi service. Flag a taxi down
when you want one, or pick one up at the many ranks
throughout the city; every
superquadra
has at least one. A
cab from the Rodoviária Central to the Congresso Nacional
